Kudzu as a treatment for alcoholism
You’ve made the decision to cut down on your drinking. At this point, you may be wondering “is there anything that I can take that could help me with my cravings?”
Currently a few drugs are popular for the treatment of alcoholism – Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and Disulfiram. None are always effective or appropriate.
Common side effects include diarrhoea, dyspepsia (indigestion), headache, nausea and vomiting, rash, and itching. More severe side effects have been associated with these drugs which cause suspicion as to whether they are doing more harm than good.
The pharmaceutical industry has little to offer for keeping alcoholics sober. Herbal medicines, on the other hand, have shown more promising and dramatic results. However, for profiteering reasons, it is not likely that drug companies or your doctor will provide herbal alternatives.
The herb Kudzu can cut consumption of alcohol in half perfectly safely without the side effects of drugs. It has been used to reduce drinking in China since 600 A.D. Scientists have found the herb to be effective in reducing alcohol intake in rats.
Recently, studies have shown evidence that Kudzu can reduce drinking in humans. Essentially, kudzu increases blood alcohol concentration so that people need less alcohol to feel its effects. People feel satisfied on fewer drinks.
So, where can you find some? David Lee, a chemist on the McLean Hospital research team did assays on a variety of kudzu herb extracts from stores and websites and found that many of these products contained less than 1 percent of active kudzu, and thus were ineffective. Higher concentrations are needed – around 30-40 percent of one of Kudzu’s active ingredients (puerarin) is advised. Please be aware that the Kudzu capsules available in Holland & Barrett are only 7%. The tincture they sell is of course alcohol based (all tinctures are), at roughly 60% alcohol.
We’ve reviewed a number of online Kudzu suppliers, and this is the best we could find:
Or read some more information about Kudzu.
Alternatively you can try Liv.52 – a herbal supplement proven to protect the liver from the damaging effects of alcohol. It assists in the process of detoxification also, in that it speeds up the elimination of acetaldehyde (which means your hangovers won’t be quite so nasty).
Kudzu – these were mentioned for “cluster headaches” so I bought a few bottles from 3 different suppliers – not sure how effective they have been in treating my headaches – but they are very effective in reducing my alcohol intake – just no longer have a craving, and a glass of wine is fine as opposed to finishing the bottle – I take 2 or pills totaling 2000mg every morning – I hope it will help you as well.
Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a pattern of drinking harmful to the individual. Staying sober is a daily struggle for such individuals. Natural therapy protocols have come a long way in helping them effectively. Natural remedies such as C55 neuro calming formula, Liver liquescence provide the body with vitamins and minerals lost over a period of time. These homeopathic remedies are believed to control liver damage and help in managing all symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal, cut cravings, and balance reactions to alcohol.
Just wanted to say hi to all fell addicts – i have just come out of hospital on a 2 day detox – hell lots of shakes – i have to address this problem can anyone help
For steve above my post.
Liv 53 wont have any notable interaction. Liv 52 works like a liver tonic. Kudzu would interact with medications containing estrogenic hormones, like pills, cancer meds, HRT, etc.
Infact, for alcoholic liver, both would work in synergy, so taking both would be good for one.
Hi,
hope i can help because i have experience taking Naltrexone (noddict, naltima 50mg). In india, its not tough getting the meds.
Sinclair method works. it was recommended by an old friend who is a doctor in Australia. But i think they have the info. wrong, because they give Nalt. and advocate abstinence. That doesn’t make sense as it works on extinction principle. My other doctor friends are looking into it seriously, esp. the Liver specialist.
Its been 3 years now.
No more daytime or whole day drinking on weekends, and if i work hard at it, i can go AF totally, (once or twice a week). I ensure to take it atleast an hour before i drink. Surprisingly, i can stick to that rule easily. Last 2 months i went without Nal, but was still drinking the same, or even less. (ITs HIGHLY NOT NOT NOT recommended.) It can backfire easily, although i was lucky, and am back on it. (albeit now i only take 25 mg. and if i think its going to be party time, then the whole 50 mg.)
I definitely drink much more moderately (3-5 drinks over 4 hours). That was my goal, and i reached that. I think more lucidly these days, its great.
Would like stop at two drinks, so that i can achieve my muscle targets also.
A side note, if you eat some nutritious food and vitamins just before you start drinking, you tend to drink a lot less or dont feel like it. And then, when i want some drink i take a healthy drink like green tea/ coconut water. I can delay the booze a lot- learned this trick only now.
I want to shift to Kudzu, and want to know what dose is recommended. Although, ironically its not easily available here, considering india should have more herbal medications! I hope to get a friend to bring it for me from the US.
I am guessing 250 mg capsule, thrice a day?
Any help would help.
Thanks in anticipation.
im taking liv52 so are there any problems or benefits from taking both the liv52 and the kudzu?
My husband is an alcoholic and he doesn’t want help. It is affecting or family so much. I like to know if anyone knows if I can put the kudzu in his food without him knowing and if it is safe.
Hi Maria
Just want to know if you received any positive feedback. I’m also in a same situation. Please advise
I have kudzu growing in my back yard and hate the stuff. That is until I actually found out it is edible! You can indeed cook with it. I would suggest you do some research because I’m not sure how it would help you in this case. The capsules you by are probably concentrated from the roots and flowers so you might have to cook with so many leaves and flowers that it would be obvious. You could always break up the capsules and try that though. Problem is what would happen to you if you get caught? The whole idea may not be a wise one.
I’m the one with the problem. I can admit it but have a problem fixing it. Maybe my admission of the problem makes me different – but would your husband be upset by a supplement to cut back if it didn’t require him to cut back.
Hello Caroline
I am just wondering it Kudzu worked for you?
Hi Tobin,
I could not get true on the phone to planetary herbals the phone sounded like it was disconnected. I just got an email from someone called Tuker McCrea (do you remember i asked for detailed breakdown of percentages on the kudzu Recovery because Holland and Barrett’s kudzu is only 7% and you need at least 40% for it to work and you advised me to contact Planetary herbals) This is the email i got and it was in my junk mail.
Regarding the amounts of daidzein, daidzin and puerarin in our Kudzu Recovery Product, unfortunately i am unable to provide that information. The value of these IF ANY, is not quantified in our files.
What do you make of that, and they are the manufacturers, so how do you find out.
That’s all I could find.
Thanks a lot for your help, Tobin and for the time and effort you put into finding this for me. I am really grateful your findings sound to me that it is a good product and i am buying it.
lots of love
caroline
ps just want to get the best possible product that has the the right composition that works.
I recently tried Kudzu and it works if you take it 3 times a day, it definitely has stopped my cravings and its only been two days. I dont even want a drink, but I also am determined to control my drinking, and so far I have not had or really wanted a drink. I thought about it today at a restaurantI my son took me to for my birthday. He had two bloody Mary’s, and for a second I thought that sounded good, but the feeling went away.I had two waters and that satisfied me. Its well worth a try. But I did have heartburn and felt like I am eating more, but I didnt eat much before when I was drinking alot.
Minnie, I take Prilosec when I get really bad heartburn (usually 3 times a week). It’s well worth it and better than drinking too much!
Good luck!
For hartburn and indigestion try raw apple cider vinger and water sounds crazy but it works.
All of you have encouraged me. I bought this for a dear friend who says he wants to stop drinking but can’t. After 1 1/2 weeks of taking this he has not drank but he said he is taking it consistently because the bottle said liver support. He said this pill needs something for the brain that tells him not to drink. If it doesn’t, it won’t help him. Does anyone know what else Kudzu does?
Hi, Can I see some of the evidence, research & results of Kudzu-treatment you have found.
The Mclean Hospital study
US National Library of Medicine
Skip the pharmacy or the so-called health stores. Do your part and dig up those giant kudzu roots. Grind’em up and use them as part of your diet (anti alcohol / thickener / emulsifier ). The more time you spend digging those giant roots, the less time you have for drinking. Now you can tell the health care industry to kiss your farmer-tanned-sober ass.
I agree Turvy..my son is an alcoholic,and I’m trying to find out how to make a tea or something from the kudzu(safely) that he could take everyday.I LIVE IN THE SOUTH,SO THERE’S NO PROBLEM FINDING THE KUDZU! I’ll surf the net and see what I can find.Great comment by the way and good luck.
You can grow kudzu in pots in a greenhouse in order to keep it from becoming invasive,much like they do with bamboo-since kudzu’s a vine it needs a defined space for its aeriel parts or they’ll throw their tendrils everywhere&then set roots out from them.thats why a small greenhouse is good.also,you can keep up on the vine growth daily&just keep them in LARGE pots outside,(you want big pots since you use the root.)good luck to you
HAHA! This is a genius comment!
I would love to have some Kudsu sent up north, but I think people might freak out if I started growing it. I need to find a ‘dealer’ that would send me some! I, too, want to stop my cravings for alcohol!
JoeC:
Please keep us updated on your experience with Kudzu! I am thinking of trying it out to curb my overdrinking and my need to have a drink in my hand at events. I play in two bands and promote events in Austin, TX (a real drinkin’ town!) and it is really hard not to over do it! I’m constantly getting free drinks and its hard to control myself in those situations. I don’t want to stop playing music, but I don’t want my drinking to get out of control!
I also have a day job and am tired of feeling terrible the next day. I’m hoping this supplement will help me cut back considerably and possibly even quit.
I too, am trying to cut back or quit. I found out about Kudzu through the My Way Out program. The drug, topirimate” made me feel ill, so I am going to try just the Kudzu alone …. hoping for the best! I absolutley feel your pain Lauren … I have a wonderful job and hate coming in every morning feeling like crap. My dream is to be a social drinker and become a morning person again….
I came upon your forum today as I was writing a review in http://www.webmd.com for Kudzu.
I had seen the advertising for http://www.drinklessnow.com and was impressed with their information. However I balked at the price so I did some research and found out one of the ingredients they use is Kudzu, along with other stuff that I’m sure is proprietary. Anyway, I figured I had nothing to lose since the herbal supplement only costs $20 (they say to be careful which one you buy cuz some say Kudzu but don’t have much of the active ingredient.) If it helped in anyway, I would take it.
I tried to keep up a daily journal tracking the effects and also my personal/emotional issues (I’m going through some very trying times with my wife because of my binging). I’m not ready to share the personal stuff but I did want to share the Kudzu effects in hopes that it might help someone. My journal recap is below.
Tuesday April 24th
I’ve decided to write a daily journal to track my progress while taking the Kudzu herbal supplement (Kudzu Recovery by Planetary herbals. I read the Kudzu Full Spectrum was better but I couldn’t find it at my local vitamin shops) . To recap, I started taking the Kudzu about a week and a half ago but not consistently. I did notice a difference in my response to alcohol since I started taking it, it’s difficult to explain, but my need to continuously put a drink up to my lips was not there. I still over drank two of the days but it seemed to take a lot longer to get to the point of irrationality where I compulsively keep drinking. Also, the buzz effect I get sometimes even after one drink was not there. I didn’t take the Kudzu consistently, even missed days, so I’m hoping to test these next two weeks taking it as they say, 2 pills after breakfast, 2 pills after lunch. I took it yesterday and I have noticed one of the side effects is that I don’t digest meals as quickly. It’s not quite heartburn, but like the food sits in your stomach. I had trouble sleeping and had stomach cramps in the middle of the night. I’m hoping this isn’t regular. I’m going to try to eat lighter at night to help alleviate.
3 weeks later – Tuesday May 15th.
It has been three weeks since I started taking Kudzu. The good news is I’ve only over drank 3 times, which might sound like a lot but this is good for me. I’ve drank at cookouts, restaurants, home, and a soccer game and can honestly say that the urge to overdrink was greatly diminished. I have not been as consistent as I’d like taking the 2 pills after meals twice a day but the effects still remained. The only real side effect I have felt is indigestion, gas and a bloated feeling, like I’m not fully digesting. But I have been taking some Gas-ex and that seems to do the trick.
I’m going to keep taking it for the next two weeks and see how my drinking is affected. It is not a magic pill, you still make the choice to drink or over drink, and there does seem to be a line I crossed on the 3 times I over drank, but I can honestly say it has changed the “need” to keep putting a drink to my lips.
Nalrexone is by Rx only at least here in the US. I started taking it a week ago(after jumping through hoops!) I am following The Sinclair Method which docs here aren’t familiar with. So far my drinking is about the same but it the nal makes me tired and NAUSEOUS. I will try to persevere with it. You may want to check out TSM on the internet. Good luck!