Now it makes sense as to why most any southerner knows what kudzu is. The kudzu has a thick, viscous consistency, similar to the gastric mucus, which coats the stomach and protects it from excess hydrochloric acid. Umeboshi plum, which is strongly alkaline, neutralizes the harmful effects of excess stomach acid. Together, they benefit the digestive system, even offering relief from stomach ulcers and heartburn. The Preventative Medicine Center (PMC) suggests kudzu as a remedy for an upset stomach caused by digestive issues.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with KUDZU
Taking this plant would decrease the chance that a drink would turn into an endless parade of drinks. Of course, it’s up to the individual to ensure that he or she doesn’t use this as an excuse to fall off the wagon. Lukas recruited 14 men and women in their 20s to spend four 90-minute sessions consuming beer and watching TV. Researchers selected people who said they regularly consumed three to four drinks per day. 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).
- These men reported drinking 27.6 ± 6.5 drinks/week with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and/or alcohol dependence.
- The ActiWatch® Score device contains an accelerometer that was used to record sleep/wake activity.
- It is important to talk to a healthcare professional before taking kudzu, especially if you have liver disease or are taking prescription medication.
- As a result, the researchers gave compounds from Kudzu root to the special lab rats.
Related treatment guides
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. It works by essentially increasing blood alcohol concentration, meaning people only need to drink a small amount to feel the effects of the alcohol. Additionally, eliminating hot flashes and night sweats, an upset stomach and inflammation are all benefits that you may find from eating kudzu root or taking it as a supplement or tea. A small 2009 case report involving 16 people with regular cluster headaches provides some anecdotal evidence. 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.
Drugs & Supplements
While you can find kudzu vine almost anywhere in the South by taking a drive on a country road, kudzu root is probably most popular by way of a supplement or as kudzu root tea that can be found at most health food stores. However, look closely at the label to make sure you know how much kudzu is in it. Some have reported that the labels are misleading, claiming more kudzu contents that there really are. If you’re not sure whether kudzu root is right for you, talk with your doctor.
- The ultimate role that natural preparations play will be complementary and might be useful in treating drug withdrawal and possibly relapse (Lu et al., 2009).
- 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).
- Medication adherence was measured using ultraviolet (UV) light to detect riboflavin in centrifuged urine samples (Del Boca et al., 1996) that were collected twice a week.
(2) This, in turn, could help prevent or treat cirrhosis and other alcohol-related conditions as well. However, some people may experience mild side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and headache. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking kudzu, especially if you are taking other medications or have underlying health conditions. Studies on the effectiveness of kudzu for alcoholism have shown mixed results.
A Standardized Kudzu Extract (NPI- Reduces Alcohol Consumption in Non Treatment-Seeking Male Heavy Drinkers
Kudzu is native to Asia, particularly China, Japan and Korea, and has been used in Eastern medicine for centuries. It’s related to five species in the genus Pueraria (P. montana, P. lobata, P. edulis, P. phaseoloides and P. thomsoni). If you have ever driven through the South and looked into fields and wooded areas noticing a vine-like plant resembling a topiary, chances are that plant was kudzu. Kudzu root, also known as kuzu, is mostly used as an herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies.
Please seek professional care if you believe you may have a condition. My standards for categorizing an herb or drug as a “miracle” supplement does kudzu help with alcohol cravings are quite high. Something has to create a massive increase in sense of well-being to fit into this category. While it does not quite make the cut, it is definitely worth trying if you’re looking to cut down on or quit drinking. However, there are a lot of supplements that claim to contain it that are mostly cheap fillers.
Read on to learn about kudzu’s benefits for your health.
- Using the continuous measure of alcohol consumption, drinking was quantified using a number of different variables as noted above.
- While it does not quite make the cut, it is definitely worth trying if you’re looking to cut down on or quit drinking.
- Make sure you clearly identify it since it looks similar to poison ivy, and avoid kudzu that has been sprayed with pesticides or chemicals.
- The fact that kudzu extract nearly doubled the number of consecutive days that individuals maintained abstinence suggests that it may be a useful adjunct during the early weeks of treatment.
- They can give you personalized advice that takes into account any other supplements or medications you may be taking.
- A growing number of double-blind, peer-reviewed studies have confirmed the effectiveness of using kudzu for alcoholism.
Kudzu root may also be helpful for women experiencing menopausal symptoms. Research has found that kudzu can help reduce hot flashes and night sweats, as well as improve sleep quality. This may be due to the isoflavones in kudzu, which can help regulate hormone levels. Kudzu may also interact with certain medications, such as disulfiram (Antabuse) and methotrexate. It is important to talk to a healthcare professional before taking kudzu, especially if you have liver disease or are taking prescription medication.
