Kudzu vine extract for alcohol treatment Non 12 Step Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment

A 2017 research review did not find that this therapy was more effective than other forms of relapse prevention. Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc, is a board-certified acupuncturist, herbalist, and integrative medicine doctor practicing in Santa Monica, California. The most popular forms available appear to be powdered drink mixes, capsules, disintegrating tablets, and liquid extract drops. You can eat the root as you would other root vegetables, like potatoes or rutabagas. Kudzu roots can be dried and ground into a powder, which some people use as breading for fried foods or as a thickener for soups and sauces. Other research suggests that kudzu supplements may also play a role in preventing migraine attacks.

There is some evidence that kudzu root dietary supplements may cause liver injury. One study in mice found that taking 10 mg per day of kudzu root extract for 4 weeks caused liver toxicity (15). The participants reported their desire for and consumption of alcohol for the duration of the study. Researchers found that the kudzu extract had no effect on alcohol cravings, but it reduced the number of weekly alcoholic drinks by 34–57% (2). Kudzu root, also known as Pueraria lobata, is a perennial vine native to Asia.

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However due to dietary and physiological inefficiency, this process can often be hampered. The technology utilized with Declinol creates multi-layer or multi-lamellar spheres that are readily available and can transport multiple nutrients simultaneously. The nature of these spheres, possessing several layers, also allows both fat and water soluble nutrients to be combined in the same sphere. Recently, unique discoveries have been made pertaining to the actions of bitters, and a family of 30 specific bitter flavor receptors in the GI Tract.

Keung et al. [2] reported that Daidzin is a potent, selective, and reversible inhibitor of human mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and this natural compound suppresses free-choice ethanol intake by Syrian golden hamsters. Other ALDH inhibitors, such as disulfiram (Antabuse) and calcium citrate carbimide (Temposil), have also been shown to suppress ethanol intake of laboratory animals and are thought to act by inhibiting the metabolism of acetaldehyde produced from ingested ethanol. The anti-craving effect of disulfiram may also be due to inhibition of dopamine beta hydroxylase thereby increasing neuronal dopamine [3].

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Kudzu is hepatotoxic, meaning excessive amounts could harm your liver, so it’s important to stick to the recommended daily dosage (x). When broken down, kudzu root has a thick and sticky consistency resembling a type of mucus https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-naturally-reduce-alcohol-cravings/ that naturally coats the lining of the stomach. Because of its similarity to stomach mucus, kudzu can help counteract acid buildup in the stomach. Try adding kudzu to your list of natural treatments for an upset stomach.

Additionally, Lin et al. [4] also showed that daidzin, are efficacious in lowering blood alcohol levels and shorten sleep time induced by alcohol ingestion in rat models of alcoholism. Furthermore, other isoflavonoids found in Kudzu were also evaluated by Lin et al. [4]. When given orally to P rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day, daidzein, daidzin, and puerarin decreased ethanol intake by 75%, 50%, and 40%, respectively without negative effects on overall water consumption. In fact Lin et al. [4] suggested the anti- craving effects of these compounds may be due to CNS mechanisms. In fact Keung et al. [5] demonstrated a direct correlation between ALDH-2 inhibition and ethanol intake suppression and raise the possibility that daidzin may in fact suppress ethanol intake of golden hamsters by inhibiting ALDH-2. However, this effect by daidzin is not like a classical ALDH-2 inhibitor because it does not also inhibit the cytosolic form, of liver ALDH-1, which is a very efficient catalyst of acetaldehyde oxidation.

Kudzu Recovery: Research Studies

Genistein reduced promoter methylation of RARβ2 in human cervical cancer cells, which led to increase in its mRNA levels [57]. Reactivation of yet another tumor suppressor PCDH17 by reversing hypermethylation of the promoter region was achieved by genistein treatment of gastric cancer cells but not normal gastric cells [141]. But kudzu has not always been known as a hangover remedy–it’s also a traditional treatment for alcoholism. Recent research suggests that kudzu root extract may, in fact, be able to relieve alcohol cravings. In a study published by Psychopharmacology, researchers gave kudzu extract to heavy drinkers who were diagnosed with either alcohol abuse or dependency. Those who took the extract drank percent less alcohol each week than those who did not (x).

• Lukas’ study was inspired by Dr. Wing Ming Keung, a pathology professor at Harvard Medical School who has studied kudzu’s potential medical applications.
• This defect drives individuals to engage in activities of behavioral excess, which will increase brain dopamine function, for which we created the term Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) [59] to categorize such biological influences on behavior.
• Because of this effect, kudzu 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.
• Genistein reduced promoter methylation of RARβ2 in human cervical cancer cells, which led to increase in its mRNA levels [57].
• Importantly, 40% of these patients relapsed more than five times indicating serious problems with alcohol abuse/dependence.
• In a dose-dependent high glucose treatment, puerarin enhanced glucose uptake of insulin resistant adipocytes and upregulated the protein expression of GLUT-4 in skeletal muscle to cause the effects of lowering blood glucose and insulin levels [114].

Between drinks, the subjects rested their beer on a scale so researchers could monitor exactly how much they were drinking. They then either took 500 mg kudzu plant capsules three times a day or a placebo for a week and then returned to the lab. After observation, there was a “washout” period and treatments were then reversed – those who had been taking kudzu plant were given a placebo and vice versa. The subjects who had been taking kudzu plant showed almost a 50 percent average decrease in beer intake and took smaller sips, while placebo takers drank the same quantity as before. Chinese medicine has used the kudzu plant ( ge gen ) for centuries to treat stiff neck, sprains, thirst and diarrhea, and to reduce drinking.

Treatment of rats with saikosaponins 2 hours before treatment with D-galactosamine inhibited the increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels produced by damage of liver tissues [47,49]. Conversely, saikosaponins did not affect an increase in serum alanine aminotransferase and experimental cirrhosis in rats caused by carbon tetrachloride intoxication [49]. Lukas was not certain why but speculated that kudzu increases blood alcohol levels and speeds up its effects. In retrospect, my experience demonstrates the utility of kudzu for alcoholism. If I had been committed to using kudzu to wean off of alcohol and then quit, it might have been a very valuable part of my recovery. I did not know at the time that people also use kudzu to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms; nor did I care, because I did not intend to quit at the time.

• There were no reported side effects from treatment with the kudzu extract.
• Genistein, which has a structure similar to 17β-estradiol, can activate ERK1/2 and the transcription factor NF-kβ, thus upregulating the expression of MnSOD [10,36].
• The people who received a dose of kudzu extract drank significantly less beer than they usually did.

In fact, even a single dose of kudzu extract may be helpful if you’re looking to reduce your drinking. The current evidence favors the safety of Kudzu root although some have questioned the potential build- up of acetaldehyde following its administration to humans [11,12]. On the other side of the safety issue, Singh et al. [12] evaluated the protective effects of puerarin from kudzu root against alcohol-induced toxicities. Alcohol withdrawal after 70 days of drinking generated severe withdrawal symptoms including seizure-type EEG activity.

While doctors usually prescribe antibiotics and over-the counter medications to treat gastritis, anti-inflammatory supplements can also help relieve stomach inflammation. They have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that support your immune system and treat diseases caused by inflammation and oxidation. These include cancer, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome and cardiovascular disease (x) (x). Some programs offer you a chance to live in a facility where you can have more intense treatment. With other programs, you live at home but visit a treatment center daily. It’s important to seek AUD treatment only from a qualified healthcare professional or facility.

Kudzu may not be able to curb cravings, nor does it reduce the intoxicating effects of alcohol (x). They’re the pesky, wild plants that grow rampant and wreak havoc on our yards and gardens. But what if there was a weed that could help us fight serious health conditions? The plant is native to China and Japan and is characterized by its lush, trailing vines and purple-blue flowers. It also has a thick root that resembles a potato.Though beautiful, the plant has a reputation for being a menacing weed. It grows at rapid rates, climbing up walls and covering trees, telephone poles and houses.

One study on 82 postmenopausal women notes that using a Pueraria mirifica (a particular species of kudzu) gel may improve symptoms of vaginal dryness. Another study shows that kudzu flower might be helpful to lessen hot flashes in menopausal women. It’s marketed as a treatment for alcoholism, diabetes, and inflammation. We read the research to find out what science has to say about this plant. The relative bioavailability of isoflavone glycoside and aglycone forms is debated, and numerous articles have weighed in on both sides of this question. Various herbs and combinations of herbs are reported to be effective in reducing cravings, but in general, no studies have proven their effectiveness.