The root of the Kudzu plant has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including alcoholism. The root contains isoflavones, a compound that has been shown to reduce alcohol consumption in rats. Kudzu root extract is now widely used in the United States as a natural remedy for alcoholism.
Kudzu Extract Treatment Does Not Increase the Intoxicating Effects of Acute Alcohol in Human Volunteers
These phytochemicals can help fight disease caused by inflammation, treat alcoholism, reduce blood pressure, fight the flu, reduce symptoms of menopause and more. During the baseline session, the placebo-randomized group consumed 2.7 ± 0.78 beers before treatment and increased consumption to 3.4 ± 1.1 beers after treatment. The kudzu group significantly reduced consumption from 3.0 ± 1.7 at baseline to 1.9 ± 1.3 beers after treatment.
Clinical Overview
This is because isoflavones can help dilate blood vessels, allowing for better blood flow. Kudzu may also help reduce the risk of blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Studies have shown that kudzu may work by increasing blood flow to the brain, reducing the desire to drink, and reducing the severity of hangovers. 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.
Health Benefits of Kudzu—Including Whether It Can Really Help Treat a Hangover
We have subsequently shown that puerarin is the major active isoflavone because 7 days treatment with this compound alone (1200 mg/day) produced a similar reduction of binge drinking as the extract (Penetar et al., 2012). The present study provides further evidence that extracts of the kudzu root are effective in reducing alcohol consumption but unlike any other medication (other than disulfiram) it does so after a single dose was taken shortly before a binge kudzu root alcohol drinking opportunity. And, contrary to disulfiram treatment, the drinking that did occur after kudzu administration did not result in any noxious side effects, increases in subjective ratings of nausea, uncomfortable, or feeling terrible. The reduction in drinking was evident rather quickly as it was apparent for the second through sixth beers and no kudzu-treated participant drank five or six beers, which suggests that binge drinking was curtailed.
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. Lukas and Lee hold a patent for kudzu extract to treat alcohol abuse and dependence.
- Studies of kudzu in humans are limited and have mostly focused on its effects on alcohol consumption or climacteric symptoms.
- 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.
- There is, however, one case report of allergic reaction following use of a combination herbal product containing kudzu (Kakkonto).
- However, more research is needed to determine its long-term effectiveness in promoting alcoholism recovery.
N. Engl. J. Med.
- Their unique characteristics have attracted the attention of scientists.
- Taking this plant would decrease the chance that a drink would turn into an endless parade of drinks.
This was demonstrated in our previous study (Penetar et al., 2011) where pharmacokinetic parameters such as peak concentration and elimination time were not affected by kudzu. In that study, however, we did find evidence of an initial more rapid rise in blood alcohol levels in kudzu-treated individuals, suggesting that isoflavones may alter bioavailability of alcohol to the brain during the ascending alcohol absorption phase. 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. Puerarin, one of the most abundant isoflavones in kudzu root extracts, is a known vasodilator and is approved for such use in China following coronary infarction and stroke (Wu et al., 2014). In spite of the compelling preclinical and clinical evidence of its efficacy, the precise mechanism of action of kudzu in reducing alcohol consumption is not currently known.
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