While it does not quite make the cut, it is definitely worth trying if you’re looking to cut down on or quit drinking. My problem at the time was a denial of the severity of my drinking problem. Kudzu did what it was supposed to do – it curbed my drinking noticeably.

The big blood pressure experiment

Nor will it drastically enhance your quality of life after the first dose. However, if you want to cut down on drinking or detoxify your body during alcohol withdrawal, this plant may be able to help. Lukas recruited 14 men and women in their 20s to spend four 90-minute sessions consuming beer and watching TV.

Drugs & Supplements

Originating from traditional medicine, this root has been used for centuries to promote overall well-being and treat various ailments. In this article, we will delve into the unique properties of Kudzu Root, its health benefits, and how it can be incorporated into daily routines for enhanced wellness. Urine samples were qualitatively analyzed by HPLC for puerarin levels on a weekly basis starting on the second week of baseline and continuing through the two follow-up visits. Although blood samples were collected from all participants to examine the safety of kudzu, only the last 12 subjects had blood samples collected for quantitative analysis of puerarin levels. This article examines the benefits, uses, and potential side effects of kudzu root.

May ease menopause symptoms

But as soon as the capsules ran out, I concluded that it hadn’t totally “cured” my problem and that I would eventually find something better. Although I’m sure it would have helped me detoxify, I did not use it after I quit drinking. My experience was limited to an experiment that I did years ago to see if taking the herb would reduce my drinking levels. I will discuss how it works, my experience with using powdered kudzu root for alcoholism, and recommendations. “The most urgent need is helping people who cannot help themselves, who need a drug to help them stop drinking,” Keung said. Lukas’ study was inspired by Dr. Wing Ming Keung, a pathology professor at Harvard Medical School who has studied kudzu’s potential medical applications.

Potential benefits of kudzu root

Its antioxidant properties help in neutralizing free radicals, which can cause oxidative stress and damage liver cells. Research indicates that Kudzu Root may aid in the regeneration of liver tissues and protect against liver-related diseases, such as fatty liver disease and hepatitis. Metabolic syndrome is a condition notorious for its cluster of health issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and/or abnormal triglyceride levels. If left unchecked, metabolic syndrome can increase your risk of developing heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

• It appears to act by inhibiting aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH-2).59 A deficiency of this enzyme reduces the risk of alcohol dependence.
• Kudzu root comes from a trailing vine that often grows over other plants.
• The volunteers were all friends, and so were likely to enjoy a relaxed evening’s drinking.
• We employed two different biochemical methods (urinary riboflavin and plasma puerarin levels), to monitor medication adherence.

It is important to note that kudzu should not be used as a substitute for professional medical treatment for alcoholism. In 2012, I ordered some high-quality organic kudzu capsules after reading about the potential for it to curb alcohol consumption. I took several capsules per day before drinking, and went through all of it in about one month. Keung, not directly involved in Lukas’ study, said he has extracted a compound from kudzu root that he hopes to turn into a drug for reducing alcoholics’ cravings.

Supersmart – Kudzu Extract 500 mg

Interestingly, this mixture is commonly used in China to prepare the so-called “tea of sobriety”. Daidzin (Fig. 1B) is also a potent and selective inhibitor of human mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2). Some authors showed a direct correlation between ALDH-2 inhibition and ethanol intake suppression and increase the possibility that daidzin may suppress the ethanol intake of golden hamsters, by inhibiting ALDH-2 (Keung 2003). 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. Kudzu root gets some serious rep’ for helping folks ease off of the booze.

• In our most recent study (Penetar et al., 2011) we provided evidence that kudzu extract may alter blood ethanol levels after an acute drinking episode.
• 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.
• Stores typically sell it as a powdered drink mix, an oral capsule or tablet, liquid drops, or as a food-grade starch to use in cooking.
• It helps ease muscle tension and promote overall comfort during colder months.
• Kudzu is also known for its flower, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fever, headache, and other ailments.

Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

FDA received 700+ botanical drug applications during the past years, one third of which were for oncological indications (Lee et al., 2015). Given the inherent chemical and biological complexity of botanical drugs, the therapeutic and quality consistency if often challenging. Therefore, FDA takes a “totality of evidence” approach with genomic, biological and chemical analytical technologies to better facilitate botanical drug development from traditional medicine.

Kudzu and Menopausal Symptoms

• It has spread to South Africa, Malaysia, and the western Pacific Islands.
• Some evidence suggests kudzu root may help with liver damage, while other preliminary evidence suggests it may cause liver injury in certain cases.
• The product is lab tested for quality, ensuring it is non-GMO and vegan.
• For this reason, it’s difficult to make recommendations for various uses.
• Anecdotal sources also note that kudzu root may lower blood sugar too much or slow down blood clotting.

Researchers selected people who said they regularly consumed three to four drinks per day. Lukas was not certain why but speculated that kudzu increases blood alcohol levels and speeds up its effects. This ancient Chinese herb is available as a super concentrated extract in convenient quick-release capsules. The formula provides superior quality at an excellent value, making it an ideal choice for those seeking the benefits of traditional herbal support. If you’re not sure whether kudzu root is right for you, talk with your doctor.

Until the effects of kudzu can be quantified properly in a larger study, then, and a standardised product is available on the market with the THR mark, it’s not something we can recommend you take. Data from the actiwatch device was best kudzu for alcoholism the primary source for all analyses while the daily diary served as a back up to verify daily totals and in case of equipment failure. In addition, the diaries permitted the participants to enter additional data that could not be recorded on the watch. Fifty-one percent of adults over the age of 18 and 56% of those age 18–44, are current regular drinkers (Schiller et al., 2012).