Kava and valerian no more effective than placebo, study finds

By Hubert Vigilla

Published on August 08, 2005

The innovative Internet study, performed by Dr. Bradly P. Jacobs and several colleges from University of California, San Francisco, involved 391 subjects from 45 states who reported signs of anxiety and insomnia. The test subjects were separated into three groups and sent the herbal supplements by mail. The first group was given kava and a valerian-placebo; a second group received valerian and a kava-placebo; and the control group received both kava and valerian placebos.

Test subjects filled out online questionnaires following four weeks of treatment. According to the research, anxiety scores decreased by 25 percent in patients taking a placebo while patients on kava or valerian experienced a 21 percent decrease. Similar results were found with insomnia. All three test groups experienced a 50 percent decrease in insomnia scores and the amount of time required to fall asleep. Patient subgroups in the study (e.g. those with higher or lower depression scores) also showed similar results.

The research was performed prior to recent warnings concerning kava-related liver damage. None of the subjects who took kava in the study reported adverse effects to their liver.

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