Taken together, the data in this study demonstrate that in moderate drinkers, kudzu root extract treatment has no effect on any of the measured parameters of sleep quality or quantity. Sleep latency, sleep efficiency, and waking after sleep onset were all similar during placebo and kudzu root extract treatment periods (Fig. 1). Kudzu root extract did not increase nighttime wakefulness or movement, measured by the number of waking episodes per night, the time awake per episode, and the time spent mobile (Fig. 2).

• Using the continuous measure of alcohol consumption, drinking was quantified using a number of different variables as noted above.
• During the baseline session, the placebo-randomized group consumed 2.7 ± 0.78 beers before treatment and increased consumption to 3.4 ± 1.1 beers after treatment.
• The arrowroot starch derived from the Kudzu plant is also used in cooking as a thickener.
• Ten patients were enrolled in a 60 day study to determine the effectiveness of a natural compound Declinol (Table 1) to curb cravings for alcohol.
• You can find kudzu root supplements easily online and in a variety of natural food or supplement stores.
• Specifically, in a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial they found no difference between Kudzu and placebo after a one month treatment period in either reducing alcohol craving and or promoting sobriety.

Kudzu is an invasive weed that has also been used to treat alcoholism for well over one thousand years. Ultimately, a comprehensive approach to health and well-being, including evidence-based treatments, remains paramount. As with any herbal supplement, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional before incorporating kudzu into one’s regimen, especially if taking medications or dealing with specific health conditions. Research has found that kudzu can help improve insulin sensitivity, which can help regulate blood sugar levels.

Can kudzu be taken in conjunction with other medications for alcoholism?

Participants were instructed to report when they consumed each drink, which was defined as a 12 oz can of beer, 5 oz glass of wine or 1.5 oz distilled spirits. Because prescription medications are not universally used or have a perceived modest effect (Krystal et al., 2001; Mark et al., 2003), providing heavy drinkers with any type of intervention that yields even a modest reduction in drinking is desirable. Furthermore, there is a need to develop efficacious https://ecosoberhouse.com/ medicines from natural products that have a low incidence of side effects or toxicity (Xu et al., 2005). The ultimate role that natural preparations play will be complementary and might be useful in treating drug withdrawal and possibly relapse (Lu et al., 2009). While the blood flow theory of kudzu for alcoholism may be true, there is likely more going on here. It contains several active isoflavones, which are natural plant chemicals with antioxidant effects.

They found that Kudzu treatment resulted in significant reduction in the number of beers consumed. In cases of alcoholism, the doses studied in scientific research were 1.5-3g of kudzu root extract taken in 3 doses per day over 1-4 weeks. A single dose of 2g of kudzu extract has also been used in other studies before a drinking session. A standardized formulation of kudzu extract produced minimal side effects, was well-tolerated, and resulted in a modest reduction in alcohol consumption in young nontreatment-seeking heavy drinkers. Additional studies using treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent persons will be necessary to determine the usefulness of this herbal preparation in reducing alcohol use in other populations. We employed two different biochemical methods (urinary riboflavin and plasma puerarin levels), to monitor medication adherence.

What should I not eat or drink when I’m taking medication?

When given equal amounts of alcohol, kudzu- and placebo-treated individuals respond similarly (Penetar et al., 2011). 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. Puerarin suppressed the addiction mediated abnormalities but did not affect the inflammation-related abnormalities.

Consuming large quantities of alcohol or carbohydrates (carbohydrate bingeing) stimulates the brain’s production and utilization of dopamine. We are proposing that a novel approach to nutritional supplementation may be required to target the RDS role in alcoholism and glucose homeostasis [60]. Certainly an added stress of attempting to eliminate alcohol usage is the drastic swings in blood sugar, which when occurring may stimulate a stronger desire to drink [62]. Any natural means to balance blood sugar can therefore be of great cessation benefit to alcohol programs. However, Lukas et al. [10] from McLean Hospital designed a study to test the efficacy of a kudzu extract in a clinical population. Specifically, male and female “heavy” alcohol drinkers were treated with either placebo or a kudzu extract for 7 days and then given an opportunity to drink their preferred brand of beer while in a naturalistic environment.

Will kudzu supplement pills make me drink less alcohol?

Because my drinking levels were so stupendously high in the first place, kudzu did not turn me into a moderate drinker by any stretch of the imagination. This is because isoflavones can help dilate blood vessels, allowing for better blood flow. Kudzu may also help reduce the risk of blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

One of the ancillary factors in alcohol dependence is blood sugar imbalances. In fact our laboratory hypothesized [58] that one such genetic factor that influences behavior including drug and food seeking is a predisposition to glucose craving and the overall effect of dopaminergic activity kudzu to stop drinking in the reward center of the brain. 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.

Never take a new medication or adjust existing prescriptions without the approval of a doctor who is aware of previous health issues and current prescriptions. While undergoing withdrawal, it is important to stay hydrated, as dehydration can make withdrawal symptoms worse. Supplementing with vitamins and minerals is also important because long-term alcohol consumption and dependence can deplete these elements, particularly the B vitamins. Finally, the role of Disulfiram because of its inhibition of Dopamine –Beta –Hydroxylase thereby increasing brain dopamine has been also proposed for cocaine abuse or possibly other RS behaviors [63]. Currently we do not have a reasonable explanation as to why the subjects on Declinol did not have benefits related to both their inability to handle set-backs and or sleep (Table 3 and Figure 2). We are cognizant that alcohol abuse induces severe effects on brain reward circuitry affecting stress/anxiety as well as reticular formation (sleep region) in the brain.