Post #73351 by Kava King on Thu, Jan 29, 2004 11:11 AM

First(ly), I am NOT associated with the brand "Kava King", I just enjoy it and chose it for my TC handle. I'm still educating myself to its relative merits/dangers and would never recommend it to anyone without a huge disclaimer.
Personally, I enjoy Kava's calming effects and don't have any more apprehension about using it than I do for so-called "approved" prescription medicines.
Considering Kava? Why not at least read this statement from the FDA & Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and decide for yourself:

" Liver-related risks associated with the use of kava have prompted regulatory agencies in other countries, including those in Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada, and the United Kingdom, to take action ranging from warning consumers about the potential risks of kava use to removing kava-containing products from the marketplace. Although liver damage appears to be rare, FDA believes consumers should be informed of this potential risk.
Kava-containing products have been associated with liver-related injuries – including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure -- in over 25 reports of adverse events in other countries. Four patients required liver transplants. In the U.S., FDA has received a report of a previously healthy young female who required liver transplantation, as well as several reports of liver-related injuries.
Given these reports, persons who have liver disease or liver problems, or persons who are taking drug products that can affect the liver, should consult a physician before using kava-containing supplements".

No authority I, but some of these warnings seem a little over zealous.

[ Edited by: Kava King on 2004-01-29 11:12 ]