Is Kava Safe to Consume?

Kava has been shown consistently in published studies to be non-addictive. Unlike other substances, drinking kava is not habit forming and you will not build up a tolerance to the effects of drinking kava, causing you to need to drink more each time. In fact, the exact opposite has been shown. That the beneficial effects of a drink of kava can be felt even more when it is drank on subsequent occasions, bringing about cumulative effectiveness over time. This is because of the distinctive way that kava affects the brain.

Noble vs Tudei Kava Varieties
One precaution to take though is to only purchase and consume lab tested, Noble Kava varieties and to avoid consumption of Tudei (two-day) varieties of kava. Tudei kava varieties are typically used only for medicinal purposes in their originating countries and are aptly named for the negative side effects that include feelings of nausea and lethargy that can last up to two days. At Noble Roots Kava we only sell lab-tested, high-quality kava, fresh kava, sourced direct from farmers we know. To avoid purchasing Tudei kava, it is best to do some research and learn about the reputation of the company selling the kava.

Kava and Potential Liver Toxicity
Anyone researching kava for the first time will most certainly find websites, blogs and articles that claim kava drinking is bad for the liver and your health. The origin of these claims is research that was done over 15 years ago in Switzerland and Germany that led to kava drinking being banned in those countries. And that ban was reversed in 2015 after a growing body of new research has called into question these early research findings. This research has showed that cases of liver toxicity attributed to kava actually occurred only when the person consumed contaminated kava products (above ground aerial parts of the plant) or Tudei varieties and was also taking other drugs and medications known to negatively effect liver function. A recent World Health Organization risk assessment of kava products has stated that ”Kava has had at least a 1500-year history of safe use, with liver side effects never having arisen in the ethnopharmacological data. Clinical trials of kava have not revealed hepatotoxicty as a problem. This has been confirmed by further studies evaluating the toxicology of kava drink. Based on available scientific information it can be inferred that kava as a traditional beverage is safe for human consumption.”

Unfortunately the misinformation and health warnings still dominate online and obscure the numerous, and more up-to-date, University research studies that have since played a role in helping to vindicate kava and to gain a better understanding of how kava affects the mind and body. Which have revealed important potential health benefits of kava root.