Red ginseng extract also has protective effects from alcohol-induced male reproductive toxicity. There was a significant reduce in sperm motility and progressiveness in mice treated with alcohol for 5 weeks, while administration of red ginseng extract appeared to minimize the harmful effects of alcohol-induced toxicity on male fertility [93]. Besides, Haron et al. [94] using Japanese ricefish (Oryzias latipes) as an animal model https://ecosoberhouse.com/ of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, identified that Panax ginseng could attenuate alcohol toxicity in embryogenesis. Panax ginseng may provide a protection to alcohol-induced trabecular cartilage deformities in the neurocranium in 1–3 day post fertilization group embryos. Meanwhile, black ginseng has a protective effect on alcohol-induced teratogenesis through the augmentation of antioxidative capacity in mouse embryos.
- Lee et al. [91] investigated the effects of red ginseng on relieving alcohol and hangover symptoms in 25 healthy men in a randomized crossover study.
- The extract of water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) is effective in alleviating alcohol intoxication by accelerating alcohol metabolism.
- FPEt might exert cytoprotective effects by enhancing cellular redox status [53].
- This may be due to the isoflavones in kudzu, which can help regulate hormone levels.
- It has been suggested that kudzu may be effective in reducing alcohol consumption, alcohol cravings, and withdrawal symptoms in individuals with alcohol use disorders.
- As a safe, over-the-counter preparation, kudzu may be used alone in initial attempts to curb alcohol consumption, but it may also become a useful adjunct to the currently available prescription medications.
Taking kudzu along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. There is information that suggests kudzu contains ingredients that counteract alcohol. Chemicals in kudzu might also increase blood circulation in the heart and brain.
2 Behavioral and Subjective Effects
Ginseng shows positive effects on alcohol metabolism and relieved hangover symptoms. In addition, it also has protective effects to alcohol-induced toxicity in major organs in animals such as reproduction and gastric. Studies have found that the isoflavones in kudzu can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure. Studies on the effectiveness of kudzu for alcoholism have shown mixed results. While some studies have shown promising results, others have found no significant difference between kudzu and a placebo. It is important to note that kudzu should not be used as a substitute for professional medical treatment for alcoholism.
The transient effects of subjective ratings of dizziness alone are insufficient to suggest the presence of a disulfiram-like effect as a result of kudzu administration. Thus, altered acetaldehyde metabolism is not a likely explanation for kudzu extract effects in humans. Natural Pharmacia International supplied us with puerarin (NPI-031G) so that we could study the effects of the major isoflavone in kudzu extract on alcohol consumption in the same naturalistic setting that we used to study kudzu extract (Lukas et al, 2005). Puerarin (600 mg, b.i.d.) was administered in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design for one week prior to an afternoon 1.5 h drinking session. During the drinking session, participants had access to up to six bottles of their preferred brand of beer (in addition to juice and water). Drinking behavior was recorded by a custom-built end table that housed a concealed electronic scale that was connected to a computer in the control room.
Can you be ‘fat’ and still healthy?
Until the effects of kudzu can be quantified properly in a larger study, then, and a standardised product is available on the market with the THR mark, it’s not something we can recommend you take. Because human and animal studies suggest some estrogenic effects (5) (10) (11), individuals with hormone-sensitive cancers and those taking tamoxifen should avoid kudzu. Because animal and human studies suggest some estrogenic effects, individuals with hormone-sensitive cancers and those taking tamoxifen should avoid kudzu. Tell your healthcare providers about any dietary supplements you’re taking, such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and natural or home remedies.
Lukas and Lee hold a patent for kudzu extract to treat alcohol abuse and dependence. McLean Hospital has licensed the production of kudzu extract (NPI-031) to Natural Pharmacia International (NPI), Inc. that markets it as Alkontrol-Herbal™. A prior study of kudzu to treat alcohol use in an outpatient setting reported that kudzu had no effect on maintaining https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/kudzu-extract-and-alcohol-addiction-can-it-help-you-drink-less/ sobriety or altering alcohol craving (Shebek and Rindone, 2000). However, these authors noted that there was a large dropout rate, subjects were not supervised while they completed the questionnaires, and there was only a single assessment each month. All of the above factors may have contributed to the negative findings of this study.
Side effects of kudzu root
Of course, it’s up to the individual to ensure that he or she doesn’t use this as an excuse to fall off the wagon. But as soon as the capsules ran out, I concluded that it hadn’t totally “cured” my problem and that I would eventually find something better. A computerized Continuous Performance Test II (CPT II) (Conners, 2000) was used to assess sustained attention and concentration abilities.
- SOD, ascorbic acid, and GSH levels were decreased, and GST activity was increased in alcohol treated rats.
- The root of kudzu was first described in the Chinese literature (Shengnong Bencao Jing, 1278AD) as sweet and acrid in taste, cool in nature, and useful as an antipyretic, antidiarrhetic, diaphoretic, and anti-emetic agent (Keung and Vallee, 1998).
- Only one breath sample was positive for alcohol during all three phases of the study.
- In this article, I’m going to discuss how to use kudzu recovery for alcoholism.
- The root in particular is valued for its medicinal properties, and the beneficial effects are thought be down to a group of compounds found in high concentrations within the plant, called isoflavones.
Furthermore, the men who took kudzu had fewer heavy drinking days per week and had significantly more consecutive days with no alcohol consumption (2). The finding that alcohol intake was reduced without affecting desire to use alcohol at first seemed counter-intuitive. However, it is important to recognize that one of the major weaknesses of the measure that we used to record desire to drink alcohol was that it was unidimensional. It is quite likely that the desire to use alcohol in an outpatient setting cannot be captured with a single question; we also observed an absence of an effect on desire for alcohol in our previous study (Lukas et al., 2005). All participants were recruited following approval by the McLean Hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB).
We found that, on average, each person consumed 7 units of alcohol after the placebo and, on average, 5.5 units after the kudzu. However, these studies were conducted on lone individuals drinking within highly controlled laboratory conditions. In China, it has been used to treat alcoholism since 600AD, and Western medicine is starting to take notice of this herbal remedy. Metabolic syndrome is a condition notorious for its cluster of health issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and/or abnormal triglyceride levels.