Kudzu Root, derived from the Pueraria lobata plant, offers numerous health benefits, including cardiovascular support, liver detoxification, alcohol dependency reduction, cognitive enhancement, and menopausal symptom relief. Rich in isoflavones, this natural supplement can be easily incorporated into daily routines to promote overall well-being and improve quality of life. Kudzu root is linked to a wide range of potential health benefits from easing menopausal symptoms to treating alcohol dependence.
- Bianca Rosa Extra Strength Kudzu Vine Roots supports rejuvenation and promotes a healthy libido.
- Some health companies sell the kudzu root species Pueraria mirifica as a supplement for menopausal and postmenopausal women.
- Researchers found that the kudzu extract had no effect on alcohol cravings, but it reduced the number of weekly alcoholic drinks by 34–57% (2).
Clinical Overview
- You can find kudzu root supplements easily online and in a variety of natural food or supplement stores.
- Some authors showed a direct correlation between ALDH-2 inhibition and ethanol intake suppression and increase the possibility that daidzin may suppress the ethanol intake of golden hamsters, by inhibiting ALDH-2 (Keung 2003).
- Data from the actiwatch device was the primary source for all analyses while the daily diary served as a back up to verify daily totals and in case of equipment failure.
- Kudzu Root, derived from the Pueraria lobata plant, offers numerous health benefits, including cardiovascular support, liver detoxification, alcohol dependency reduction, cognitive enhancement, and menopausal symptom relief.
- In fact, even a single dose of kudzu extract may be helpful if you’re looking to reduce your drinking.
- This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff.
Separate general linear model ANOVAs for data with repeated measurements were used to analyze the number of drinks per week and the number of heavy drinking days per week. 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).
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It produces pretty reddish purple pea-like flowers that lead to the production of dark brown hairy pods. The authors thank Carol Buchanan, Ronna Shostak, and Barbara Beake for the administrative support during the conduct of this study. However, there are no kudzu products on the market in the UK carrying the THR mark. The authors thank Carol Buchanan, Ronna Shostak and Barbara Beake for administrative support during the conduct of this study.
- It’s been used for health purposes in Traditional Chinese Medicine for a really long time.
- This is only a brief summary of general information about this product.
- It is important to place the magnitude of the effects of kudzu extract on alcohol drinking in context.
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Puerarin (Fig. 1C) represents the most concentrated isoflavonoid in kudzu, although best kudzu for alcoholism it is not as potent as daidzin. The beneficial effects of puerarin on alcohol intake in alcohol-preferring rats reported in the literature also suggest the potential utility of puerarin as an anti-craving agent (Overstreet et al. 2003; Rezvani et al. 2003). Sobriety level and a visual analogic scale to assess alcohol craving were assessed. Kudzu root appeared to be no better than placebo in reducing alcohol craving and/or promoting sobriety.
Side Effects
The kudzu extract diadzein has been isolated as an aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH-2) inhibitor, which has been shown in animal models to reduce excessive drinking. Synthetic versions of this selective ALDH-2 inhibitor are being investigated as potential medications to suppress relapse in abstinent alcoholics. More clinical trials will need to be conducted to better understand the efficacy of kudzu extracts or synthetic variants for treatment of alcohol dependence. The finding that alcohol intake was reduced without affecting desire to use alcohol at first seemed counter-intuitive. However, it is important to recognize that one of the major weaknesses of the measure that we used to record desire to drink alcohol was that it was unidimensional. It is quite likely that the desire to use alcohol in an outpatient setting cannot be captured with a single question; we also observed an absence of an effect on desire for alcohol in our previous study (Lukas et al., 2005).
Estrogenic activity
Still, more research needs to be done to prove whether it’s truly effective. Sporadic missing data from the actiwatches were filled in from the back up daily diary data. Data due to dropouts were handled as missing data and no values were entered.
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- Kudzu root has been given the honor of helping reduce the painful effects of a hangover, though it seems that if overused, it could be more harmful than good.
- The absence of standardized dosages and recommended administration methods for kudzu necessitates expert guidance.
- 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.
- Kudzu vine, Pueraria montana, is a dicot leguminous deciduous woody vine that produces tuberous roots and dark brown rope-like stems that climb up to 20 meters (65 feet) high (Fig. 13-10).
Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to these studies. This herb is used to support winter health by relaxing tightness and alleviating spasms in the neck and shoulders. It helps ease muscle tension and promote overall comfort during colder months. Ideal for those seeking relief from tightness and discomfort in these areas. Kudzu vine, Pueraria montana, is a dicot leguminous deciduous woody vine that produces tuberous roots and dark brown rope-like stems that climb up to 20 meters (65 feet) high (Fig. 13-10). Young stems are hairy, and the leaves are trifoliate and also hairy (Fig. 13-10A).
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. Kudzu root comes from a trailing vine that often grows over other plants. When it’s raw, kudzu root looks like other root tubers (think yams or ginger). Zimin Liu (California Nutritionals, San Diego, CA) reported on blended herbal products to treat anxiety and depression and their economic market potential. The government runs the voluntary Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) scheme in an effort to combat this problem.
The kudzu root may interact with certain medications or pose other health risks for certain people. Therefore, it’s always best to consult your healthcare provider before taking it. Some evidence suggests kudzu root may help with liver damage, while other preliminary evidence suggests it may cause liver injury in certain cases. Scientists need to do more research on the effects of kudzu root in humans to investigate these effects in the liver.
For optimal results, take one capsule one to two times daily with water. Lukas and Lee applied for, and were granted, a patent for kudzu extract to treat alcohol abuse and dependence. McLean Hospital has licensed the production of kudzu extract (NPI-031) to Natural Pharmacia International (NPI), Inc. and they are marketing it as Alkontrol-Herbal®. All other authors declare that they have no actual or potential conflict of interest that could inappropriately influence, or be perceived to influence, this work. 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®. Participants filled out a daily diary every morning as soon as possible upon awakening.