Some studies have found that the puerarin in kudzu does, in fact, influence dopamine release in some areas of the brain. Some people have a genetic predisposition to becoming dependent on alcohol and may be more vulnerable to the reinforcing effects it can have. There are emotional and psychological contributors to cravings, including stress, depression and anxiety, which can lead to using alcohol as a way to self-medicate. Over time, chronic alcoholism leads to structural and functional changes in the brain. These changes affect parts of the brain related to emotional regulation, memory, and decision-making. Most of the information in this guide is based on scientific research that can be found and verified in the PubMed medical library.
5 Alcohol Consumption—Treatment Phase
- In addition to using it to reduce alcohol cravings, some people believe kudzu helps with hangovers.
- Therefore, if you know how potent the unextracted powder is, it is almost always a better option.
- We previously demonstrated that short-term treatment with a standardized kudzu extract (NPI-031) reduced alcohol drinking by men and women in a natural setting.
- Understanding the underlying mechanisms is also essential in the discussion of using kudzu for alcohol cravings.
The most important finding of the present study was that 4-weeks of treatment with a standardized kudzu extract reduced ad libitum alcohol consumption in a group of non treatment-seeking heavy drinkers. We previously demonstrated that this kudzu extract significantly reduced alcohol drinking in a group of heavy drinkers during one night of access to preferred brand of beer in a simulated natural environment (Lukas et al., 2005). The present study revealed that kudzu extract is also effective in heavy drinkers in their home, work and/or school environment. All of the above mentioned mechanisms, with the exception of a disulfiram-like one, require repeated administration and time to develop.
A standardized kudzu extract (NPI- reduces alcohol consumption in nontreatment-seeking male heavy drinkers
In recent years, it has gained attention for its potential use in treating alcoholism. Kudzu contains compounds that are believed to reduce alcohol cravings and help with withdrawal symptoms. 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. The scale was connected to a computer in an adjacent room that ran a customized program that sampled the scale at 5 Hz and detected any weight changes that exceeded 1 gm.
2.1 Blood Alcohol Levels
Because of this effect, it might also be helpful for people who have quit drinking and want to make sure that a potential slip doesn’t become a full-blown relapse. Taking this plant would decrease the chance that a drink would turn into an alcohol rehab endless parade of drinks. Of course, it’s up to the individual to ensure that he or she doesn’t use this as an excuse to fall off the wagon. In terms of what I felt when I took this plant, my experience supports the observations of others who note that it might act like a much gentler form of disulfiram or Antabuse. Even a tiny amount of alcohol can cause violent illness while on these drugs.
- Persons who responded to these advertisements were given a brief telephone screen, and invited to the laboratory for further evaluations.
- 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.
- The fact that kudzu extract nearly doubled the number of consecutive days that individuals maintained abstinence suggests that it may be a useful adjunct during the early weeks of treatment.
- Of course, it is entirely possible that any of the above mechanisms may also develop with repeated administration and complement the immediate altered absorption effect that likely explains kudzu’s rapid onset of action.
- However, further research is necessary to fully comprehend the effects of kudzu on the body.
However, there are no kudzu products on the market in the UK carrying the THR mark. Antioxidants help neutralize these molecules, reducing the risk of oxidative stress and related health problems. Role of Funding Source Funding for this study was provided by NIAAA grant R01-AA10536 to Dr. Lukas and NCCAM grant P01-AT to Dr. Lee.
Kudzu to Stop Drinking Urges—How Does It Work?
- “You want to make sure that your medication is not as bad or worse than the drug you’re trying to treat,” Lukas said.
- It works by modulating glutamate transmission and acting as an NMDA receptor antagonist.
- Kudzu root may also be helpful for women experiencing menopausal symptoms.
- A total of 227 breath samples were possible from all subject visits during the trial and compliance was equally distributed between the two groups; the kudzu extract group provided 131 of a possible 136 samples and the placebo group provided 84 of a possible 91 samples.
Your brain may signal alcohol cravings as a way to seek the rewarding effects it can have. The isoflavones like puerarin in kudzu have been investigated for cardiovascular benefits. These could be attributed to the vasodilatory and antioxidant effects of kudzu. As with other adaptogenic herbs, there is a sweet-spot dose that allows you to get most of the benefits without causing meaningful side effects or tolerance buildup in the body. But before Penetar and Lukas—a Professor of Psychiatry at HMS—could endorse kudzu, they needed to be sure that it did not simply make individuals experience the same level of intoxication with half as much alcohol. If that were the case, taking the drug would help people get drunk faster rather than helping them drink less.
6 Alcohol Consumption—Follow-up Phase
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. Various studies have used single, one-time doses or daily doses for a week without reported adverse effects. It’s important to note that these studies used kudzu extract, which may have contained other parts of the kudzu plant besides the root.
Join Our 6-Month Flagship Program – Proven Science-Backed Method For Quitting Drinking Comfortably:
- Alcoholism is a complex condition, and its treatment should not be taken lightly.
- However, some people may experience mild side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and headache.
- In its raw form, kudzu root resembles other root tubers, such as potatoes or yams.
- We have previously reported on the sleep/wake patterns of the participants in this study (Bracken et al., 2011).
- Using the continuous measure of alcohol consumption, drinking was quantified using a number of different variables as noted above.
One animal study in particular demonstrated that kudzu extract and its major components are very safe, even kudzu and alcohol after relatively large doses (2 g/day) over a 3-month treatment period (Keyler et al., (2002). Separate general linear model ANOVAs for data with repeated measurements were used to analyze the number of drinks per week and the number of heavy drinking days per week. The two treatments (kudzu and placebo) were analyzed as fixed effects and time (weeks since randomization) as a repeated-measurements effect. Effect size is reported using the variance-accounted for statistic Partial Eta-Squared (η2Partial).
