Vital signs, measures of blood chemistry, liver function tests and urinalysis assessments were all normal. One animal study in particular demonstrated that kudzu extract and its major components are very safe, even after relatively large doses (2 g/day) over a 3-month treatment period (Keyler et al., (2002). The degree of reduction is often as high as 50% and the effects appeared within one to two days of treatment. Regardless of the actual mechanism of action, it is widely accepted that the isoflavones in kudzu are effective in reducing alcohol intake in a number of mammalian species. The present study was conducted in non treatment-seeking heavy drinkers to assess the safety and efficacy of four weeks of kudzu extract in an outpatient setting.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
In this article, I’m going to discuss how to use kudzu recovery for alcoholism. Kudzu is an invasive weed that has also been used to treat alcoholism for well over one thousand years. Kudzu, whose scientific name is Pueraria mirfica, is a vine used in Chinese medicine for a variety of health promoting purposes. It has spread to South Africa, Malaysia, and the western Pacific Islands. It was introduced into the United States as an ornamental in 1876, as a forage plant in Florida in the 1920s, and was promoted as an erosion control by the U.S.
Medical
I took several capsules per day before drinking, and went through all of it in about one month. 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. This time, the groups were given the opposite pill from the one they’d previously taken (meaning that they acted as their own control for the experiment).
Drugs & Supplements
Additional studies using treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent persons will be necessary to determine the usefulness of this herbal preparation in reducing alcohol use in other populations. A standardized formulation of kudzu extract https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/can-you-get-addicted-to-ibuprofen/ produced minimal side effects, was well-tolerated and resulted in a modest reduction in alcohol consumption in young non treatment-seeking heavy drinkers. The root of the Kudzu plant has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including alcoholism.
KUDZU – Uses, Side Effects, and More
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. There were no changes in any vital signs, hematology, blood chemistry, renal or liver function tests during the three phases of the study. The maximal possible observations were based on the number of side effect categories that were recorded, multiplied by the kudzu extract for alcoholism number of study days in each phase, which was then multiplied by the number of subjects participating in each study phase. The overall incidence of side effects (e.g., headaches, shakes, chills, nausea, etc.) in both groups ranged between 1.7 and 3%. None of the study participants reported any insomnia, sedation, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, or altered libido.
Does microwaving food make it less healthy?
- While the blood flow theory of kudzu for alcoholism may be true, there is likely more going on here.
- There was a significant reduce in sperm motility and progressiveness in mice treated with alcohol for 5 weeks, while administration of red ginseng extract appeared to minimize the harmful effects of alcohol-induced toxicity on male fertility 93.
- The leaves of this plant were smoked by Russian soldiers during World War II when there was a shortage of tobacco.
- FDA received 700+ botanical drug applications during the past years, one third of which were for oncological indications (Lee et al., 2015).
- One small study looking at the effects of kudzu in a group of men that reported drinking between 22 and 35 drinks per week shows promising results.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been used as an important ingredient in cooking and traditional herbal medicine for a long time. 6-Gingerol as the major bioactive constituent of ginger could efficiently scavenge various free radicals 77. The antioxidant compounds of ginger may modulate the oxidative stress induced by alcohol. SOD, ascorbic acid, and GSH levels were decreased, and GST activity was increased in alcohol treated rats. However, after treatment with the extract of ginger, these parameters came to normal 78. A standardized formulation of kudzu extract produced minimal side effects, was well-tolerated, and resulted in a modest reduction in alcohol consumption in young nontreatment-seeking heavy drinkers.
3 Medication Adherence
Again, we calculated the total units consumed for each group, and then compared the total units consumed after placebo vs those consumed after kudzu. This product may adversely interact with certain health and medical conditions, other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, foods, or other dietary supplements. This product may be unsafe when used before surgery or other medical procedures. It is important to fully inform your doctor about the herbal, vitamins, mineral or any other supplements you are taking before any kind of surgery or medical procedure. McLean Hospital has just negotiated a licensing agreement for kudzu root extract with Natural Pharmacia International, Inc., Burlington, MA. No competing financial interest exists for Bethany K. Bracken, David M. Penetar, R. Ross Maclean, or Scott E. Lukas.
- The dietary fiber and flavonoids of Asparagus officinalis improved the plasma lipid profile and reduced liver oxidative damage in hypercholesterolemia mice model 81.
- Antioxidants help neutralize these molecules, reducing the risk of oxidative stress and related health problems.
- For those seeking help with alcohol addiction, valuable resources are available online.
- Red ginseng extract also has protective effects from alcohol-induced male reproductive toxicity.
- 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%.
It is the only natural medication regarded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to treat alcohol use disorder 44. In a clinical population study, kudzu treatment resulted in significant reduction in alcohol intake in a naturalistic setting. The number of beers consumed and the volume of each sip was decreased while the number of sips and the time to consume each beer was increased. In another study, 20 men participated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind design experiment, where kudzu extract (2 g) with an active isoflavone content of 520 mg, quickly reduced alcohol intake in a binge drinking paradigm 46.