Kudzu root extract is now widely used in the United States as a natural remedy for alcoholism. One small study looked at the effects of kudzu in 17 men ages 21–33 who reported drinking approximately 22–35 drinks per week. The researchers gave participants either kudzu extract or a placebo every day for 4 weeks (2). The rates of alcohol drinking during follow-up phase were also reduced compared to baseline in both the kudzu- and placebo-treated groups. We had not expected that any beneficial effects would remain after kudzu extract had cleared the body based on our pharmacokinetic results (Penetar et al., 2006).

David Y-W Lee

Other research suggests that kudzu supplements may also play a role in preventing migraine attacks. kudzu recovery These are exciting findings, but much more research is needed before we can be sure. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.

How To Take Kudzu For Alcoholism?

• Try Kudzu Recovery today and unlock the full potential of kudzu for yourself.
• With Kudzu Recovery, you’ll have the tools you need to manage alcohol intake and support your overall well-being.
• Please consult your health care provider if currently under care or treatment.
• It is believed to assist in reducing alcohol cravings and supporting liver function.

The Chinese noticed that people who consumed the plant started to drink less. According to traditional Chinese medicine, this plant has cooling properties that balance the heat and false energy created by alcohol. The ability of puerarin and related isoflavones to facilitate alcohol’s entry into the brain has not been systematically studied. For this mechanism to be plausible, the more rapid penetration of alcohol into the brain would have to trigger a satiety mechanism rather quickly such that the desire for the next drink is delayed—thus interrupting a binge episode. This is precisely what was observed in the present study as kudzu’s effects were evident after a single dose within a few hours of administration.

7 Desire for Alcohol

As a safe, over-the-counter preparation, kudzu may be used alone in initial attempts to curb alcohol consumption, but it may also become a useful adjunct to the currently available prescription medications. This latter scenario might very well permit the use of lower doses of prescription medications and thus reduce the incidence of side effects. Furthermore, because kudzu extract exerts its beneficial effects within hours of the first dose, it could be administered along with a prescription medication and provide “coverage” until the other medication begins to work. As drinking behavior was measured using a wrist actigraphy device, we were able to monitor alcohol consumption continuously, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The reductions in drinking during kudzu extract treatment were modest, but were equivalent to a 34–57% reduction over the treatment weeks; reductions in drinking during placebo treatment ranged from 5.8–36%.

In all, alcohol consumption, though not desire, was reduced by almost 50%. Similar reductions in alcohol consumption were observed in numerous pre-clinical studies, supporting the historical knowledge of Chinese herbalists. 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).

How much water should I be drinking?

First written about in 206 BCE, this unique botanical was popularized by macrobiotics proponents as a food thickener, and continues to be included in China’s official pharmacopoeia. Although the entire plant is edible, kudzu’s health supporting benefits come primarily from its flowers and roots, which contain several natural compounds including isoflavonoids and saponins. In 2012, I ordered some high-quality organic kudzu capsules after reading about the potential for it to curb alcohol consumption.

User-generated content areas are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. Dry Mouth Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, can occur as a side effect of kudzu use. Planetary Herbals offer the best of classic herbal traditions, integrating herbal formulas used continuously for hundreds of years with the latest findings of clinical pharmacological research.

• In fact, even a single dose of kudzu extract may be helpful if you’re looking to reduce your drinking.
• 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.
• The government runs the voluntary Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) scheme in an effort to combat this problem.

Robert is our health care professional reviewer of this website. He worked for many years in mental health and substance abuse facilities in Florida, as well as in home health (medical and psychiatric), and took care of people with medical and addictions problems at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He has a nursing and business/technology degrees from The Johns Hopkins University. But that’s not all – this Full Spectrum™ Kudzu formula goes above and beyond.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

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. Please seek professional care if you believe you may have a condition. If you have any questions about using kudzu recovery for alcoholism, please leave them in the comment box below. I will discuss how it works, my experience with using powdered kudzu root for alcoholism, and recommendations.

Pranjal Mishra