The FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) recently notified healthcare professionals and consumers of the potential risk of severe liver injury associated with the use of kava-containing dietary supplements.
Supplements containing the herbal ingredient kava are promoted for relaxation (e.g., to relieve stress, anxiety, and tension), sleeplessness, menopausal symptoms and other uses. Kava-containing products have been associated with liver-related injuries, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure.
On Monday, March 25, 2002, the FDA cited more than 25 reports of liver-related injuries in other countries and several reports of liver problems in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration went on to say that the occurrence of liver damage appears to be very rare and said that it has NOT concluded that the herb was responsible for the problems. However, given these reports, persons who have liver disease or liver problems, or persons who are taking drug products that can affect the liver, should consult a physician before using kava-containing supplements.
For additional information you can check out the Food and Drug Administration, (FDA), web site at www.fda.gov We no longer have Kava for sale on our web site. But if you purchase Kava elsewhere and you have a liver problem or are taking a prescription drug product that can cause liver problems, we strongly recommend that you discuss this issue with your local health care professional BEFORE using any Kava product.