Question
Have you ever heard that Kava Kava-- an herbal supplement that helps de-stress people and provides a "calm well-being"-- decreases the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, such as Ortho Tri-cyclen?

I have heard that St. John's Wort may/does decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, and I've heard people compare Kava Kava to St. John's Wort.  

I'm taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and was taking one 250 mg Kava Kava pill supplement every day for about a month.  I just found out that herbal supplements can interfere with Ortho Tri-cyclen, and so now I'm really worried I could be pregnant.

Any informaiton you could provide would be very helpful!  Thank you very much for your help!  

Answer
Hello Pam -

To my knowledge and research I am not aware of Kava Kava decreasing the effects of birth control pills.

You are correct in that St. John's Wort, taken in daily high doses will decrease effectiveness of birth control pills. Kava Kava and St. John's Wort can be taken both for depression and anxiety but are not the same herb. They have different constituents and are classified differently.

St. John's Wort can also cause a decrease in effectiveness for various anti-depressant medications.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. You are taking a lower dosage of Kava Kava.

There are many drug-herbal interactions. It is always best to research an herbal remedy before taking it especially if you are on any conventional medications. Seek advice from an Herbalist or natural healthcare provider. There are many websites that can help you with this. One good site to look into is www.healthnotes.com. Here you can check drug interactions with herbs, vitamins and supplements. It will also tell you if any supplements may be beneficial to you while taking your conventional medication.

I hope this information has helped you.

If you would like information on natural and herbal remedies for human and animal concerns please contact me at [email protected] and I will be happy to assist you and send you a catalog of my home made herbal remedies.

Thank you and best wishes. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions.

Sincerely,
Sharon Hubbs, AHG
Certified Natural Health Consultant & Herbalist