Although no one knows exactly why kudzu increases sobriety, researchers theorize that the herb speeds alcohol’s effect on the head. “Essentially we know a little bit more about how kudzu doesn’t work at the moment,” said study co-author David M. Penetar, assistant professor of psychology in Harvard Medical School’s Psychiatry Department and a research psychologist at McLean Hospital. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Dr. Neil McGregor has warned that the active components of Kudzu have been linked to cancer.
Think you have a drinking problem?
In retrospect, my experience demonstrates the utility of kudzu for alcoholism. If I had been committed to using it to wean off of alcohol and then quit, it might have been a very valuable part of my recovery. I did not know at the time that people also use it to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms; nor did I care, because I did not intend to quit at the time. In 2012, I ordered some high-quality organic kudzu capsules after reading about the potential for it to curb alcohol consumption. I took several capsules per day before drinking, and went through all of it in about one month. When alcohol is consumed, kudzu may reduce the time it takes for it to travel to the brain.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
- As a result, the researchers gave compounds from Kudzu root to the special lab rats.
- In one small study of postmenopausal women, transient negative profiles including anemia and liver profiles (5).
- Kudzu root is an edible part of a climbing vine that’s native to many Asian countries.
- 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.
- Taking kudzu along with birth control pills might decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills.
Drinking data were collected using a small wristwatch-like device (ActiWatch® Score, MiniMitter Co., OR) and daily diaries. The ActiWatch has a small button and digital LED faceplate and participants wore the device 24 hours a day for the entire 8-week study and were asked to record all drug and alcohol use by pressing the button to enter the proper code. Participants were provided with a small card that identified unique codes to record use of alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, and other drugs. Participants were instructed to report when they consumed each drink, which was defined as a 12 oz can of beer, 5 oz glass of wine or 1.5 oz distilled spirits. A total of 21 adult males (17 Caucasian, 1 African American, 2 Hispanic, 1 Middle Eastern; mean age 23.8 ± 3.46 years, range 21–33) were recruited through advertisements in local and college newspapers and flyers posted in the Boston area.
Will kudzu supplement pills make me drink less alcohol?
The lack of side effects after four weeks of treatment with both placebo and kudzu extract is likely one of the major reasons for the high rate of medication adherence. Vital signs, measures of blood chemistry, liver function tests and urinalysis assessments were all normal. One animal study in particular demonstrated that kudzu extract and its major components are very safe, even after relatively large doses (2 g/day) over a 3-month treatment period (Keyler et al., (2002). The present study was conducted https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-are-sober-living-homes/ in non treatment-seeking heavy drinkers to assess the safety and efficacy of four weeks of kudzu extract in an outpatient setting. 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%.
4 Alcohol Consumption—Baseline Phase
It 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.
Side Effects
By contrast, kudzu creates a mild flushed feeling at most and leaves the drinker craving alcohol a bit less. I will discuss how it works, my experience with using powdered kudzu root for alcoholism, and recommendations. Taking kudzu will not turn an alcoholic into a nondrinker overnight. Nor will it drastically enhance your quality of life after the first dose. However, if you want to cut down on drinking or detoxify your body during alcohol withdrawal, this plant may be able to help. A prior study of kudzu to treat alcohol use in an outpatient setting reported that kudzu had no effect on maintaining sobriety or altering alcohol craving (Shebek and Rindone, 2000).
Kudzu Root: Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects
At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for kudzu. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
From improving heart health and regulating blood sugar levels to reducing inflammation and menopausal symptoms, kudzu may be a useful addition to a healthy lifestyle. However, more research is needed to fully understand kudzu to stop drinking the effects of kudzu on the body. The kudzu root may interact with certain medications or pose other health risks for certain people. Therefore, it’s always best to consult your healthcare provider before taking it.
- Participants were instructed to report when they consumed each drink, which was defined as a 12 oz can of beer, 5 oz glass of wine or 1.5 oz distilled spirits.
- The BDI measures of the placebo-treated participants were 2.0 ± 2.58 and 1.67 ± 1.37 at baseline and during treatment, respectively.
- Kudzu is a vine that is native to East Asia and is popular (as a starch) in Asian cooking.
- He has a nursing and business/technology degrees from The Johns Hopkins University.
- The investigators found that the compounds reduced the rats’ alcohol intake.
The participants reported their desire for and consumption of alcohol for the duration of the study. Researchers found that the kudzu extract had no effect on alcohol cravings, but it reduced the number of weekly alcoholic drinks by 34–57% (2). Drinking was recorded using a custom built end table that contained a digital scale beneath a ceramic tile insert in the tabletop (Ohaus model #B10P with I5S controller). Participants were instructed to always keep the beer glass on the table except when taking a sip.
