Kava

Kava is a plant of the pepper family. It comes from Polynesia and other lands in the Pacific Islands.

Kava
Starr 070515-7054 Piper methysticum.jpg
Piper methysticum leaves
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Piperales
Family: Piperaceae
Genus: Piper
Species:
P. methysticum
Binomial name
Piper methysticum

The roots of the plant are used to make a drink with sedative and anesthetic properties. Kava is used in many cultures in the Pacific Ocean, besides its native Polynesia. These include Hawaii, Vanuatu, Melanesia and some parts of Micronesia.

Kava can relieve pain and make people calm. It is usually taken as a drug to relax without losing mental clarity in thinking and remembering. Evidence collected in studies show Kava is likely more effective than a placebo at helping calm some mild anxiety.[1]

Kava Media

References

  1. Pittler MH, Ernst E (2003). Pittler, Max H (ed.). "Kava extract for treating anxiety". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Online) (1): CD003383. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003383. PMID 12535473.

Other websites

  Media related to Kava at Wikimedia Commons
  Data related to Kava at Wikispecies