Guest guest Posted February 14, 1999 Report Share Posted February 14, 1999 In article <000d01be581d$c1daf240$a78efad1@ken-greason>, Ken and <kglg@...> writes > Our local newspaper had an article today on " kava " , a tea which > seems to be mainly used for anxiety and as a relaxant, but which > the article also said is helpful for the stiffness of RA. Is > anyone familiar which this herb and its effectiveness in these two > areas? > > I thought Kava was used for making a potent alcoholic beverage. That would relax you! ------- Regards, Dr Graham Chiu Prospective Internet Observational Study in Arthritis Home Page http://www.compkarori.com/arthritis/ Contribute at http://www.compkarori.com/arthritis/contrib.htm Data Entry at http://www.compkarori.com/cgi-local/piosa.cgi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 1999 Report Share Posted February 15, 1999 Kava is a herb who's roots when crushed can be made into a elixir or drink . It has been used in Asia and the Pacific Islands for probably more than a thousand years. It is drank at ceremonial affairs,and by many native Islanders, like we might drink a beer after work, or a glass of wine. It is a shrub in the pepper family and in gross amounts can be intoxicating. But it takes quite a lot for someone to become intoxicated unless it is fermented by adding sugar ,fruit ect. You can find it there like pop is found here. Mainly, in the Polynesian Islands. It would make a great drink, 180 degree's from the effect of coffee. As it is a relaxant. It is not popular in the USA because we use and prefer alcohol, and Lord knows,we have enough drugs as is. I know of no studies that show it has any effect on arthritis, but anything that lowers stress has to help lower pain . That much is an understatement............ here is a toast to Kava!! Root Bless You Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 1999 Report Share Posted February 17, 1999 The only thing I know about Kava is that you need to be careful about what other medications it's combined with. I saw a story last year on one of the network news shows that told about some man who took it while on some other anti-stress medication (I can't remember what it was but Valium comes to mind). Apparently the guy became so relaxed, he collapsed and when he was rushed to the hospital, his vital signs had slowed to the point where he was almost relaxed to death. The story stressed that Kava is a potent drug and care should be taken when using it with other medications. They didn't state which medications were a bad combo with it but I wouldn't mess with it without a doctor's, pharmacist's or master herbalist's knowledge. None of us need to relax that much! a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 1999 Report Share Posted February 18, 1999 a, I also read that you should not take it if you take a drug like Xanex an anti-anxiety drug. It's supposed to be a great alternative for this addictive drug, though. Ute Reeves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 1999 Report Share Posted February 18, 1999 Ute, I think you're right about not taking it with Xanex, but taking it instead of it sounds like a good alternative to me. I'm one who'd much rather take " natural " remedies as opposed to prescription, but I still think it's wise to check on drug and herbal interactions with someone knowledgeable -- and not just necessarily the herb store clerk. I stopped at a health food store last night to try to get some Boswellia and was quite appalled at the way the clerk tried to push various items at me that I had not requested. She tried to tell me I shouldn't be taking antibiotics, she had a " cure " that would work better (she wanted me to take yucca, among other things), she pooh-poohed me taking acidophillus with the antibiotics (first time I've heard that!) and got quite up-in-arms when I said I wanted to check on bad interactions before adding anything new to my regime. She said " you never have a bad reaction taking herbs " , which, of course, made me decide not to take any of her advice. I ordered the Boswellia and got the heck out of there. Goes to show, the advice is only as good as the person giving it -- which is why you folks are all so great! a rheumatic Re: Kava From: Ute Reeves <nowyoga@...> a, I also read that you should not take it if you take a drug like Xanex an anti-anxiety drug. It's supposed to be a great alternative for this addictive drug, though. Ute Reeves ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out our new web site! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2002 Report Share Posted March 27, 2002 hi =) i never knew that about kava,kava is a big part of samoan culture,samoan culture is a big part of new zealand so it's relatively common here,i just thought i'd point that out,that ANYTHING can be harmful,kava was never used and was never meant to be used the way it is in it's 'westernised' way.I totally agreee that any natural therapies should be used VERY carefully and with involvement and cooperation from your dr,and never used in place of a recommended course of treatment ,but in conjunction with, lots of the stuff out there is being used with very little or no professional input,tha's just as dangerous as picking up some meds and saying 'ohhh this could help' not a bright idea >From: galye@... >Reply- > >Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Hi, new to the list...question on >Alternatives for l... >Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 13:09:40 EST > >Hi Everyone, >Did you hear on the news the new announcement that an herbal drug called >Kava >was almost FDA approved at the last minute they found Kava causes severe >liver damage. I do not agree to any herbs. I have tried another herb for my >Asthma and came very close to being put in the hospital. This is just my >opinion because I have never really heard any positives to convince me they >are safe. Just be careful. > >gayle/trans.6-99 >galye@... @` > \I/ > _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2002 Report Share Posted March 27, 2002 Very well said, Amber. It is not wise at all to just go ahead and use the " natural " herbs, etc. For many of Western meds are derived from those same herbs. I actually thought of using the herbal remedies, but after coming here to this group,decided against it. For me, I believe it is the best choice! debby Re: [ ] Re: Hi, new to the list...question on > >Alternatives for l... > >Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 13:09:40 EST > > > >Hi Everyone, > >Did you hear on the news the new announcement that an herbal drug called > >Kava > >was almost FDA approved at the last minute they found Kava causes severe > >liver damage. I do not agree to any herbs. I have tried another herb for my > >Asthma and came very close to being put in the hospital. This is just my > >opinion because I have never really heard any positives to convince me they > >are safe. Just be careful. > > > >gayle/trans.6-99 > >galye@... @` > > \I/ > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. > http://www.hotmail.com > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2005 Report Share Posted December 31, 2005 Rick in Ottawa, You shared about the dangers of Tylenol, then gave the Kava website. I have had experience using Kava, both the " real stuff " in the islands and the stuff sold here in the Health and Nutrition stores. The real stuff got me incredibly stoned for quite some time. Did nothing for my CMT at all, either positive or negative. I just wasted alot of time when I could have been diving, shelling, swimming or enjoying island beauty. The stuff marketed as Kava here did absolutely nothing for me. Oh, maybe I did lie on the grass and watch the clouds, but I do that sometimes to meditate and relax, so don't think it was Kava. There have been some warnings out of Germany in the last few years about the dangers of Kava and the negative impact Kava has on prescription medications. Partaking of a Yaquona Ceremony in the islands is an experience to learn of the ways Kava is used in ritual. But Kava for me has been left there as it is cultural for Fiji, not cultural for me in the States. ~ Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 Hi Gretchen, I should have been specific in defining the reference ... lesson learned ... the reference to the dangers of acetominophen is on the Kava page, last section, para 3. An additional danger is that acetominophen use may not be obvious ... e.g. it may be present in say cold medications that we may take on top of a pain killer (e.g. tylenol, generic brand) adding up to an overdose. PS: I am not affiliated with Kava in any way :-), never heard of it before, it was just the google search engine doing it's thing ... or, it was the computers fault :-) Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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