A recent study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical Center indicates that Kudzu, a fast growing weed, can help reduce the craving for alcohol and may thus help in the recovery of alcoholics and binge drinkers. The results of the study were published in the paper, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. The reason for the success of Kudzu is that the weed contains isoflavones, which naturally reduced the urge to consume alcohol in the research subjects.
Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Viable Herbal Solutions is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
History and Uses:
Kudzu
is a coarse, high-climbing, twining, trailing, perennial vine that is native to Japan
and China. It also grows in the southeastern portions of the United States, where
it was planted to helps to help control soil erosion, fix nitrogen into the soil and feed cattle, but
this herb quickly overgrows its boundaries, and a single vine can grow up to
one hundred feet in one season, taking over and killing other plants along its path.
It can literally grow through rocks. Despite the many important uses of this
plant, it is often considered a noxious weed, yet continues to be imported from
Asia to be sold as both food and medicine. Kudzu Root has been known for centuries in traditional
Chinese medicine. The first written mention of the plant as a medicine is in
the ancient herbal text of Shen Nong. In Traditional
Chinese Medicine, Kudzu Root is used in prescriptions for the treatment of wei, or "superficial" syndrome (a disease that manifests just under the surface
- mild, but with fever), thirst, headache and stiff neck with pain due
to high blood pressure. It was also recommended for allergies, migraine headaches,
measles eruptions in children and diarrhea. Kudzu was also used as a treatment
for angina pectoris. The roots provide a fiber for the textile industry. The
process for extracting the starch from the roots is tedious and can take up
to 120 days, during which it is chopped, washed, pounded into a mass
and filtered
up to fifty times. The primary chemical constituents of Kudzu include starch, isoflavonoids,
puerarin, daidzein and phytoestrogens. Kudzu Root is high in isoflavones, such
as daidzein, as well as isoflavone glycosides, such as daidzin and puerarin.
Depending on its growing conditions, the total isoflavone content varies from
2-12%, with puerarin in the highest concentration, followed by daidzin and daidzein.
It has some demulcent properties, making it useful for thirst and dryness. Also,
the flowers have been shown to be effective in lessening the desire for alcohol,
and thus used in the treatment of alcoholism. This herb also helps to counteract
poisons. When Kudzu is roasted in a dry pan, it is said to make an excellent tonic for
the spleen and help treat diarrhea. Kudzu is cooked as food in China, where
it is used as a thickening agent in making sauces, soups and puddings. It can
be used as a starch for people who do not digest grains well. The young leaves,
shoots and flowers can be steamed or sautéed as a vegetable. They may
also be pickled.
Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) Capsules, one (1) to two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.
Contraindications:
Taking antibiotics may nullify the effect of Kudzu. Because Kudzu may have estrogenic effects, individuals with hormone-sensitive cancers and those taking tamoxifen should avoid it.
Capsule Information:
Our Kudzu Root supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs. |
