Applications of Pueraria lobata in treating diabetics and reducing alcohol drinking PMC

This latter scenario might very well permit the use of lower doses of prescription medications and thus reduce the incidence of side effects. Furthermore, because kudzu extract exerts its beneficial effects within hours of the first dose, it could be administered along with a prescription medication and provide “coverage” until the other medication begins to work. Another mechanism that may contribute to the glucose lowering activity of puerarin is alteration in the expression of the glucose transporter (GLUT). Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) 60 mg/kg iv Puerarin 15 mg/kg iv noticeably diminished blood glucose level and upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of the GLUT subtype 4 (GLUT-4) in soleus muscle cells (Hsu et al, 2003).

In retrospect, my experience demonstrates the utility of kudzu for alcoholism. If I had been committed to using it to wean off of alcohol and then quit, it might have been a very valuable part of my recovery. I did not know at the time that people also use it to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms; nor did I care, because I did not intend to https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/kudzu-extract-and-alcohol-addiction-can-it-help-you-drink-less/ quit at the time. Fifty-one percent of adults over the age of 18 and 56% of those age 18–44, are current regular drinkers (Schiller et al., 2012). Thirty percent of current drinkers report drinking excessively (Naimi et al., 2003) and 92% of U.S. adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the past 30 days (Town et al., 2006).

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Kudzu may also interact with certain medications, such as disulfiram (Antabuse) and methotrexate. It is important to talk to a healthcare professional before taking kudzu, especially if you have liver disease or are taking prescription medication. Kudzu, also known as Pueraria Montana, is a climbing vine that belongs to the pea family. This invasive weed is native to East Asia, particularly China, Japan, and Korea, where it has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. The kudzu root may interact with certain medications or pose other health risks for certain people. Therefore, it’s always best to consult your healthcare provider before taking it.

• Kudzu extract did not alter participants’ subjective responses to the alcohol challenge or to alcohol’s effects on stance stability or vigilance/reaction time.
• In summary, P. lobata has been used traditionally in China for treating various diseases including heart, stroke, high blood pressure, etc.
• Although the dose used in the present study has been vetted in prior studies, testing multiple doses would be helpful to fully explore the magnitude of effects of the kudzu root extract and determine if an even greater reduction in drinking is possible with a higher dose.
• The alcohol metabolism was accelerated by increasing alcohol-metabolizing enzyme activities and activating the antioxidative enzyme system against oxidative stress as well as decreasing fat accumulation [72].
• The 0.35 g/kg dose produced significant increases in ratings compared to placebo on all scales except clumsy, floating, muddled/confused, slurred speech, and uncomfortable.
• Animal tests verified that the CO2 extract with 24.33% hyperforin and a very low content of hypericin inhibited alcohol intake more potently than the alcoholic extract containing 0.3% hypericin and 3.8% hyperforin.
• The subjects stood erect on the platform with feet together with their eyes either open or closed, and with their arms either by their side or extended to the side with their palms facing upward.

The researchers observed 12 men and women in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. The participants were either treated with kudzu or a placebo for nine days, and then received a medium or high alcohol challenge to determine how prominently they presented alcohol-related symptoms. No side effects have been reported in clinical studies when kudzu is taken by mouth. There is, however, one case report of allergic reaction following use of a combination herbal product containing kudzu (Kakkonto).

More about kudzu

Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using. Two hours before the first visit, we gave both sub-groups a pill – neither group knew whether they were getting the supplement or the placebo. When they visited the bar, beer, spirits and white wine were freely available.

Overstreet et al.’s (1998) study provides cursory evidence that a taste aversion mechanism is not likely. Increases in 5-HIAL have been shown to be correlated with decreased alcohol consumption in hamsters (Keung et al., 1995). Kudzu’s alteration of alcohol https://ecosoberhouse.com/ consumption may be through direct effects at brain benzodiazepine receptors on the GABAA complex. This randomized between-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 2 weeks of baseline, 4 weeks of treatment, and 2 weeks of follow-up.

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An analysis of the participant’s alcohol craving or urge to drink prior to the drinking session revealed that neither was affected by kudzu pretreatment. During the session, only drinking amounts and patterns were recorded to avoid interfering with the participant’s alcohol self administration behavior so it is not known if the subjective effects of alcohol were affected. The present study was conducted to assess the effects of kudzu extract after alcohol consumption on several behavioral, psychomotor, cognitive, and physiological measures in an attempt to uncover potential drug interactions. Although the dose used in the present study has been vetted in prior studies, testing multiple doses would be helpful to fully explore the magnitude of effects of the kudzu root extract and determine if an even greater reduction in drinking is possible with a higher dose. Other limitations of the present study are the use of a rather narrow aged male population who drink only at moderate levels.

A loading plot indicated that several compounds in mango fruit, such as fructose and aspartate, might enhance alcohol metabolism. As a result, mango flesh and peel could be the source of functional foods with the intention of decreasing plasma alcohol level after excessive alcohol intake. The health effects of drinking depend on the quantity and pattern of alcohol consumption. To preserve the double-blind, kudzu and placebo capsules were repacked into #00 opaque capsules (Apothecary Products, Minneapolis, MN).