Content
The scientists invited a group of heavy drinkers into a studio apartment and told them to watch TV and crack open a few beers. Those given the kudzu extract seemed to drink fewer beers, maybe because kudzu increases blood flow and delivers alcohol to the brain more quickly. All of the above mentioned mechanisms, with the exception of a disulfiram-like one, require repeated administration and time to develop.
The number of participants who drank each available beer during the 1.5 hour drinking session following administration of placebo or kudzu. « The fact that participants experienced a rapid rise in blood alcohol levels when pre-treated with kudzu has no apparent explanation and therefore requires additional research, » said Penetar. For the researchers, the next step is to determine if kudzu alters regional brain blood flow using an fMRI. Potential health perks of taking kudzu root include decreasing alcohol intake, easing menopause symptoms, and regulating blood sugar levels.
Side Effects
In tests, it was found that the bitter taste from Gentian can still be perceived even when diluted down to 1 part in 12,000 . Tangerine Peel has some bitter qualities as well, and is an excellent complement to the actions of Gentian. Tangerine Peel delivers several novel flavonoids that all offer numerous health advantages including enhancing metabolism, promoting detoxification, and protecting cells from free radical damage. Most importantly extracts of Tangerine Peel have been shown to enhance learning and memory. Kawahata et al. 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. This may have important anti-alcohol relapse benefits based on dopaminergic genetics and its relationship to executive function and good decision making necessary for appropriate relapse prevention .
- « We suspect it may work because it increases blood flow, » he says.
- Alcohol use disorder has also been linked to a higher risk of several cancers, including colon, breast, oral, liver, and throat cancers.
- I will discuss how kudzu works, my experience with using powdered kudzu root for alcoholism, and recommendations for taking kudzu.
- A number of clinical trials in both genders in various disease states have hinted that the ability to produce the human metabolite S-(-)equol from its isoflavone precursor daidzein may hold unique health benefits.
Herbal products are also made from the root of another related Asian species of kudzu, called Pueraria thomsonii. The main compounds found in the root of the kudzu are the isoflavones, like the compound daidzein, also included are the isoflavone glycosides, like daidzin and the compound called puerarin. In any batch of kudzu roots, the total content of isoflavone often varies widely from 1.77%-12.0% depending on the growing conditions of the herb.
1 Alcohol Consumption
While kudzu extract won’t magically turn alcoholics into non-drinkers, it might help others cut back on booze. While we only selected a small number of patients to study in this pilot because we wanted to capture a positive effect prior to a much larger study being planned in the future, we are encouraged with these preliminary results. Importantly, 40% of these patients relapsed more than five times indicating serious problems with alcohol abuse/dependence. Certainly we caution any real interpretation which must await further study. The typical modern diet is lacking in bitter taste profiles.
- And recent research now suggests that there may be some validity behind all this.
- However, Lukas et al. from McLean Hospital designed a study to test the efficacy of a kudzu extract in a clinical population.
- Kudzu root can also be a natural option to treat inflammation.
- Fermentation can also lead to hydrolysis of the glucosyl group .
- One study co-author is a member of the scientific advisory board at Natural Pharmacia International.
- Researchers at McLean Hospital near Boston report that an extract of the kudzu vine reduced the amount of alcohol consumed by test subjects.
You may be wondering how people use kudzu root and what to know when considering whether to give it a try. Lukas’ study was inspired by Dr. Wing Ming Keung, a pathology professor at Harvard Medical School who has studied kudzu’s potential medical applications. Here are our best tips to find the perf kudzu root supplement. One study on 82 postmenopausal women notes that using a Pueraria mirifica gel may improve symptoms of vaginal dryness. Another study shows that kudzu flower might be helpful to lessen hot flashes in menopausal women. Kudzu root comes from a trailing vine that often grows over other plants.
Kudzu Root: Benefits, Dosage & Side Effects
Studies of daidzin may lead to an anti-drinking drug for alcohol treatment that causes fewer side effects. Kudzu has traditionally served as a remedy for diarrhea for over 2,000 years. The Chinese also use it to treat high blood pressure, kudzu extract for alcoholism migraines and inflammation. And recent research now suggests that there may be some validity behind all this. Scientists have identified over 70 phytonutrients in kudzu root, and a high concentration of flavonoids, in particular .
With other programs, you live at home but visit a treatment center daily. Alcohol use disorder has also been linked to a higher risk of several cancers, including colon, breast, oral, liver, and throat cancers. A 2017 research review did not find that this therapy was more effective than other forms of relapse prevention.
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. Get FREE daily coaching messages from Chris Scott to help you quit or cut down on alcohol in just 10 days.
- I did not know at the time that people also use kudzu to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms; nor did I care, because I did not intend to quit at the time.
- The leaves of this plant were smoked by Russian soldiers during World War II when there was a shortage of tobacco.
- In a laboratory experimental setting, subjects will be treated with placebo or 2 grams of kudzu extract 2.5 hours before an afternoon drinking session.
- On blood pressure, fibrinolysis and oxidative stress in patients with stage 1 hypertension.