====== Kavain ======

//Kavain// is the active ingredient of extracts of Kava root ((//Piper methysticum//).

>For millennia, Pacific Islanders have been using the root of a native pepper plant called kava (//Piper methysticum//) to prepare a non-alcoholic psychoactive beverage, which is also called kava. Kava drinking is an integral component of the Pacific Islander culture, with kava playing roles as a sacred drug in religious rituals, a social lubricant at formal gatherings, and a medicine to induce relaxation and sleep."\\ \\ Source :[[https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0157700|PLoS ONE, 0157700]] .{{:oa_padlock_grn.png?16}}

It has been extensively investigated by Western medicine, and has been found to be very effective at controlling anxiety. It has also been used as an anti-convulsant (for treating [[content:medicine:diseases:a-f:epilepsy]]), as a treatment for insomnia, and as a mood-stabiliser. Anecdotally, it's said to to have less problematic side effects than other commonly used drugs - though this is not yet scientifically confirmed.

To date, there is no solid explanation of the pharmacological mechanism(s) which make it effective.

>Despite the long history of kava consumption and the wealth of clinical evidence in favour of the efficacy of kavalactones in treating anxiety, there is a severe gap in our understanding of the molecular target(s) and the mechanism(s) of action of these psychoactive compounds."\\ \\ [ source as above ]

Further info : [[https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/kava-kava|Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai]].