Post by Jurriaan Plesman BA (Psych), P on May 8, 2013 14:33:44 GMT 10
Kava Research: Number behind studies are PMID numbers look up at PubMed.
"Kava was well tolerated, and aside from more headaches reported in the kava group (P = 0.05), no other significant differences between groups occurred for any other adverse effects, nor for liver function tests. Standardized kava may be a moderately effective short-term option for the treatment of GAD. Furthermore, specific GABA transporter polymorphisms appear to potentially modify anxiolytic response to kava." PMID: 23635869
While current evidence supports kava for generalized anxiety, more studies are required to assess comparative efficacy and safety (on the liver, cognition, driving, and sexual effects) versus established pharmaceutical comparators. 21073405
However, based on this systematic review, strong evidence exists for the use of herbal supplements containing extracts of passion flower or kava and combinations of L-lysine and L-arginine as treatments for anxiety symptoms and disorders. Magnesium-containing supplements and other herbal combinations may hold promise, but more research is needed before these products can be recommended to patients. St. John's wort monotherapy has insufficient evidence for use as an effective anxiolytic treatment. 20929532
Current evidence for herbal medicines in the treatment of depression and anxiety only supports the use of Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort) for depression, and Piper methysticum (Kava) for generalized anxiety.19614563
In the pooled analyses, no effects were found for kava, while a significant effect in favor of placebo was observed in participants with higher anxiety at baseline. No evidence of hepatotoxicity was found with kava, and all of the treatments were well tolerated. Findings from these three controlled trials do not support the use of kava in DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder.16877894
Safety parameters assessed include occurrence of adverse events, withdrawal symptoms, effect on heart rate, blood pressure, laboratory assessments, and sexual function. No differences were found between kava and placebo on any of the parameters evaluated. The data support the safety of kava in treating anxiety at 280 mg kava lactones/day for 4 weeks.15334034
Subjects felt more strongly that cognitive patterns, personality and stress were causative of their GAD and of greatest relevance to recovery. Biologic/genetic factors were somewhat relevant, whereas the importance of energy imbalance and spiritual/religious factors were minimal. When treating patients, it is important to consider the patient's belief systems regarding the disorder, as well as credibility of treatment.15253862
Kava-Kava LI150 is well tolerated and as effective as Buspirone and Opipramol in the acute treatment of out-patients suffering from GAD. 12807341
Although kava was not superior to placebo, it would be premature to rule it out as efficacious in GAD.12131602
These preliminary findings suggest that kava might exert a favourable effect on reflex vagal control of heart rate in generalized anxiety disorder patients. The parallel clinical and BRC responses may reflect an underlying common effect of this herbal anxiolytic. 11769822
A 37-year-old female outpatient with generalized anxiety disorder, a simple phobia and a specific social phobia was treated with phytotherapy (Kava kava). Within 4 weeks, symptoms had improved by 75% and by 6 months an almost total remission of symptoms was observed. The herbal medicine was well tolerated. Kava has considerable potential value in the treatment of anxiety disorders.11746854
These results support WS 1490 (a special extract of kava-kava) as a treatment alternative to tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines in anxiety disorders, with proven long-term efficacy and none of the tolerance problems associated with tricyclics and benzodiazepines.9065962
"Kava was well tolerated, and aside from more headaches reported in the kava group (P = 0.05), no other significant differences between groups occurred for any other adverse effects, nor for liver function tests. Standardized kava may be a moderately effective short-term option for the treatment of GAD. Furthermore, specific GABA transporter polymorphisms appear to potentially modify anxiolytic response to kava." PMID: 23635869
While current evidence supports kava for generalized anxiety, more studies are required to assess comparative efficacy and safety (on the liver, cognition, driving, and sexual effects) versus established pharmaceutical comparators. 21073405
However, based on this systematic review, strong evidence exists for the use of herbal supplements containing extracts of passion flower or kava and combinations of L-lysine and L-arginine as treatments for anxiety symptoms and disorders. Magnesium-containing supplements and other herbal combinations may hold promise, but more research is needed before these products can be recommended to patients. St. John's wort monotherapy has insufficient evidence for use as an effective anxiolytic treatment. 20929532
Current evidence for herbal medicines in the treatment of depression and anxiety only supports the use of Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort) for depression, and Piper methysticum (Kava) for generalized anxiety.19614563
In the pooled analyses, no effects were found for kava, while a significant effect in favor of placebo was observed in participants with higher anxiety at baseline. No evidence of hepatotoxicity was found with kava, and all of the treatments were well tolerated. Findings from these three controlled trials do not support the use of kava in DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder.16877894
Safety parameters assessed include occurrence of adverse events, withdrawal symptoms, effect on heart rate, blood pressure, laboratory assessments, and sexual function. No differences were found between kava and placebo on any of the parameters evaluated. The data support the safety of kava in treating anxiety at 280 mg kava lactones/day for 4 weeks.15334034
Subjects felt more strongly that cognitive patterns, personality and stress were causative of their GAD and of greatest relevance to recovery. Biologic/genetic factors were somewhat relevant, whereas the importance of energy imbalance and spiritual/religious factors were minimal. When treating patients, it is important to consider the patient's belief systems regarding the disorder, as well as credibility of treatment.15253862
Kava-Kava LI150 is well tolerated and as effective as Buspirone and Opipramol in the acute treatment of out-patients suffering from GAD. 12807341
Although kava was not superior to placebo, it would be premature to rule it out as efficacious in GAD.12131602
These preliminary findings suggest that kava might exert a favourable effect on reflex vagal control of heart rate in generalized anxiety disorder patients. The parallel clinical and BRC responses may reflect an underlying common effect of this herbal anxiolytic. 11769822
A 37-year-old female outpatient with generalized anxiety disorder, a simple phobia and a specific social phobia was treated with phytotherapy (Kava kava). Within 4 weeks, symptoms had improved by 75% and by 6 months an almost total remission of symptoms was observed. The herbal medicine was well tolerated. Kava has considerable potential value in the treatment of anxiety disorders.11746854
These results support WS 1490 (a special extract of kava-kava) as a treatment alternative to tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines in anxiety disorders, with proven long-term efficacy and none of the tolerance problems associated with tricyclics and benzodiazepines.9065962
