WHO to Investigate Ban on Kava Herb

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Recently, the National Assembly of Wales voted to reverse a ban on the sale of a herb (Kava Kava), a root with relaxing, anti-depressive properties, which had been banned in serveral European and some non-European countries after adverse reaction reports linked the herb to some cases of liver damage. Apparently, the evidence proving the links was never fully made available and has been challenged by the sellers of the herb.

The NAHS, association of health food and herbal stores in the UK, has taken legal action to force revision of the restrictions on Kava sales, and is waiting for a court ruling. Meanwhile they point out that several European countries have banned Kava Kava without notifying the European Commission in accordance with European directive 98/34 and that these bans are therefore illegal under EU law.

The World Health Organisation seems to have doubts about the legality of taking the herb off the market and they have initiated an investigation and possible re-evaluation of the safety of the herb by two of its own Pharmacovigilance Centers.

Whether this WHO intervention, after reviewing all the safety data, will give Kava Kava a clean bill of health is yet uncertain. Equally uncertain is whether eventually Kava Kava will be made available again as a food supplement, or whether the herb will be sold as a medicine only.

See also:

Kava regains shelf space in Wales

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