2023: The 10 Best Supplements To Reduce Alcohol Cravings
The aforementioned isoflavones are what help regulate hormones and kudzu to stop drinking in turn help combat the pesky symptoms that come along with PMS, perimenopause, and menopause. Some research specifically on the kudzu species Pueraria mirifica suggests that doses of 50–100 mg per day appear to have a low risk of adverse side effects (18). Kudzu root may help treat some of the most common menopausal complaints, including hot flashes and night sweats. In its raw form, kudzu root resembles other root tubers, such as potatoes or yams. Kudzu root, also called Japanese arrowroot, is native to China, Japan, and Korea. Today, kudzu grows in other parts of the world as well, including in the southern United States.
- Participants were provided with a small card that identified unique codes to record use of alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, and other drugs.
- Although there is no specific medicine to combat alcoholism or tobacco addition, through herbal medicine such as kudzu root extract, phytotherapy seeks to offer remedies for the problems caused by society’s excesses.
- This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff.
- Missing data points within the treatment weeks in non dropout participants were Missing Completely at Random and so were imputed using multiple regression.
- Drinking data were collected using a small wristwatch-like device (ActiWatch® Score, MiniMitter Co., OR) and daily diaries.
- Importantly, 40% of these patients relapsed more than five times indicating serious problems with alcohol abuse/dependence.
Read on to learn about kudzu’s benefits for your health.
Experts believe its calming effects might be due to its activity on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain, which slow down the central nervous system. Kudzu is a plant in traditional medicine whose flowers and roots are used to treat conditions like alcoholism. Experts believe its activity as an isoflavonoid, plant-based estrogen or phytoestrogen might be responsible for its effects.
Benefits of Kudzu for Alcohol Cravings
Anecdotal sources also note that kudzu root may lower blood sugar too much or slow down blood clotting. Nevertheless, it may be a good idea to avoid if you https://ecosoberhouse.com/ use blood thinning or diabetes medications. While scientists need to do more research on the health effects of kudzu, some studies suggest that kudzu root may have other health benefits worth considering. Another study found that people who took puerarin, an isoflavone extract from the kudzu plant, prior to drinking took longer to consume alcoholic beverages (3). Selenium deficiency is common in those who struggle with alcohol, especially if they have liver disease. Limited information is available about whether selenium is helpful in those who struggle with alcohol or during alcohol withdrawal.
- Kudzu is an invasive weed that has also been used to treat alcoholism for well over one thousand years.
- Anecdotal sources also note that kudzu root may lower blood sugar too much or slow down blood clotting.
- Herbal products are also made from the root of another related Asian species of kudzu, called Pueraria thomsonii.
- As drinking behavior was measured using a wrist actigraphy device, we were able to monitor alcohol consumption continuously, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
- The scientists invited a group of heavy drinkers into a studio apartment and told them to watch TV and crack open a few beers.
- The anti-craving effect of disulfiram may also be due to inhibition of dopamine beta hydroxylase thereby increasing neuronal dopamine 3.
It may ease menopause symptoms
A study published in Psychopharmacology involved four weeks of treatment of 17 men ages 21–33 years old. These men reported drinking 27.6 ± 6.5 drinks/week with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and/or alcohol dependence. Another study from 2009 looked at the effects of kudzu extract on alcohol cravings and consumption in a group of heavy drinkers and found similarly promising results compared to placebo treated groups. 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.
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- Kudzu is a plant in traditional medicine whose flowers and roots are used to treat conditions like alcoholism.
- Medication adherence was measured using ultraviolet (UV) light to detect riboflavin in centrifuged urine samples (Del Boca et al., 1996) that were collected twice a week.
- The last study above was designed to test the hypothesis that kudzu accelerates the subjective experience of alcohol intoxication.
There is some evidence that milk thistle aids 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. Nonetheless, they are safe to take and may help to alleviate some symptoms of withdrawal and cravings. While undergoing withdrawal, it is important to stay hydrated, as dehydration can make withdrawal symptoms worse.
- Taking kudzu along with birth control pills might decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills.
- Thus, scientists need to do more research in this area on the effects of kudzu root specifically.
- A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.
- With strict editorial sourcing guidelines, we only link to academic research institutions, reputable media sites and, when research is available, medically peer-reviewed studies.
- For example, an older study published in 2005 found that kudzu extract reduced alcohol consumption in a group of heavy drinkers.
- This product may be unsafe when used before surgery or other medical procedures.
Kudzu for Alcoholism: The Ultimate Dosage Guide
Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area. 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. The process mimics natural actions that take place within the gut to enable proper absorption of nutrients, especially phyto-nutrients and fat soluble vitamins. The body’s own process in this regard creates micelles, single layer or unilamellar spheres in the size range of approximately 100 nanometers that typically can transport single nutrients. However due to dietary and physiological inefficiency, this process can often be hampered.