Does Kava Kava Really Work?

If you’ve been thinking of supplementing with Kava Kava in order to treat cases of anxiety or insomnia, you probably heard that it is an all natural alternative to prescription medication. It’s true that this is naturally sourced, but can it really provide the same sort of results as a pharmaceutical?

Overview
Kava has long been used in many other cultures, but only recently has it begun to gain momentum and awareness in the United States. Most of the time people are drawn to natural remedies because the side effects are less severe than with over-the-counter medications and prescriptions. But this could be one case where a natural product is causing more of a stir than something put out by Big Pharma.

The Claim
Since there is no one company that owns the rights to kava kava, there aren’t a lot of centralized claims being made about what it can do, how fast it can do it, or how safe it is. The understanding is that this effects the neurotransmitters in your brain, especially the ones that help you to feel good, and have a sense of calm and well-being.

The Side Effects
The side effects of kava kava have gotten a lot of attention from the Center for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration. Any time these agencies step in to stop something, you should raise your eyebrow because the FDA especially lets through a lot of drugs that end up getting recalled later. So if they are making a preemptive strike you can bet that the threat is pretty real, and not something to dabble in.

The Cost
The cost for kava kava supplements varies by brand, and the assumption is that the more you pay the higher the quality you’re getting, and the less fillers and additives it will contain. You can buy a supply from Amazon for $20 and it is advertised as being able to restore calm and relaxation, as well as supporting your emotional well-being.

The Commitment
They say that the effectiveness of this root decreases the more you use it, which is good news and bad news. It means that you don’t have to use it every day, and that you wouldn’t want to because if you do respond to it initially you might find that as time goes by you’re getting less and less success from it.

Evaluation
The main reason why you’d want to try kava kava is that it appears to be a cheap alternative to using prescription drugs to calm your nerves and balance your emotions. But with the potential side effects listed, and all of the warnings issues, it just isn’t in your best interest to take a gamble on this and see what happens.

It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon when you hear about a new way to feel better, and it’s good that you’re doing your research before simply starting to take a supplement like this. What you really want is a method that can reliably bring you back to a good state of mind if you start to get overanxious, or are having trouble sleeping. Since you can’t use this for the long term, it doesn’t make sense to start using it, as it would only be able to provide short term results.

Final Kava Kava Review

We’re giving a Thumbs Down to kava kava, based on the side effect warnings by several protection agencies worldwide, and the fact that if you use it regularly it’s going to be less and less effective over time. This means that you can’t really rely on it if you have frequent anxiety, and a chronic sleep disorder.

Also, it’s a good idea to schedule a visit with your doctor if you haven’t already. Some people that try to diagnose themselves with a condition get it wrong and you don’t want to treat yourself for a condition that you don’t have. Your doctor can confirm or dispel your suspicions, and no matter what the outcome they can give you the next steps to take to fix whatever the problem actually is.

Our Recommendation
If you’re suffering from anxiety and have been to the doctor and they recommended taking a prescription medication, you’re right to look for all-natural ways to find peace and feel comfortable again. You don’t want to rely on a drug to make you feel good, and there are plenty of natural ways to help with anxiety. This might not be one of them, but you should keep up the search.

If you believe you have insomnia you’ll want to consult with your doctor to make sure that this is indeed what you have, and see what they recommend. They might advise you to check into a sleep center where they will observe exactly what’s wrong, and they can suggest possible treatment options.

What do you think? Does Kava Kava work or not?