I have been doing some research on kava, not for neuropathy but for relaxation and an alternative to alcohol.

What I did see were some people with fibromyalgia that gave it a favorable review and a few mentioned it has replaced the pills all together.

I have ordered some and will see if it has any effect. I did have to much of it in Fiji many years ago and was to hammered to feel much of anything although these days there are many different strains.

Just thought I would throw it out there

Let us know your experience, very curious.

If you choose Kava and use it alot, I'd suggest you get liver function tests periodically.

http://livertox.nih.gov/KavaKava.htm

Will keep you posted Lewie

Thanks Mrs D , I think if I read it right the incidence is very low

"The frequency of adverse reactions to kava, particularly liver injury, is not known. Based upon reported cases, the estimated frequency of clinically apparent liver injury due to kava is less than 1:1,000,000 daily dose"

But here is the thing, I have been a functioning alcoholic (not now) for 35 years and my nerves are shot but my liver is brand new, dont ask me how lol.

I get tested every 6 months these days .

From the NIH:

What the Science Says
Although scientific studies provide some evidence that kava may be beneficial for the management of anxiety, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that using kava supplements has been linked to a risk of severe liver damage.
Kava is not a proven therapy for other uses.
NCCAM-funded studies on kava were suspended after the FDA issued its warning.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/kava

MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for you A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
From the National Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of Health

How does it work?
Kava affects the brain and other parts of the central nervous system. The kava-lactones in kava are believed to be responsible for its effects.

Are there safety concerns?
Kava is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth. Don’t use it. Serious illness, including liver damage, has occurred even with short-term use of normal doses. The use of kava for as little as one to three months has resulted in the need for liver transplants, and even death. Early symptoms of liver damage include yellowed eyes and skin (jaundice), fatigue, and dark urine. If you decide to take kava, despite warnings to the contrary, be sure to get frequent liver function tests.

Using kava can make you unable to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not take kava before you plan on driving. "Driving-under-the-influence" citations have been issued to people driving erratically after drinking large amounts of kava tea.

Special precautions & warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Don’t use kava if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Kava is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth. There is a concern that it might affect the uterus. Also, some of the dangerous chemicals in kava can pass into breast milk and might hurt a breast-fed infant.

Depression: Kava use might make depression worse.

Liver problems: Kava is hard on the liver, even healthy ones. Taking kava if you already have liver disease is taking a risk.

Surgery: Kava affects the central nervous system. It might increase the effects of anesthesia and other medications used during and after surgery. Stop using kava at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...tural/872.html

Best wishes, Elaine

Yeah thanks Elaine, its one of those things that like alcohol can be abused with catastrophic results. Indeed there has been abuse by teens mostly as they try to down 1 months worth of powder in 3 sittings trying to get as high as possible.

After much research with Kava users it appears to be no different to any other powerful plant substance taken orally. The " kava society" is also at war with the NIH over what they regard to be minimal research .

However Im going in with eyes wide open and stay tuned for the result

If I should happen to Kark it due to some odd reaction then it would have worked, I will be pain free LOL!

"kark it, cark it" (often spelled with a 'c')—an Australian idiom from the 1970s meaning to break down and/or die.

It has many other meanings from other times and places; one of the more interesting words & etymologies I've had to look up since being here.

Doc

LOL I cant believe you looked that up, however it did occur to me after posting that it may not be a word used universally

I know what you mean. I always have to be very careful when people ask me what country I am from.

In the 70s I travelled a bit by way of thumb (hitchhiking). In one major North American city, I met some other young tourists from England. We were sitting at an outdoor cafe, when one of them casually asked me if I knew where he might pick up some fags.

Fortunately, I knew that 'fag' is British slang for cigarette, and by his body language (patting down his pockets) that cigarettes were in fact what he was asking about, but I also knew what connotations it had in the part of the US we were in, and that very few locals were likely to know what he meant. I apprised him of the other meaning, which he had never heard of, but was grateful I may have saved him some... misunderstandings.

"The United States and Great Britain are two countries separated by a common language." —George Bernard Shaw

"We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language." —Oscar Wilde

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/English_language

(Personally, I would paraphrase the above quotes to include Australia, Canada, and other English-speaking places. I've spent several evenings into the wee hours discussing language differences with Canadian friends who live only 100 miles away...)

That incident—among others—have engendered in me a curiosity/interest in words, idioms and etymologies.

Doc