Small studies in people have observed noteworthy improvements in these menopausal symptoms, among others, like vaginal dryness (9, 10). Role of Funding Source Funding for this study was provided by NIAAA grant R01-AA10536 to Dr. Lukas and NCCAM grant P01-AT to Dr. Lee. The information we provide while responding to comments is not intended to provide and does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice. The responses to comments on fitrecovery.com are designed to support, not replace, medical or psychiatric treatment. If you have any questions about using kudzu recovery for alcoholism, please leave them in the comment box below.
- More recently a study has tested the efficacy of a kudzu extract in a group of “heavy” alcohol drinkers, treated with either placebo or a kudzu extract (500 mg three times daily for 7 days) (Lukas et al. 2005).
- It’s best to speak with your healthcare provider to determine whether kudzu root could interact with any medications you’re taking.
- Quantitative analysis of ethanol levels was performed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID) (Hewlett-Packard model 5890 series II equipped with a model 18593B autosampler) (Penetar et al., 2008).
What should I not eat or drink when I’m taking medication?
As with any herbal supplement, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional before incorporating kudzu into one’s regimen, especially if taking medications or dealing with specific health conditions. 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. Kudzu is also known for its flower, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fever, headache, and other ailments. The arrowroot starch derived from the Kudzu plant is also used in cooking as a thickener. The plant contains phytoestrogens, which are compounds that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body.
Potential benefits of kudzu root
According to some studies, kudzu root may help manage some symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Along with easing uncomfortable symptoms, estrogen can help prevent bone loss after menopause. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, kudzu root can be used for lots of health purposes. kudzu for alcohol cravings Some common applications include treating fevers and easing symptoms of diabetes. Now kudzu’s popularity is also picking up in the Western world as a wellness supplement. Kudzu root is an edible part of a climbing vine that’s native to many Asian countries.
Daidzin suppresses ethanol consumption by Syrian golden hamsters without blocking acetaldehyde metabolism
In my opinion, the Planetary Herbals brand is a great option for someone who has not yet quit drinking, and who wants to try pure kudzu powder on its own. However, there are a lot of supplements that claim to contain it that are mostly cheap fillers. It is known to be extremely safe, with very few reported adverse side effects.
Will kudzu supplement pills make me drink less alcohol?
The significance of the effects on the early plasma ethanol levels and the effects on heart rate and skin temperature offer some insight to the potential mechanism of action of kudzu extract in that study. During the present study we have gathered evidence that kudzu extract may alter blood ethanol levels and that this change in pharmacokinetics may result in an increased rate of entry into the central nervous system. Such an effect might increase the rewarding effects of the first drink consumed, especially when higher doses are consumed, and the desire for subsequent drinks might be delayed. Thus, the net effect of kudzu extract would not be to eliminate drinking completely, but to reduce binge drinking to a more manageable number of drinks from which complete withdrawal (via complementary methods) might be possible. An analysis of the participant’s alcohol craving or urge to drink prior to the drinking session revealed that neither was affected by kudzu pretreatment. During the session, only drinking amounts and patterns were recorded to avoid interfering with the participant’s alcohol self administration behavior so it is not known if the subjective effects of alcohol were affected.
Clinical science
Natural tips and methods can go a long way to help you curb cravings, but there are also treatment options that provide much-needed support to get you through the tough parts of your journey and empower you to keep going. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Alcohol cravings are caused by psychological and physical factors that form triggers that tempt you to drink.
David Penetar
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). 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. 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.
My experience was limited to an experiment that I did years ago to see if taking the herb would reduce my drinking levels. 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. In addition, the diaries permitted the participants to enter additional data that could not be recorded on the watch.
Are there natural alternatives to HRT?
- The 0.35 g/kg dose produced significant increases in ratings compared to placebo on all scales except clumsy, floating, muddled/confused, slurred speech, and uncomfortable.
- While some studies have shown promising results, others have found no significant difference between kudzu and a placebo.
- Kudzu, whose scientific name is Pueraria mirfica, is a vine used in Chinese medicine for a variety of health promoting purposes.
- Another study shows that kudzu flower might be helpful to lessen hot flashes in menopausal women.
- It is important to place the magnitude of the effects of kudzu extract on alcohol drinking in context.
Other limitations of the present study are the use of a rather narrow aged male population who drink only at moderate levels. 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 study, kudzu extract was administered for 7 days and acute binge drinking was suppressed (Lukas et al., 2005). In the second study, 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).
These medications work by altering the brain’s response to alcohol or producing unpleasant effects when alcohol is consumed, deterring further drinking. 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 https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 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. A total of 32 participants (28 men, 4 women) between the ages of 21 and 40 years old were recruited through advertisements in local newspapers and on the internet (e.g., CraigsList and local University websites) to participate in this study.
