Disputed Media UK rag publishes kava hit piece sponsored and likely ghostwritten by CBD company

[kasa_balavu]

Blogspam articles that discuss various supplements including kava are relatively common, and they almost always mention potential liver damage, but it's been a long time since I've seen an entire article dedicated to kava liver damage.

The article:
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1656204/supplements-warning-kava-liver-damage

There are quotes from WebMD, but the worst of it comes from "Doctor Monika Wassermann, medical director for boutiquetoyou.com" who "warned that it could cause liver cirrhosis, hepatitis and even liver failure".

There isn't a link to WebMD in the article, with the only outbound link pointing to boutiquetoyou.com.

This article is a very obvious hit piece by Boutique To You.
An example of what Paul Graham talks about in his old essay http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html


The article, if you'd prefer not to give that website any ad impressions:

Supplements warning: Anxiety supplement that could cause major liver damage - expert

TAKING supplements can be a good alternative to medications or trying to overload your diet with certain vitamins. However, as with anything we consume they can have a negative effect on our bodies.
It is thought that more than eight million people in the UK suffer from anxiety. Although certain drugs are commonly taken for the mental health condition, some people look for other ways to ease the symptoms. And there is one supplement linked to anxiety that could become “harmful” over time.

One expert explained how taking kava supplements might be dangerous.

Kava, which is also known as kava kava, comes from the piper methysticum plant and is used by some cultures as a relaxation drink.

It can also be consumed as tea, in a powder or in tablet form.

But Doctor Monika Wassermann, medical director for boutiquetoyou.com, warned that it could cause liver cirrhosis, hepatitis and even liver failure.

Speaking with Express.co.uk, she said: “Multiple studies show that kava can reduce the symptoms of general anxiety (GAD).

“However, going overboard with Kava consumption or long-term use of the herb can cause liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, and liver failure.

“Cases of harmful interactions between kava and drugs that pass through the liver for metabolism (think anti-anxiety drugs or anticonvulsants) are not unheard of.

“For this reason, you may really want to check out with your healthcare provider before adding kava to your daily routine (especially if you are under drugs metabolised by the liver).”

According to WebMD, kava was removed from the market in Europe and Canada in the early 2000s amid health concerns.

Kava still cannot be bought in the UK, although some people have reported importing it in.

“Cases of liver damage and even some deaths have been linked to kava use,” WebMD says.

“But after reviewing the evidence, most countries have allowed kava to return to the market.”


It explained more about how it works: “Kava affects the brain and other parts of the central nervous system.

“Chemicals called kavalactones that are found in kava are believed to be responsible for its effects. People commonly use kava for anxiety.

“It's also used for stress, withdrawal from drugs called benzodiazepines, sleeping problems, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.”

The service states that kava should only be taken for up to six months.

“People who have liver problems should avoid kava,” it adds

“It might make liver disease worse.”

Symptoms of liver disease include:

Feeling very tired and weak all the time
Loss of appetite – which may lead to weight loss
Loss of sex drive (libido)
Yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Itchy skin
Feeling or being sick.

 

[The Kap'n]

Blogspam articles that discuss various supplements including kava are relatively common, and they almost always mention potential liver damage, but it's been a long time since I've seen an entire article dedicated to kava liver damage.

The article:
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1656204/supplements-warning-kava-liver-damage

There are quotes from WebMD, but the worst of it comes from "Doctor Monika Wassermann, medical director for boutiquetoyou.com" who "warned that it could cause liver cirrhosis, hepatitis and even liver failure".

There isn't a link to WebMD in the article, with the only outbound link pointing to boutiquetoyou.com.

This article is a very obvious hit piece by Boutique To You.
An example of what Paul Graham talks about in his old essay http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html


The article, if you'd prefer not to give that website any ad impressions:

This is a horse that just cannot be beaten enough in death. The clickbait bullshit articles like these are a dime a dozen these days. They could easily write an article EXACTLY the same on Ashwagandha, or green tea, but nah, kava is more attractive for that.

Monika Wassermann

Monika Wassermann is a doctor and a freelance writer based in the UK who lives with her cat Buddy. She writes across several verticals, including life, health, sex and love, relationships and fitness. Her three great loves are Victorian novels, Lebanese cuisine, and vintage markets. When she’s...

shopgiejo.com

"But after reviewing the evidence, most countries have allowed kava to return to the market." - I love how this is simply tossed in there as if inconsequential.

Also " “It's also used for stress, withdrawal from drugs called benzodiazepines" This article went from a hit piece to a something literally dangerous to human health.

Author:
Fiona Callingham
Health Reporter
Fiona Callingham is a Health Reporter for Express.co.uk. Prior to this she was a senior reporter specialising in health for The News, Portsmouth. She has worked in the news industry since 2016 and holds a National Qualification in Journalism from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).

[email protected]

Björnsson, Helgi K., Einar S. Björnsson, Bharathi Avula, Ikhlas A. Khan, Jon G. Jonasson, Marwan Ghabril, Paul H. Hayashi, and Victor Navarro. 2020. “Ashwagandha-Induced Liver Injury: A Case Series from Iceland and the US Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network.” Liver International: Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver 40 (4): 825–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.14393.

Oketch-Rabah, Hellen A., Amy L. Roe, Cynthia V. Rider, Herbert L. Bonkovsky, Gabriel I. Giancaspro, Victor Navarro, Mary F. Paine, et al. 2020. “United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Comprehensive Review of the Hepatotoxicity of Green Tea Extracts.” Toxicology Reports 7 (January): 386–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.02.008.

Teschke, R., and T. D. Xuan. 2019. “Suspected Herb Induced Liver Injury by Green Tea Extracts: Critical Review and Case Analysis Applying RUCAM for Causality Assessment.” Japanese Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. https://www.jjgastrohepto.org/pdf/JJGH-v2-1030.pdf

 

[Alia]

Blogspam articles that discuss various supplements including kava are relatively common, and they almost always mention potential liver damage, but it's been a long time since I've seen an entire article dedicated to kava liver damage.

The article:
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1656204/supplements-warning-kava-liver-damage

There are quotes from WebMD, but the worst of it comes from "Doctor Monika Wassermann, medical director for boutiquetoyou.com" who "warned that it could cause liver cirrhosis, hepatitis and even liver failure".

There isn't a link to WebMD in the article, with the only outbound link pointing to boutiquetoyou.com.

This article is a very obvious hit piece by Boutique To You.
An example of what Paul Graham talks about in his old essay http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html


The article, if you'd prefer not to give that website any ad impressions:

Too bad there does not seem to be a direct way to send them an email to dispute these claims.

 

[Michael Nielsen]

Too bad there does not seem to be a direct way to send them an email to dispute these claims.

Clarifications and Corrections | Express.co.uk

For any requests regarding corrections and clarifications, please contact the Readers' Editor.

www.express.co.uk

The above?

 

[Orz[EST]]

Stronger green tea extracts were banned in my country this summer because of liver toxicity.

 

[The Kap'n]

Stronger green tea extracts were banned in my country this summer because of liver toxicity.

I'm actually a little amazed really. EGCG is a known intrinsic liver toxin. I used EGCG as an example of herbal products that were KNOWN to cause liver toxicity but not warned about. Looks like that's changing.

Kava vs Green Tea

Compare and contrast regarding liver toxicity.

kavafacts.substack.com

 

[Orz[EST]]

intrinsic?

 

[Groggy]

Fiona Callingham is a Health Reporter for Express.co.uk.

Monika sucks at her job. and I have my doubts about her medical credentials. I would say someone needs to reach out, but people believe the masses rather than science. I don't need to remind anyone that these subpar websites are there to promote their own shitty alternatives while making the almighty buck!

At what point can a lawsuit be brought against these publications spreading lies?

 

[faldho]

it's interesting to think that the CBD industry might feel threatened by kava (In the UK of all places)

 

[JohnMichael]

I'm actually a little amazed really. EGCG is a known intrinsic liver toxin. I used EGCG as an example of herbal products that were KNOWN to cause liver toxicity but not warned about. Looks like that's changing.

Kava vs Green Tea

Compare and contrast regarding liver toxicity.

kavafacts.substack.com

And this quote: "There are more well documented cases of liver injury from green tea and green tea extracts than there are from kava by a large margin." By a large margin...