Kudzu extract may help control alcohol cravings

Almost 3 in 4 participants had less intense headaches, more than half had fewer headaches, and 1 in 3 had shorter headaches when taking kudzu root. Those are plant compounds that can act similarly to estrogen. Along with easing uncomfortable symptoms, estrogen can help prevent bone loss after menopause. Kudzu root is an edible part of a climbing vine that’s native to many Asian countries. It’s been used for health purposes in Traditional Chinese Medicine for a really long time. Anecdotal sources also note that kudzu root may lower blood sugar too much or slow down blood clotting.

Of course, it is entirely possible that any of the above mechanisms may also develop with repeated administration and complement the immediate altered absorption effect that likely explains kudzu’s rapid onset of action. The number of participants who drank each available beer during the 1.5 hour drinking session following administration of placebo or kudzu. Salvia miltiorrhiza is a widely used herb in Chinese medicine that may reduce the absorption of alcohol through the stomach. Miltiorrhiza reduces alcohol-seeking behavior kudzu root alcohol cravings in rats genetically engineered to prefer alcohol. Blood alcohol levels were reduced by 60% in rats that had been pre-treated with S. Compared to weeks in which the participants took no pill or a placebo, individuals with kudzu in their system consumed almost half as much alcohol—and showed no side effects or awareness of the drug. Puerarin is also less potent than other parts of the kudzu plant, so it has few side effects and has none of the estrogenic activity found in other components, making it safe for women.

Kudzu (Pueraria lobata)

Several of the subjects had been drinking for many years and often drank to or past the point of inebriation. Final inclusion of subjects was based on completing the AUDIT questionnaire that demonstrated either hazardous levels of drinking or alcohol dependence. All subjects reviewed a full protocol of the study and signed informed consent forms prior to beginning. Subjects were given an 8 week supply of the compound with instructions and dosing logs. They were asked to follow all instructions noting changes on a bi-weekly basis. After completion of the program each subject re-took the AUD questionnaire and also filled out an exit interview.

As a safe, over-the-counter preparation, kudzu may be used alone in initial attempts to curb alcohol consumption, but it may also become a useful adjunct to the currently available prescription medications. This latter scenario might very well permit the use of lower doses of prescription medications and thus reduce the incidence of side effects. Furthermore, because kudzu extract exerts its beneficial effects within hours of the first dose, it could be administered along with a prescription medication and provide “coverage” until the other medication begins to work. Is most famous as a quick-growing weed in the southern United States. Alcoholic hamsters were found to have decreased interest in drinking when fed kudzu extract. Nonetheless, a double-blind trial using 1.2 grams of powdered kudzu root twice per day failed to show any benefit in helping alcoholics remain abstinent from alcohol.

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Kudzu vine is now widely distributed in the United States, including all the southeast, north to Massachusetts and Illinois, and west to Texas and Oklahoma. Approximately 2,000,000 acres of forest land are covered by Kudzu vine. Development of a recognized, validated testing method and threshold equol value or equol-to-daidzein ratio will aid future interpretation of evidence. Further research and survey of the evidence may reveal differences among individuals or populations that account for these seemingly conflicting findings. Soy is considered one of the eight major food allergens, with albumin, globulin, and prolamin proteins being its primary allergenic constituents in sensitive individuals. Though there have been limited clinical trials of the single use of Gegen, it can be a potential candidate to suppress aging-related neuronal cell apoptosis and dysfunction of the memory system. The plant Cytisus laburnum from which cytisine is derived is traditionally used as an emetic and purgative, so nausea and vomiting is the main side effect. Like verenicline, it can disrupt the sleep cycle and cause nightmares.

A growing number of double-blind, peer reviewed studies have confirmed the effectiveness of using kudzu for alcoholism. Early research focused on rats with good results, which were later replicated with human subjects. In 2012, I ordered some high quality organic kudzu capsules after reading about the potential for kudzu to curb alcohol consumption. I took several capsules per day before drinking, and went through all of the kudzu in about one month. Kudzu, an ever-expanding plant considered a pest in much of the South, appears to contain a compound that can Sober House be effective in reducing alcohol intake among humans. Currently, commonly prescribed anti-drinking drugs such as disulfiram , naltrexone , and acamprosate , cause several side effects. For example, drowsiness and headaches are common side effects of Antabuse. Studies of daidzin may lead to an anti-drinking drug for alcohol treatment that causes fewer side effects. If you are struggling with an alcohol or drug abuse problem it is prudent to consult with a mental health provider or an addiction specialist before considering any natural product supplement.