Chinese Herb Kudzu May Help Drinkers Cut Down

However, daidzin can reduce drinking in some rodents without necessarily increasing acetaldehyde. Research suggests that heavy drinkers or binge drinkers who take kudzu consume less beer when drinking. But kudzu doesn’t seem to decrease the craving for alcohol or improve sobriety in people with alcohol use disorder. A pilot study exploring the effect of kudzu root on the drinking habits of patients with chronic alcoholism. The people who received a dose of kudzu extract drank significantly less beer than they usually did. Kawahata et al. recently reported on the enhancement properties of Tangerine Peel extracts to facilitate potently- mediated transcription linked to the upstream cAMP/PKA/ERK/CREB pathway in hippocampal neurons. This may have important anti-alcohol relapse benefits based on dopaminergic genetics and its relationship to executive function and good decision making necessary for appropriate relapse prevention . It’s important to note that these studies used kudzu extract, which may have contained other parts of the kudzu plant besides the root. Thus, scientists need to do more research in this area on the effects of kudzu root specifically.

Scott E. Lukas

Subjects were all Caucasian, lower to middle income, residing in a small Midwestern town. Each subject was interviewed in person and determined to be actively drinking on a regular basis, all exceeding what would be considered normal consumption ranging from 1-2 times per week to drinking on a daily basis. Several of the subjects had been drinking for many years and often drank to or past the point of inebriation. Final inclusion of subjects was based on completing the AUDIT questionnaire that demonstrated either hazardous levels of drinking or Sober House alcohol dependence. All subjects reviewed a full protocol of the study and signed informed consent forms prior to beginning. Subjects were given an 8 week supply of the compound with instructions and dosing logs. They were asked to follow all instructions noting changes on a bi-weekly basis. After completion of the program each subject re-took the AUD questionnaire and also filled out an exit interview. The Declinol Compound for the study was manufactured according to cGMP guidelines and was processed at an FDA registered, OTC, Rx facility. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version. Taking kudzu along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed. But kudzu isn’t as strong as the estrogen in birth control pills.

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with KUDZU

The study showed that subjects taking puerarin drank significantly fewer beers—dropping from 3.5 beers on average to 2.4. In the study, Penetar and his colleagues looked at 10 men and women, all in their 20s and all reporting regularly consuming alcohol weekly. A laboratory at McLean Hospital was set up as an apartment, with TV, DVD player, reclining chair and other amenities. The unit was also stocked with a refrigerator full of each subject’s favorite beer and other non-alcoholic beverages. kudzu extract for alcoholism Lukas’ study was inspired by Dr. Wing Ming Keung, a pathology professor at Harvard Medical School who has studied kudzu’s potential medical applications. Read online reviews of that particular kudzu root supplement to find out more about other folks’ experiences. One study on 82 postmenopausal women notes that using a Pueraria mirifica gel may improve symptoms of vaginal dryness. Another study shows that kudzu flower might be helpful to lessen hot flashes in menopausal women. One study in mice found that kudzu vine extract was highly beneficial in treating alcohol-induced liver damage by scavenging harmful free radicals and boosting the natural antioxidant system . 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 . 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. Lukas recruited 14 men and women in their 20s to spend four 90-minute sessions consuming beer and watching TV. Researchers selected people who said they regularly consumed three to four drinks per day.

Kudzu vine extract for alcohol treatment

Chemicals in kudzu might also increase blood circulation in the heart and brain. “We suspect it may work because it increases blood flow,” he says. “It may deliver alcohol to the brain’s reward center faster. So you get an effect sooner; therefore, you don’t drink as much.” On average, the men and women drank 3.5 beers after placebo and 2.4 after puerarin. Before the second, they took either 1,200 milligrams of puerarin or identical-looking placebo pills for a week. They came to the lab and could drink as much as they wanted, up to six beers. These data add to the mounting clinical evidence that kudzu extract may be a safe and effective adjunctive pharmacotherapy for alcohol abuse and dependence. In the meantime, a new quality-controlled herbal kudzu extract will probably reach the market sooner, since herbal remedies don’t need approval from the government. The kudzu extract reduced alcohol consumption in people who took it, but its effect on alcohol cravings wasn’t tested. So it’s not clear if this kudzu treatment attacks the roots of alcohol dependence, or just stems the drinking.

Kudzu Recovery For Alcoholics: How It Works

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of this pilot study and the accompanying data. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor- in-Chief of this journal. The remains of a medieval skeleton has shown the first physical evidence that a fern plant could have been used for medicinal purposes in cases such as alopecia, dandruff and kidney … The mental health of children and young people with some long term physical conditions could benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy , according to a recent study. More than half of young adults at risk for alcohol-related harm report symptoms of insomnia. In tests, it was found that the bitter taste from Gentian can still be perceived even when diluted down to 1 part in 12,000 . Tangerine Peel has some bitter qualities as well, and is an excellent complement to the actions of Gentian. Tangerine Peel delivers several novel flavonoids that all offer numerous health advantages including enhancing metabolism, promoting detoxification, and protecting cells from free radical damage. Most importantly extracts of Tangerine Peel have been shown to enhance learning and memory.

Medication for Cravings in Substance Use Disorders

Kudzu root is available in lots of forms including capsules, liquid extracts, and powder. You can ingest it directly, or mix it with other foods or drinks. There’s not a recommended dosage for kudzu root, but there have been human studies that can help guide you. Animal studies suggest that kudzu root could have heart-protective benefits. It may help regulate blood pressure in patients diagnosed with primary hypertension, a risk factor for heart disease. Benlhabib E, Baker JI, Keyler DE, Singh AK. Effects of purified puerarin on voluntary alcohol intake and alcohol withdrawal symptoms in P rats receiving free access to water and alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of illness worldwide (Shield et al., 2013) and has a significant impact on the health of millions people.