I've spend the last couple of weeks doing a bit of literature review and talking to vendors, scientists and kava clubs around Auckland and Waikato. I wanted to learn how common it is for people to become allergic to kava. I am not talking about dermo. I am talking about a proper allergic reaction characterised by at least one of the following symptoms:
-skin rash
-hives
-very itchy skin
-puffy/swollen face
-(in more extreme, very rare cases usually when one chooses to ignore the above symptoms and continues drinking the same amounts of kava despite getting all the skin problems, puffy face etc) fever and problems with breathing
Some people can develop an allergy to kava fairly rapidly (just one or two sessions), others might suddenly develop an allergy after months or even years of regular kava use (this is fucking scary, actually!). In general, every single kava vendor I have spoken with and every single kava club I have communicated with have confirmed that they are aware of this possibility, but they all agree that it's very, very rare. I would say that on average each kava club or vendor with many years of experience with serving or selling kava to hundreds or thousands of people is aware of apx 2-10 cases. I imagine that there is a degree of under-reporting (not everyone who tries kava once or twice and gets a bit of a rash will report it back to the vendor or kava circle). It seems that women of European ancestry are more likely to develop it than anyone else, but I have met a Tongan man who became allergic to kava in his mid 30s (after 15 years of regular drinking). Apparently those who are generally allergic to several things are much more likely to develop an allergy to kava than others.
One of the most common patterns is: Someone drinks kava with no problems for a while (could be weeks, months). One day he/she gets a bit of a rash (from the same kava or from a different kava). He/she ignores it (doesn't link it with kava) until it gets more serious (swollen face and other symptoms) at which point the drinker gets in touch with a doctor (in two cases I am aware of people had to go to a hospital at night) and is advised to stop drinking kava. The symptoms disappear within 1-2 weeks of abstinence. In some cases after a few months or a year or two with no kava previously allergic users were able to drink it again (the same kava) with no problems. In other cases any amount of any kava would always trigger a reaction so those who become allergic and experience serious symptoms are advised to avoid kava or any products with kava.
Please note that the above info doesn't mean that kava itself is toxic or dangerous. Virtually any type of food can trigger allergic reactions with some people. Some foods are a bit more likely to trigger these reactions than others, but the fact that a small % of people develop an allergy to peanuts, milk, caffeine, gluten or kava doesn't make these products "unsafe" for the general public. However, it is extremely wise to observe your body's reactions and if you do develop an allergy to kava, you should stop drinking it.
-skin rash
-hives
-very itchy skin
-puffy/swollen face
-(in more extreme, very rare cases usually when one chooses to ignore the above symptoms and continues drinking the same amounts of kava despite getting all the skin problems, puffy face etc) fever and problems with breathing
Some people can develop an allergy to kava fairly rapidly (just one or two sessions), others might suddenly develop an allergy after months or even years of regular kava use (this is fucking scary, actually!). In general, every single kava vendor I have spoken with and every single kava club I have communicated with have confirmed that they are aware of this possibility, but they all agree that it's very, very rare. I would say that on average each kava club or vendor with many years of experience with serving or selling kava to hundreds or thousands of people is aware of apx 2-10 cases. I imagine that there is a degree of under-reporting (not everyone who tries kava once or twice and gets a bit of a rash will report it back to the vendor or kava circle). It seems that women of European ancestry are more likely to develop it than anyone else, but I have met a Tongan man who became allergic to kava in his mid 30s (after 15 years of regular drinking). Apparently those who are generally allergic to several things are much more likely to develop an allergy to kava than others.
One of the most common patterns is: Someone drinks kava with no problems for a while (could be weeks, months). One day he/she gets a bit of a rash (from the same kava or from a different kava). He/she ignores it (doesn't link it with kava) until it gets more serious (swollen face and other symptoms) at which point the drinker gets in touch with a doctor (in two cases I am aware of people had to go to a hospital at night) and is advised to stop drinking kava. The symptoms disappear within 1-2 weeks of abstinence. In some cases after a few months or a year or two with no kava previously allergic users were able to drink it again (the same kava) with no problems. In other cases any amount of any kava would always trigger a reaction so those who become allergic and experience serious symptoms are advised to avoid kava or any products with kava.
Please note that the above info doesn't mean that kava itself is toxic or dangerous. Virtually any type of food can trigger allergic reactions with some people. Some foods are a bit more likely to trigger these reactions than others, but the fact that a small % of people develop an allergy to peanuts, milk, caffeine, gluten or kava doesn't make these products "unsafe" for the general public. However, it is extremely wise to observe your body's reactions and if you do develop an allergy to kava, you should stop drinking it.
