Kava-kava Consumption Reduces Stress

Kava-kava (Piper methysticum) is the anti-stress plant par excellence. Its origin is presumed to be in New Guinea and New Hebrides. This shrub is grown in the Pacific islands, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. By its ability to make them more sociable, it plays an important social and ceremonial importance to the various cultures of Oceania.

It is prepared as a drink: the root is grated and put into contact with saliva and then mixed with water or milk coconut to make an infusion. Its Consumption provides an astringent effect in mouth, followed by a state of relaxation and euphoria in which the fatigue and anxiety seems disappearing. A high dose causes drowsiness, relaxation followed by a revival in form and without fear. Excessive consumption leads to dizziness and a state of stupor.

Consumers of kava have lower rates of albumin, plasma protein, urea and a higher rate of HDL-cholesterol than non consumers. The activity of kava is linked to a group of resinous compounds in the rhizome and kavapyrones called kavalactones. A good quality root contains between 5.5% to 8.3% of kavalactones including components like kavaïne, dihydrokavaine, methysticine, dihydromethysticine, yangonine, dimethoxyyangonine.

Animal studies have demonstrated the ability of high doses of kava extracts and kavalactones purified to induce sleep and produce muscle relaxation, a hyer-reflexive, sedation, analgesia or anesthesia, and spasmolytic effects of anticonvulsants. These effects are explained by the inhibition of sodium-dependent channels, modulation of the binding of GABA receptor in the brain and the decrease in amplitude and elongation of the potential 'wave of neuromuscular transmission.

At low doses, kava causes skeletal muscle relaxation and mild euphoria, probably by activation of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons (to a lower level of dopamine and serotonin in the nucleus accumbens in the brain. It also inhibits contractions of smooth respiratory muscles. It reduces the spontaneous muscle activity and reduces hyperactivity induced by apomorphine. It inhibits the elevated noradrenaline without affecting the increase in serotonin during stress. A recent meta-analysis incorporating clinical studies in September confirmed the anxiolytic effect of kava, a synthesis of three studies showed a decrease in the score HRSA (Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety) and averaged 9.60 (confidence interval 95%).

kava improves cognitive processes: During a test, double-blind crossover, it improved memory tasks of identification, with most important difference between the recognition of new words and old words. At 300 mg/day for 8 weeks, it reduced placebo dysfunctions and psychosomatic neuro-vegetative of menopause. At a dose of 100 mg/day for 3 to 6 months, reduced anxiety and depression by enhancing the effect of psychogenic treatment of hormone-replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. Finally, during a stressful situation, which is responsible for anxiety, the administration of kava in 20 patients, improved alertness, reduced fatigue, introvert behavior and excitability, and decreased levels of depression with no side effects.

The Commission E (Commission plant in Germany) supported the therapeutic use of kava in states of nervous anxiety, stress and restlessness. It is against-taking kava during pregnancy, lactation and the cases of endogenous depression (excluding external causes). The use of machinery or vehicles is rather discouraged with kava. The concomitant use of alcohol should be avoided because that may increase the effects of kava without having a synergistic effect.

Kava should not be administered simultaneously with antidepressant drugs. The most common of the side effects of kava is rare skin allergies, movement disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, disorders of accommodation and oculomotor balance (depending on the vision). Throughout the course, taking kava may reflect a transitory yellowing of the skin that disappears with discontinuation of treatement. The usual effective dose to treat the states of stress, instability and anxiety is approximately 60 to 230 mg/day of kavalactones in total. For an extract standardized to 55% kavalactones, a dose of 140 mg for one to three times per day is required. At this dose, the effect appearing in the long term is harmful but it is recommended not to exceed a time period of three months without medical advice and stop taking away the stress periods (holidays).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_(biological)