HPE (50 and 100 mg/kg) produced positive inhibitory effects on tremor and audiogenic seizures during the withdrawal period in alcohol-preferring rats. These results suggest that HPE could have some beneficial effects on alcohol withdrawal syndrome in people 102. Hypericum perforatum exhibits remarkable antioxidant potential due to high content of phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, hyperforin and hypericin 103. Hyperforin has NMDA-receptor-antagonistic and potential neuroprotective effects in vitro which might provide therapeutic effectiveness in the relapse prevention of alcohol use disorders 103.

Health Conditions

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. The room contained a small sink with an under-the-counter refrigerator where the beverages (beer, juice, and water) were kept. Rhodiola Rosea‘s adaptogenic properties, similar to those of Kudzu, can create a dynamic duo for individuals seeking to manage stress and enhance their physical and mental resilience. Licorice root can enhance the potential of Kudzu in managing digestive issues and supporting adrenal health. Together, they may provide a more comprehensive approach to gut health and stress management.

Natural Plants for Alcohol Use Disorder

The root contains isoflavones, a compound that has been shown to reduce alcohol consumption in rats. Kudzu root extract is now widely used in the United States as a natural remedy for alcoholism. 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 kudzu group significantly reduced consumption from 3.0 ± 1.7 at baseline to 1.9 ± 1.3 beers after treatment. 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. As with many other OTC herbal supplements, there’s little convincing evidence that the aforementioned supplements are clinically effective treatments of alcohol dependency.

Kudzu – a Plant for alcohol and tobacco detox

Metabolic syndrome is a condition notorious for its cluster of health issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and/or abnormal triglyceride levels. If left unchecked, metabolic syndrome can increase your risk of developing heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Well, one week after their first fun-filled outing, our volunteers were back heroin addiction in the pub to repeat the experiment. Those who had had the placebo last time were given kudzu extract this time, and vice versa. Again, they didn’t know which pills they’d taken, and we closely monitored what they drank. Kudzu is popular as an agent for alcoholism and hangovers as noted in the Chinese Pharmacopeia.

• Compounds called isoflavones are thought to be responsible for its potential effects.
• 6-Gingerol as the major bioactive constituent of ginger could efficiently scavenge various free radicals 77.
• Alcohol is removed from the body primarily through metabolism in the liver.
• This product may adversely interact with certain health and medical conditions, other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, foods, or other dietary supplements.

Side effects of kudzu root

The leafy parts of thyme and its essential oil have been widely used in food for flavor, aroma and preservation and also in traditional medicines 73. The essential oil of thyme has showed free radical scavenging and antibacterial activity 74, and it could detoxify alcohol toxicity. Thymol was the major component (44.4%–58.1%), followed by p-cymene (9.1%–18.5%), γ-terpinene (6.9%–18.9%), and carvacrol (2.4%–4.2%) in the tested oil samples 75. The water extract of thyme possessed the ability of detoxifying the injuries of alcohol on liver and brain in mice. It could decrease nitric oxide and MDA level in liver and brain, and increase the total antioxidant capacity and GPx activity 76.

• The results showed that among all groups the plasma alcohol concentrations were the lowest in Fructus evodiae treated groups.
• The drinks were administered between 2 and 2.5 hours after consumption of the morning dose of medication as blood levels of puerarin peak at this time (Penetar et al., 2006).
• While Kudzu’s medicinal benefits are intriguing, it’s important to approach its use with caution and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
• You are then more relaxed, and your attention turns away from the object of your addiction.
• Clearly, GABAARs play a critical role in the response to EtOH, modulating the altered balance between excitation and inhibition induced by EtOH, and contributing to withdrawal syndrome.

This article examines the benefits, uses, and potential side effects of kudzu root. More recently, kudzu root has made its way to Western countries as an herbal supplement. Curiously, kudzu appears to have this effect AND prevent people from becoming intoxicated with alcohol or nicotine more quickly. This aspect also requires more research into its use as a supplement, as the fact that symptoms of intoxication emerge faster offers an effective way of controlling alcohol and nicotine consumption. Pharmacokinetic results were obtained using PK Solutions 2.0 (Summit Research Services, Montrose, CO; ). A linear mixed model analysis of variance (SPSS 13.0 for MAC OS X) https://ecosoberhouse.com/ was performed for dependent variables using the main factors of dose, pretreatment condition, and time, as appropriate.

The BDI for the kudzu extract-treated participants was 1.78 ± 2.11 and 2.63 ± 2.50 at baseline and during treatment, respectively. The BDI measures of the placebo-treated participants were 2.0 ± 2.58 and 1.67 ± 1.37 at baseline and during treatment, respectively. The BAI scores were equally stable and ranged from 0.33 to 1.71 during treatment.

Kudzu compensates for the pleasure you get from your usual “drug” and helps to relieve your addiction. The kudzu plant actually produces fragrant, purple blossoms, which are made into jellies, syrups and candies. While you can find kudzu vine almost anywhere in the South by taking a drive on a country road, kudzu root is probably most popular by way of a supplement or as kudzu root tea that can be found at most health food stores.

• However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of kudzu on the body.
• Medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants such as polyphenolic components, isoflavonids and vitamins, which could scavenge free radicals 35,36,37,38.
• Recent experimental evidences suggested that novel pharmacological approaches for treatment of hangover and alcohol use disorders may derive from natural products 32,33.
• In the first, kudzu extract was administered for 7 days and acute binge drinking was suppressed (Lukas et al., 2005).

In other studies, the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline and the GABAB receptor antagonists CGP did not modify the effect of CO2 extract of hypericum. These results indicated that the inhibitory effects of HPE on alcohol intake are not mediated by GABA agonist actions 106,107. In conclusion, Hypericum perforatum might be effective to improving alcohol drinking behaviors, although more efforts are needed to clarify the specific mechanisms. Meanwhile, the roots of Pueraria lobata showed inhibitory activity against mitochondrial ALDH2, and could increase the concentration of acetaldehyde in blood. Therefore, it kudzu and alcohol could be used as an aversion therapy for alcohol use disorder 40.