Materia Medica

Kava (Piper methysticum) — Kava Kava, Awa, Intoxicating Pepper
A careful guide to Piper methysticum covering Pacific kava tradition, root and rhizome preparation, anxiety research, sedation and rare severe liver injury. Read more...
Kelp (Ascophyllum nodosum) — Knotted Wrack, Norwegian Kelp, Rockweed
A guide to Ascophyllum nodosum kelp covering iodine variability, food use, thyroid medication cautions, contaminant testing and allergy misconceptions. Read more...
Kola Nut (Cola nitida) — Cola Nut, Guru Nut
A guide to Cola nitida covering kola nut's West African cultural tradition, current Malvaceae classification, caffeine, theobromine and stimulant safety. Read more...
Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) — Channa, Kougoed
A whole-plant guide to kanna, widely known as Sceletium tortuosum but currently accepted by Kew as Mesembryanthemum tortuosum, covering Indigenous South African tradition, mesembrine alkaloids, small human studies of stress and cognition, serotonergic medication cautions, taxonomy, sourcing, and safety. Read more...
Kudzu (Pueraria montana) — Japanese Arrowroot, Ge Gen
A whole-plant guide to kudzu, or Ge Gen (Pueraria montana var. lobata), covering traditional root and food use, puerarin and other isoflavones, small human studies on alcohol consumption, phytoestrogen cautions, invasive ecology, and current Illinois exotic-weed permit requirements for plant material. Read more...