ABSTRACT
A perennial shrub, kava (Piper methysticum) is indigenous to the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Herbal preparations (of varying quality) of this plant have been making their way worldwide since the 1990s, and an increasing number of kava products are being used to combat anxiety. P. methysticum rhizomes can be consumed as a beverage, which has sedative properties but, in excessive amounts, the roots will produce anaesthetic and hypnotic effects. As added benefits, kava is often used in traditional medicinal systems for the treatment of diseases like the common cold, cystitis, gonorrhoea, asthma, headaches, menstrual issues, infections related to the urinary tract, and skin problems, as well as acting as a muscle relaxant and an anti-obesity agent. Both fresh and dried rhizomes of the plant are used for their vasodilation and erotogenic properties, as well as being an analgesic, relaxing spasms, and CNS stimulants. To relieve toothache and sore throat, urinary problems, gallbladder problems, and arthritis, root bark scrapings are chewed. As for the leaves, they are applied to bites, stings, centipede bites, and poisonous fish bites, and the fluid extracted from them is used to treat seizures and rigidity in toddlers. This chapter presents an overview of kava constituents and their medicinal uses. Although kava is useful in treating generalized anxiety, inflammation, cancer, etc. a thorough investigation is required before establishing it is as safe and effective as existing pharmaceutical alternatives for the above-described diseases.
