Content
A lot of this is due to the number of positives articles detailing its benefits in combating alcoholism. The articles touting Kudzu’s benefits appear mainly on TCM related websites, or sites selling the herb. Lukas’ study was inspired by Dr. Wing Ming Keung, a pathology professor https://ecosoberhouse.com/ at Harvard Medical School who has studied kudzu’s potential medical applications. As a dietary supplement, take 1200 mg (heavy 1/3 tsp) once or twice daily, or as directed by a physician. While it’s a natural physiological process, menopause causes a host of adverse side effects.
However, the researchers did note that treatment with kudzu caused an increase in heart rate, skin temperature and blood ethanol levels in the participants. Based on this, the researchers hypothesized that an increase in blood ethanol levels could translate into increased effects from the first alcoholic drink and delay an individuals desire for subsequent drinks. In retrospect, my experience demonstrates the utility of kudzu for alcoholism. If I had been committed to using kudzu to wean off of alcohol and then quit, it might have been a very valuable part of my recovery.
Other potential health benefits
However, daidzin can reduce drinking in some rodents without necessarily increasing acetaldehyde. Kudzu is an ancient Chinese herbal supplement that is said to reduce alcohol cravings. It is the only natural supplement that is recognized by the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
- Baclofen is an antispasmodic agent used to treat muscle pain and spasms.
- Some health companies sell the kudzu root species Pueraria mirifica as a supplement for menopausal and postmenopausal women.
- According to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependency, there are more than 100,000 American deaths per year as a result of alcohol abuse.
- While it does not completely eliminate drinking, it is clearly effective in significantly reducing intake, which offers individuals an opportunity to engage in more responsible drinking patterns.
- Nevertheless, it may be a good idea to avoid if you use blood thinning or diabetes medications.
In addition, the defendants must disclose when endorsements have been paid for, can’t portray ads as legitimate news coverage, and can’t misrepresent the independence or expertise of any entity or person who reviews a product. Based on the defendants’ financial condition, a portion of the $3.24 million judgment will be suspended. The $650,000 the defendants must pay will be used to provide refunds for consumers.
Side Effects
Diamond added that relapse may be the biggest problem facing physicians today. “We are talking about a patient who has the motivation to undergo a very unpleasant detoxification to try to stop drinking, and then gets into trouble afterward,” he said. “Nearly 80 percent of abstinent alcoholics or addicts relapse within a year. Current therapies for alcoholism help, but we can do much better.”
- In flavones, the B-ring is in the 2-position, but in isoflavone it is in the 3-position (Fig. 24.6).
- McLean Hospital has licensed the production of kudzu extract (NPI-031) to Natural Pharmacia International (NPI), Inc. that markets it as Alkontrol-Herbal™.
- Kudzu might be helpful for those who struggle with alcohol because some data show that it can help reduce alcohol intake, even in those who drink heavily.
- For the millions of Americans struggling to reduce their alcohol intake or stop drinking altogether, a product called Sobrenix sounded like the answer.
You can also be prescribed medication if you’re going through an alcohol detox. When alcohol detox is treated in a licensed inpatient treatment center, medications are often prescribed to reduce uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. The medicines also help reduce the risk of severe complications during detoxification. Kudzu root is linked to a wide range of potential health benefits from easing menopausal symptoms to treating alcohol dependence. Still, more research needs to be done to prove whether it’s truly effective. When the volunteers took the kudzu extract, they drank significantly less.
Kudzu Root: Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects
Although there is little data about the benefit of vitamin B1 on alcohol withdrawal cravings, supplementing with vitamin B1 is important to avoid complications from alcohol use. If you are struggling to stop drinking alcohol on your own, you can find support online with peer-to-peer meetings, virtual therapy, and online outpatient treatment. Some research shows that milk thistle may help those looking to treat alcohol-related liver disease. It’s important to note that more studies are needed to confirm that the herb enhances liver health. AUD (formerly known as alcoholism) is a medical condition in which a person has an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite consequences. If you have tried unsuccessfully to quit drinking on your own, you may meet the criteria.
My standards for categorizing an herb or drug as a “miracle” supplement are quite high. Something has to create a massive increase in sense of well-being to fit into this category. While kudzu does not quite make the cut, it is definitely worth trying if you’re looking to cut down on or quit drinking. The last study above was designed to test the hypothesis that kudzu accelerates the subjective experience of alcohol intoxication. If this were the primary effect of kudzu increasing blood flow, then subjects should feel more intoxicated with fewer drinks after taking kudzu.
Fast facts on kudzu root
When alcohol is consumed, kudzu may reduce the time it takes for it to travel to the brain. A slightly increased concentration of alcohol in the brain results in a quicker reward, which in turn reduces a person’s desire to drink more alcohol. The use of kudzu for alcoholism originated in China around 600 A.D. The Chinese noticed that people who consumed the plant started to drink less.
Several peer-reviewed studies demonstrated that supplementation with kudzu can lead to a decrease in alcohol consumption in individuals considered to be heavy alcohol consumers. It is not entirely understood how kudzu works to diminish alcohol cravings. Between drinks, the subjects rested their beer on a scale so researchers could monitor exactly how much they were drinking. They then either took 500 mg kudzu plant capsules three times a day or a placebo for a week and then returned to the lab. After observation, there was a “washout” period and treatments were then reversed – those who had been taking kudzu plant were given a placebo and vice versa. Behavior-observing researchers did not know who had been given what.
The real solution to problem drinking
A few supplements are also available over-the-counter (OTC), described as agents that can help curb alcohol cravings. Needless to say, it is certainly beneficial to remove the “pleasure” part of drinking from the equation. So, if you’re looking for a way to reduce your alcohol kudzu to stop drinking intake, and you don’t want to risk the dangerous side effects of prescription drugs, then you may want to add Kudzu supplements to your diet. “Alcohol-induced increases in dopamine in the nucleus accumbens are prevented by CVT in a dose-dependent manner,” said Diamond.
