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Nine of the ten participants had previously tried other programs to eliminate alcohol cravings and intake with little or no success. The study was done in an at-home basis to allow for better compliance and prove if this program could be successful without daily intervention in a natural setting [11]. Each subject had full time access to the study coordinator and had weekly contact with the coordinator during the full 8 week term. Subjects were all Caucasian, lower to middle income, residing in a small Midwestern town. Each subject was interviewed in person and determined to be actively drinking on a regular basis, all exceeding what would be considered normal consumption ranging from 1–2 times per week to drinking on a daily basis.
As a result of these effects, it may also help treat binge drinking patterns. One of the most commonly known uses of kudzu is treating alcoholism (this is what it was originally used for in ancient China). Although it doesn’t help in reducing the craving for a drink or maintaining sobriety, small studies have found that when taking kudzu root extract, heavy drinkers consumed less booze than usual. One small study looked at the effects of kudzu in 17 men ages 21–33 who reported drinking approximately 22–35 drinks per week.
Kudzu and withdrawal symptoms
Goals can help you stay on track, but sometimes one big goal feels too out of reach. Consider setting smaller goals for yourself — and celebrate them as you go. Rather than one overarching “I want to quit drinking” goal, start by telling yourself you’re going to cut back.
Some of them were given a dose of 2g of kudzu extract with an active isoflavones content of 520mg almost three hours before a drinking session in which up they could choose to consume up to 6 beers, water or fruit juices. The result showed that the group that had received kudzu significantly reduced their consumption of alcoholic drinks during the drinking session. It is not known whether kudzu root extract has an effect on sleep stages, because this study did not record night-time polysomnography or assess sleep architecture.
A standardized kudzu extract (NPI- reduces alcohol consumption in nontreatment-seeking male heavy drinkers
This process can be made even more difficult by symptoms of withdrawal and alcohol cravings. Fortunately, there are several medications that https://ecosoberhouse.com/ can aid in alleviating alcohol cravings. Several of these medications are approved by the FDA and are available by prescription only.
Taken together, these data suggest that the administration of kudzu root extract does not disturb sleep/wake cycles of moderate drinkers and as such, its utility as an adjunct treatment for alcohol dependence remains free of any hidden side-effects on sleep quality. These results provide further evidence that kudzu root extract is likely to be safe for treatment for alcohol dependence. Medication adherence was excellent and there were no adverse events and changes in vital signs, blood chemistry, and renal or liver function. We previously demonstrated that short-term treatment with a standardized kudzu extract (NPI-031) reduced alcohol drinking by men and women in a natural setting. The present study was conducted in nontreatment-seeking heavy drinkers to assess the safety and efficacy of 4 weeks of kudzu extract in an outpatient setting. Extracts of the kudzu plant are best known for their ability to suppress alcohol intake or alter alcohol effects by laboratory animals (Heyman et al., 1996; Keung and Vallee, 1993b; Keung, 2003; Overstreet et al., 1996; Rezvani et al., 2003; Benlhabib et al., 2004).
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In addition, the two treatments greatly differed in the percent of days abstinent as well as the number of consecutive days of abstinence. Increased consecutive days of abstinence is a desirable outcome of an alcohol treatment program, especially during the initial phases of treatment (Washton and Zweben, 2006). The fact that kudzu extract nearly doubled the number of consecutive days that individuals maintained abstinence suggests that it may be a useful adjunct during the early weeks of treatment. The study consisted of a 2-week baseline period, 4 weeks of medication (subjects were randomized to either kudzu extract or placebo treatments) and a 2-week follow up period. Moreover, in vitro, daidzin potently suppresses hamster liver mitochondria-catalyzed acetaldehyde oxidation. Additionally, Lin et al. [4] also showed that daidzin, are efficacious in lowering blood alcohol levels and shorten sleep time induced by alcohol ingestion in rat models of alcoholism.
Other supplements such as L-glutamine and milk thistle are thought to decrease cravings and aid in detoxifying the liver, respectively. There is some evidence that milk thistle aids kudzu to stop drinking in the regeneration of liver cells. However, these supplements have not been thoroughly substantiated with scientific research to confirm the efficacy of their actions and benefits.
What to look for in a good kudzu supplement
We found that, on average, each person consumed 7 units of alcohol after the placebo and, on average, 5.5 units after the kudzu. 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. If you’re really committed to cutting back, one of the best things you can do is get the booze out of your house. This is also a good opportunity to find alternatives to some of your favorite drinks. You could try a bit of mixology and create mocktails to drink at home so you still feel like you’re having something fancy, or you could find an alternative drink that satisfies you, whether it’s soda, iced tea or something similar.
Findings show that subjects who took kudzu drank an average of 1.8 beers per session, compared with the 3.5 beers consumed by those who took a placebo. And so after that week of treatment, when they came to the lab, we measured their drinking using a very specialized table that we had developed that actually has a scale built into it. And the table actually weighs the mug of beer, and each time they took a sip, we could actually see how much they were consuming each time. “There are anti-inflammatory properties in kudzu, which may help reduce inflammation in the body,” Beckerman says.