A herbal remedy used to prevent shyness is being withdrawn after it was linked with 30 cases of liver damage. The decision to withdraw Kava-Kava and related products follows evidence from Germany and Switzerland which has linked it with 30 serious cases of liver damage. Patrick Holford, founder of the Institute of Optimum Nutrition, says, "The health food industry's decision to quarantine Kava-kava voluntarily and suspend sale of Kava related products would be sensible for a short period of time until there can be further investigations." He continues, "The majority of cases stated that people were taking Kava as well as drugs with a high known record of causing liver damage and alcohol. One person was also having 60 grams a day of alcohol, which is high. What we want is full disclosure of each of these case histories. Without that we cannot make a decision."

　　From Healthy.net