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In China, kudzu root extract has been commonly used to reduce, but not eliminate, alcohol consumption and dependence. Despite its history, the mechanism of action for kudzu extract is still unknown, and that is what the current research explores. 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. Kudzu root has been proven to reduce alcohol consumption in both humans and animals in placebo controlled, double blind studies published in peer reviewed scientific journals. As such, kudzu root offers hope to heavy drinkers who wish to make a reduction in their alcohol consumption. 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.

• It’s important to note that these studies used kudzu extract, which may have contained other parts of the kudzu plant besides the root.
• Another study shows that kudzu flower might be helpful to lessen hot flashes in menopausal women.
• Kudzu may also help heavy drinkers cut the amount of alcohol they consume, even if they are not being treated for AUD.
• This allowed the researchers to view each subject under each condition and allowed them to rule out the order of treatment as a factor.
• This allowed them to measure the rate of drinking as well as the volume of sips.

Other research suggests that kudzu supplements may also play a role in preventing migraine attacks. These are exciting findings, but much more research is needed before we can be sure. Kudzu root, leaf, and flowers have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. But today you can find it in the supplement aisle of most grocery stores. Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss…from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts. PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts.

Kudzu Extract

This process leads to the reduction of alcohol craving and alcohol consumption in individuals dependent on alcohol. Ashwagandha is an herbal supplement made from the Withania somnifera plant. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine, which originated in India. Mindfulness therapies have been used to keep people from relapsing. Relapse is when someone resumes drinking in unhealthy ways after a period of recovery.

Kudzu is known to be extremely safe, with very few reported adverse side effects. My problem at the time was a denial of the severity of my drinking problem. Kudzu did what it was supposed to do – it curbed my drinking noticeably. But as soon as the capsules ran out, I concluded that it hadn’t totally “cured” my problem and that I would eventually find something better.

Just as Keung’s team found, Lukas’ results were a 50-percent reduction in alcohol consumption for the group taking kudzu. Using hamsters for the experiment, Keung’s team allowed the animals to ingest alcohol or water and calculate the amount of intake. Then the researchers injected the hamsters with kudzu root extract and allowed them to drink as much alcohol or water as they wanted. The results showed that the hamsters drank over 50 percent less once they had been given kudzu root. In this recent study, the researchers gave twelve participants different schedules of placebo or kudzu pills, and then observed the effects of drinking a set amount of vodka. They tested steadiness of gait, body sway, how well participants could stand upright, and how drunk they said they felt, among other factors. The researchers found that these types of responses were not intensified if participants had taken kudzu, suggesting that the drug does not work by increasing the intensity or duration of alcohol’s effects.

Talk to your doctor about finding a qualified cognitive behavioral therapist. There’s some evidence that kudzu root supplements may cause liver injury, but more research needs to be done on this topic. Metabolic syndrome is a condition notorious for its cluster of health issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and/or abnormal triglyceride levels. If left unchecked, metabolic syndrome can increase your risk of developing heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Ironically, the root of this plant thought to be an unstoppable pest in the southeastern US, has caught the attention of researchers at Harvard University. Kudzu root, known as Ge Gen in Chinese, first made an appearance in the Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Materia Medica over 2,000 years ago. Since then it has been incorporated into a variety of TCM herbal formulas for different purposes.

Red Ginseng Reduces Hangover Severity After Heavy Drinking

The medicine works by causing an intense adverse reaction when someone taking Antabuse drinks alcohol. Most people taking Antabuse will vomit after a drink of alcohol. This treatment increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes Cu/Zn SOD and catalase, and attenuated the hepatic oxidative damage in rats exposed to ethanol. A deficiency of this enzyme reduces the risk of alcohol dependence. Decreased drinking due to ALDH-2 inhibition is attributed to the aversive properties of acetaldehyde accumulated during alcohol consumption. However, daidzin can reduce drinking in some rodents without necessarily increasing acetaldehyde.

Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider. However, you should not use herbs alone to treat alcoholism. Although further studies are needed to test for safety and interaction with prescription medications, these are promising results for kudzu root to be used in the treatment of alcohol addiction and recovery. Medication-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence curbs the cravings for alcohol.

Drinking Problems

Cold showers can clear your mind, ease the hot flashes of alcohol withdrawal, and refresh your body. Another herb used in breaking the alcohol habit, milk thistle, has strong detoxification abilities. It also treats many physical discomforts from withdrawal and alcohol cravings. It heals the liver, which speeds up the natural detox of alcohol. An ancient Chinese herb, Kudzu is well known for controlling alcohol cravings and withdrawals. The roots of the plant can be eaten or used in an herbal tea to get its effects. The amount you have to consume to be effective varies from person to person.

McLean Hospital has a licensing agreement with NPI for the extract. The first session was to make the participants familiar with the surroundings. Today, it’s used in China and other countries to treat coronary problems and blood-flow problems, Penetar says. Heyman GM, Keung WM, Vallee BL. Daidzin decreases ethanol consumption in rats.

Kudzu Recovery: My Experience With Kudzu

Some evidence suggests that using IV puerarin along with usual treatment might be more effective than usual treatment alone. However, studies on puerarin are generally of poor quality and might not be reliable. It’s best to speak with your healthcare provider to determine whether kudzu root could interact with any medications you’re taking. Because chronic use of alcohol decreases your appetite and keeps your body from absorbing vital nutrients, you may be deficient in a number of vitamins and minerals. Your doctor may tell you to take supplements while you are regaining your health.

Changes in the chemistry of 6″-malonyl-7′-β-glucosyldaidzein, a major soybean component, during food processing. Dry heating of 6″-malonyl-7′-β-glucosyldaidzein leads to decarboxylation to 6″-acetyl-7′-β-glucosyldaidzein . Heated, aqueous extraction of soybeans to make soy milk and tofu, removes the malonyl group to make daidzin . Fermentation can also lead to hydrolysis of the glucosyl group . Found that dietary genistein maintains a normal Wnt signaling in the colon epithelium of carcinogen-injected mice through regulating the DNA methylation of Sfrp5 promoter. An intriguing observation on tissue differentiation by genistein-induced demethylation of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) accompanied with mild proliferation of the endometrium was reported by Matsukura et al.

Managing Stress And Anxiety Aids In Breaking Alcohol Habit

A 2007 paper published in “Prescrire International” noted that thiamine deficiency is frequent in alcoholics and can lead to serious complications. Therefore, high doses of thiamine can be supplemented to compensate for poor absorption. Niacin (vitamin B-3) and pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5) can also help the body detox from alcohol, Henninger says. An easy way to get all the B vitamins is to supplement a B-complex vitamin. Valerian extract may lessen withdrawal symptoms and facilitate return to a normal sleep pattern following prolonged use of benzodiazepines such as clonazepam and lorazepam.

We become intoxicated at lower levels of alcohol consumption than men do, and we’re quicker to develop alcohol-related problems. Alcohol in moderation—for women that means one drink a day—offers certain health benefits, but too often one drink turns into two or more.

A small study showed that in heavy drinkers of alcohol, kudzu did result in a reduction of the number of beers consumed after 7 days of treatment. Naltrexone was originally designed to treat opioid addiction. However, it is now FDA-approved for the treatment of alcohol dependence and cravings. Naltrexone works on various opioid receptors in the brain to reduce the “reward” feeling that is created by alcohol consumption. Individuals taking naltrexone can still drink and become intoxicated, but they will not experience the pleasure and reward that alcohol provides, thus disincentivizing the consumption of alcohol.

Keung, not directly involved in Lukas’ study, said he has extracted a compound from kudzu root that he hopes to turn into a drug for reducing alcoholics’ cravings. Lukas was not certain why but speculated that kudzu increases blood alcohol levels and speeds up its effects. More simply put, the subjects needed fewer beers to feel drunk. The Sobriety use of kudzu for alcoholism originated in China around 600 A.D. The Chinese noticed that people who consumed the plant started to drink less. According to traditional Chinese medicine, kudzu has cooling properties that balance the heat and false energy created by alcohol. Taking kudzu will not turn an alcoholic into a nondrinker overnight.

During detox, a medical professional will administer the medicine and monitor the results. If alcohol dependence treatment leads to unwanted side effects or adversely affects the detox process, another medication may be used.

Remedies To Stop Alcohol Cravings

More recently, kudzu root has made its way to Western countries as an herbal supplement. Cognitive behavioral therapy with a psychologist or psychiatrist is a very effective treatment approach for alcohol addiction. This type of therapy, which is geared toward changing your beliefs and thought process about drinking, can help you cope with stress and control your behavior.

We know the struggle, which is why we’re uniquely qualified to help. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support how to reduce alcohol cravings naturally the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.