Kava News and Research

RSS

Kratom: A dangerous or beneficial plant?

A new study summarizes the traditional and modern uses of kratom, as well as its pharmacology, benefits, and adverse health impacts.

23 Jun 2022

Study finds increase in overall rate of exposure to natural psychoactive substances

Natural substances with psychoactive effects have been used by people for religious, medicinal and recreational purposes for millennia.

26 Nov 2019

AANA reminds patients to share details of medication use with nurse anesthetist

Many surgical patients don't know that it's advisable to stop taking complementary and alternative medicine at least one to three weeks prior to surgery. During Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 13-19, 2016, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists is reminding patients to bring a list of all medications - prescription or not - to their pre-anesthesia interview, and to share details about their medication use with their Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or other anesthesia professional.

16 Mar 2016

Nicotine reinforcement demonstrated in study with ‘never-smokers’

In a study with 18 adults who had never smoked, scientists at Johns Hopkins report they have demonstrated one of the earliest steps — nicotine “reinforcement” — in the process of addiction, and shown that some people are far more vulnerable to nicotine addiction than others.

10 Sep 2015

Study points to genetic/metabolic factors that make people vulnerable to nicotine addiction

In a study with 18 adults who had never smoked, scientists at Johns Hopkins report they have demonstrated one of the earliest steps — nicotine "reinforcement" — in the process of addiction, and shown that some people are far more vulnerable to nicotine addiction than others.

10 Sep 2015

Study reports nearly half of facial cosmetic plastic surgery patients take herbal supplements

Preoperative evaluations before facial cosmetic surgery find that about half of patients are taking herbal and other supplements, reports a study in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

2 Jul 2013

Clinical study reveals that Kava could be an alternative treatment for GAD

A world-first completed clinical study by an Australian team has found Kava, a medicinal South Pacific plant, significantly reduced the symptoms of people suffering anxiety.

14 May 2013

Novel system could allow broader screening for esophageal cancer, other conditions

Physicians may soon have a new way to screen patients for Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous condition usually caused by chronic exposure to stomach acid. Researchers at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have developed an imaging system enclosed in a capsule about the size of a multivitamin pill that creates detailed, microscopic images of the esophageal wall. The system has several advantages over traditional endoscopy.

15 Jan 2013

Additional research required to assess effectiveness of herbal remedies for insomnia

Approximately 1 in 3 Americans suffers from chronic sleep deprivation and another 10-15% of the population has chronic insomnia. Sleep disorders can profoundly affect a person's whole life and have been linked to a range of diseases, including obesity, depression, anxiety, and inflammatory disorders.

19 Jul 2012

Multiple studies find no consensus on kava-induced hepatotoxicity in Western countries

A major new review of scientific knowledge on kava - a plant used to make dietary supplements and a trendy drink with calming effects - has left unsolved the mystery of why Pacific Island people can consume it safely, while people in the United States, Europe, and other Western cultures sometimes experience toxic effects. The article appears in ACS' journal Chemical Research in Toxicology.

14 Jul 2011

Fiji ban on gatherings to curb typhoid outbreak

The health ministry of Fiji has issued a ban on public gatherings in the province of Bua due to an outbreak of typhoid. It has been reported that since January, 41 cases were recorded in Bua, in the northern island of Vanua Levu, with many concentrated in small villages. Fiji's main island of Viti Levu bore the brunt of a major Typhoid outbreak this time last year. At this stage, there have only been isolated cases.

15 May 2011

Kava tea may cause kidney failure and muscle breakdown

When a 34-year-old bicyclist was found collapsed on a roadside and rushed to the University of Rochester Medical Center emergency room on the verge of kidney failure and muscle breakdown, doctors were surprised to discover that a trendy tea derived from the kava plant was the cause of his ills.

28 Apr 2011

Medical experts propose six-point framework for safe production and use of Kava plant

Medical and scientific experts propose a global framework for the safe production and use of the medicinal plant Kava, including further clinical testing In Australia.

1 Mar 2011

FDA, Optivia collaborate to examine effect of dietary supplements in drug-induced liver injury

Optivia Biotechnology, a leading provider of in vitro transporter assay services, today announced that the company and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have signed a collaboration agreement to assess the effect of dietary supplements on key drug transporters.

1 Feb 2011

Some herbal remedies for anxiety disorders effective

Two herbal remedies from passion flower extract and kava have shown to be effective in alleviating anxiety say scientists. The results came from an analysis of 24 studies involving more than 2,000 participants which also showed that combinations of the amino acids L-lysine and L-arginine may be useful anxiety remedies.

10 Oct 2010

Herbal supplements can treat anxiety disorders

A systematic review of research into the use of nutritional supplements for the treatment of anxiety disorders has found strong evidence for the use of extracts of passionflower or kava and combinations of L-lysine and L-arginine. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access Nutrition Journal pooled the results of 24 studies involving a total of more than 2000 participants, showing that some nutritional and herbal supplements can be effective, without the risk of serious side effects.

7 Oct 2010

Herbal dietary supplements may contain toxic metals

Millions of people are taking herbs and other plant-based dietary supplements to improve their health, but they have precious little information on the actual effectiveness or potential ill effects of these products. That's the topic of an article in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News weekly newsmagazine.

22 Jul 2010

Concerns over safety and effectiveness of "natural" treatments for treating anxiety

In a broad-based review of studies focused on drugs that treat anxiety, a Saint Louis University doctor found no evidence supporting the use of so-called "natural" treatments in combating the effects of anxiety.

7 Apr 2010

16 kg Kava seized: an Aboriginal elder arrested in connection

16 kilograms of Kava was seized by the Northern Territory Police as they arrested a well respected 56-year-old Aboriginal elder in connection. He will appear in court this May. Police from Ramingining in Arnhem Land stopped a Toyota Landcruiser at Barge Landing Road on Good Friday. The haul included 16 kg of Kava and small amounts of Cannabis. A police spokewoman revealed on Monday, "The Kava had a street value of $16,000 and was headed for Milingimbi Island before it was intercepted by police."

5 Apr 2010

Herbal supplements aren't always safe!

Natural doesn’t always mean safe when it comes to herbal supplements, according to the August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

13 Aug 2009