Another study found that people who took puerarin, an isoflavone extract from the kudzu plant, prior to drinking took longer to consume alcoholic beverages . In one study, people who binge drink took either kudzu extract or a placebo before a 90-minute session of drinking beer. While the blood flow theory of kudzu for alcoholism may be true, there is likely more going on here.

  • Importantly, 40% of these patients relapsed more than five times indicating serious problems with alcohol abuse/dependence.
  • Several of the subjects had been drinking for many years and often drank to or past the point of inebriation.
  • Dietary soy isoflavones occur bound to sugars that are not readily absorbed and may be modified extensively in the gastrointestinal tract, although the degree of metabolism and absorption varies considerably among individuals.
  • Alcohol use disorder has also been linked to a higher risk of several cancers, including colon, breast, oral, liver, and throat cancers.
  • “How this happens is yet unknown, but suggests that the compound may be useful in treating alcohol relapse and perhaps for other psychoactive, potentially addictive compounds.”

James Lake, M.D., a clinical assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, works to transform mental health care through the evidence-based uses of alternative therapies. In view of these findings, individuals who are attempting to taper and discontinue benzodiazepines following prolonged use for insomnia should be encouraged to take a nightly 2mg dose of controlled-release melatonin. THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information contained on this website is not intended to be a substitute for, or to be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Conditions With Similar Symptoms

In the real treatment, researchers placed needles into zones linked to alcohol-related behaviors. In the sham treatment, they placed needles into other areas of the body. A 2017 research review found that acupuncture helped with alcohol cravings and withdrawal.

Is one of the earliest medicinal plants used in traditional Chinese medicine. It has many profound pharmacological actions, including antidipsotropic activity. Lukas recruited 14 men and women in their 20s to spend four 90-minute sessions consuming beer and watching TV. Researchers selected people who said they regularly consumed three to four drinks per day. They are now studying a single large dose before a planned drinking session to see if it works, too. At the dose used in the study, three weeks’ worth costs about $6. After placebo treatment, three people drank five beers and one drank six.

  • They took it for a week, then went to the lab again for a drinking session.
  • Studies show that glycine is useful in treating both alcoholic hepatitis and carcinoma caused by alcoholic cirrhosis.
  • A combination of amino acids, such as carnitine, glutamine, and glutathione, may help reduce cravings, blood sugar fluctuations, and stress that is related to alcohol use.
  • Kudzu plant contains the isoflavones puerarin, daidzin, daidzein and genistein, considered to be the active elements.

Puerarin reduced sip size, increased the time taken to finish a beer and the time between two drinks. There was an increase in the percentage of days of abstinence with kudzu.

Health & Performance

The process mimics natural actions that take place within the gut to enable proper absorption of nutrients, especially phyto-nutrients and fat soluble vitamins. The body’s own process in this regard creates micelles, single layer or unilamellar spheres in the size range of approximately 100 nanometers that typically can transport single nutrients.

kudzu alcohol addiction

L-glutamine is another great supplement for anyone trying to reduce their alcohol consumption. This amino acid occurs naturally in the body and many protein-rich foods, and is a building block for some of the brain chemicals that regulate anxiety and depression. Many people who struggle with their drinking don’t have https://ecosoberhouse.com/ enough L-glutamine in their systems. Adding this supplement can help boost mood in recovery and reduce withdrawal symptoms. Harvard researchers first discovered the anti-drinking effects of the kudzu extract in 2005. Previous studies had shown that kudzu extracts reduced alcohol drinking in rats and hamsters.

2 Behavioral And Subjective Effects

The study included 10 adults in their 20s who regularly drank alcohol, PsychCentral.com reports. A lab was set up with a TV, DVD players, reclining chair, and a refrigerator containing the participants’ favorite beer and non-alcoholic drinks. Dihydromyricetin is an over-the-counter herbal remedy well-known for soothing hangovers. Research shows that DHM can increase the efficacy of enzymes that metabolize alcohol, helping your body to eliminate it faster. DHM also appears to reduce inflammation and fat accumulation in the liver, helping to guard against alcohol-related liver disease.

They are also interested in the possibility of developing a dosage of kudzu that individuals could take once, before a night of drinking, rather than a set of pills which must be taken regularly. Medically Reviewed By Benjamin Caleb Williams, RNA licensed behavioral health or medical professional on The Recovery Village Editorial Team has analyzed and confirmed every statistic, study and medical claim on this page. For centuries, ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. The kudzu plant is a vine that resembles poison ivy and is native to several Asian countries. In its raw form, kudzu root resembles other root tubers, such as potatoes or yams. Kudzu root, also called Japanese arrowroot, is native to China, Japan, and Korea. Today, kudzu grows in other parts of the world as well, including in the southern United States.

However due to dietary and physiological inefficiency, this process can often be hampered. The technology utilized with Declinol creates multi-layer or multi-lamellar spheres that are readily available and can transport multiple nutrients simultaneously. The nature of these spheres, possessing several layers, also allows both fat and water soluble nutrients to be combined in the same sphere.

The problem with kudzu is that it is an invasive species with vines that crawl and cover all other local plants, blocking them from reaching sunlight and massively affecting the entire ecosystem. Kudzu’s superficially beautiful blooms and sweet smell hide the fact that its roots and vines are overtaking all other plants in the area and stifling their ability to grow. Call us today to find the mental health care that’s right for yourself or your loved one. “The findings kudzu alcohol addiction show promise that CVT might be better tolerated than Antabuse™,” said Li. “How this happens is yet unknown, but suggests that the compound may be useful in treating alcohol relapse and perhaps for other psychoactive, potentially addictive compounds.” Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of this pilot study and the accompanying data. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor- in-Chief of this journal.

The isoflavone puerarin is the most abundant antioxidant compound in the kudzu vine . You may be wondering how people use kudzu root and what to know when considering whether to give it a try.

May Alleviate Menopausal Symptoms

Previous posts reviewed the evidence for weak electrical current for reducing symptoms of opioid and alcohol withdrawal. This post is offered as a concise review of promising herbal and other natural product treatments of alcohol craving and withdrawal, narcotic withdrawal, and benzodiazepine withdrawal. Always make certain that any kudzu root supplement you buy actually contains enough of the active ingredient to be effective. The Lukas study used 500-mg capsules of kudzu extract (NPI-031, Natural Pharmacia Int., Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC) containing sugar beet-based filler and 19% puerarin, 4% daidzin, and 2.0% daidzein. Participants in the Lukas study were instructed to take two 500-mg capsules three times daily. In addition to supplements for alcohol cravings, there are several prescription medications that can help you cut back or quit drinking. Naltrexone can help retrain your brain to be less interested in alcohol over time, while acamprosate, baclofen, gabapentin, and topiramate can all help reduce cravings for alcohol.

  • A further clinical study with a larger sample size is required to confirm the results.
  • There isn’t much scientific evidence available on the dosing for kudzu root as a supplement.
  • If you drink, do so only in moderation, no more than 2 drinks per day for men, and no more than 1 drink per day for women.
  • Something has to create a massive increase in sense of well-being to fit into this category.
  • Studies have shown that kudzu root also leads to significantly reduced alcohol consumption in rats.

Never overlook the professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have perused or accessed through this website. The appropriate dose of kudzu depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for kudzu.

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.

In the second, 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). We have subsequently shown that puerarin is the major active isoflavone because 7 days treatment with this compound alone (1,200 mg/day) produced a similar reduction of binge drinking as the extract (Penetar et al., 2012). In spite of the compelling preclinical and clinical evidence of its efficacy, the precise mechanism of action of kudzu in reducing alcohol consumption is not currently known. Prior studies of its antidipsotropic effect have focused on taste-aversion, alterations in alcohol metabolism or effects on neurotransmitters. Overstreet et al.’s study provides cursory evidence that a taste aversion mechanism is not likely. Increases in 5-HIAL have been shown to be correlated with decreased alcohol consumption in hamsters (Keung et al., 1995). Kudzu’s alteration of alcohol consumption may be through direct effects at brain benzodiazepine receptors on the GABAA complex.

H World Congress On Addictive Disorders & Addiction Therapy

In this study, researchers tested the effect of kudzu extract on drinking by humans in a naturalistic setting. Few things that need to be researched upon is whether Pueraria lobata benefits in chronic alcoholism or alcohol addiction and does it clinically aid in alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Also, a better understanding of its mechanism can help in the development of kudzu based therapeutic agents for alcoholism. The benefits of kudzu herb on alcoholism have been investigated in humans. Based on these studies, the effective dose of kudzu isoflavones is 750 mg per day which amounts to 2.5-3g of standardised kudzu extract.

12 healthy individuals with moderate alcohol consumption were enrolled in the study. Standardized kudzu extracts primarily containing puerarin were given at a dose of 750mg per day for nine days. Studies have shown that kudzu root also leads to significantly reduced alcohol consumption in rats. The active compounds in kudzu root which lead to reduced drinking are called isoflavonids or isoflavones. Rat studies show that the reason that subjects consume less alcohol is that the isoflavonids found in kudzu root allow acetaldehyde to accumulate and this makes the alcohol less desirable.

In the study, Penetar and his colleagues looked at 10 men and women, all in their 20s and all reporting regularly consuming alcohol weekly. A laboratory at McLean Hospital was set up as an apartment, with TV, DVD player, reclining chair and other amenities. The unit was also stocked with a refrigerator full of each subject’s favorite beer and other non-alcoholic beverages.

kudzu alcohol addiction

There were no reported side effects from treatment with the kudzu extract. When given equal amounts of alcohol, kudzu- and placebo-treated individuals respond similarly (Penetar et al., 2011). In this study, initially, individuals were treated with kudzu 7 days before they participated in the experimental drinking session. On day 8 and 9 they were asked to consume low (0.35g/kg) or high dose (0.70g/kg) alcohol and they were also given kudzu on the same day to see if kudzu influenced the effects of alcohol intoxication. Overall kudzu root extract consumption can result in a modest but meaningful reduction in alcohol consumption especially if given at early stages. It’s rapid effect, and reduced incidence of side effects can make it a suitable natural adjunct therapy for alcoholism.

Results Of Puerarin Treatment

While undergoing withdrawal, it is important to stay hydrated, as dehydration can make withdrawal symptoms worse. Supplementing with vitamins and minerals is also important because long-term alcohol consumption and dependence can deplete these elements, particularly the B vitamins. Abstaining from alcohol can be a difficult decision as it requires significant lifestyle changes. This process can be made even more difficult bysymptoms of withdrawaland alcohol cravings.

Drugs & Vitamins

“Recent research has found that several compounds of the isoflavone family – puerarin, daidzin, daidzein – in the kudzu extract decrease alcohol intake in experimental animals.” An earlier study conducted by Keung and Vallee found that kudzu plant extract suppressed the alcohol intake of hamsters that had been bred to prefer and consume alcohol.

Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc, is a board-certified acupuncturist, herbalist, and integrative medicine doctor practicing in Santa Monica, California. Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. The information we provide while responding to comments is not intended to provide and does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice.

Kudzu also doubled the number of consecutive days of abstinence. Here is an insight to the current research available on kudzu benefits on alcohol addiction. The FDA does not recommend or approve any OTC products for the treatment of AUD.