K Section

Kava; Kava kava, ava ava; kawa, Piper methysticum  
Khat, Catha edulis
Kudzu, Pueraria lobata

 Kava (Kava kava, ava ava; kawa

Piper methysticum Frost

Piperaceae

Uses: (see Physician's Laptop for more detail)

Food: Dried root tea has a tongue loosening mellowing effect on guests and host.

Medicine: Root is used to treat anxiety. May have direct influence on limbic system.

Side effects: some get gastrointestinal upset.

Preparation: May be decocted into a tea. Pills and other preparations are available over the counter.

Chemistry: Kava lactones (kava pyrones) kawain, dihydrokawain, methysticin, yangonin. Root typically contains 5.5 to 8.3% kava lactones. Extracts are concentrated to 30-70% lactones. Kava lactones have numerous effects: analgesic, muscle relaxing, anti-anxiety, anti-convulsing. Possible direct influence on limbic system.

References:

Holm et al. Studies on the profile of the neurophysiological effects of D,L. Kavain: Cerebral sites of action and sleep-wakefulness-rhythm in animals. Arzneim-Forsch Drug Res 1991: 41: 673-83.

Murray. Healing Power of Herbs, Prima, 1995. see references 18 count pp218-219.

Merck Index, Eleventh Edition.

Khat

Catha edulis Frost.

Celastraceae

Evergreen shrub or tree to 80 feet.  Six inch leaves, alternate, ovate and toothed, upper leaf waxy green.  Northern Africa dweller.

Medicine:  Fresh leaves and shoots uses to make a tea called Arabian tea, Somali tea, Abyssinian tea.   This narcotic and stimulating Islamic tea is said to suppress hunger and improve cognitive abilities, loosen the tongue for brilliant discourse...Yadda, yadda, yadda.  Considered an aphrodisiac.

Alkaloid, tannins in leaves are appetite suppressant, pupil dilator, and may cause constipation.  Chronic use of the drug may lead to anxiety and depression.

Contraindicated for diabetics as use may lead to increased blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia).  May lead to anxiety attacks and depression, especially when drug is withdrawn.

Leguminosae

Food: Root is ground and used as a thickening agent.

Medicine: A cooling herb ironically used to cause perspiration, tonic herb used to relieve pain. Antispasmodic. Soothing to the digestive system. Root used for flu, colds, to reduce fever, muscular tension, gastritis, alcohol poisoning. Use flowers for bloating, intestinal and stomach gas. Kudzu root is used in China to treat angina, it is differentially effective. Root extract (flavonoids) is hypotensive, it dilates coronary arteries improving blood flow to the heart. According to Jim Duke in his book The Green Pharmacy (Rodale Press) kudzu flowers hasten the accumulation of acetaldehyde in the blood while drinking causing the drinker to become prematurely drunk, thereby controlling the alcoholics behavior. Puerarin in kudzu has decreased blood pressure, hypertension, by 15 percent in laboratory animals. Puerarin is an antioxidant more potent than vitamin E providing protection from heart disease and cancer. In China, the plant has a long history for treating alcoholism. Alcohol suppression is accomplished with the isoflavones daidzin and daidzein. The root and flowers contain the active phytochemistry. In animal studies in China, an injection of kudzu flavonoids in the neck increased blood flow and raised blood sugar levels then lowered blood sugar below baseline. Daidzein, genistein and formononetin provide FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) follicular hormone effects.

Preparation: Roots collected in fall, used fresh or dried. Fresh root squeezed for juice. Dried root used powdered in tea, or simmered whole in decoction. Flowers are typically picked in the late budding stage before they open, then dried and simmered in decoction.

Chemistry: Root: Daidzin, daidzein, puerarin, puerarin-7-xyloside, genistein, formononetin, puerarol, kakkonein, 2 mirosestrol, allantoin, acetylcholine, succinic acid, starches. Flower: eugenol, benzoic acid, essential oils, ethyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol, leaf alcohol, 1-octen-3-ol, octyl alcohol, linalool, benzyl alcohol, phenethyl alcohol, propionic acid, isovaleric acid, capronic acid: p-coumaric acid, irisolidone, genistein, daidzein, quercetin.

Wildlife/Veterinarian: Used to improve circulation to brain in dog, experimental.