What Does Kava Compare To? Understanding its Pharmacology and Effects

October 9, 2025 •

5 min read

With a history spanning over 3,000 years in Pacific Island cultures, kava has long been cherished for its relaxing and ceremonial properties. For those new to its effects, the question of what does kava compare to is essential for understanding its unique pharmacological profile and safety considerations.

Quick Summary

A look at kava's effects compared to common substances like alcohol, benzodiazepines, kratom, and other herbal supplements, highlighting differences in pharmacology, risks, and benefits for informed use.

Key Points

Kava vs. Alcohol: Kava provides relaxation and mild euphoria with mental clarity, unlike alcohol's intoxicating and cognitively impairing effects, and carries less risk of dependence.
Kava vs. Benzodiazepines: Both are anxiolytics, but kava works differently on GABA receptors, offering anxiety relief without the high addiction potential or cognitive impairment of benzodiazepines at therapeutic doses.
Kava vs. Kratom: Kava's calming effects are mediated by kavalactones interacting with the GABA system, while kratom's dose-dependent stimulant or opioid-like effects come from alkaloids acting on opioid receptors, carrying a higher risk of addiction.
Product Quality Matters: Historically, liver toxicity reports linked to kava were often tied to poor quality or solvent-based extracts, not traditional water-based preparations from the root.
Caution with Use: Kava can impair motor skills, especially at higher doses or when mixed with alcohol, and should be avoided by individuals with liver problems or those on certain medications.
Herbal Alternatives: Compared to other herbal remedies like valerian root or CBD, kava has strong evidence for short-term anxiolytic effects but with distinct pharmacological properties and safety concerns.

Kava, derived from the root of the Piper methysticum plant, is traditionally consumed as a beverage in the South Pacific for its relaxing and mood-altering effects. The primary active compounds in kava are kavalactones, which interact with the central nervous system to produce anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and sedative effects. However, its unique mechanism of action and effects set it apart from many other commonly compared substances.

Kava Compared to Alcohol

On the surface, kava and alcohol may seem similar due to their relaxing effects. Both are considered central nervous system depressants, but their specific effects and risks differ significantly.

Effects: Kava induces a sense of calm and mild euphoria without the significant cognitive impairment or loss of motor skills associated with alcohol. Users often report feeling clear-headed and tranquil with kava, unlike the intoxication and poor judgment caused by alcohol. In contrast, alcohol causes more pronounced sedation and can lead to slurred speech and balance issues.
Risks: A primary concern with alcohol is its high potential for addiction, hangovers, and long-term health consequences, including severe liver damage. While kava has been linked to potential liver issues in rare cases (often associated with poor quality products or combining with alcohol), it does not carry the same risk of dependence as alcohol. Combining kava with alcohol is particularly dangerous and can potentiate impairment.

Kava Compared to Benzodiazepines

Kava is often compared to benzodiazepine medications like Valium or Xanax due to its anxiolytic properties. However, their mechanisms of action and safety profiles are distinct.

Mechanism of Action: Both act on the brain's GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) system, but in different ways. While benzodiazepines bind directly to a specific site on the GABA-A receptor, kavalactones interact with a different site, or potentiate the binding of GABA to its receptors, leading to less severe sedation and a lower risk of addiction.
Side Effects: Unlike benzodiazepines, therapeutic doses of kava are not associated with mental impairment or dependence issues. A 2003 review noted that studies comparing kava to benzodiazepines found similar reductions in anxiety but with fewer side effects from the kava group. However, combining kava with benzodiazepines can increase sedation and is not recommended.

Kava Compared to Kratom

Both kratom and kava are plant-based supplements gaining popularity, but they are fundamentally different substances from distinct geographical regions.

Origins and Active Compounds: Kava is a Pacific Island pepper plant containing kavalactones, while kratom is a Southeast Asian tree from the coffee family containing alkaloids (mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine).
Mechanism of Action: Kratom's active alkaloids act on the brain's opioid receptors, causing both stimulant-like effects at low doses and opioid-like sedative and analgesic effects at high doses. In contrast, kava's effects are mediated through its interaction with the GABA system and other neurotransmitters, not opioid receptors.
Addiction Potential: Kratom carries a significant risk of dependence and addiction due to its opioid-like effects, with users potentially experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Kava, on the other hand, is not considered addictive.

Kava Compared to Other Herbal Remedies

For anxiety and sleep, kava can be compared to other herbal supplements like valerian root, CBD, and passionflower.

Valerian Root: Both influence the GABA system. Research on valerian's effectiveness for anxiety and insomnia has shown mixed results, and at least one study found kava and valerian were no more effective than a placebo for these conditions.
CBD (Cannabidiol): Kava and CBD are structurally different, with kava containing kavalactones and CBD being a cannabinoid that interacts with the endocannabinoid system. While CBD has low psychoactivity, some kava varieties can produce more notable mood-enhancing effects. Kava does not act on the same receptors as THC, unlike some cannabis products.
Other Herbal Anxiolytics: Many other herbs exist, but kava is one of the few with stronger evidence for its anxiolytic effects, although safety concerns must be considered.

Comparison Table: Kava vs. Common Substances


Feature	Kava	Alcohol	Benzodiazepines	Kratom
Mechanism of Action	Modulates GABA, inhibits monoamine reuptake	CNS depressant; enhances GABA, affects other neurotransmitters	Enhance GABA-A receptor binding	Acts on opioid receptors
Primary Effects	Relaxation, mild euphoria, mental clarity	Intoxication, impaired judgment, sedation	Sedation, muscle relaxation, anxiolytic	Dose-dependent: stimulant at low dose, sedative at high dose
Addiction Potential	Minimal risk, not considered addictive	High potential for addiction and dependence	High potential for dependence and addiction	Potential for dependence and addiction
Key Risks	Rare liver toxicity, dermopathy, vision changes with heavy use	Liver damage, overdose, addiction, impaired driving	Dependence, withdrawal, cognitive issues, overdose	Addiction, potential organ damage, hallucinations

Important Considerations for Kava Use

While comparing kava to other substances reveals its unique properties, it's crucial to acknowledge the safety concerns.

Product Quality: Not all kava is created equal. Historically, severe liver injury reports were linked to poor quality products, extracts made with solvents like acetone or ethanol, and contamination from other plant parts (stems and leaves), which may be more toxic than the root. Water-based preparations from the rootstock are generally considered safer.
Liver Health: Individuals with pre-existing liver conditions, heavy alcohol users, or those taking other hepatotoxic medications should avoid kava. Regular, heavy consumption of kava is associated with a higher risk of elevated liver enzymes and dermopathy.
Driving and Impairment: Even though kava promotes mental clarity at lower doses, it is still a CNS depressant. At high doses or when combined with alcohol, it can impair motor skills and judgment, so driving or operating machinery should be avoided.
Drug Interactions: Kava can interact with a wide range of medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, and other CNS depressants, as it can inhibit the cytochrome P450 enzymes that metabolize these drugs. Always consult a healthcare professional before combining kava with any other substances.

Conclusion

In summary, what does kava compare to is a complex question with a nuanced answer, as it stands apart from many common substances. While it offers anxiolytic and sedative effects like alcohol and benzodiazepines, its mechanism is distinct, with a different risk profile and a lower potential for addiction. It also differs from other herbal supplements like kratom in its mechanism, potential for dependence, and effects. Understanding these comparisons and heeding safety precautions is essential for anyone considering kava use. As with any supplement, starting with a high-quality product, using it responsibly, and consulting a healthcare professional is the wisest approach.

For more information on kava's safety and efficacy, consider exploring resources from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

While both kava and alcohol have central nervous system depressant effects, kava promotes a clear-headed relaxation and mild euphoria without the significant cognitive and motor skill impairment caused by alcohol. Kava also carries a lower risk of dependence compared to alcohol.

Kava has shown effectiveness in treating mild to moderate anxiety in short-term studies, with effects comparable to benzodiazepines but without the same risk of dependence. However, kava is not officially recommended for long-term use and should not be combined with benzodiazepines without medical supervision.

Kava and kratom are distinct substances from different plants and with different mechanisms. Kava's kavalactones modulate the GABA system for calming effects, while kratom's alkaloids act on opioid receptors, carrying a higher potential for addiction.

The safety profiles of kava, valerian, and CBD are different. While kava has stronger evidence for its anxiolytic effects, it has been linked to rare cases of liver toxicity. All should be used cautiously, and product quality is paramount for kava.

Due to its central nervous system depressant properties, kava can impair motor skills and judgment, especially at high doses or when mixed with other substances. It is best to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery after consumption.

Reports of severe liver damage linked to kava often involved poor quality products, improper plant parts (non-root), or co-consumption with alcohol. While the risk appears low with high-quality, water-based root extracts, individuals with pre-existing liver conditions should not take kava.

To minimize risk, consumers should seek out water-based extracts from the kava plant's root and avoid products that use stems or leaves or those extracted with solvents like ethanol or acetone.