Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - vol. 37 - Kava, From Ethnology to Pharmacology (178p) [Inua].pdf

Series: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Industrial Profiles (Book 37)
Title: Kava: From Ethnology to Pharmacology
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: CRC Press; 1 edition (January 15, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 8123906412
ISBN-13: 978-8123906416

Description: Kava is an herb that has been used for ceremonial, ritual, religious, social, political, and medicinal purposes for centuries. In the past few decades, kava has been widely marketed as an over-the-counter treatment for anxiety, stress, restlessness, and sleep disorders.

Kava: From Ethnology to Pharmacology describes the history, botanical origins, production, economic aspects, and chemical and biological properties of this medicinal herb. A major part of the book focuses on the chemical and pharmacological properties of kavalactones, the psychoactive constituents of kava that reportedly have sedative, anxiolytic, analgesic, local anesthetic, anticonvulsant, and neuroprotective properties. Clinical and medical studies that provide evidence of kava's therapeutic benefits are balanced with an assessment of the known adverse effects and interactions in which kava has been implicated.

With contributions from experts in the field, this volume presents a comprehensive view of the traditional aspects of kava and the latest applications for the herb. It is a valuable reference for botanists, phytochemists, toxicologists, physicians, pharmacists, herbalists, and alternative medicine practitioners.