Kudzu Review

People looking for ways to get through Dry January with their sanity intact are often willing to try anything. While there are variety of ways that seem to help minimize the cravings people get when avoiding alcohol, one word keeps coming up: Kudzu.

There are dozens of theories and even more speculation on kudzu as a natural supplement and a way to curb how much alcohol is consumed. The question is, how much truth is there to these theories? And what is the relationship between kudzu and alcohol.

Keep reading to find out.

What is Kudzu?

Kudzu is a plant that is native to East Asia, though it’s most associated with ancient Chinese herbal medications. The plants roots, flowers, and leaves are all used for medicinal purposes and some historians believe that it has been used for over 2,000 years.

The kudzu vine actually has a bad reputation in the United States. It was brought to the southern United States in an effort to stop the soil from eroding. However, it quickly took over fields and buildings, proving itself to be an extremely hardy plant.

Kudzu has been used to treat several ailments, from high blood pressure and sinus infections to heart issues. Recently, kudzu has come to the attention of the public for another reason: Its ability to treat alcoholism and lessen the symptoms of hangovers.

Kudzu and Alcoholism

References to the ability of kudzu to treat issues related to alcohol go back as far as 600 A.D., making it one of the oldest herbal remedies for a hangover. Because this plant has been used medically for so long, many researchers are open to considering its benefits.

One researcher, Dr. David M. Penetar, professor at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, used the long history of kudzu as the starting point for one of his studies. More specifically, he looked at puerarin, an isoflavone found in the kudzu plant.

The results of his study were published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence in 2011.

Research on Kudzu

In the study Penetar took a group of 10 who were in their mid-twenties. The group consisted of both men and women and the study lasted nine days.

The lab for Penetar’s study looked more like an apartment than a lab, with all the comforts of home, including a refrigerator filled with everyone’s favorite beers.

The study was divided into four sessions that the researchers conducted over the nine day period. During the first session, the group was allowed to drink as much as they wanted, without being on the herb. The second session consisted of half the group going on a puerarin supplement while the other half of the group took a placebo. They were still allowed to drink as much as they wanted.

After a period of time had passed, the group came back and drank without taking the puerarin or placebo. Then, they switched pills and took that for a week.

At the end of this study, it was discovered that participants drank almost 7% less beer than they did when they were on the placebo. While this isn’t a huge difference in amount, it was a step in the right direction.

Penetar also found that the way the participants drank changed when they were on the puerarin extracted from kudzu. Instead of gulping, as they had the first time around, participants sipped more. The amount of time it took them to finish a beer also increased.

However, Penetar isn’t the only person studying kudzu extracts and alcoholism. Another, more extensive, study had much more drastic results than the Penetar study. In this study, participants cut their alcohol consumption by 34-57% by the end of the trial.

What the Results Mean

Penetar thinks he has a good idea of why the puerarin extracted from kudzu helped minimize the amount that the people in his study drank. History shows that kudzu was used to help with heart and circulatory issues, because it increased the amount of blood flow in the body.

Penetar’s working theory is that because peurarin can increase blood flow, the alcohol is delivered to the brain faster. This means the effects of the alcohol is felt sooner, so people drink less.

Does Kudzu Work?

While research is interesting, what does it mean? Can kudzu be used to curb drinking? And can it help people survive Dry January?

The answer is: It’s complicated.

There’s no denying the findings. Kudzu extracts can help people drink less. However, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t drinking. The herb might not work for people trying to completely stop drinking, but it can help them drink less.

Kudzu works best after a time of detox. So, while it might not help this month, for those who are aiming to decrease their drinking long-term, taking a daily supplement of kudzu could be beneficial.

Researchers are working to bring a more concentrated, active supplement to the market. But, until that’s available, regular kudzu supplements are available online and in several health stores.

Kudzu and Other Uses

Because kudzu is so high in isoflavone, it has been used to treat many other conditions. One of those conditions is low estrogen levels, specifically in menopausal women. In one study, 25 women going through menopause were put on a supplement that included kudzu. Over the course of the study, the number of hot flashes the women experienced decreased.

Fewer studies have been done on kudzu and its effects on cancer and cardiovascular disorders, though many believe that the herb has a positive effect on this conditions. An extract was made from kudzu to see if its antiproliferative activity could work to prevent cervical, breast, and ovarian cancer cell lines.

While there is a bit of research on the topic, there are no studies on how kudzu can help decrease arrhythmias and other issues in vascular smooth muscle tissue.

How to Use Kudzu

How much and how frequently kudzu is used depends on the age and size of the person taking it, as well as what conditions he or she is hoping to treat. Alternative medicine professionals will be able to work with those considering the supplement to determine what would work best.