Considering the use of Kava Kava for anxiety treatment.
In modern societies, stress and anxiety have pretty well become commonplace. There are sources of anxiety, it seems, all around us. Most adults have multiple responsibilities that they attend to, some of which require consistent effort and attention. In addition, we all to one degree or another must navigate life, a task that is frequently challenging. It's not terribly difficult then to feel overwhelmed and anxious at some points, and perhaps even often. Because anxiety is an unpleasant state and can even seriously interfere with functioning, when anxiety comes people typically want it to quickly disappear.
A growing number of people have become committed to using what are thought of as natural treatments for various disorders. Natural in this case is often seen as something that doesn't originate from a pharmaceutical company, or something that organically appears in nature. Those who advocate using treatments that are sometimes referred to as natural say these sorts of treatments operate more in harmony with the human body than a treatment produced under controlled conditions; in addition, some people consider natural treatments to have less potential toxic effects than manufactured treatments may.
The desire to go natural has also found its way into anxiety treatment. A plant known as Kava Kava is increasingly being sold and used for the treatment of an anxious condition. Kava Kava is native to parts of the South Pacific, and the usage of the Kava Kava plant by native peoples dates back centuries. Kava Kava has specifically been used over time as part of religious ceremonies, and as a cure for insomnia and muscle tension. The ingredient used for treatment is found in the root of the Kava Kava plant, and studies have suggested a correlation between this active ingredient and enhanced mood. Specifically, it's thought that Kava Kava may affect certain chemical reactions within the brain, and cause an enhanced state of relaxation.
Though on its face Kava Kava may sound like an appealing treatment for anxiety, there are reports of Kava Kava usage being linked to severe liver damage. To be fair, there isn't conclusive evidence that small amounts of Kava Kava will cause liver damage. There are those who claim the liver damage effects sometimes coinciding with Kava Kava usage are actually the effects of other causes, such as alcoholism. Whether there is an actual link or not, the reports of Kava Kava leading to liver damage reminds us that not everything that occurs in nature is good for us. A point that's worth being aware of is that there are various treatments for anxiety aside from Kava Kava, and many of these treatments have been proven safe and effective.
