[Treatment with Kava--the root to ocombat stress].

Kava-kava (Piper methysticum), a shrub which grows on the islands of the Pacific Ocean, contains the so-called kavapyrones as active substances; these have been pharmacologically investigated in detail and are comparable with the benzodiazepine tranquilizers with regard to their mode and strength of action. The good tolerance and absence of both the soporific effect and risk of dependence should be emphasized. The present article describes the origin and history of the kava plant as well as its pharmacology, action, possibilities for therapeutic use, and significance in medical practice. Also discussed are the advantages of the standardized kavapyrone complex of active substances as a modern phyto-anxiolytic and daily tranquilizer for nervous anxiety, tension, and agitation states.