Kava is a plant native to the South Pacific. The root is used for medicine. There are some BIG safety concerns about kava. Many cases of liver damage and even some deaths have been traced to kava use.As a result, kava has been banned from the market in Switzerland, Germany, and Canada, and several other countries are considering similar action.ava has been used for thousands of years by Pacific Islanders. Today in the South Pacific, kava is a popular social drink, similar to alcohol in Western societies. It also still has a role in rituals and ceremonies.