A Single Dose of Kudzu Extract Reduces Alcohol Consumption in a Binge Drinking Paradigm PMC

Lukas’ study was inspired by Dr. Wing Ming Keung, a pathology professor at Harvard Medical School who has studied kudzu’s potential medical applications. "We suspect it may work because it increases blood flow," he says. "It may deliver alcohol https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to the brain's reward center faster. So you get an effect sooner; therefore, you don't drink as much." In Chinese pharmacy books, kudzu is listed as a possible treatment for alcohol-related hangovers and cravings, Penetar tells WebMD.

The Declinol Compound for the study was manufactured according to cGMP guidelines and was processed at an FDA registered, OTC, Rx facility. The current evidence favors the safety of Kudzu root although some have questioned the potential build- up of acetaldehyde following its administration to humans . On the other side of the safety issue, Singh et al. 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.

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Policosanol may interact with blood thinners and increase the risk of bleeding. Finding a quality product may be a challenge, since the Food and Drug Administration does not monitor dietary supplements. A major limitation to this pilot is the small number of subjects evaluated and as such we caution any definitive interpretation of these interesting results. However, this pilot serves as the basis to further these studies and confirmation in a much larger cohort may have important treatment ramifications for not only alcoholism but possibly RDS behaviors as well. Declinol utilizes a proprietary and patent-pending encapsulation technology that enhances the absorption and bio-availability of its herbal compounds. The active ingredients are all encapsulated, or enveloped, using specific processing techniques, within phosphatidyl choline based spheres that act as transport vehicles.

In fact, even a single dose of kudzu extract may be helpful if you’re looking to reduce your drinking. When given equal amounts of alcohol, kudzu- and placebo-treated individuals respond similarly (Penetar et al., 2011). For targeting alcohol dependence, studies have used dosages of 1.2 grams of kudzu root extract per day over 1 week, or a single dose of 2 grams before drinking alcohol, without noted side effects . As with many other OTC herbal supplements, kudzu for alcohol cravings there’s little convincing evidence that the aforementioned supplements are clinically effective treatments of alcohol dependency. There have been some scientific studies conducted, but a majority involve animal models and show modest findings that rarely translate into conclusive human trials. The primary danger of these supplements in those with alcohol dependency is not necessarily knowing the drug—drug interaction potential or side effects.

Kudzu Root: Benefits, Dosage & Side Effects

Current or past alcohol dependence; may meet criteria for alcohol abuse. Other drug dependence acceptable only if greater than 3 years. Daidzein and glycitein in soy and kudzu, and formononetin and biochanin A in red clover.

How long before drinking should I take kudzu?

Kudzu (2 mg) will be administered as a pretreatment 2 ½ hours before a drinking session to see if it will significantly reduce the number of drinks consumed during a single 1 ½ hours drinking session. Other Names: Kudzu root extract (NPI-031) Puerariae lobata.

Penetar DM, MacLean RR, McNeil JF, Lukas SE. Kudzu extract treatment does not increase the intoxicating effects of acute alcohol in human volunteers. Overstreet DH, Kralic JE, Morrow AL, Ma ZZ, Zhang YW, Lee DY. NPI-031G reduces anxiogenic effects of alcohol withdrawal or benzodiazepine inverse or 5-HT2C agonists. When broken down, kudzu root has a thick and sticky consistency resembling a type of mucus that naturally coats the lining of the stomach. Because of its similarity to stomach mucus, kudzu can help counteract acid buildup in the stomach.

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