Acetaldehyde, which is the first metabolite of alcohol oxidation, could lead to a series of unpleasant feelings such as nausea, vomiting, headache and fatigue 21. Acetaldehyde is categorized as a group 2B carcinogenic substance by the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer, meaning it is possibly carcinogenic to humans 22. While kudzu root has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine, people most often use it to help treat alcohol dependence. Currently, commonly prescribed anti-drinking drugs such as disulfiram (Antabuse), naltrexone (Revia and Vivitrol), and acamprosate (Campral), cause several side effects.
Kudzu Extract Treatment Does Not Increase the Intoxicating Effects of Acute Alcohol in Human Volunteers
- Additionally, the diversity in participants (in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, and drinking habits) was often limited.
- While it may not be as effective as some prescription medications, it can still be a helpful addition to a comprehensive treatment plan for alcoholism.
- The test requires individuals to press the space bar as quickly as possible following the appearance of a letter on a laptop computer screen, but to withhold pressing for any occurrence of the letter ‘X’.
- These results suggest that HPE could have some beneficial effects on alcohol withdrawal syndrome in people 102.
- The information we provide while responding to comments is not intended to provide and does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice.
It’s important to note that these studies used kudzu extract, which may have contained other parts of the kudzu plant besides the root. Thus, scientists need to do more research in this area on the effects of kudzu root specifically. Over time, if you regularly drink, you’re likely to develop a tolerance and need more alcohol to achieve the desired effects. When you stop consuming alcohol or reduce your intake, you may have withdrawal symptoms, including cravings. In conclusion, while kudzu shows promise as a natural remedy for alcoholism, more rigorous clinical studies are needed to determine its effectiveness.
Kudzu root benefits
Studies have shown that kudzu root also leads to significantly reduced alcohol consumption in rats. The active compounds in kudzu root which lead to reduced drinking are called isoflavonids or isoflavones. Rat studies show that the reason that subjects consume less alcohol is that the isoflavonids found in kudzu root allow acetaldehyde to accumulate and this makes the alcohol less desirable.
May alleviate menopausal symptoms
Some were randomized controlled trials, where participants were unknowingly given either Kudzu or a placebo to gauge the unbiased effects. Others adopted cross-over designs, where the same participants experienced both the intervention and control conditions at different times. As we delve deeper into the botanical intricacies of the Kudzu Root, it becomes abundantly clear that nature is an alchemist of unparalleled prowess. Each plant, each root, and every leaf houses a cocktail of compounds that interact with the human body in myriad ways. While kudzu may help improve symptoms, it also comes with its own set of side effects. Most notably, those who use kudzu over a long-term period may develop liver injury and kidney problems.
Can You Use Kudzu To Stop Drinking?
Scientists need to do more human studies to determine its effectiveness in other areas, like inflammation, heart health, and headaches. Another study found that alcoholism symptoms people who took puerarin, an isoflavone extract from the kudzu plant, prior to drinking took longer to consume alcoholic beverages (3). There’s also evidence to suggest that kudzu extracts may help improve hydration, and dehydration tends to be one of the big contributors to the symptoms of a hangover. The anti-inflammatory properties may alleviate some hangover symptoms as well, many of which are due to inflammation related to alcohol use. History and tradition offer profound insights, but in the modern world, the gold standard for validating any therapeutic claim is rigorous scientific scrutiny. Kudzu, with its promising historical and traditional background, naturally piqued the interest of researchers.
Support in Respiratory Health
The presence of isoflavones, especially puerarin, has been linked to vasodilation (widening of blood vessels), which can aid in reducing blood pressure 5. When given Kudzu extract, these animals displayed a marked reduction in their alcohol consumption. While rodent behavior doesn’t directly translate to human responses, it was an encouraging starting point 3. They have also claimed that kudzu causes a decrease in their urge to drink. There are opinions that kudzu is a safer alternative than some of the leading anti-drinking medications, most of which have concerning side effects.
Hepatoprotective effects
Intragastric administration of 200 mg/kg extract reduced alcohol intake by 40% and preference throughout a 4 day treatment of a 2-bottle free-choice regimen. A possible mechanism was that Salvia miltiorrhiza curbed alcohol absorption from the gastrointestinal tract 110. The alcohol levels in blood were markedly reduced while the severity of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in alcohol-dependent rats was not attenuated with the intervention of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts 111. IDN 5082, a standardized extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza, could delay the acquisition of alcohol drinking behavior in rats. The reduction in alcohol intake was compensated by an increase in water intake 112. In addition, the IDN 5082 possessed the anti-relapse properties in alcohol preferring rats through complete suppressing of the extra amount of alcohol consumed during the kudzu and alcohol first hour of re-access to alcohol after 7 days of deprivation 113.
What to Know Before You Take Herbal Supplements
- There are some known risks of kudzu root that you should be aware of before consuming.
- The participants reported their desire for and consumption of alcohol for the duration of the study.
- In the first, kudzu extract was administered for 7 days and acute binge drinking was suppressed (Lukas et al., 2005).
Missing data points within the treatment weeks in non dropout participants were Missing Completely at Random and so were imputed using multiple regression. A total of 42 out of 532 data points in the kudzu extract group and 26 out of 357 data points in the placebo group were handled this way, corresponding to 7.9% and 7.3% of the data, respectively. Drinking data were collected using a small wristwatch-like device (ActiWatch® Score, MiniMitter Co., OR) and daily diaries. The ActiWatch has a small button and digital LED faceplate and participants wore the device 24 hours a day for the entire 8-week study and were asked to record all drug and alcohol use by pressing the button to enter the proper code.