And while it did contain the isoflavones that are thought to be the active ingredients, our volunteers had to take five pills each to achieve the desired level of 500mg. The government runs the voluntary Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) scheme in an effort to combat this problem. Any product carrying a THR mark can be relied upon to contain the amounts of herb/active ingredient as stated on the bottle. Kudzu, whose scientific name is Pueraria mirfica, is a vine used in Chinese medicine for a variety of health promoting purposes. Kudzu’s antioxidants help reduce inflammation, kudzu and alcohol which can benefit joint health and overall wellness.
How can I make myself buy healthier food whilst shopping?
Various studies have used single, one-time doses or daily doses for a week without reported adverse effects. There is some evidence that kudzu root dietary supplements may cause liver injury. One study in mice found that taking 10 mg per day of kudzu root extract for 4 weeks caused liver toxicity (15). It’s important to note that these studies used kudzu extract, which may have contained other parts of the kudzu plant besides the root.
Links to NCBI Databases
Kudzu root, also called Japanese arrowroot, is native to China, Japan, and Korea. Today, kudzu grows in other parts of the world as well, including in the southern United States. We found that, on average, each person consumed 7 units of alcohol after the placebo and, on average, 5.5 units after the kudzu. The root in particular is valued for its medicinal properties, and the beneficial effects are thought be down to a group of compounds found in high concentrations within the plant, called isoflavones.
Shop for kudzu root products online
The plant was also recognized for its ability to control soil erosion, making it a valuable asset in agriculture. Kudzu has been shown to be effective in reducing alcohol cravings and consumption in the short term. However, more research is needed to determine its long-term effectiveness in promoting alcoholism recovery. Kudzu can be taken in conjunction with other medications for alcoholism, but it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before combining treatments. Kudzu may interact with certain medications, such as benzodiazepines, and can cause adverse effects. Kudzu is a natural remedy that has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Sobriety Medicine to treat alcoholism.
Potential downsides
In addition, the two treatments greatly differed in the percent of days abstinent as well as the number of consecutive days of abstinence. Increased consecutive days of abstinence is a desirable outcome of an alcohol treatment program, especially during the initial phases of treatment (Washton and Zweben, 2006). The fact that kudzu extract nearly doubled the number of consecutive days that individuals maintained abstinence suggests that it may be a useful adjunct during the early weeks of treatment. The study consisted of a 2-week baseline period, 4 weeks of medication (subjects were randomized to either kudzu extract or placebo treatments) and a 2-week follow up period. A 2015 placebo-controlled study, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, demonstrated that a single dose of kudzu extract significantly reduced alcohol consumption among binge drinkers.
- Although no one knows exactly why kudzu increases sobriety, researchers theorize that the herb speeds alcohol’s effect on the head.
- This mechanism is unlikely however, at least in non-humans, as additional findings indicated that daidzin administration at doses that reduce alcohol intake in hamsters did not change acetaldehyde metabolism (Keung et al., 1995).
- Daidzin has been shown to inhibit hamster and rat mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2) in vitro and is a mixed inhibitor of the human enzyme (Keung et al., 1997).
- Medication adherence was measured using ultraviolet (UV) light to detect riboflavin in centrifuged urine samples (Del Boca et al., 1996) that were collected twice a week.
- Participants were instructed to always keep the beer glass on the table except when taking a sip.
- Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter, and kudzu extract treatment is thought to influence the glutamatergic system, reducing the excitatory effects of alcohol withdrawal or cravings.
- To preserve the double-blind, kudzu and placebo capsules were repacked into #00 opaque capsules (Apothecary Products, Minneapolis, MN).
Do herbal supplements contain what they say on the label?
Participants were randomized on a blind basis to receive either 4 capsules of the extract (for a total of 520 mg isoflavones) or placebo (sugar beet filler) 2.5 hours before the start of an afternoon drinking session. This pretreatment time was selected based on our pharmacokinetic study of puerarin absorption and elimination (Penetar et al., 2006). The results of this groundbreaking study highlight the incredible potential of Kudzu Extract to reduce binge drinking and alcohol consumption safely and naturally.
Ready to Try Kudzu Extract? Here’s Your Chance!
- Any product carrying a THR mark can be relied upon to contain the amounts of herb/active ingredient as stated on the bottle.
- The participants reported their desire for and consumption of alcohol for the duration of the study.
- The root of the Kudzu plant has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including alcoholism.
- The present study explored possible mechanisms to explain how kudzu extract reduces alcohol consumption in humans.
However, individuals treated with kudzu extract experienced a slightly more rapid rise in plasma ethanol levels, but only after the 0.7 g/kg dose. This transient effect during the first 30 minutes of the ascending plasma alcohol curve lasted only minutes; there were no differences in peak plasma alcohol levels or alcohol elimination kinetics. Additionally, kudzu pretreatment enhanced the effects of the 0.7 g/kg dose of alcohol on heart rate and skin temperature. The most important finding of the present study was that 4-weeks of treatment with a standardized kudzu extract reduced ad libitum alcohol consumption in a group of non treatment-seeking heavy drinkers. We previously demonstrated that this kudzu extract significantly reduced alcohol drinking in a group of heavy drinkers during one night of access to preferred brand of beer in a simulated natural environment (Lukas et al., 2005). The present study revealed that kudzu extract is also effective in heavy drinkers in their home, work and/or school environment.
While kudzu root may offer a few specific benefits, there are also some potential downsides to consider. Some health companies sell the kudzu root species Pueraria mirifica as a supplement for menopausal and postmenopausal women. 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. The room contained a small sink with an under-the-counter refrigerator where the beverages (beer, juice, and water) were kept. Some studies have found that the puerarin in kudzu does, in fact, influence dopamine release in some areas of the brain.
The BDI measures of the placebo-treated participants were 2.0 ± 2.58 and 1.67 ± 1.37 at baseline and during treatment, respectively. The BAI scores were equally stable and ranged from 0.33 to 1.71 during treatment. Participants filled out a daily diary every morning as soon as possible upon awakening. Three questions asked them to report how many alcoholic drinks, tobacco cigarettes and caffeinated beverages they consumed and two questions asked about bedtime and wake time. Drinking data were collected using a small wristwatch-like device (ActiWatch® Score, MiniMitter Co., OR) and daily diaries.