A member of the pepper family, kava (or kava-kava) is a natural tranquilizer that soothes jangled nerves and eases anxiety with few of the mind-dulling effects of prescription relaxants. Its Latin name, Piper methysticum, means "intoxicating pepper," and indeed, on the South Pacific islands where it is grown, kava is made into a traditional beverage that is drunk at ceremonies and on social occasions--as alcohol is in other societies--to relax people and induce a sense of well-being.
Doctors in Europe have long prescribed kava as a gentle alternative to prescription tranquilizers. But things are changing quickly. Recent news about kava has not been good. In Europe, approximately 40 reports of liver damage among kava users have surfaced over the past two years. Six of these people required liver transplants, and the three died.
barbie @ organic-herb . com |