Best Kava Supplements – Top 10 Brands Reviewed for 2019

In order to help you find a good product, we’ve researched & narrowed down the best kava supplements on the market right now.

Top 10 Kava Products Compared

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1. VH Nutrition Kava Kava

VH Nutrition Kava Kava provides 700mg of kava root extract. The serving size is one tablet. The bottle contains 60 capsules.

Specs

• Provides 700mg of kava root extract
• Not suitable for vegetarians
• Good reviews
• No fillers
• 100% Satisfaction guaranteed

Who Makes It?

VH Nutrition was developed in 2008 by a bodybuilder and a triathlete after they found the nutritional supplements they wanted were not yet available on the market. Today, the company supplies a small range of quality supplements.

Bottom Line

These are very effective kava kava pills, with strong potency. They contain natural ingredients and no fillers but are not vegan-friendly.

2. NOW Foods Kava Kava Extract

This is one of the best-rated kava supplements on the market, NOW Foods Kava Kava Extract provides 250mg per serving. Each serving size is one capsule. The bottle contains 60 tablets.

Specs

• Provides 250mg per serving
• 30% Kavalactones
• Suitable for vegetarians
• non-GMO
• Good reviews

Who Makes It?

NOW Foods has been manufacturing high-quality nutritional supplements since 1968. The company owns and operated facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Their main manufacturing facility contains state-of-the-art laboratories for testing and analyzing their ingredients. NOW has an excellent reputation for the quality and consistency of its products.

Bottom Line

This is one of the best kava kava supplements on the market. It’s excellent quality, value for money and it’s non-GMO. The NOW brand is very reliable straight across the board and you can count on the purity of their ingredients. This supplement is also suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

3. Gaia Herbs Kava Kava Root

Another powerful kava supplement, Gaia Herbs Kava Kava Root provides 442mmg of kava root extract per serving. Each serving is one tablet. The bottle contains 60 capsules.

Specs

• Provides 442mmg of kava root extract per serving
• Non-GMO
• Vegetarian-friendly
• Ecologically harvested
• Organic ingredients

Who Makes It?

Gaia Herbs guarantee purity and potency in all their nutritional supplements. They are also dedicated to sustainable practices. They are also advocates of biodiesel and renewable energy.  Gaia Herbs products do not contain dairy, meat, gluten, peanuts, yeast, sesame, shellfish, or eggs.

Bottom Line

This is a strong kava kava supplement. It’s made with the best ingredients and you can rest assured that they have been ecologically harvested. These are one of the best kava pills because they are organic, allergen-free, non-GMO, and vegan-friendly. They are also great value for money. Because they are liquid phyto-caps, they have optimal bio-availability.

4. Oregon’s Wild Harvest Kava Root

Oregon’s Wild Harvest Kava Root provides 800mg of kava root extract. One serving size is two tablets. The bottle contains 45 capsules.

Specs

• Provides 800mg of kava root extract
• 100% Vegetarian
• Non-GMO
• Contains no common allergens
• Contains no fillers

Who Makes It?

Oregon’s Wild Harvest was developed in 1994 by Pam and Randy Buresh. This family-run business is dedicated to maintaining a balance in health and supplement manufacturing by utilizing organic biodynamic farming methods, using renewable energy sources, and setting aside more than 10% of their farmland for natural pollinators.

Bottom Line

These are good kava pills with high-quality ingredients, offering good value for money and suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

5. Natrol Kava Kava

Natrol Kava Kava provides 200mg of kava root extract per serving. Each serving is one tablet. The bottle contains 30 capsules.

Specs

• Provides 200mg of kava root extract per serving
• Contains no common allergens
• 30% kavalactones
• Not suitable for vegetarians
• Contains fillers

Who Makes It?

Natrol is an Aurobindo company. It has been manufacturing vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements for more than 35 years. The company performs strict quality tests for all its products. Natrol is proud to have frequently received the highest rating from the Natural Products Association.

Bottom Line

This is another effective kava supplement.  It’s a good value for your money and made with quality ingredients. It also contains 30% kavalactones. Unfortunately, this supplement does contain fillers, and it is also not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.

6. Nature’s Answer Kava-6

Nature’s Answer Kava-6 provides 333mg of kava root extract. One serving is one capsule. The bottle contains 90 tablets.

Specs

• Provides 333mg of kava root extract
• Suitable for vegetarians
• Supplies (6) active Kava constituents
• Good reviews
• Contains fillers

Who Makes It?

Nature’s Answer supplements are made with veggie capsules that are made from plant-based cellulose, which is soy-free. As well as vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements, Nature’s Answer also supply alcohol-free extracts.

Bottom Line

Nature’s Answer Kava-6 is a good kava supplement. The root extract is standardized to 30% kavalactones. This supplement is suitable for vegan and vegetarians, but it does contain fillers.

7. Eclectic Institute Kava Kava

Eclectic Institute Relaxation Support provides 350mg of kava root extract per serving. The bottle contains 45 capsules.

Specs

• Provides 350mg of kava root extract per serving
• Freeze-dried concentrate of Kava Kava root
• Contains California poppy and passionflower
• Processed with the natural juicing,

Who Makes It?

Eclectic Institute grows its own herbs on a 90-acre organic farm. They use the freeze-drying method to maintain raw, viable ingredients. All of their nutritional supplements are specially formulated by a naturopathic physician.

Bottom Line

This is a good choice if you are looking for a kava supplement with a little extra, as it is enhanced with passionflower and poppy. It is expensive compared to some of the other high-quality supplements.

8. Maui Medicinal Herbs Hawaiian Kava

Maui Medicinal Herbs Hawaiian Kava provides 1 oz of 100% pure dried kava root per package. The serving size ½ oz, which makes 8 fluid oz of tisane.

Specs

• Provides 1 oz of dried kava root per package
• Brew it or chew it like gum
• Also available in 8 oz packet
• No added ingredients
• Good price

Who Makes It?

Maui Medicinal Herbs is a family-owned and operated business that was developed in 1998. Maui Medicinal Herbs Hawaiian Kava was their first product.

Bottom Line

This is a good choice if you want an alternative to tablets or capsules, as you have the option to make an infusion and drink the juice, or to chew on the root.

9. Pure Mountain Botanicals Kava

Pure Mountain Botanicals Kava provides 400mg of kava root per serving. Each serving is one capsule. The bottle contains 90 caps.

Specs

• Provides 400mg of kava root per serving
• Vegetarian
• Kosher
• Gluten-free
• No fillers

Who Makes It?

Developed in 2013, Pure Mountain Botanicals makes all their supplements from pure, organic ingredients. They produce a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements.

Bottom Line

Overall, this is a good product with an adequate dose and no unnecessary fillers.

10.  Kavana Kava Kava

Kavana Kava Kava provides 400mg of kava root extract per serving. A serving is one tablet. The bottle contains 60 caps.

Specs

• Provides 400mg of kava root extract per serving
• Also contains 5-HTP, L-theanine, Valerian Root, and Magnesium Chelate
• Vegetarian-friendly
• Good reviews

Who Makes It?

Kavana Supplements is a U.S.-based supplement provider. This appears to be the company’s only product.

Bottom Line

This product is a good way to take a combination of kava kava and 5-HTP, L-theanine, Valerian Root, and Magnesium Chelate in one convenient tablet.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kava Supplements

What is Kava?

Kava, also known as kava-kava, is an extract taken from the Piper methysticum plant, which is indigenous to the Western Pacific Islands. Kava has a long history in the Pacific Islands, where it has been used as a drink for more than 3000 years. This tradition is still alive today, and islanders often drink kava during special social gatherings and in functions involving the senior members of the village.

According to legend, kava’s popularity began with a young girl who left Fiji to marry a Samoan chief. On the way to Samoa, she noticed two plants growing in the valley; one of them was being eaten by a rat. When the rat had done eating, it fell asleep. The girl realized that the plant must have some soothing properties, so she took it with her to Samoa. The plant was Kava.

What Are the Uses & Benefits of Kava?

The root and the underground stem of the plant are used to make extracts, tablets, and capsules. Though a considerable amount of research has been conducted on kava extracts, variance in the dosages used and the methods of preparation often indicate mixed conclusions about kava benefits.

• Anxiety: In a study conducted by a team at the University of Melbourne, 75 patients who had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder were given kava kava or a placebo for eight weeks. At the end of the study, the results showed a significant reduction in anxiety for the participants who had been taking kava.
• Pain relief: Some of the lactones extracted from kava may have anti-inflammatory effects that could support pain maintenance. Further studies are needed.
• Headaches and migraines: Several kava kava supplement manufacturers claim that the extract can provide relief from headaches and migraines. However, to date, there is no scientific research to support these claims.
• Insomnia: In a study published in Phytotherapy Research, participants suffering from anxiety-related insomnia were given 120mg of kava kava per day for six weeks. This was followed by two weeks without treatment. The remaining participants then received 600mg of valerian per day for six weeks. The results showed that both kava and valerian significantly improved insomnia. Further studies are needed.
• Menopause: In a study published in Minerva Ginecologica, forty women who had been going through menopause for 1-12 years were randomly assigned either natural estrogens with progestin and kava or natural estrogens with a placebo for six months. The results showed that the women who had been taking the natural estrogens with kava had a greater reduction in symptoms than those taking the placebo. The results of the women’s HAMA score suggested that kava may support healthy menopause and alleviate symptoms such as anxiety and depression.

How Do I Take Kava?

If you are considering taking a kava kava supplement, it is advisable to first speak with your physician or a trained herbal practitioner. Do not exceed the manufacturer’s suggested kava dosage.

Drug monitoring studies showed that patients taking a kava supplement dosage of 120-150mg of kava extract per day did not show any trace of liver toxicity.

Are There Any Side Effects of Kava?

Common side effects of kava include headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, depression, itching, and nausea.

• You should not take kava if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• You shouldn’t take kava if you have any liver condition.
• You should not take a kava supplement if you are taking sedatives.

Liver toxicity: After around 70 case reports of kava kava use had suggested liver toxicity, supplemental use of the extract was banned in the U.K. in 2003. Though there exist several theories to explain the toxicity, it is still shrouded in uncertainty as some experts argue that in a number of the reported cases, the liver damage could have been due to alcohol or other drugs. In other instances, excessive amounts of kava had been taken.

Another theory contends that low-quality ingredients contributed to the problem. During the peak of kava popularity, prices for raw materials were high and kava was in short supply. Kava cultivars and parts of the plant other than the rhizome were used.

Because of safety concerns and liver toxicity, you should limit your intake of kava to 4-6 weeks.

How Do I Pick a Good Kava Product?

Kava kava preparations should be made with extracts from the rhizome of Piper methysticum. With a 30% potency of kavalactone. You should choose a supplement that is organic, non-GMO and contains no common allergens, artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, and no unnecessary fillers.