Kudzu Root: Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects

When recovering from alcohol addiction, fixing these nutrient deficiencies for your overall health is important. Online therapy and intensive outpatient treatment programs are widely available and can be accessed from the comfort and privacy of your home. Alcohol use disorder has also been linked to a higher risk of several cancers, including colon, breast, oral, liver, and throat cancers. A 2017 research review did not find that this therapy was more effective than other forms of relapse prevention. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Drinking more than three drinks in a single sitting will temporarily cause your blood pressure to rise, but extended binge drinking or regular alcohol consumption can cause a permanent increase in blood pressure. When you are trying to quit or stay away from alcohol, cravings can be overwhelming. It is normal to seek remedies like over-the-counter herbs, vitamins and supplements to stop the cravings and support your sobriety. However, kudzu to stop drinking while some studies support using certain supplements, it is important to know that not all directly impact alcohol withdrawal symptoms. «The fact that participants experienced a rapid rise in blood alcohol levels when pre-treated with kudzu has no apparent explanation and therefore requires additional research,» said Penetar. For the researchers, the next step is to determine if kudzu alters regional brain blood flow using an fMRI.

Kudzu For Alcoholism: Is This The Natural Cure For Problem Drinking?

It has been reported that when people who have quit drinking go back to social drinking they struggle to moderate. People drinking alcohol for many reasons, including to get that ‘buzz’. The government advises that we adhere to less than 15 drinks a week. Over the past three decades, isoflavones have been the subject of active investigation due to their roles in the prevention of chronic diseases, including several types of cancers [31,32].

Our laboratory has been involved in assessing an extract of the kudzu root (Pueraria lobata) for its ability to reduce alcohol consumption in humans. In the first, kudzu extract was administered for 7 days and acute binge drinking was suppressed (Lukas et al., 2005). In the second, participants who were treated for 4 weeks with kudzu extract significantly reduced their alcohol consumption during weeks 2 through 4 of the study (Lukas et al., 2013). We have subsequently shown that puerarin is the major active isoflavone because 7 days treatment with this compound alone (1,200 mg/day) produced a similar reduction of binge drinking as the extract (Penetar et al., 2012).

Eases Menopausal Symptoms & Curbs Appetite

Chinese medicine has used the kudzu plant ( ge gen ) for centuries to treat stiff neck, sprains, thirst and diarrhea, and to reduce drinking. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology states that kudzu’s traditional functions date back to Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing , originally compiled in the second century. Today, researchers are exploring this Chinese herb’s use in Detoxification therapy and to reduce alcohol consumption abuse. For targeting alcohol dependence, studies have used dosages of 1.2 grams of kudzu root extract per day over 1 week, or a single dose of 2 grams before drinking alcohol, without noted side effects (3, 19).

• Kudzu root gets some serious rep’ for helping folks ease off of the booze.
• The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain.
• Drinking was recorded using a custom built end table that contained a digital scale beneath a ceramic tile insert in the tabletop (Ohaus model #B10P with I5S controller).
• When taken in small doses, kudzu can treat alcoholism and inflammation.
• 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 Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes.

Antabuse is not available OTC and requires a prescription from a doctor. People should consult with their doctor to determine if it is the right drug for their alcohol dependence. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Never take a new medication or adjust existing prescriptions without the approval of a doctor who is aware of previous health issues and current prescriptions.

The 10 Best Supplements To Reduce Alcohol Cravings

Supplementing with vitamins and minerals is also important because long-term alcohol consumption and dependence can deplete these elements, particularly the B vitamins. Kudzu root is available in lots of forms including capsules, liquid extracts, and powder. There’s not a recommended dosage for kudzu root, but there have been human studies that can help guide you. 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. It’s important to always consult with a physician or healthcare professional before taking any supplements, natural or not.

The Chinese also use it to treat high blood pressure, migraines and inflammation. And recent research now suggests that there may be some validity behind all this. Scientists have identified over 70 phytonutrients in kudzu root, and a high concentration of flavonoids, in particular (x). Kudzu may not be able to curb cravings, nor does it reduce the intoxicating effects of alcohol (x).

Treats Alcoholism

Studies conducted in colon cancer cells revealed genistein-mediated promoter demethylation of WNT5a leading to an increase in its expression in cell lines from earlier stages of colon cancer but not in cell lines from later stages [138]. Zhang et al. [139] found that dietary genistein maintains a normal Wnt signaling in the colon epithelium of carcinogen-injected mice through regulating the DNA methylation of Sfrp5 promoter. An intriguing observation on tissue differentiation by genistein-induced demethylation of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) accompanied with mild proliferation of the endometrium was reported by Matsukura et al. [140]. Genistein reduced promoter methylation of RARβ2 in human cervical cancer cells, which led to increase in its mRNA levels [57].

It is the job of the Spleen to lift clear yang, but this task is impaired by alcohol. True clear yang fills the mind with brightness and intelligence, so when it fails to raise properly, dizziness, fogginess and fatigue ensue, resulting in hangover. Some research specifically on the kudzu species Pueraria mirifica suggests that doses of 50–100 mg per day appear to have a low risk of adverse side effects (18). While kudzu root may offer a few specific benefits, there are also some potential downsides to consider.