CBD vs Kava for anxiety
Short answer: For anxiety, more users report improvement with Kava — 93% of 196 reports, versus 88% of 185 for CBD.
CBD has 286 meta-analyses and 344 randomized trials on PubMed; Kava has 41 and 37.
Based on 482 reports about CBD and 431 about Kava. Not medical advice.
| CBD Supplement | Kava Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 59%helped236 reports · high confidence | 63%helped224 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mostly positive |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 286 / 344 | 41 / 37 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 88% (185) | 93% (196) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 72% (76) | 86% (37) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 85% (34) | 80% (35) |
| Pain & inflammation % reporting improvement | 80% (35) | 100% (10) |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 83% (12) | 67% (6) |
| Common side effects | brain fog, headache, wakefulness, subdued feeling | drowsiness, liver damage, stomach issues, irritability |
| Typical dose reported | 30-60 mg; 54 mg / after dinner; before bed | 60 mg kavalactone equivalent / daily |
In addition, this meta-analysis focuses on the efficacy of CBD in treating anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, caution should be exercised in interpreting our findings due to the limited size of the clinical sample, and additional trials ought to be carried out if deemed necessary.
Psychiatry Res, 2024 ↗“I take it for sleeping and anxiety and it works so well, even after five years. I haven't build up any tolerance.”
Numerous interactions between herbal medicines and conventional drugs have been documented. While the significance of many interactions is uncertain, several interactions, particularly those with St John's wort, may have serious clinical consequences.
Drugs, 2009 ↗“I felt insanely relaxed, any anxiety was dropped to 0, and I could think more clearly.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate