They consumed 7.8±0.63 drinks per week and did not abuse nor were dependent on any drug. The protocol and informed consent were approved by the McLean Hospital Institutional Review Board and individuals were paid for their participation. Kudzu root is linked to a wide range of potential health benefits from easing menopausal symptoms to treating alcohol dependence.
Should I check my cholesterol levels at home?
Remember that every individual’s journey to recovery is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. For those seeking help with alcohol addiction, valuable resources are available online. One such resource is AlcoholAwareness.org, which offers a wealth of information, support, and guidance for individuals and their families dealing with alcoholism. 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. 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.
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- As a consequence, daidzin could reduce alcohol consumption by altering monoamines that are important in central reward pathways (Rooke et al., 2000).
- Kudzu root is the edible part of a trailing vine native to several Asian countries.
- Research has found that kudzu can help reduce hot flashes and night sweats, as well as improve sleep quality.
- The results imply that a reduction in consumption exhibited in previous studies is not likely due to an increase in the subjective intoxicating effects of alcohol or to an increase in alcohol’s effect on psychomotor performance or cognitive processing.
- The subjects stood erect on the platform with feet together with their eyes either open or closed, and with their arms either by their side or extended to the side with their palms facing upward.
A Standardized Kudzu Extract (NPI- Reduces Alcohol Consumption in Non Treatment-Seeking Male Heavy Drinkers
Omega-3 fatty acids and healthy fats are an important part of a keto diet. Both lorazepam and Librium are benzodiazepines, which are powerful sedatives. While these drugs must not be used long-term, they are useful for short-term detox treatment. Lukas’ team at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital set https://ecosoberhouse.com/ up a makeshift “apartment” in a laboratory, complete with a television, reclining chair and a refrigerator stocked with beer. Kudzu root, leaf, and flowers have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries. But today you can find it in the supplement aisle of most grocery stores.
Anti-inflammatory effects
Still, more research needs to be done to prove whether it’s truly effective. McLean Hospital has licensed the production of kudzu extract (NPI-031) to Natural Pharmacie International herbs to curb alcohol cravings (NPI), Inc. and they are marketing it as Alkontrol-Herbal®. The finding that alcohol intake was reduced without affecting desire to use alcohol at first seemed counter-intuitive.
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. In fact, we reported that kudzu extract did just that and interrupted binge drinking (Lukas et al., 2005). This profile differs somewhat from that of kudzu extract and may represent a novel herbal compound that may be a therapeutic candidate. The present study explored possible mechanisms to explain how kudzu extract reduces alcohol consumption in humans. The results imply that a reduction in consumption exhibited in previous studies is not likely due to an increase in the subjective intoxicating effects of alcohol or to an increase in alcohol’s effect on psychomotor performance or cognitive processing.
The Promise of Kudzu in Alcoholism Treatment
We recently demonstrated that kudzu extract does not potentiate the intoxicating effects of alcohol (Penetar et al., 2010) and it does not interfere with sleep wake activity (Bracken et al., 2011). In addition, this was not a treatment clinical trial, so the effects on alcohol intake might have been more robust in treatment-seeking individuals. We developed a standardized kudzu extract that preserved the ratio of the major isoflavones found in the raw root, except that the concentration of isoflavones was increased to 25%. This randomized between-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 2 weeks of baseline, 4 weeks of treatment, and 2 weeks of follow-up.
This herbal product helps to suppress cravings.It is so promising that scientists have studied kudzu isoflavones to see if they can synthesize new products to support holistic sobriety. 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. The major dependent variable was self-reported alcohol consumption as measured via the wrist actigraphy device. Using the continuous measure of alcohol consumption, drinking was quantified using a number of different variables as noted above. In addition, responses to the audible prompts multiple times a day were used to assess desire to consume alcohol. Participants filled out a daily diary every morning as soon as possible upon awakening.
- In its raw form, kudzu root resembles other root tubers, such as potatoes or yams.
- A small 2009 case report involving 16 people with regular cluster headaches provides some anecdotal evidence.
- Instances of kudzu pretreatment effects were observed on one scale of negative alcohol effects (dizzy).
- Ultimately, a comprehensive approach to health and well-being, including evidence-based treatments, remains paramount.
- Nevertheless, it may be a good idea to avoid if you use blood thinning or diabetes medications.
- However, in a pilot toxicity study we found no change in acetaldehyde levels in kudzu-treated humans after drinking alcohol (unpublished data).