Pueraria Isoflavones Using Kudzu to Curb Alcohol Addiction

Kudzu is a fast growing, an invasive vine that can grow 12 to 18 inches in one day during the peak growing season.  The plant is native to China and Japan and is a coarse growing perennial that can average growing a foot per day, or up to 60 feet per growing season.

It is high in protein and vitamins A and D. Kudzu (Pueraria Lobata) is an herb that is cooked with food in China and is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. Its use dates back to 1590-1596 AD. It is a naturally growing weed, and its root contains three major isoflavones– puerarin, daidzin, and daidzein. Kudzu was initially used to prevent soil erosion, and it spread quickly overtaking farms and buildings. Later, it was launched in North America in 1876.

Research shows that heavy drinkers after taking kudzu extract drink less beer when given an access to unlimited beer they like. So Kudzu may minimize the chance that a slip will result in a full relapse by reducing total alcohol intake and binge drinking patterns.

A range of biologically active compounds is present in the flowers and roots of the kudzu plant that can be beneficial for humans. It is often used to get rid of a hangover and curb alcohol cravings. However, it also helps in preventing osteoporosis and heart disease.

How to use kudzu?
If you want to buy kudzu for reduced alcohol craving, it is available as a root extract, often sold in the form of a tablet. There are white in color, looks like chalk powder. Kudzu root extracts are also available in the form of tea bags. You can drink it in the form of tea or add it to soups and other dishes. The starchy, fibrous root is also cooked as a dish.

If you are suffering from a cardiovascular problem and you are already under medication, take advice from your physician before you take Kudzu, as it can trigger side effects and react unfavorably with other medicines.

How does kudzu work?
Many researchers have studied the cell cultures in laboratory dishes and also in live mice to find out which biologically active compound causes kudzu to be effective for many diseases. Studies have proved that the kudzu flowers can help the body to eliminate acetaldehyde which is a noxious byproduct of the alcohol breakdown in the blood. This substance is to be blamed for a lot of the side effects of hangovers.

Current studies and research on kudzu as an herbal remedy to curb alcohol cravings
From the ancient times, Chinese medicine practitioners have been using kudzu root to control alcohol consumption. Many studies have proved that the Kudzu root is capable of reducing the alcohol intake successfully in both humans as well as animals. In the beginning of 1990, researchers at Indiana University examined this consequence in golden Syrian hamsters and rats as both of these animals have a particular penchant for alcohol. The end results were extremely positive.

Following that, the same experiment was conducted on humans in 2005. That also provided largely optimistic results. For an instance, scientists at Harvard Medical School did a trail on a male and female heavy drinker and gave them kudzu for one week. The scientists made them live in an apartment with a sofa, television, and an unlimited supply of their favorite beer. Shockingly, after taking kudzu, the participants could just drink approximately half as many beers they could drink before taking Kudzu and also took more time to finish each beer.

Thus far, researchers have tested a range of theories to clarify kudzu root’s extraordinary capability to cut back alcohol intake and cure hangover. Kudzu is also known to open up blood vessels and increase heart rate. So possibly, it helps alcohol to get out of the body more readily.

Isoflavones or isoflavonids are the prominent, active compounds present in kudzu that causes drinking urges to reduce. The research conducted on the Rats proves that isoflavonids present in kudzu root make acetaldehyde to amass which is why alcohol becomes less desirable to them. As such, kudzu brings optimism for heavy drinkers who are struggling to reduce their alcohol consumption.