Kava-Kava: A Possible Solution for Stress and Anxiety

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Throughout life, we each experience the anxiety of the unknown and the inevitable stress of our responsibilities combined with our limited supply of time. New technology, a strong economy, and increased competitiveness for jobs in the work force seem to usher in increased stress and anxiety. Although many dismiss this as a natural part of life, the health arena asserts the detrimental side effects of continual stress upon one’s body. In fact, "experts attribute almost 60 percent of doctor visits to stress-related ailments, including high blood pressure, arthritis, and cancer (http://www.doctorcass.com/html/kava_book.html)." In the past, the only mainstream options for treating excessively harmful stress and anxiety were prescription drugs, such as Valium, Xanax, Librium, Diazepam, and Elavil (http://www.herbsnow.com/anxiety.htm), which often result in addiction and unwanted sedation. Due to the increasing need for stress relief and the adversely detrimental effects of the prescription drugs available, there is a need for alternatives to psychiatric medications. According to Lehmann, Klieser, Klimke, Krach, and Spatz (1989, p. 258), the success of benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety prescription drugs) is being continually questioned, "especially because of the problem of addiction, and other side effects". Seeing this need, the herbal supplements market, including the Internet market, has overwhelmed consumers with possible better and safer solutions to fill the void left by psychiatric anti-anxiety medications. Among these relatively new alternatives, Kava-Kava has been pronounced as "the next blockbuster herbal remedy (http://www.betterlivingusa.com/kavapaper.htm)" by its advertisers. However, in order to affirm Kava-Kava as both a sa...

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