Furthermore, the men who took kudzu had fewer heavy drinking days per week and had significantly more consecutive days with no alcohol consumption (2). While the blood flow theory of kudzu for alcoholism may be true, there is likely more going on here. It contains several active isoflavones, kudzu to stop drinking which are natural plant chemicals with antioxidant effects. This compound has a positive effect on the central nervous system and the brain. The number of participants who drank each available beer during the 1.5 hour drinking session following administration of placebo or kudzu.
8 Other Effects
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 a (double-blind) study carried out by David M Penetar and his colleagues4, the influence of kudzu on alcohol usage was tested in 20 men. Some of them were given a dose of 2g of kudzu extract with an active isoflavones content of 520mg almost three hours before a drinking session in which up they could choose to consume up to 6 beers, water or fruit juices. The result showed that the group that had received kudzu significantly reduced their consumption of alcoholic drinks during the drinking session.
- An industry standard adverse event reporting form was used to collect information on potential adverse and serious adverse events during each laboratory visit.
- When, however, they had taken the kudzu beforehand, they drank an average of 5.5 units, which meant that overall they had drunk about 20% less.
- Isoflavones increase blood flow to the brain, causing alcohol or nicotine to reach the nervous system faster.
- While scientific research on kudzu’s effectiveness in addressing alcoholism is limited, some studies have shown promising results.
The isoflavone puerarin reduces alcohol intake in heavy drinkers: a pilot study
- It is usually treated with over-the-counter medications, but kudzu might be a more natural option.
- The overall incidence of side effects (e.g., headaches, shakes, chills, nausea, etc.) in both groups ranged between 1.7 and 3%.
- As drinking behavior was measured using a wrist actigraphy device, we were able to monitor alcohol consumption continuously, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
- 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).
- There were no reported side effects from treatment with the kudzu extract.
This, in turn, helps you change your behavior and cope better with difficult situations. For example, if you often feel stressed and turn to alcohol as a way to cope, CBT can help you find healthier ways to manage that stress. Eleanor Health offers a wide variety of options for medications to treat https://ecosoberhouse.com/ substance use and will work with you to determine the best medication and dosage that fits your lifestyle. There are no studies showing that Kudzu can serve as a morning-after potion for reducing hangovers. Dr. Neil McGregor has warned that the active components of Kudzu have been linked to cancer.
Anti-diabetic potential of Pueraria lobata root extract through promoting insulin signaling by PTP1B inhibition
Third, this study already required participants to make several visits to the lab for measurements of alcohol metabolism and intoxication after alcohol administration. Therefore, the added requirement of spending several nights sleeping at the laboratory would have affected the normal behavior of participants, and added an unreasonable burden. A second limitation of this study is that these results rely on self-reported bedtimes and wake times and thus are subject to the limitations of any study for which behavior is not directly observed. However, because one aim of the study was to examine behavior of participants in their typical environments, this limitation was necessary. Taken together, the data in this study demonstrate that in moderate drinkers, kudzu root extract treatment has no effect on any of the measured parameters of sleep quality or quantity. Sleep latency, sleep efficiency, and waking after sleep onset were all similar during placebo and kudzu root extract treatment periods (Fig. 1).
Kudzu vine extract for alcohol treatment
Thus, scientists need to do more research in this area on the effects of kudzu root specifically. 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. The impact of excessive alcohol consumption results in increased healthcare costs, loss of productivity, alcohol-related crime (including assault and sexual abuse), and motor vehicle accidents.
Kudzu and Alcohol: Is It Effective or Dangerous?
This randomized between-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 2 weeks of baseline, 4 weeks of treatment, and 2 weeks of follow-up. Seventeen men (21–33 years) who reported drinking 27.6 ± 6.5 drinks/week with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse/dependence took either kudzu extract (250 mg isoflavones, t.i.d.) or matched placebo on a daily basis. They reported alcohol consumption and desire to use alcohol using a wrist actigraphy device; twice weekly laboratory visits were scheduled to monitor medication adherence and adverse events.
May help treat liver damage
- All participants were recruited following approval by the McLean Hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB).
- And, contrary to disulfiram treatment, the drinking that did occur after kudzu administration did not result in any noxious side effects, increases in subjective ratings of nausea, uncomfortable, or feeling terrible.
- Studies have found that the isoflavones in kudzu can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure.
- Next, Dr. Lee contacted researchers at the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies.
- This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this product.
Kudzu, scientifically known as Pueraria lobata, is renowned in traditional Chinese medicine for its diverse applications, including the treatment of alcohol dependence. While scientific research on kudzu’s effectiveness in addressing alcoholism is limited, some studies have shown promising results. In fact, one study demonstrated that kudzu could reduce alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers by as much as 50%. We previously demonstrated that short-term treatment with a standardized kudzu extract (NPI-031) reduced alcohol drinking by men and women in a natural setting.
Ethnopharmacological Applications Targeting Alcohol Abuse: Overview and Outlook
Lukas was not certain why but speculated that kudzu increases blood alcohol levels and speeds up its effects. Kudzu, an ever-expanding plant considered a pest in much of the South, appears to contain a compound that can be effective in reducing alcohol intake among humans. Kudzu can be taken in conjunction with other medications for alcoholism, but it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before combining treatments.
Don’t Miss a Day of Best Health
Scientists need to do more research on the effects of kudzu root in humans to investigate these effects in the liver. Kudzu root may help treat alcohol dependence, liver damage, and menopausal symptoms. Scientists need to do more human studies to determine its effectiveness in other areas, like inflammation, heart health, and headaches. While scientists need to do more research on the health effects of kudzu, some studies suggest that kudzu root may have other health benefits worth considering. The last study above was designed to test the hypothesis that kudzu accelerates the subjective experience of alcohol intoxication.
- 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.
- Because of this effect, it might also be helpful for people who have quit drinking and want to make sure that a potential slip doesn’t become a full-blown relapse.
- This allowed them to measure the rate of drinking as well as the volume of sips.
- He suggested that they test Kudzu to see if it would reduce alcohol consumption among their rats.
Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) outside the range of 18–25 kg/m2 were also excluded. Drinking was recorded using a custom built end table that contained a digital scale beneath a ceramic tile insert in the tabletop (Ohaus model #B10P with I5S controller). Participants were instructed to always keep the beer glass on the table except when taking a sip. The scale was connected to a computer in an adjacent room that ran a customized program that sampled the scale at 5 Hz and detected any weight changes that exceeded 1 gm. Additional details and photos of the device can be found in Lukas et al. (2005). During the baseline session, the placebo-randomized group consumed 2.7 ± 0.78 beers before treatment and increased consumption to 3.4 ± 1.1 beers after treatment.