Nevertheless, it may be a good idea to avoid if you use blood thinning or diabetes medications. Another study found that people who took puerarin, an isoflavone extract from the kudzu plant, prior to drinking took longer to consume alcoholic beverages (3). For over 2,000 years, people have used kudzu root in traditional Chinese medicine for purposes like treating fevers, diarrhea, and even diabetes and heart disease (1). Your doctor can evaluate your medical history, current health, and the severity of your alcoholism to provide personalized recommendations. They will consider potential interactions between kudzu and any medications you might be taking, ensuring your safety throughout the process. Alcoholic drinks were made by mixing a name brand vodka (80 proof) with chilled orange juice.
Development and initial validation of a measure of drinking urges in abstinent alcoholics
When given equal amounts of alcohol, kudzu- and placebo-treated individuals respond similarly (Penetar et al., 2011). The sample size was relatively small; however, a repeated measures, crossover design was used with participants as their own control receiving multiple pretreatments, each with placebo and alcohol challenges. The present study did not include a treatment condition to specifically analyze the effects of kudzu alone in the absence of any challenge drink.
- Ultimately, a comprehensive approach to health and well-being, including evidence-based treatments, remains paramount.
- It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking kudzu, especially if you are taking other medications or have underlying health conditions.
- Qian Lin (Beijing University of Chinese Medicine) presented evidence from individual cases, randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses suggesting a complementary role of TCM in the management of chronic heart failure (Li et al., 2013).
- All of the above mentioned mechanisms, with the exception of a disulfiram-like one, require repeated administration and time to develop.
N. Engl. J. Med.
Yogurt contains probiotics that are beneficial for gut health, which can be damaged from prolonged heavy drinking. The fiber-rich, complex carbohydrates in whole-grain breads and foods like brown rice, quinoa, kudzu for alcohol cravings barley, and farro are digested more slowly, which help keep blood sugar levels steady. This is key to keeping cravings under control, especially when your body is used to using alcohol as a quick form of fuel.
- For over 2,000 years, people have used kudzu root in traditional Chinese medicine for purposes like treating fevers, diarrhea, and even diabetes and heart disease (1).
- The complete lack of side effects would favor the conduct of such studies.
- Participants were instructed to always keep the beer glass on the table except when taking a sip.
- In addition, and perhaps of greater significance, is the possibility that ethanol levels rose more quickly at the higher dose of alcohol (0.7 g/kg) following kudzu pretreatment compared to placebo pretreatment.
- Kudzu extract was administered in gelatin capsules containing 500 mg of extract (Alkontrol-Herbal™; NPI-031) prepared by Natural Pharmacia International, Inc., Burlington, MA.
Anti-inflammatory effects
This study provides additional evidence that an extract of the kudzu root significantly reduces alcohol consumption by human participants and confirms that this botanical medication may be a safe and effective adjunct pharmacotherapy for treating alcohol use disorders. The present study demonstrated that pretreatment with kudzu extract had little or no effect on the majority of alcohol’s effects on subjective mood, vital signs, psychomotor, or cognitive performance. These findings suggest that the ability of kudzu extract to reduce alcohol consumption (Lukas et al., 2005) is not likely to be dependent on a significant alteration of the acute effects of alcohol.
Can you be ‘fat’ and still healthy?
Kudzu is a natural remedy that has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been suggested that kudzu may be effective in reducing alcohol consumption, alcohol cravings, and withdrawal symptoms in individuals with alcohol use disorders. We employed two different biochemical methods (urinary riboflavin and plasma puerarin levels), to monitor medication adherence. The lack of side effects after four weeks of treatment with both placebo and kudzu extract is likely one of the major reasons for the high rate of medication adherence.
- Two hours before the first visit, we gave both sub-groups a pill – neither group knew whether they were getting the supplement or the placebo.
- If this were the primary effect of kudzu increasing blood flow, then subjects should feel more intoxicated with fewer drinks after taking it.
- The leaves of this plant were smoked by Russian soldiers during World War II when there was a shortage of tobacco.
- The kudzu plant is a vine that resembles poison ivy and is native to several Asian countries.
- None of the study participants reported any insomnia, sedation, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, or altered libido.
- Still, more research needs to be done to prove whether it’s truly effective.
Does microwaving food make it less healthy?
This pretreatment time was selected based on our pharmacokinetic study of puerarin absorption and elimination (Penetar et al., 2006). The rates of alcohol drinking during follow-up phase were also reduced compared to baseline in both the kudzu- and placebo-treated groups. We had not expected that any beneficial effects would remain after kudzu extract had cleared the body based on our pharmacokinetic results (Penetar et al., 2006). To preserve the double-blind, kudzu and placebo capsules were repacked into #00 opaque capsules (Apothecary Products, Minneapolis, MN).
Kudzu root, leaf, and flowers have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries. But today you can find it in the supplement aisle of most grocery stores. It has spread to South Africa, Malaysia, and the western Pacific Islands. It was introduced into the United States as an ornamental in 1876, as a forage plant in Florida in the 1920s, and was promoted as an erosion control https://ecosoberhouse.com/ by the U.S. The vine completely engulfs nonwooded areas but it also grows over wooded areas on which it produces large impenetrable masses and completely envelops trees and other plants, killing them all by shutting out all sunlight. Kudzu vine is now widely distributed in the United States, including all the southeast, north to Massachusetts and Illinois, and west to Texas and Oklahoma.
While kudzu root may offer a few specific benefits, there are also some potential downsides to consider. People often eat different parts of the plant raw, sautéed, deep-fried, baked, or jellied. You may be wondering how people use kudzu root and what to know when considering whether to give it a try.