Kava can cause severe liver damage, even cirrhosis and liver failure.
The herb can cause dry, scaly skin with a yellow appearance.
Kava can also interact with other medications and cause adverse reactions.
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Your provider may recommend you take kava for specific reasons.
However, consuming an herb like kava may have potential side effects.
These side effects may be common or severe.
No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for a complete list of the ingredients if you’re unsure.
Dosage: How Much Kava Should I Take?
Most jurisdictions recommend not exceeding 240 to 250 milligrams of kavalactones per day.
Scientific evidence does not support the long-term use of kava products.
If you feel you’ve ingested too much kava, kindly ask for immediate guidance from a healthcare provider.
Keep kava supplements away from direct sunlight.
Discard as indicated in the packaging.
Kava products prepared via water-based extraction methods are advised instead of those prepared with ethanol and acetone.
Water extracts are preferred because they are rich in liver-protective compounds calledglutathione.
When buying kava, look for water-based kava extract from the plant’s root.
This results in a reduction of excitatory neurotransmitter release and a limitation in the nerve cells' reuptake ofdopamineandnorepinephrine.
High doses of kava should be avoided if driving or operating heavy machinery.
That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says.
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