MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program Products containing herbal extracts of kava have been implicated  in Europe in at least 25 cases of serious liver toxicity including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. FDA is investigating whether the use of dietary supplements containing kava (also known as kava kava or Piper methysticum in the United States) poses similar public health concerns. Due to the potentially serious nature of these concerns, we are asking that you review your cases of liver toxicity to determine if any may be related to the use of kava-containing dietary supplements. Please report any cases of hepatic toxicity that you think may be related to the use of kava-containing dietary supplements as soon as possible to MedWatch by telephone (1-800-332-1088) or through the Internet (https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/). To read the complete "Dear Healthcare Professional" letter from The FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, click on the link below. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2001/safety01.htm#kava MedWatch is your Internet gateway for timely safety information on drugs and other medical products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Visit the MedWatch web site regularly for the latest official safety information, at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.