Kava has been used for medicinal, religious, political and social purposes throughout the

Pacific for 3,000 years. These cultures develop traditional ceremonies, which have the effect of monitoring the usage. Marketed as an herbal supplement, Kava should be made from the root of the plant; its production is not regulated. It is often sold in health food stores as tea.

EFFECTS: Numbing effect on the mouth and throat and relaxing feeling. It is an intoxicant and depressant. The effects start in about 20 to 30 minutes and normally last about 2½ hours; however they can linger up to 8 hours.Heavy use of Kava causes a SCALY, YELLOW SKIN RASH and EYE IRRITATIONKava's active principal ingredients are the kavalactones, which are considered psychoactive.Mixed with alcohol, Kava will intensify the effects of the alcohol and its toxicity and possible liver damage.If made with stems and leaves, LIVER DAMAGE is possibleKava's ingredients are removed by pharmaceutical and herbal supplement companies with solvents such as ACETONE and ETHANOL. The results are 30% to 90% of the kavalactones.Kava can be drunk as a tea, chewed or taken by pill. It can also be found in supplements.