A Standardized Kudzu Extract NPI-031 Reduces Alcohol Consumption in Non Treatment-Seeking Male Heavy Drinkers PMC

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. 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. Prior studies of its antidipsotropic effect have focused on https://ecosoberhouse.com/ taste-aversion, alterations in alcohol metabolism or effects on neurotransmitters. Overstreet et al.’s (1998) study provides cursory evidence that a taste aversion mechanism is not likely.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

And it was introduced to the United States in 1876 when it was used to control soil erosion. The most popular forms available appear to be powdered drink mixes, capsules, disintegrating tablets, and liquid extract drops. What’s more, the kudzu plant leaves, vine tips, and purple flower blossoms are also edible. 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. When you call our team, you will speak to a Recovery Advocate who will answer any questions and perform a pre-assessment to determine your eligibility for treatment.

Herbal Approaches to Alcohol Dependence: Evidence and Risks

• Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter, and kudzu extract treatment is thought to influence the glutamatergic system, reducing the excitatory effects of alcohol withdrawal or cravings.
• Selenium deficiency is common in those who struggle with alcohol, especially if they have liver disease.
• The degree of reduction is often as high as 50% and the effects appeared within one to two days of treatment.
• It’s important to note that the standardized content of the important active compounds, primarily puerarin, varies among different products.
• Written informed consent was obtained from the patients for the publication of this pilot study and the accompanying data.

Thirty percent of current drinkers report drinking excessively (Naimi et al., 2003) and 92% of U.S. adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the past 30 days (Town et al., 2006). Current use was defined as at least one drink in the past 30 days while binge use includes drinking five or more drinks per day. You can find kudzu root supplements easily online and in a variety kudzu to stop drinking of natural food or supplement stores.

Kudzu Root: Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects

• Kawahata et al. 25 recently reported on the enhancement properties of Tangerine Peel extracts to facilitate potently-mediated transcription linked to the upstream cAMP/PKA/ERK/CREB pathway in hippocampal neurons.
• L-glutamine can help during alcohol withdrawal by improving symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that can occur during the detox process.
• Puerarin, one of the most abundant isoflavones in kudzu root extracts, is a known vasodilator and is approved for such use in China following coronary infarction and stroke (Wu et al., 2014).
• We have previously reported on the sleep/wake patterns of the participants in this study (Bracken et al., 2011).
• The number of participants who drank each available beer during the 1.5 hour drinking session following administration of placebo or kudzu.

A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal. Due to the lack of data on the pre-intervention, it cannot be said statistically whether the results were affected by the intervention. A further clinical study with a larger sample size is required to confirm the results. At this size, absorption is improved as the combination of nutrients reaching the small intestine can spread out over a larger surface area thereby allowing more area for absorption to occur.

While we only selected a small number of patients (Table 2) to study in this pilot because we wanted to capture a positive effect prior to a much larger study being planned in the future, we are encouraged with these preliminary results. Importantly, 40% of these patients relapsed more than five times indicating serious problems with alcohol abuse/dependence. Chai hu (Bupleuri radix), one of the most frequently used herbs in Chinese herbal medicine, has positive benefits in cases of liver toxicity especially due to alcoholism 39, analgesic properties 40 as well as sedative activity 41.