It used to be assumed that bitters only stimulated receptors in the mouth, and then somewhat in the digestive tract. It has been demonstrated however, that bitter receptors exist throughout the entire gastro-intestinal tract [17,18]. When triggered by bitter compounds, these receptors then stimulate a myriad of bodily functions [19–21]. In addition to digestion, these receptors promote absorption of nutrients, blood sugar homeostasis, and can even help with weight control. Moreover, specific bitter receptors seem to promote the elimination of absorbed toxins from the gut [22–24].

Side Effects and Safety

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. 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. Most of the subjects came from church programs for alcohol dependence and were recruited via general assembly announcement and written flyer. Nine of the ten participants had previously tried other programs to eliminate alcohol cravings and intake with little or no success.

• 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].
• In addition, this was not a treatment clinical trial, so the effects on alcohol intake might have been more robust in treatment-seeking individuals.
• Even a tiny amount of alcohol can cause violent illness while on these drugs.
• These problems may have to be addressed in future studies and may require additional therapies and neurochemical epigenetic modifications.

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with KUDZU

This compound has a positive effect on the central nervous system and the brain. Lukas and Lee hold a patent for kudzu extract to treat alcohol abuse and dependence. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ McLean Hospital has licensed the production of kudzu extract (NPI-031) to Natural Pharmacia International (NPI), Inc. that markets it as Alkontrol-Herbal™.

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This interpretation of kudzu’s possible mechanism of action was also suggested by Wong et al. (2011) who postulated that kudzu alters peripheral and cerebral blood flow. Puerarin, one of the most abundant isoflavones in kudzu root extracts, is a known vasodilator and kudzu extract for alcoholism is approved for such use in China following coronary infarction and stroke (Wu et al., 2014). Kudzu, scientifically known as Pueraria lobata, is renowned in traditional Chinese medicine for its diverse applications, including the treatment of alcohol dependence.

How To Take Kudzu For Alcoholism?

Herbal products are also made from the root of another related Asian species of kudzu, called Pueraria thomsonii. The main compounds found in the root of the kudzu are the isoflavones, like the compound daidzein, also included are the isoflavone glycosides, like daidzin and the compound called puerarin. In any batch of kudzu roots, the total content of isoflavone often varies widely from 1.77%–12.0% depending on the growing conditions of the herb. The compound puerarin is always found in the highest concentration among all the isoflavones, second is daidzin, followed by daidzein. The herb called kudzu is a high climbing, coarse textured twining and trailing type of perennial vine found in parts of Asia and naturalized elsewhere [1].

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. Lukas’ team at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital set up a makeshift “apartment” in a laboratory, complete with a television, reclining chair and a refrigerator stocked with beer. Declinol utilizes a proprietary and patent-pending encapsulation technology that enhances the absorption and bio-availability of its herbal compounds.

Kudzu’s Benefits for Health

• Because this the first report on Declinol, we are compelled to briefly review these three important ingredients role in alcoholism including both central and peripheral actions.
• These services can also assist in the process of alcohol detox and help with the development of coping skills to prevent setbacks.
• In the second, participants who were treated for 4 weeks with kudzu extract significantly reduced their alcohol consumption during weeks 2 through 4 of the study (Lukas et al., 2013).
• 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.
• Scientists need to do more research to investigate the potential of kudzu root to cause liver injury in humans.

The absence of standardized dosages and recommended administration methods for kudzu necessitates expert guidance. Your healthcare provider can help determine the most suitable approach based on your unique circumstances. Furthermore, it’s likely that the suggested doses for kudzu root will vary depending on the manufacturer and the type of supplement you may be considering. There isn’t much scientific evidence available on the dosing for kudzu root as a supplement. For instance, it may reduce the effectiveness of birth control due to its estrogenic effects (8, 17).

People have used it for many years in traditional Chinese medicine, and it resembles other root tubers, like yams. The kudzu plant resembles poison ivy, so it’s important to know how to identify it correctly. The volunteers were all friends, and so were likely to enjoy a relaxed evening’s drinking. As expected, I didn’t really feel anything after taking it until I began drinking. I recall feeling a very slight prickly feeling in my skin after I’d had a few drinks, and a mild head rush. Role of Funding Source Funding for this study was provided by NIAAA grant R01-AA10536 to Dr. Lukas and NCCAM grant P01-AT to Dr. Lee.

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It’s best to speak with your healthcare provider to determine whether kudzu root could interact with any medications you’re taking. For over 2,000 years, people have used kudzu root in traditional Chinese medicine for purposes like treating fevers, diarrhea, and even diabetes and heart disease (1). This article examines the benefits, uses, and potential side effects of kudzu root.

The active ingredients are all encapsulated, or enveloped, using specific processing techniques, within phosphatidyl choline based spheres that act as transport vehicles. The process mimics natural actions that take place within the gut to enable proper absorption of nutrients, especially phyto-nutrients and fat soluble vitamins. The body’s own process in this regard creates micelles, single layer or unilamellar spheres in the size range of approximately 100 nanometers that typically can transport single nutrients.