Is Kava Safe? What the Research Says About Your Liver

Updated October 2026

Kava has been part of Pacific life for centuries, and millions of people drink it without trouble. It also had a real safety scare in the early 2000s. Here's what happened and what it means for you.

The liver scare

Around 2000 to 2002, regulators in Europe and the US received reports of liver injury in people using kava products. In 2002 the FDA issued a consumer advisory, and several European countries pulled kava supplements from the market. Germany's ban was later overturned in court.

What researchers found

Many of the problem cases involved concentrated kava supplements, often made with solvents like acetone or ethanol, sometimes from the wrong parts of the plant or low-quality kava. A 2007 World Health Organization assessment concluded that traditional water-based kava drinks appear to carry less risk than those concentrated extracts, and called for better quality standards.

Serious liver injury from kava is rare, but it isn't zero, and researchers still don't fully understand why some people react.

What lowers the risk

• Choose noble kava prepared the traditional way with water, which is what good kava bars serve.
• Never mix it with alcohol.
• Skip it if you have liver disease, and talk to a doctor if you take medications processed by the liver.
• Know the warning signs: unusual tiredness, dark urine, yellowing skin or eyes, or pain in the upper right abdomen. Stop drinking kava and see a doctor if you notice them.

Heavy, long-term use

People who drink large amounts of kava every day for a long time can develop dry, scaly skin known as kava dermopathy. It typically clears up after cutting back. Heavy use has also been linked to appetite loss and weight loss.

The bottom line

For most healthy adults, an occasional shell of quality kava is considered low risk. Moderation, good kava, and no alcohol go a long way. This page is general information, not medical advice.

Next: Kava interactions and who should skip it. Or find a kava bar near you.