Kava – a FACT SHEET by the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association

Kava is a psychoactive plant found in the South Pacific Islands, including Hawaii, that has been used by indigenous Pacific Islanders for social, ceremonial, and medical purposes for centuries with relatively low reported health risk. For those purposes, kava is typically consumed in a beverage made using the root of the plant. It is also consumed in capsules, flavored and unflavored powdered extracts, and as a liquid extract dissolved in grain alcohol. Kava contains kavalactones, which can act as a mild sedative, and the substance can also induce muscle relaxation, numbness in the mouth and throat, and provide some pain relief. As with other herbal products sold at retail stores across the United States, kava products are unregulated which can lead to a great risk of harm to those who use these products, particularly when combined with alcohol or other substances.

Read the Fact Sheet.