Kudzu Extract Reduces Alcohol Consumption by Heavy Drinkers

Radix Pueraiae, also called Kudzu, is the dried root of leguminous Pueraria lobata plants. The tea of Radix Pueraiae was first recorded in the Chinese materia medica Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Pharmacopeia of Shen Nong, ~ 200 BC) and used as an antipyretic, antidiarrhetic, diaphoretic, and antiemetic agent. As early as 1000 years ago, Radix Pueraiae was used to treat alcohol-related problems, such as alcohol intoxication (Sun Simiao, ~ 600 AD) and alcohol abuse (Li Dongyuan, ~ 1200 AD). Increasing evidence shows that Radix Pueraiae may be beneficial for the treatment of alcohol abuse. A crude extract of Radix Pueraiae that included two major constituents, daidzein and daidzin, significantly suppressed free-choice ethanol intake in Golden hamsters (Keung & Vallee, 1993a). Daidzin is a potent, selective, and reversible inhibitor of mitochondrial acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2), which is essential for the oxidation of acetaldehyde derived from ethanol metabolism (Keung & Vallee, 1993b).

• They found that Kudzu treatment resulted in significant reduction in the number of beers consumed.
• Numerous studies showed genistein as a strong gene-specific DNA demethylating agent in various cancers.
• Bitter herbs have a long and successful tradition of use for a number of health purposes [16].

The kudzu plant resembles poison ivy, so it’s important to know how to identify it correctly. The plant Cytisus laburnum from which cytisine is derived is traditionally used as an emetic and purgative, so nausea and vomiting is the main side effect. Like verenicline, it can disrupt the sleep cycle and cause nightmares. 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).

Kudzu root benefits

Stores typically sell it as a powdered drink mix, an oral capsule or tablet, liquid drops, or as a food-grade starch to use in cooking. Scientists need to do more research on the safe and effective dosages of kudzu root for various uses. Furthermore, it’s likely that the suggested doses for kudzu root will vary depending on the manufacturer and the type of supplement you may be considering. It’s best to speak with your healthcare provider to determine whether kudzu root could interact with any medications you’re taking.

Taken together, these results suggest that genistein could be an important modulator of oxidative processes in neurodegenerative diseases. Interestingly, baicalin, a flavone founded in the Scutellaria baicalensis root, has also been shown to reduce oxidative damage and inhibit the aggregation of Aβ in SH-SY5Y cells [8] (Table 76.2). 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. A study of heavy drinkers who were not in a treatment program found that taking kudzu had no effect on their alcohol cravings.

Might help treat alcoholism

Several of the subjects had been drinking for many years and often drank to or past the point of inebriation. Final inclusion of subjects was based on completing the AUDIT questionnaire that demonstrated either hazardous levels of drinking or alcohol dependence. All subjects reviewed a full protocol of the study and signed informed consent forms prior to beginning. Subjects were given an 8 week supply of the compound with instructions and dosing logs.

Conversely, saikosaponins did not affect an increase in serum alanine aminotransferase and experimental cirrhosis in rats caused by carbon tetrachloride intoxication [49]. While the literature seems to support an effect of Kudzu and especially isoflavonoid constituents to suppress ethanol intake in animal models, in contrast, Shebek and Rindone [9,10] were unable to reproduce this effect in humans. Specifically, in a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial they found no difference between Kudzu and placebo after a one month treatment period in either reducing alcohol craving and or promoting sobriety. 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.

A single dose of kudzu extract reduces alcohol consumption in a binge drinking paradigm

Chai hu (Bupleuri radix), one of the most frequently used herbs in Chinese herbal medicine, has positive benefits in cases of liver toxicity especially due to alcoholism [39], analgesic properties [40] as well as sedative activity [41]. This article examines the benefits, uses, and potential side effects of kudzu root. Over the past three decades, isoflavones have been the subject of active investigation due to their roles in the prevention of chronic diseases, including several types of cancers [31,32]. Isoflavones are structurally similar to 17β-estradiol and have been the subject of intense research regarding their effects on human health as agonists of the ERβ receptor. Along with easing uncomfortable symptoms, estrogen can help prevent bone loss after menopause.

• But doctors disagree over the best general approach to curing alcoholism.
• Kudzu contains several active isoflavones, which are natural plant chemicals with antioxidant effects.
• The results showed pre-treatment with kudzu extract had little to no effect on the participants behavioral, physical or cognitive performance.
• Kawahata et al. [25] recently reported on the enhancement properties of Tangerine Peel extracts to facilitate potently- mediated transcription linked to the upstream cAMP/PKA/ERK/CREB pathway in hippocampal neurons.

Nine of the ten participants had previously tried other programs to eliminate alcohol cravings and intake with little or no success. The study was done in an at-home basis to allow for better compliance and prove if this program could be successful without daily intervention in a natural setting [11]. Each subject had full time access to the study coordinator and had weekly contact with the coordinator during the full 8 week term. Subjects were all Caucasian, lower to middle income, residing in a small Midwestern town. Each subject was interviewed in person and determined to be actively drinking on a regular basis, all exceeding what would be considered normal consumption ranging from 1-2 times per week to drinking on a daily basis.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Individuals treated with kudzu extract drank less beer, and they drank more slowly. There were no reported side effects from treatment with the kudzu extract. The 14 participants were heavy drinkers who reported having an average of 25 alcoholic beverages per week. Each participant was treated with kudzu and the placebo, and no side effects were found with either treatment. Medication adherence was excellent and there were no adverse events and changes in vital signs, blood chemistry, and renal or liver function. For targeting alcohol dependence, studies have used dosages of 1.2 grams of kudzu root extract per day over 1 week, or a single dose of 2 grams before drinking alcohol, without noted side effects (3, 19).

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). Findings show that subjects who took kudzu drank an average of 1.8 beers per session, compared with the 3.5 beers consumed by those who took a placebo. kudzu extract for alcoholism My standards for categorizing an herb or drug as a “miracle” supplement are quite high. Something has to create a massive increase in sense of well-being to fit into this category. While kudzu does not quite make the cut, it is definitely worth trying if you’re looking to cut down on or quit drinking.

Lukas’ study was inspired by Dr. Wing Ming Keung, a pathology professor at Harvard Medical School who has studied kudzu’s potential medical applications. None of the subjects had any side effects from mixing kudzu with beer. If you have any questions about using kudzu recovery for alcoholism, please leave them in the comment box below. Kudzu can be purchased with ease online and it won’t break the bank. However, there are a lot of supplements that claim to contain kudzu that are mostly cheap fillers. Kudzu is known to be extremely safe, with very few reported adverse side effects.

Virginia T. Latham, instructor in medicine, said she was «intrigued» by the report but was skeptical on whether kudzu could be used on humans. Riordan cautioned that hamsters have different reactions to alcohol than humans. Declinol utilizes a proprietary and patent-pending encapsulation technology that enhances the absorption and bio-availability of its https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-long-does-a-hangover-last-how-to-ease-a-hangover-tips/ herbal compounds. The active ingredients are all encapsulated, or enveloped, using specific processing techniques, within phosphatidyl choline based spheres that act as transport vehicles. The process mimics natural actions that take place within the gut to enable proper absorption of nutrients, especially phyto-nutrients and fat soluble vitamins.

Heavily Drinking Mice Curb Intake After Injection of Chinese Herb

But it did reduce the number of drinks they had each week by a third to a half. There is some evidence that kudzu root dietary supplements may cause liver injury. One study in mice found that taking 10 mg per day of kudzu root extract for 4 weeks caused liver toxicity (15).

• The study was done in an at-home basis to allow for better compliance and prove if this program could be successful without daily intervention in a natural setting [11].
• My standards for categorizing an herb or drug as a “miracle” supplement are quite high.
• They were then given either puerarin or a placebo, and told they should take it each day for a week.
• Natural therapies could help reduce cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms.
• If left unchecked, metabolic syndrome can increase your risk of developing heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
• In contrast, reduced occupancy of SIRT1 on the p53 and FOXO3a promoters was accompanied with increased acetylation and decreased methylation of H3K9, which resulted in activation of PTEN and CYLD in prostate cancer cells [146].

Two biologically active polysaccharides, bupleurans 2IIb and 2IIc, have also been isolated from the roots of B. Recently, unique discoveries have been made pertaining to the actions of bitters, and a family of 30 specific bitter flavor receptors in the GI Tract. Known as TAS2R’s, these receptors are located throughout the gut and are set to detect a variety of differing bitter profiles. Throughout the gut and endocrine system, digestive secretions are promoted in the stomach, pancreas, gall bladder, liver, and small and large intestine.

Consuming large quantities of alcohol or carbohydrates (carbohydrate bingeing) stimulates the brain’s production and utilization of dopamine. We are proposing that a novel approach to nutritional supplementation may be required to target the RDS role in alcoholism and glucose homeostasis [60]. Certainly an added stress of attempting to eliminate alcohol usage is the drastic swings in blood sugar, which when occurring may stimulate a stronger desire to drink [62]. Any natural means to balance blood sugar can therefore be of great cessation benefit to alcohol programs. The participants reported their desire for and consumption of alcohol for the duration of the study. 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).

In some kudzu-based dietary supplements, the manufacturers’ labels typically do not state that puerarin is one of the phytochemicals in KDS [38]. Although daidzin and puerarin are isomeric and both found in kudzu root, they can be easily distinguished by LC-MS/MS [38]. Neutral losses of 162 and 120 da are characteristics of O- and C-glucosides of daizein, respectively in their MS/MS fragmentations. Moreover, in vitro, daidzin potently suppresses hamster liver mitochondria-catalyzed acetaldehyde oxidation.