This is an article published by consumerreports.org
The case against kava, one of the top-selling herbal supplements, has picked up momentum. Noting its association with liver damage, doctors--including Consumer Reports’ own medical experts--have for some time advised people to use kava (also known as kava-kava) with caution.
Now, in the wake of new, compelling evidence linking kava to liver damage and failure, Singapore, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other European Union nations have banned its sale.
Kava is sold as a tension relaxer, usually in capsule form but also as an ingredient in some foods.
In the U.K., the Medicines Control Agency issued a blunt statement in late December about its use. "There is clear evidence linking kava-kava with rare cases of liver toxicity," the agency said, citing 66 cases and four deaths worldwide. "Investigations have been unable to identify factors that would predict which individuals are at risk of adverse reactions," the agency said, adding that the risks could not be reduced by measures such as label warnings. It concluded: "There is no evidence to support a safe dose of kava."
Canadian health authorities banned the sale of all products containing kava in August 2002. The Canadian government said it "has determined that there are no acceptable food uses for kava."
Given the weight of evidence, and in the absence of a ban in the U.S., Consumer Reports’ medical consultants now urge everyone to avoid kava.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has done less than its European counterparts to deal with risks associated with kava. The agency issued a warning in March 2002 about the possible harm from kava and urged health-care professionals to report any injuries that may be related to its use. The FDA could impose a ban on the sale of the herb, but because of restrictions on the government’s ability to regulate supplements, the agency would first have to collect enough data to prove that kava is unsafe.
