Kava is a plant-based beverage made from the roots of Piper methysticum, a plant native to the South Pacific Islands, such as Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa.
In traditional settings, kava is used in ceremonial life as central to rites of passage, weddings, funerals, welcoming guests, and community gatherings. Today, kava is grown in the United States, where it is often sold as a wellness supplement in the form of beverages, powders, and liquid capsules.
The U.S. has also seen a spike in kava bars, alcohol-free spaces designed for relaxation and community, and a recent survey suggests that around 10–11% of U.S. adults have used kava in the past year [1].
Although many people are drawn to kava for its calming effects, there is little evidence to support these claims. Read on to understand how kava works, potential side effects, and safety considerations.
How Does Kava Affect the Brain?
Kava affects the brain and nervous system through a group of active compounds called kavalactones, which quickly cross the blood–brain barrier.
Kavalactones enhance the activity of GABA_A receptors, which leads to lower anxiety, muscle relaxation, and calming effects. Unlike benzodiazepines, kava does not strongly bind to the benzodiazepine site on the receptor, which helps explain why it tends to reduce anxiety without strongly impairing cognition or causing heavy sedation at typical doses [2].
Kavalactones also influence dopamine and norepinephrine signaling in limbic brain regions involved in mood and stress, which may help explain kava’s mood-lifting effects.
Uses and Effectiveness of Kava
Anecdotal reports show that people throughout the US use Kava for a variety of challenges, including chronic neck and back pain, sleep problems, and headache relief. However, there isn’t enough reliable evidence to say whether these are effective or helpful.
Some mixed research shows kava, when taken by mouth for 5 weeks, may be as effective as traditional medication for reducing anxiety, particularly situational anxiety or when it’s driven by high stress. More research is needed to support this [3].
For those with persistent anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder, taking Kava by mouth showed little to no difference. Kava is also sometimes used informally to support benzodiazepine withdrawal, but this is not a standard or medically recommended treatment.
Is Kava Safe?
When taken as directed, Kava is usually safe to take for up to 6 months; risks such as liver damage can occur in users who take high doses for long-term use. However, when taken long-term or at higher than recommended doses (150-400 mg) by mouth daily, it can lead to psychological tolerance, dependence, and rebound anxiety [3].
Using kava can also make it difficult to drive or operate heavy machinery, and individuals have received citations for “driving under the influence” after ingesting large amounts of Kava tea.
Side Effects of Kava
Kava is generally well-tolerated when used in moderation, but it can produce a range of side effects, particularly with high or prolonged use. Chronic heavy use has been associated with more serious issues, including liver toxicity and a skin condition called kava dermopathy, which causes rough, dry, and scaly skin.
Common and potential side effects of kava include:
- Drowsiness or sedation
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nausea, stomach cramping
- Headache
- Liver toxicity in rare cases
Safety Considerations: Who Should Avoid Kava?
Certain individuals should avoid using Kava or consult a medical professional before starting the supplement [4].
- Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: Kava is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding due to limited safety data and concerns about potential effects on fetal or infant brain development. Kavalactones can cross biological barriers, and their impact on a developing nervous system is not well understood, so it’s best to avoid them.
- Liver Disease: Individuals with liver conditions, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, or elevated liver enzymes, should avoid kava. Kava is metabolized by the liver, and in susceptible individuals, it may worsen liver function or increase the risk of liver toxicity.
- Parkinson’s Disease: Kava may worsen symptoms of Parkinson’s disease by interfering with dopamine signaling in the brain.
- Surgery: Kava should be discontinued at least two weeks before surgery. Its sedative and muscle-relaxing effects can interact with anesthesia used during surgical procedures.
- Medications: Kava can interact with a variety of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. It may increase sedation when taken with central nervous system depressants such as benzodiazepines, opioids, or sleep aids. And it may also affect liver metabolism, impacting how the body processes medications such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and statins.
Is Kava Addictive?
Unlike substances such as alcohol, nicotine, or opioids, kava is generally considered non-addictive in the traditional sense. Studies from regions like Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga, where kava use is culturally integrated, show that long-term daily consumption rarely leads to compulsive use or withdrawal symptoms [5].
In the US, studies suggest that while habitual use of kava is common, the rates of true addiction are low. Nonetheless, heavy or prolonged consumption of kava can lead to psychological tolerance, making it difficult to manage anxiety or stress when the supplement use is stopped.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kava
What does taking Kava feel like?
Kava typically produces calming effects such as reduced anxiety and muscle relaxation without strong intoxication. Many people describe feeling mentally clear but emotionally relaxed. At higher doses, it can cause drowsiness, slowed reaction time, and disorientation.
What does Kava taste like and look like?
Traditional kava is a cloudy, grayish-brown drink made from ground kava root mixed with water. Its taste is often described as earthy, bitter, peppery, or muddy, and it can leave a temporary numbing or tingling sensation in the mouth and tongue.
Is Kava legal?
Kava is legal in most countries, including the United States, Canada, and much of Europe, though some countries regulate or restrict it. In a few places, past bans were enacted due to liver safety concerns but have since been lifted or revised.
Is Kava a benzodiazepine?
No. Kava is not a benzodiazepine and does not bind to the benzodiazepine site on GABA receptors. While it affects the same calming pathways in the brain, its mechanism is different, which is why it generally causes less sedation, tolerance, and dependence than benzodiazepines.
Can you overdose or die from Kava?
Fatal overdoses from kava alone are rare. Kava does not typically suppress breathing the way opioids or alcohol do. However, very high doses can cause severe sedation, nausea, loss of coordination, or confusion, especially when combined with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives.
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Sources
[1] Smith, E. et al. (2025). Clinically characterizing adults who use kava or kratom: Substance use disorder assessment challenges for increasingly popular botanical products. Drug and alcohol dependence reports, 17, 100394.
[2] Science Direct. 2024. Kava. Nutraceutical Fruits and Foods for Neurodegenerative Disorders.
[3] Web MD. Kava – Uses, Side Effects, and More.
[4] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Kava.
[5] Santo, T. et al. (2025). Global Perspectives on Kava: A Narrative Systematic Review of the Health Effects, Economic and Social Impacts and Policy Considerations. Drug and alcohol review, 44(6), 1601–1640.
