The kava plant, a psychoactive crop found natively in islands throughout the Pacific, may serve as a natural treatment for chronic anxiety, according to a recent study conducted by Australian researchers. In the study, subjects diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder took tablets containing kava extract for six consecutive weeks, and experienced significant relief from their anxiety symptoms in comparison to a group of subjects that were given placebos instead. Previous studies have also suggested that kava can relieve anxiety, though some of these studies cautioned that kava could cause liver toxicity. The new study worked toward disproving this notion.

The notion could have widespread benefits, as the Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that around 40 million adults suffer from anxiety in the U.S. alone.

Significant Reductions in Anxiety Levels

During the study, researchers from the University of Melbourne studied 75 individuals that had been previously diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. The subjects were divided into two groups, with one group receiving kava pills and the other receiving sugar pills (placebos) over the course of six weeks. The researchers continually assessed the anxiety levels of all the subjects as the study period continued.

Using psychological testing, the researchers concluded that the patients in the kava group experienced far more significant improvements in their anxiety levels than those in the placebo group. Just 6% of the individuals in the placebo group were classified as “in remission” at the conclusion of the study, while the same was true of 26% of those in the kava group.

In terms of side effects, only a few of the patients in the kava group said they experienced headaches during the study, while most subjects reported no negative side effects at all.

What is Kava, Anyhow?

Kava has been used since ancient times by Pacific Islanders in various healing rituals. Traditionally, the roots of the plant are brewed as a tea, or the plant itself can be ground into a coarse powder. When kava is consumed, the imbiber experiences mild euphoria and sedation. The roots of the kava plant in particular are believed to contain kavalactones, the active ingredient known to reduce anxiety. Kavalactones are being regarded as a natural alternative to Xanax, the prescription pharmaceutical commonly ordered as an anxiety treatment. However, the researchers behind the study see a lot of promise in the kava plant because they believe it to have far fewer side effects and a lower risk of addiction than Xanax and other prescription anxiety meds.

As mentioned, some previous studies suggested that imbibing kava could pose danger to your liver. However, the new study found no evidence of this, despite the fact that kava was once banned in certain countries due to liver toxicity fears.

A few years ago, researchers not involved with this new study conducted a summary review of 12 previous trials on kava, all of which found the plant to be a safe and effective treatment for anxiety, at least in the short term. At the same time, more research will be needed to determine the long-term effects of kava use.

The Bottom Line

The kava plant may be an excellent alternative to prescription anxiety medication, according to a new study conducted in Australia. Kava can be found in pill form as a dietary supplement, and as an ingredient in some so-called “relaxation drinks” that are marketed as the opposite of energy drinks.

The full text of the study can be found online in the Journal of Clinical Phychopharmacology.