Kudzu Root Helps Conquer Alcohol Craving

Initially promoted as a forage crop and an ornamental plant, kudzu was later recognized for its soil erosion control capabilities. However, its aggressive growth and lack of natural predators led to uncontrolled spreading, earning it the reputation of an invasive species. Today, kudzu is considered one of the most pervasive invasive plants in the southeastern United States. Its botanical features include compound leaves with three broad leaflets, twining vines capable of extensive climbing, and distinctive purple flowers arranged in clusters. The plant’s roots, which are large and starchy, contribute to its ability to spread and thrive in diverse soil conditions. The rapid growth and extensive coverage make kudzu powder a notable presence in landscapes where it has been introduced.

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The BDI for the kudzu extract-treated participants was 1.78 ± 2.11 and 2.63 ± 2.50 at baseline and during treatment, respectively. The BDI measures of the placebo-treated participants were 2.0 ± 2.58 and 1.67 ± 1.37 at baseline and during treatment, respectively. The BAI scores were equally stable and ranged from 0.33 to 1.71 during treatment. Urine samples were qualitatively analyzed by HPLC for puerarin levels on a weekly basis starting on the second week of baseline and continuing through the two follow-up visits. Although blood samples were collected from all participants to examine the safety of kudzu, only the last 12 subjects had blood samples collected for quantitative analysis of puerarin levels.

1 Alcohol Consumption

When you stop drug addiction consuming alcohol or reduce your intake, you may have withdrawal symptoms, including cravings. While the blood flow theory of kudzu for alcoholism may be true, there is likely more going on here. It contains several active isoflavones, which are natural plant chemicals with antioxidant effects. This compound has a positive effect on the central nervous system and the brain.

Is Kudzu an Effective Treatment for Alcohol Cravings?

• He has a nursing and business/technology degrees from The Johns Hopkins University.
• In traditional herbal medicine, kudzu root extract has been suggested to have potential health benefits for alcoholism, hangovers, and also menopause.
• One study distributed in The American Diary of Psychiatry found that members who took kudzu extract encountered a lessening in their desire to drink contrasted with the people who got a placebo treatment.
• In current research, doses of kudzu extract for issues related to alcohol have ranged from 300 mg to 2000 mg a day.

Kudzu can be taken in conjunction with other medications for alcoholism, but it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before combining treatments. Kudzu may interact with certain medications, such as benzodiazepines, and can cause adverse effects. However, if you want to cut down on drinking or detoxify your body during alcohol withdrawal, this plant may be able to help. Lukas and Lee hold a patent for kudzu extract to treat alcohol abuse and dependence. McLean Hospital has licensed the production of kudzu extract (NPI-031) to Natural Pharmacia International (NPI), Inc. that markets it as Alkontrol-Herbal™. Prescription drugs such as Antabuse (disulfiram), Campral (acamprosate) and ReVia (naltrexone) have been used to discourage alcohol consumption.

To preserve the double-blind, kudzu and placebo capsules were repacked into #00 opaque capsules (Apothecary Products, Minneapolis, MN). Morning and evening sets of capsules also contained a 25 mg tablet of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and the afternoon sets contained an additional placebo capsule, in addition to the two kudzu extract capsules, in order to maintain a uniform number (3) of capsules. Capsule sets were individually packaged in small envelopes and marked on the outside with date and time of day to be consumed. Medication adherence was measured using ultraviolet (UV) light to detect riboflavin in centrifuged urine samples (Del Boca et al., 1996) that were collected twice a week. Endogenous levels of riboflavin are too low to fluoresce and participants were instructed to avoid multivitamin complexes while participating in the study. Because riboflavin is cleared from the body quickly, fluorescing urine indicated compliance in the past 18–24 hours.

7 Desire for Alcohol

The research concludes that 1.5 to 3 grams of kudzu extract should be taken three times per day throughout one to four weeks for alcoholism improvement. The scientific review, which was published in the journal Body Image, analyzed data from 38 studies on fitness and diet apps, along with symptoms people had while using them. The researchers ultimately found that people who used health and fitness apps regularly were more likely to struggle with disordered eating, body image concerns, and compulsive exercise. But, we’ll preface this by saying that unlike other super common herbal supplements, kudzu hasn’t been widely tested—although preliminary studies do look promising. And, it does come with a list of possible side effects, Beckerman says, including itchiness, upset stomach, dizziness, nausea, headache, fever, and even the possibility of red blood cells breaking inside blood vessels. Neurotransmitter imbalances related to alcohol actually play a role in the benefits of using kudzu to stop drinking or taking kudzu for alcohol cravings, which we’ll talk about more later.

The Promise of Kudzu in Alcoholism Treatment

There were no changes in any vital signs, hematology, blood chemistry, renal or liver function tests during the three phases of the study. The maximal possible observations were based on the number of side effect categories that were recorded, multiplied by the number of study days in each phase, which was then multiplied by the number of subjects participating in each study phase. The overall incidence of side effects (e.g., headaches, shakes, chills, nausea, etc.) in both groups ranged between 1.7 and 3%. None of the study participants reported any insomnia, sedation, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, or altered libido. Kudzu has been used since 600 AD to help reduce alcohol consumption; now, it’s used as a way to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. Over time, if you regularly drink, you’re likely to develop a tolerance and need more alcohol to achieve the desired effects.

• Morning and evening sets of capsules also contained a 25 mg tablet of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and the afternoon sets contained an additional placebo capsule, in addition to the two kudzu extract capsules, in order to maintain a uniform number (3) of capsules.
• Effect size is reported using the variance-accounted for statistic Partial Eta-Squared (η2Partial).
• This study provides additional evidence that an extract of the kudzu root significantly reduces alcohol consumption by human participants and confirms that this botanical medication may be a safe and effective adjunct pharmacotherapy for treating alcohol use disorders.

The fact that kudzu extract nearly doubled the number of consecutive days that individuals maintained abstinence suggests that it may be a useful adjunct during the early weeks of treatment. This is the first demonstration that a single dose of kudzu extract quickly reduces alcohol consumption in a binge drinking paradigm. These data add to the mounting clinical evidence that kudzu extract may be a safe and effective adjunctive pharmacotherapy for alcohol abuse and dependence. Medication adherence was excellent and there were no adverse events, changes in vital signs, blood chemistry, renal or liver function. The study consisted of a 2-week baseline period, 4 weeks of medication (subjects were randomized to either kudzu extract or placebo treatments) and a 2-week follow up period.