Kava kava is considered safe to use for older persons when taken at recommended dosage over short periods and under supervision of competent health practitioner.
Long term use and over dosage of kava kava herb may cause serious side effects such as liver damage and even death.. In some countries such as Canada, Germany and Switzerland, kava kava herb has been banned from the market.
Kava kava should not be taken by people prone to liver disease.
Other kava kava side effects are dry skin and skin lesions or ulcers, dizziness and impairment of visual acuity. It is therefore not recommended to be taken when expected to work that requires due attention and alertness such as driving or operating machineries.
Kava kava has unfavorable side effects when taken with prescription anti-depressants, sedatives or mixed with alcohol. Kava kava can worsen depression conditions.
Kava kava is not for use by pregnant women, breast feeding mothers and very young children.
Kava kava Herb Banning Controversy
The widespread use and popularity of kava kava products in the late 1990’s resulted in the controversy where it has been associated in adverse liver damage that in some cases have resulted to death. These cases resulted to banning of kava kava use in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom and Netherlands. Canada followed suit when Health Canada issued a no sale policy of kava kava products in 2002.
But proponents of kava kava suggested that the Pacific kava paradox was based on the theory that kava hepatotoxicity was not observed from the use of traditional aqueous extracts in the Pacific region. That the European kava extracts were acetonic and ethalonic base and may have been corrupted with the use of other plant parts aside from the traditionally accepted roots only.