I’ve seen spiritual gatherings at which participants sing melodies and share stories and insights over drinks. What starts as a few small toasts for inspiration can, for some, lead to unhealthy patterns. And while most people are careful, my Chabad community, and society in general, still normalize alcohol in concerning ways — and leave little space for questioning that normalization.
Should I check my cholesterol levels at home?
- The amount of alcohol consumed was calculated for each group (1 unit per drink of beer or spirits, 1.6 units per glass of wine).
- In recent years, it has gained attention for its potential use in treating alcoholism.
- Early research focused on rats with good results, which were later replicated with human subjects.
- However, these studies were conducted on lone individuals drinking within highly controlled laboratory conditions.
- Kudzu, also known as Pueraria Montana, is a climbing vine that belongs to the pea family.
Alcohol-preferring (P) rats, given free choice to drink water or 15% alcohol, drank 7-10 g of alcohol/kg/day, giving blood alcohol values ranging from 16 to 24 mg/dL. Body weight and food and total fluid intake values in control and alcohol-drinking P rats did not differ significantly, while water intake was inversely related to the amount of alcohol consumed. Alcohol withdrawal after 50 days of alcohol drinking caused withdrawal symptoms such as hypersensitivity, poor landing coordination, and tremors. A daily 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g/kg dose of kudzu root (KdR) did not affect body weight and food and water intake values in control (no alcohol) P rats. Subchronic feeding of relatively higher KdR doses (0.75 and 1.0 g/kg) caused a 25-30% reduction in weight gain. The 0.5 g/kg KdR dose caused a 50-60% reduction in alcohol consumption, abolished the development of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, but did not affect blood alcohol levels.
Isoflavones: Daidzin, Daidzein, and Puerarin
This is precisely what was observed in the present study as kudzu’s effects were evident after a single dose within a few hours of administration. 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. While kudzu root has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine, people most often use it to help treat alcohol dependence. Always make certain that any kudzu root supplement you buy actually contains enough of the active ingredient to be effective. The Lukas Alcoholics Anonymous study used 500-mg capsules of kudzu extract (NPI-031, Natural Pharmacia Int., Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC) containing sugar beet-based filler and 19% puerarin, 4% daidzin, and 2.0% daidzein. Participants in the Lukas study were instructed to take two 500-mg capsules three times daily.
Historical Context of Kudzu Root
Early research focused on rats with good results, which were later replicated with human subjects. When alcohol is consumed, kudzu may reduce the time it takes for it to travel to the brain. A slightly increased concentration of alcohol in the brain results in a quicker reward, which in turn reduces a person’s desire to drink more alcohol. One possibility is through https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the different isoflavones, which are biologically active molecules that can affect physiology, contained within the kudzu extract. The kudzu root may interact with certain medications or pose other health risks for certain people.
- TCM practitioners believed that Kudzu had the power to release the muscles and nourish the body’s fluids.
- Furthermore, because kudzu extract exerts its beneficial effects within hours of the first dose, it could be administered along with a prescription medication and provide “coverage” until the other medication begins to work.
- Known as “Ge Gen” in Mandarin, this root was believed to possess a myriad of healing properties.
- The extract contained 26% (130 mg) active isoflavones (20% puerarin, 4% daidzin, 2% daidzein; an improved HPLC analysis revealed that the total puerarin content includes both puerarin and 3-methoxypuerarin.).
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In China, kudzu root extract has been commonly used to reduce, but not eliminate, alcohol consumption and dependence. Despite its history, the mechanism of action for kudzu extract is still unknown, and that is what the current research explores. Kudzu, scientifically known as kudzu and alcohol Pueraria lobata, is renowned in traditional Chinese medicine for its diverse applications, including the treatment of alcohol dependence.
- The 0.5 g/kg KdR dose caused a 50-60% reduction in alcohol consumption, abolished the development of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, but did not affect blood alcohol levels.
- Scientists need to do more research on the effects of kudzu root in humans to investigate these effects in the liver.
- By contrast, kudzu creates a mild flushed feeling at most and leaves the drinker craving alcohol a bit less.
- Heart health is at the epicenter of global health concerns, and any natural remedy that offers support in this realm is worth its weight in gold.
- Its name in Chinese, loosely translated, means “drunkenness dispeller.” The tea is often used to try to sober up after drinking and to relieve hangovers.
Kudzu’s Benefits for Health
Many trials were short-term, providing insights into immediate effects but leaving questions about long-term efficacy and safety unanswered. The strength of many traditional remedies often lies in their complex molecular composition, a blend that modern pharmacology is still striving to fully comprehend. Kudzu Root, when studied under the lens of contemporary science, reveals an array of compounds, but some stand out more prominently than others.
