A tropical evergreen shrub with woody stems. Leaves, heart-shaped, cordate acuminate with very short axillary spikes of flowers. The petiole is about an inch long, dilated at the base, and furnished with linear, erect stipules. The veins are prominent, about 12, diverging from the base of the leaf-blade. The flowers are small, apetalous, and arranged on slender spikes. Those bearing male flowers are axillary and solitary. The female spikes are numerous.

Effect on the nerve centres is at first stimulating, then depressing, ending with paralysis of the respiratory centre.

Kava
Medline plus
King's American Dispensatory
Herb Information

Benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, dihydrokawain, dihydromethysticin, kawain, methysticin, yangonin (plant)

For skin complaints, loss of appetite, in the treatment of rheumatism, menstrual problems, venereal disease, tuberculosis and even leprosy

Not recommended during pregnancy or breast-feeding or for severe anxiety disorders, Parkinson's disease and depression.

Grieve. M. A Modern Herbal. 1931 (www.botanical.com).