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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Herb

Kava (WS-1490)

Standardized kavalactone extract for anxiety.

Mood & AnxietySleep & Recovery

Overview

Standardized kavalactone extract for anxiety.

Natural sources
    Common forms

      Forms & variants of Kava

      Different chemical forms of Kava behave differently. Browse each form's mechanism, bioavailability, and best-use context.

      Parent
      Kava

      Polynesian anxiolytic with strong evidence; rare hepatotoxicity risk.

      Mechanism of action

      Kavalactones potentiate GABA-A and inhibit reuptake of noradrenaline.

      Pathways

        Effects on the body

        Organ system effects

        Evidence-based benefits

        Comparable to oxazepam for GAD

        Strong evidence

        Potential side effects

        Common
        • · GI upset
        • · Drowsiness
        Rare
        • · Hepatotoxicity (especially with stems/leaves)
        Serious

          Drug interactions

          CYP-metabolized drugs
          Inhibits multiple CYP isoforms.
          moderate
          Hepatotoxic drugs
          Avoid combination.
          severe

          Safety & non-supplemental interactions

          Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

          Avoid if you are
          • ·Pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
          • ·Children under 18 (unless directed by a clinician)
          Avoid / monitor with these medications
          • ·Alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, sedating antihistamines (additive CNS depression)

          Supplement interactions

          Pairs well with

          None listed.

          Avoid combining with

          No specific avoidances listed.

          Dosing & bioavailability

          Typical dose
          100–250 mg kavalactones
          With food?
          With food

          Where to buy

          Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

          Herb
          Kava (WS-1490)
          Amazon
          Wide selection · fast shipping
          Herb
          Kava (WS-1490)
          iHerb
          Global delivery · curated brands
          Herb
          Kava (WS-1490)
          Thorne
          Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

          Scientific evidence (8)

          RCTPharmacopsychiatry · 1997

          WS-1490 vs placebo in anxiety

          Volz HP, Kieser M

          24-week DB-RCT in 101 anxiety patients.

          Key findings

          Significantly superior to placebo on HAM-A.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Kava (WS-1490) — Comparable to oxazepam for GAD

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Kava (WS-1490) Comparable to oxazepam for GAD" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kava (WS-1490) and "Comparable to oxazepam for GAD". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Kava (WS-1490) — randomized controlled trial

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Kava (WS-1490) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kava (WS-1490) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Kava (WS-1490) — meta-analysis

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Kava (WS-1490) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kava (WS-1490) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Kava (WS-1490) — pharmacokinetics

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Kava (WS-1490) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kava (WS-1490) and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Kava (WS-1490) — safety adverse events

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Kava (WS-1490) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kava (WS-1490) and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Kava (WS-1490) — dose response

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Kava (WS-1490) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kava (WS-1490) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

          Google Scholar: Kava (WS-1490) — clinical evidence

          Live Scholar search

          Cross-database citation index for Kava (WS-1490) as it relates to "clinical evidence".

          Key findings

          Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

          Open study
          Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.