Kava: A relaxing beverage with therapeutic benefits

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Kava: A relaxing beverage with therapeutic benefits

Phil Rasmussen

kava CR Forest and Kim Starr, CC by-SA 3.0
The kava plant in Maui, Hawaii [Image: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY-SA 3.0]

Pharmacist and medical herbalist Phil Rasmussen traces the chequered history of kava, which is famous for its anti-anxiety and sleep-promoting properties

Kava (Piper methysticum) was first domesticated in the Pacific Islands about 3000 years ago. Numerous varieties exist, and today it is widely cultivat
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