Benefits of Kudzu for Alcohol Cravings

Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) outside the range of 18–25 kg/m2 were also excluded. Drinking was recorded using a custom built end table that contained a digital scale beneath a ceramic tile insert in the tabletop (Ohaus model #B10P with kudzu and alcohol I5S controller). Participants were instructed to always keep the beer glass on the table except when taking a sip. The scale was connected to a computer in an adjacent room that ran a customized program that sampled the scale at 5 Hz and detected any weight changes that exceeded 1 gm. Additional details and photos of the device can be found in Lukas et al. (2005).

Research Studies

Currently, commonly prescribed anti-drinking drugs such as disulfiram (Antabuse), naltrexone (Revia and Vivitrol), and acamprosate (Campral), cause several side effects. For example, drowsiness and headaches are common side effects of Antabuse. Studies of daidzin may lead to an anti-drinking drug for alcohol treatment that causes fewer side effects.

5 Alcohol Consumption—Treatment Phase

Medication adherence was measured using ultraviolet (UV) light to detect riboflavin in centrifuged urine samples (Del Boca et al., 1996) that were collected twice a week. Endogenous levels of riboflavin are too low to fluoresce and participants were instructed to avoid multivitamin complexes while participating in the study. Because riboflavin is cleared from the body quickly, fluorescing urine indicated compliance in the past 18–24 hours. In addition, participants reported pill taking by checking time-of-day boxes on Alcoholics Anonymous daily diaries and by entries on the wrist actigraphy watches.

May alleviate menopausal symptoms

• The placebo-treated group opened 33 beers during baseline conditions and 38 following treatment whereas the kudzu-treated group opened 32 beers during baseline conditions and only 21 following treatment.
• Nevertheless, it may be a good idea to avoid if you use blood thinning or diabetes medications.
• Kudzu root may also be helpful for women experiencing menopausal symptoms.
• Persons who responded to these advertisements were given a brief telephone screen, and invited to the laboratory for further evaluations.
• Kudzu is thought to modulate the dopaminergic system, and by influencing dopamine release and receptor activity, it may reduce the rewarding effects of alcohol.
• I took several capsules per day before drinking, and went through all of it in about one month.

Kudzu is also known for its flower, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fever, headache, and other ailments. The arrowroot starch derived from the Kudzu plant is also used in cooking as a thickener. The plant contains phytoestrogens, which are compounds that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. Data from the actiwatch device was the primary source for all analyses while the daily diary served as a back up to verify daily totals and in case of equipment failure.

What’s actually in sports drinks?

Some studies have found that the puerarin in kudzu does, in fact, influence dopamine release in some areas of the brain. Over time, chronic alcoholism leads to structural and functional changes in the brain. These changes affect parts of the brain related to emotional regulation, memory, and decision-making. There is also good evidence that drinking clear spirits reduces the severity of hangovers. Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) is a climbing vine native to East Asia and has been a staple in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Historically, it was used to treat various ailments such as fever, muscle pain, and alcohol-related issues.