Let’s Get Kava-fied

The newest popular drug now is Kava Kava, also called simply “Kava.” Worldwide, Kava (Piper methysticum G. Forst.) is a perennial shrub native to the Pacific Islands, Polynesia, Vanuatu, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, New Guinea, and Indonesia. The Kava drink, typically prepared as a cold-water root infusion, directly from the plant's roots, has a long history and has been used for thousands of years in the Pacific. Kava drinking is growing in popularity and is increasingly consumed in non-traditional settings. Experts have reported on the shift from traditional use to commercialized and adulterated forms, raising concerns.

In some cultures, Kava is believed to connect drinkers with the spiritual world or their ancestors. In addition, Kava ceremonies may accompany political negotiations and reconciliation rituals.

Pacific Island communities have long used Kava to treat physical and mental ailments. Kava's anti-anxiety, calming, and stress-relieving properties are a primary medicinal reason for its use. It is also often taken to induce restful sleep. The supplement is used both topically and orally to reduce headaches, menstrual cramps, and muscle pain.

Kava is integral to Fijian life and is used in almost every important community or religious event. It has ceremonial uses in Tonga and Samoa, especially during state or religious events. In some cultures, kava drinking is a daily practice in welcoming guests and honoring dignitaries, as serving Kava is a gesture of hospitality and respect.

Why Is Kava Gaining Popularity Now?

Younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are consuming less alcohol and actively seeking alternative beverages. Kava fits into this shift, providing a non-alcoholic option with a sense of relaxation and social engagement.

Kava drinks currently compete with cannabis-infused and other alcohol-free drinking and socializing. Kava offers a calming, mildly euphoric effect without the intoxicating impact of alcohol. This makes it appealing to individuals seeking relaxation and social interaction but wishing to avoid alcohol. Kava bars seek to provide a communal atmosphere where patrons can enjoy these effects in a social setting.

Does Kava Act in the Brain Like Valium or Xanax?

Kava contains psychoactive constituents known as kavalactones, also called kavapyrones. Kavalactones do not bind directly to the benzodiazepine-binding site on the GABA_A receptor like Valium or Xanax does. However, some kavalactones (kawain, yangonin) have been shown to modulate GABA_A receptors indirectly, possibly enhancing GABAergic transmission and producing anxiety-reducing effects. The anxiety-reducing effect is more subtle than with Valium or Xanax, also lacking the pronounced sedation of benzodiazepine medications. Kavalactones can increase dopamine levels, particularly in the nucleus accumbens, contributing to mood elevation. This dopaminergic activity distinguishes Kava from benzodiazepines, which generally have a minimal effect on dopamine.

Oddly, certain kavalactones may exert weak MAO-B inhibitory activity, potentially affecting mood and cognition. Kava has also been shown to block voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels, which may contribute to its muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant properties. However, Kava lacks the same tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal profile of anti-anxiety medications. One issue: liver toxicity is a significant concern, especially with non-traditional use or chronic or high doses found in concentrated kava tinctures, capsules, and even alcohol-based extracts.

Kava Studies

Some studies have explored Kava's potential as a prescribed treatment for managing anxiety, with conflicting results. A randomized, double-blind, multi-center clinical trial found Kava-Kava extract LI 150 was as effective as prescribed medications, buspirone and opipramol, in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) over 8 weeks. (Opipramol is not approved in the United States by the FDA.)

A Cochrane review concluded Kava extract could be an effective symptomatic treatment for anxiety, though the study was small and not convincing. More recently, a 16-week randomized controlled trial found no significant difference between Kava and placebo in reducing anxiety symptoms. The evidence regarding Kava's effectiveness in improving sleep or pain relief is also mixed. Some studies suggest Kava may aid sleep by reducing anxiety and indirectly improving sleep quality.

Because of safety concerns about hepatotoxicity, Kava is banned in many European countries. Worth mentioning, many reported cases have been associated with the concomitant ingestion of high doses with other compounds with potential hepatotoxicity, such as some medications and/or alcohol.

What the Experts Say About Kava

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I asked expert Professor Oliver Grundmann, PhD, of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Florida, an expert on Kava, for his opinions.

According to Dr. Grundmann, Kava use has grown in the US with an increasing diversity of consumer products. Although the traditional suspension of the root powder is a common way of consuming kava in a social setting, such as in a kava bar, kava extracts, capsules, tea bags, and prepared kava shots are also gaining in popularity.

Dr. Grundmann says, “While Kava is described in the literature as an anxiolytic and a sleep aid, more than a third of consumers today report feeling euphoric, talkative, friendly, and happy. The notion that Kava is used as a social lubricant similar to alcohol may only apply to some users, while others are seeking out Kava to enhance mood, self-treat pain, and reduce dependence on other substances, such as alcohol and tobacco products."

Grundmann has not seen any reports of increased hepatotoxicity, even with a rise in the number of kava consumers. He says as many as 25% of young adults use Kava.

Dr. Grundmann continues: “The emerging problem is the trend of extracts, higher dosing, and novel forms of consumption, which certainly mirrors that of cannabis and kratom products. That may indeed lead to more overdoses/adverse effects.”

2025 Music and Kava

The song "I Want to Faikava" has inspired a dance and a flood of videos from Pacific peoples worldwide. Samoan/Māori artist MELODOWNZ is no stranger to bringing Kava into the mainstream, previously hosting celebrities, politicians, and sports stars on his Kava Corner talk show. One Kava sound on TikTok currently reigns supreme, “Let’s Get Kavafied.”

Kava Bars in the United States

Kava bars have proliferated in the United States, with a notable concentration in Florida. Other states with growing Kava bar scenes include New York and California, where urban populations embrace California sober living, functional beverages, and alternative wellness practices.

Summary

The Kava market is experiencing robust growth as increasing numbers of young people avoid alcohol and seek to replace it with alternative anti-stress and anxiety functional beverages. As the market grows, Kava is poised to become a staple in the functional beverage industry. This growth is fueled by increased interest in indigenous use of plants and herbs, which some see as cultural appropriation and commercialization, as Kava is sold and used divorced from the sacred practice, artistic, and ceremonial roots of Kava in countries like Fiji, Tonga , Samoa, and Vanuatu. Consumers should consult healthcare professionals before incorporating Kava into their routines, especially if they have any medical or behavioral health conditions or are taking any other medications.