Piper methysticum G. Forst. |
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Botanical Name |
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Piper methysticum G. Forst. |
English
Name |
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Kava Kava, Intoxicating Pepper. Ava Pepper |
Family |
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Piperaceae |
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General Info
| Description |
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A tropical evergreen shrub with woody stems. Leaves, heart-shaped, cordate acuminate with very short axillary spikes of flowers. The petiole is about an inch long, dilated at the base, and furnished with linear, erect stipules. The veins are prominent, about 12, diverging from the base of the leaf-blade. The flowers are small, apetalous, and arranged on slender spikes. Those bearing male flowers are axillary and solitary. The female spikes are numerous. |
| Herb Effects |
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Effect on the nerve centres is at first stimulating, then depressing, ending with paralysis of the respiratory centre. |
Chemistry
| Active Ingredients |
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Benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, dihydrokawain, dihydromethysticin, kawain, methysticin, yangonin (plant) |
| Chemistry
of Active Ingredients |
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Pharmacology
| Medicinal Use |
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For skin complaints, loss of appetite, in the treatment of rheumatism, menstrual problems, venereal disease, tuberculosis and even leprosy |
| Contraindication |
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Not recommended during pregnancy or breast-feeding or for severe anxiety disorders, Parkinson's disease and depression. |
| Reference |
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 Grieve. M. A Modern Herbal. 1931 (www.botanical.com).
Phytochemical Database. USDA - ARS - NGRL. Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Beltsville. Maryland. |
Dealers
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