Kudzu Root: Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects
In any batch of kudzu roots, the total content of isoflavone often varies widely from 1.77%–12.0% depending on the growing conditions of the herb. The compound puerarin is always found in the highest concentration among all the isoflavones, second is daidzin, followed by daidzein. While you can find kudzu vine almost anywhere in the South by taking a drive on a country road, kudzu root is probably most popular by way of a supplement or as kudzu root tea that can be found at most health food stores. However, look closely at kudzu to stop drinking the label to make sure you know how much kudzu is in it. Some have reported that the labels are misleading, claiming more kudzu contents that there really are. A prior study of kudzu to treat alcohol use in an outpatient setting reported that kudzu had no effect on maintaining sobriety or altering alcohol craving (Shebek and Rindone, 2000).
Investigational drug therapies in phase I and phase II clinical trials for alcohol use disorders
A total of 21 adult males (17 Caucasian, 1 African American, 2 Hispanic, 1 Middle Eastern; mean age 23.8 ± 3.46 years, range 21–33) were recruited through advertisements in local and college newspapers and flyers posted in the Boston area. Persons who responded to these advertisements were given a brief telephone screen, and invited to the laboratory for further evaluations. Persons of Asian descent were excluded because of their known increased flushing reaction to alcohol.
Read on to learn about kudzu’s benefits for your health.
We have subsequently shown that puerarin is the major active isoflavone because 7 days treatment with this compound alone (1,200 mg/day) produced a similar reduction of binge drinking as the extract (Penetar et al., 2012). Other limitations of the present study are the use of a rather narrow aged male population who drink only at moderate levels. It is important to place the magnitude of the effects of kudzu extract on alcohol drinking in context. Alcohol drinking was not completely eliminated by kudzu extract in the present study, but was reduced from baseline drinking by an average of 45% over the four weeks of treatment.
Osteogenic activity
- Kudzu is a natural remedy that has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat alcoholism.
- Kudzu isn’t a standalone treatment for alcoholism or reducing voluntary alcohol intake, but if your goal is to reduce alcohol cravings or cut back, it may be a helpful natural supplement.
- As far the the root goes, you can cook kudzu roots like potatoes, or dry them and grind them into powder, which makes a great breading for fried foods or a thickener for sauces.
- In some instances, even a single dose of kudzu extract reduced alcohol consumption and prevented binge drinking (4, 5).
- Free radicals are molecules that can damage cells, leading to a range of health issues.
Kudzu contains isoflavones, which is part of why it potentially reduces alcohol consumption. Studies have looked at the benefits of kudzu extracts for managing menopause symptoms like mood swings and hot flashes. Kudzu is an invasive vine that natively grows in East Asia—especially China and Japan. While it’s primarily known as being an invasive plant, there are also parts of it, especially the root, that have been used for various purposes in traditional Chinese medicine. In traditional herbal medicine, kudzu root extract has been suggested to have potential health benefits for alcoholism, hangovers, and also menopause. Many people struggle with excessive alcohol use, even if they want to stop, so https://ecosoberhouse.com/ they’re turning to solutions like kudzu for alcohol cravings.
These resources can be instrumental in guiding you toward effective strategies for overcoming alcoholism. Kudzu may help by reducing the urge to consume alcohol, making it easier to control cravings. This reduction in alcohol consumption can be particularly beneficial during the early stages of recovery when cravings are intense. Researchers bought a variety of Kudzu extracts from stores and Internet sites.