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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
Kava wins 2 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Verdict
Probably helps
4 of 7 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (2)
Outcomes where both CBD and Kava have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
OTC wellness: 10-50mg/day (some anxiety studies used higher acute doses ~300mg); take with a fat-containing meal (increases absorption several-fold). Prescription Epidiolex for epilepsy is dosed by body weight under medical supervision.
with-meals, evening
CBD oil/tincture (third-party tested for potency and purity)
150-300mg kavalactones daily
Evening for relaxation, 30-60 minutes before stressful events, Before bed for sleep
Water-extracted root powder or capsules
Acute-4 weeks
1-8 weeks
Weeks
Acute
30-60 minutes
30-60 minutes
30-60 minutes
1-2 hours
Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome.
The New England journal of medicine (2017) · Rct · n=120
Convulsive seizures fell from 12.4 to 5.9/month with CBD vs 14.9 to 14.1 with placebo
Cannabidiol in patients with seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (GWPCARE4): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.
Lancet (London, England) (2018) · Rct
Significant reduction in drop-seizure frequency vs placebo
Effect of Cannabidiol on Drop Seizures in the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.
The New England journal of medicine (2018) · Rct
Fewer drop seizures vs placebo
Herbal medicines in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: 10-year updated review
Phytotherapy research : PTR (2018) · Systematic review
Other encouraging herbal medicines with preliminary evidence include Curcuma longa (turmeric) in depression, Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) in affective disorders, and Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo) as an adjunctive treatment in Schizophrenia.
GABA-modulating phytomedicines for anxiety: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence
Phytotherapy research : PTR (2018) · Systematic review
An open-ended search to 5 July 2017 was conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and Cochrane library online databases and performed in a stepped format from preclinical to clinical investigations.
Herbal medicine for insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Sleep medicine reviews (2015) · Meta analysis · n=1602
There was no statistically significant difference between any herbal medicine and placebo, or any herbal medicine and active control, for any of the thirteen measures of clinical efficacy.
Based on multiple meta-analyses showing efficacy vs placebo with effect size comparable to benzodiazepines for mild-moderate anxiety. WS1490 extract showed OR=3.3 vs placebo. Effectiveness limited to 60% due to mixed results in some GAD populations and study quality limitations.
AI-estimated from published studies. Interpret as directional guidance.
Kava has a higher evidence score (9/10 vs 5.8/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
For reduce anxiety & stress, Kava has a higher relevance score (90 vs 58).
No known interactions between CBD and Kava have been documented in our database. However, always consult a healthcare provider before combining supplements.