Skin rash? Stop taking that kava kava supplement!
A 55-year-old Californian man visited his doctor after a rash broke out over his face, torso, abdomen and scalp. After reviewing the medications and supplements…
Kava kava, also known simply as kava, is an herbal supplement primarily used to treat anxiety. (Shutterstock)
A 55-year-old Californian man visited his doctor after a rash broke out over his face, torso, abdomen and scalp. After reviewing the medications and supplements the patient was taking, doctors advised him to cease taking kava kava, an herbal remedy he was using to stop smoking.
The man, who had been taking the supplement for a period of three weeks in tea as well as under the tongue, did as his doctor advised and the rash went away after little more than a week. He resumed taking the supplement, however, he saw the rash return, only to go away again when he stopped taking it completely.
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Why did kava kava cause such a severe skin reaction?
Kava kava (Piper methysticum) has been used as a ceremonial drink in the Pacific Islands for hundreds of years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Those who drink it compare its effects to alcohol, and it is akin to wine in regards to a social beverage. Kava kava is said to elevate mood, well being, and contentment, as well as increase feelings of relaxation. While several studies have found that kava kava may be useful in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and related nervous disorders, some serious side-effects have been reported.
Many other negative effects have been associated with heavy use of kava kava. They include abnormal skin sensations, kidney damage, meningismus (pain caused by irritation of membrane layers around the spinal cord and brain), psychotic syndromes, seizures, urinary retention and blood in the urine. (Shutterstock)
Kava kava may cause liver damage, either on its own or through interaction with other medications, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer advisory in March of 2002 regarding the “rare” but potential risk of liver failure associated with kava kava containing products.
It is this ability to interact with medication that likely caused the skin reaction in the California patient. Doctors indicate the man was also taking an anti-anxiety drug called citalopram, which is broken down by the same enzyme in the body as kava kava. Taking both at the same time may have exaggerated the effects of the kava kava, causing it to effect the man’s sebaceous glands, irritating the skin. Skin reactions have been reported with kava kava use in other case studies.
Why is kava kava so popular if it causes skin reactions and liver damage?
Despite the warnings about using this herbal supplement, kava kava remains popular, and much of that popularity has to do with its cultural history as well as the extensive number of studies done on its active ingredients called kavalactones (kavapyrones).
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“These chemicals (including kawain, dihydrokawain, and methysticum) have been extensively studied in laboratory and animal studies. They have been found to reduce convulsions, promote sleep, and relax muscles in animals,” states the University of Maryland Medical Center. “They also have pain relieving properties, which may explain why chewing kava root tends to cause a temporary numbness and tingling sensation on the tongue.”
Human studies, however, have been less encouraging, with liver damage being the primary issue. Other side effects include allergic skin reactions , dizziness, drowsiness, restlessness, stomach upset, and tremors. Experts recommend to only use kava kava for a maximum of 3 months; long-term use at high doses may cause flaky, dry, and yellowish discoloration of the skin, hair loss (alopecia), partial loss of hearing, and loss of appetite. Kava kava may make an individual feel intoxicated, and therefore the herbal supplement should not be used before operating machinery.
