Kava and anxiety
What 6 graded rows on kava agree on for anxiety, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Kava page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Kava page, with its PubMed record.
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Kava and anxiety
6 rows · 1,372 peopleSplit. 3 rows found an improvement, 2 found no difference and 1 had mixed results.
- BGrade B× 1
- CGrade C× 2
- DGrade D× 1
- ∅No effect× 2
- Rows
- 6
- Trials
- 16
- People
- 1,372
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade B, is a meta-analysis of 645 people (2003) and found an improvement. 2 rows are graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
The 2 rows that found no difference were larger: a median of 214 people, against a median of 101 people for the 3 rows that found an improvement.
Only the 3 rows that found an improvement include pooled reviews of several trials (1 of 3); the 2 rows that found no difference are single studies.
1 row with mixed results is left out of this comparison.
The rows
3 improved · 2 no difference · 1 mixed- BGrade BAnxiety symptoms (Hamilton Anxiety scale) · Improved
Meta-analysis, 11 studies · n 645 · 2003 · Adults with anxiety in 11 double-blind placebo-controlled trials
Varied across trials · 1–24 weeks
In 6 trials (345 people) the Hamilton Anxiety score fell 5.0 points more with kava than placebo; adverse events in the trials were mild, transient and infrequent.
- CGrade CAnxiety disorders over 25 weeks · Improved
RCT · n 101 · 1997 · Outpatients with non-psychotic anxiety disorders
Not stated in the abstract · 25 weeks
Hamilton Anxiety scores improved more than placebo from week 8 on; adverse events were rare and evenly distributed.
- CGrade CGeneralized anxiety disorder (6 weeks) · Improved
RCT · n 58 · 2013 · Adults with GAD and no mood disorder
120–240 mg/day of kavalactones · 6 weeks
Anxiety fell more with kava than placebo (effect size 0.62); 26% versus 6% remitted. More headaches on kava; liver tests did not differ.
- ∅No effectAnxiety in adults with anxiety and insomnia (internet trial) · No difference
RCT · n 256 · 2005 · US adults with raised anxiety scores and insomnia, recruited and followed online; 121 randomized to kava and 135 to double placebo
Not stated in the abstract · 4 weeks
Anxiety (STAI-State) fell 14.4 points on placebo, and kava did no better (the fall was 2.7 points greater on placebo; 95% CI -0.8 to +6.2). Results were similar in the 83% who took the capsules for all 4 weeks.
- ∅No effectGeneralized anxiety disorder (16 weeks) · No difference
RCT · n 171 · 2020 · Adults with GAD not taking medication
120 mg of kavalactones twice daily · 16 weeks
No significant difference from placebo (difference of 1.37 points favouring placebo); 17.4% remitted on kava versus 23.8% on placebo. Memory problems, tremor and abnormal liver tests were more frequent on kava, though no one met criteria for herb-induced liver injury.
- DGrade DAnxiety, tension and restlessness in general practice · Mixed
RCT · n 141 · 2003 · Adult outpatients with neurotic anxiety
150 mg/day (50 mg three times daily) · 4 weeks
End-of-treatment anxiety scores did not differ significantly, but an exploratory analysis of change favoured kava; well-being and global ratings improved. Liver tests were unaffected.