Participants filled out a daily diary every morning as soon as possible upon awakening. Three questions asked them to report how many alcoholic drinks, tobacco cigarettes and caffeinated beverages they consumed and two questions asked about bedtime and wake time. 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.

• A standardized formulation of kudzu extract produced minimal side effects, was well-tolerated, and resulted in a modest reduction in alcohol consumption in young nontreatment-seeking heavy drinkers.
• Thirty percent of current drinkers report drinking excessively (Naimi et al., 2003) and 92% of U.S. adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the past 30 days (Town et al., 2006).
• The authors concluded that kudzu may be a useful adjunct in reducing alcohol intake, although the exact mechanism by which kudzu suppresses ethanol intake remains to be clarified.
• This interpretation of kudzu’s possible mechanism of action was also suggested by Wong et al. (2011) who postulated that kudzu alters peripheral and cerebral blood flow.

Other potential health benefits

Lukas was not certain why but speculated that kudzu increases blood alcohol levels and speeds up its effects. Lukas and Lee applied for, and were granted, 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. and they are marketing it as Alkontrol-Herbal®. All other authors declare kudzu for alcohol cravings that they have no actual or potential conflict of interest that could inappropriately influence, or be perceived to influence, this work. McLean Hospital has licensed the production of kudzu extract (NPI-031) to Natural Pharmacie International (NPI), Inc. and they are marketing it as Alkontrol-Herbal®. The BDI and BAI scores remained unchanged during the course of treatment with both kudzu extract and placebo.

Drugs & Supplements

Although many different B vitamins can be impacted by drinking, one of the most dangerous B-vitamin deficiencies is thiamine or vitamin B1. Lack of vitamin B1 can cause a life-threatening condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. For this reason, those who struggle with alcohol are often told to take vitamin B1.

Kudzu root shopping tips

Overstreet et al.’s (1998) 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. Kudzu, scientifically known as Pueraria lobata, is renowned in traditional Chinese medicine for its diverse applications, including the treatment of alcohol dependence. While scientific research on kudzu’s effectiveness in addressing alcoholism is limited, some studies have shown promising results. In fact, one study demonstrated that kudzu could reduce alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers by as much as 50%.

• The present study was conducted in non treatment-seeking heavy drinkers to assess the safety and efficacy of four weeks of kudzu extract in an outpatient setting.
• The apparently lower magnitude of subjective effects compared to the placebo treated group (Figure 4) is due most likely to the fact that the kudzu-treated individuals drank less alcohol during the session, which was reflected in significantly lower breath alcohol levels.
• Kudzu might be helpful for those who struggle with alcohol because some data show that it can help reduce alcohol intake, even in those who drink heavily.
• If you experience any adverse reactions while using kudzu, consult your healthcare provider promptly.

If you intend to use kudzu to battle an existing cardiovascular condition and you already take medication for it, do not take it without your doctor’s supervision, as kudzu can cause side effects and interact adversely with other drugs. Lukas recruited 14 men and women in their 20s to spend four 90-minute sessions consuming https://ecosoberhouse.com/ beer and watching TV. Researchers selected people who said they regularly consumed three to four drinks per day. Kudzu root is available in lots of forms including capsules, liquid extracts, and powder. There’s not a recommended dosage for kudzu root, but there have been human studies that can help guide you.

Phytotherapeutic approach to alcohol dependence: New old way?

• As part of the study, Krist met with different practices across the Commonwealth to understand workflow and how physicians approach asking patients about alcohol.
• 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.
• For this mechanism to be plausible, the more rapid penetration of alcohol into the brain would have to trigger a satiety mechanism rather quickly such that the desire for the next drink is delayed—thus interrupting a binge episode.
• Medication adherence was excellent and there were no adverse events and changes in vital signs, blood chemistry, and renal or liver function.

Because riboflavin is cleared from the body quickly, fluorescing urine indicated compliance in the past 18–24 hours. In addition, participants reported pill taking by checking time-of-day boxes on daily diaries and by entries on the wrist actigraphy watches. Estimates of blood alcohol levels were obtained during each study visit using a breathalyzer device (AlcoSensor®, Intoximeter, St Louis, MO).

• It’s important to remember that side effects can vary from person to person.
• 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.
• It works similar to the drug varenicline (Chantix) and has been available in Eastern Europe since the 1960s.

The big blood pressure experiment