Systemic Review of the Use of Kava Kava for the Reduction of Anxiety Disorder
Naomi Burton, K B Sneed and Yashwant Pathak*
Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, 12910 Bruce b Downs Blvd, MDC 030, tampa FL 33612, USA
*Corresponding Author: Yashwant Pathak, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, 12910 Bruce b Downs Blvd, MDC 030, tampa FL 33612, USA.
Published: July 14, 2023
Abstract
Herbal medicine has been around since the start of humanity, but the advancement of modern medicine has pushed these ancient remedies to the side until recently. Recently, there has been a rise in the interest of herbal medicine and how it can be integrated with modern medicine. A prime example is Kava Kava which has been examined for its anti-anxiety properties. This systemic review aims to evaluate fourty-three current sources on the effectiveness of Kava Kava for Anxiety Disorder as well as its potential impact as a possible substitute for anxiety medicine if it is effective. Sources used in this review were gathered from four databases: Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and USF Library. The sources were then filtered through and selected using the PRIMSA method with the assist of Endnote, Rayyan, and manual evaluation. The general conclusion of the sources is that Kava Kava appears to be a decently effective short-term medication for generalized anxiety disorder. However, more studies will need to be conducted on its potential side effects and the mechanisms behind the herb.
Keywords: Kava Kava; Piper Methysticum; traditional medicine; anxiety; stress; menstrual disorderspain; muscle spasm; systemic review