special subjects
Kava
Adverse Effects
A number of cases of liver toxicity (including liver failure) in both Europe and the US ( References ) after taking kava have prompted the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to mandate a warning label on kava products. Hepatotoxicity may be related to preparation methods or poor quality raw material contaminated with mold that contains hepatotoxins ( When kava is prepared traditionally (as tea) and used in high doses (>6 to 12 g a day of dried root) or over long periods (up to 6 weeks), there have been reports of scaly skin rash (kava dermopathy), blood changes (eg, macrocytosis, leukopenia), and neurologic changes (eg, torticollis, oculogyric crisis, worsening of Parkinson disease, movement disorders). 