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Kava Kava, an
Anxiety-Relieving Herb, Remains Banned in the UK Due to the
Risk of Liver Toxicity
by Stephen Price
Kava Kava is one of the few herbal
supplements used for agoraphobia that
has been proven to reduce anxiety in
clinical studies.
First used by islanders in the South Pacific and then
extensively in Europe, studies support Kava Kava’s
effectiveness for reducing anxiety and treating insomnia.
The effects of Kava Kava come from interaction with the
limbic system which regulates emotion. Currently, Kava Kava
is used in both the U.S. and Australia in tea, cereal
products, smoothies, and spirit drinks. Along with Valerian,
Kava Kava is one of only two herbs with controlled studies
to back its effectiveness in reducing anxiety and inducing
sleep.
This
is why some people with agoraphobia use
Kava Kava as a natural way to help
manage symptoms.
However, a ban on the use of Kava Kava in both medicinal
and food products was recently upheld in the UK. This came
about after a review of the latest scientific research
weighing its benefits against the risk of liver toxicity.
Kava
Kava was originally banned in the UK in 2002, as a result of
data supplied to the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory
Agency (MHRA) by the Committee on Safety of Medicines’
Expert Working Group and the Medicines Commission, both of
which determined that in rare cases, Kava Kava could cause
liver damage when used in unlicensed medicine.
The
ban was upheld by the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) and
the MHRA, even though representatives from the herbal
industry felt that the ban was unmerited. Ralph Pike,
director of the National Association of Health Stores, said
“This ban is unlawful, irrational, scientifically and
morally bankrupt, and procedurally defective and may even be
in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.”
Following the original ban, Professor Edward Ernst, chair of
Complimentary Medicine at Exeter University, said: “Kava is
proven to be effective in treating anxiety and, looking at
the total risk, it is safer than synthetic drugs. If we are
going to ban Kava today, then we should have banned Valium
twenty years ago.”
The
FSA said, “If any new evidence comes to light that suggests
that the ban is no longer necessary, the prohibition will be
reviewed.”
Meanwhile the ban on Kava has been lifted in other European
countries such as Germany (in 2005), and Wales (in 2002).
In
France, Ireland, and Portugal, sale of Kava Kava has slowed
due to health concerns.
In
the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Kava Kava is
still being sold with various advisements and warnings
against its use while risk assessments are being conducted.
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