The liver damage thing is more a matter of misinformation based in ignorance. Kava root, the part used to properly make a kava drink, is what's been used for thousands of years. Liver problems only came up because western users who had recently discovered it, started using the rest of the plant. While the root is harmless, the rest of the plant is the part that's toxic to your liver. And so the FDA and others panicked and declared kava a liver-damaging substance, when in reality the dangers are only from improper cultivation.

Anywhoo, I've tried kava in the form of caplets and dried root, and it's disappointed me time and time again. It's probably just me of course, but it never did ANYTHING to me whatsoever.