One Chinese herbal medicine, XJL (NPI-028), has long been used to reduce the inebriation that results from alcohol consumption. NPI-028 contains the extracts of several plants including Puerariae lobata (kudzu) and Citrus reticulata, which have long been used to lower intoxication (Sun, 600). Rooke et al., (2000) has suggested that puerarin may block biogenic amine metabolic pathways, resulting in an alteration in central reward pathways.
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The two treatments (kudzu and placebo) were analyzed as fixed effects and time (weeks since randomization) as a repeated-measurements effect. Effect size is reported using the variance-accounted for statistic Partial Eta-Squared (η2Partial). All tests were two-sided with significance level of 0.05 and were performed using SPSS software (version 19.0, IBM SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL). Medication adherence was excellent and there were no adverse events, changes in vital signs, blood chemistry, renal or liver function. 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. 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.
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Digestive AidKudzu root’s anti-inflammatory effects help settle digestive issues like upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation and inflammatory bowel disease. We hope this guide has helped you determine if you should add kudzu to your supplement stack and how to do it right.If you have any further questions or want to share your feedback, feel free to send us kudzu and alcohol an email! We may receive commissions for purchases made through the links in this post. Most of the information in this guide is based on scientific research that can be found and verified in the PubMed medical library.
Kudzu’s Benefits for Health
One reason that people feel it helps with hangovers is because it may influence the metabolism of alcohol. Avoid use if pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive due to hormone effects. Speak with your doctor before using kudzu root if you have breast cancer, uterine fibroids, hormone-sensitive conditions, diabetes, heart disease, or take medications or herbs. Kudzu has been used since 600 AD to help reduce alcohol consumption; now, it’s used as a way to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. Lukas and Lee applied for, and were granted, a patent for kudzu extract to treat alcohol abuse and dependence.
Can kudzu be taken in conjunction with other medications for alcoholism?
The ActiWatch® Score device contains an accelerometer that was used to record sleep/wake activity. We have previously reported on the sleep/wake patterns of the participants in this study (Bracken et al., 2011). Fifty-one percent of adults over the age of 18 and 56% of those age 18–44, are current regular drinkers (Schiller et al., 2012). Thirty percent of current drinkers report drinking excessively (Naimi et al., 2003) and 92% of U.S. adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the past 30 days (Town et al., 2006). Current use was defined as at least one drink in the past 30 days while binge use includes drinking five or more drinks per day.
The placebo-treated group opened 33 beers during baseline conditions and 38 following treatment whereas the kudzu-treated group opened 32 beers during baseline conditions and only 21 following treatment. Furthermore, kudzu root has demonstrated potential benefits for heart health, diabetes management, antioxidant protection, and alleviating menopausal symptoms. However, further research is necessary to fully comprehend the effects of kudzu on the body. While kudzu can help you cut back on your drinking, if you believe that you’re alcohol-dependent or you’re struggling with addiction, you should talk to a professional.
- It was originally intended to be used as animal fodder and control soil erosion, but with growth rates of up to a foot a day in the summer, this plant can be a challenge to control — perhaps, too much of a good thing.
- McLean Hospital has licensed the production of kudzu extract (NPI-031) to Natural Pharmacie International (NPI), Inc. and they are marketing it as Alkontrol-Herbal®.
- The volunteers were all friends, and so were likely to enjoy a relaxed evening’s drinking.
- They will consider potential interactions between kudzu and any medications you might be taking, ensuring your safety throughout the process.
Side effects of kudzu root
Anecdotal sources say it may also be harmful to take with medications for diabetes or blood clotting. It’s best to speak with your healthcare provider to determine whether kudzu root could interact with any medications you’re taking. One study in mice found that kudzu vine extract was highly beneficial in treating alcohol-induced liver damage by scavenging harmful free radicals and boosting the natural antioxidant system (6). This article examines the benefits, uses, and potential side effects of kudzu root. Overconsumption of alcohol has significant negative effects on an individual’s health and contributes to an enormous economic impact on society as a whole. Pharmacotherapies to curb excessive drinking are important for treating alcohol use disorders.
- The arrowroot starch derived from the Kudzu plant is also used in cooking as a thickener.
- Another study shows that kudzu flower might be helpful to lessen hot flashes in menopausal women.
- Kudzu root may help treat alcohol dependence, liver damage, and menopausal symptoms.
- This interpretation of kudzu’s possible mechanism of action was also suggested by Wong et al. (2011) who postulated that kudzu alters peripheral and cerebral blood flow.
- Overconsumption of alcohol has significant negative effects on an individual’s health and contributes to an enormous economic impact on society as a whole.
Kudzu to Stop Drinking Urges—How Does It Work?
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. A standardized formulation of kudzu extract produced minimal side effects, was well-tolerated and resulted in a modest alcoholism symptoms reduction in alcohol consumption in young non treatment-seeking heavy drinkers. 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.
