Scientific research suggest it is kudzu's isoflavone compounds,
daidzein and daidzin, which are partially responsible for this effect -
although the same research showed that the natural plant, not
surprisingly, was more effective than the isolated compounds. These
compounds are not unique to kudzu but the alcohol cessation effect
seems to be. When hamsters were bred to drink the equivalent of a case
of wine daily, they could literally drink themselves to death. When
kudzu extract was administered, their desire for alcohol was cut in
half (Keung and Vallee 1994).
In the human study of Lukas et al.
(2005), men and women defined as "heavy drinkers" were administered two
500 mg capsules of kudzu or placebo three times daily for seven days
and then given the chance to drink whatever they liked. The capsules
were characterized as containing 19% pueararin, 4% daidzin, and 2%
daidzein. Administration of kudzu resulted in significant reductions in
the number of alcohol drinks consumed, an increase in the average
number of sips per beer, a reduction in the size of the sips drunk, and
a reduction in the overall volume of alcohol consumed. It also took
subjects treated with kudzu longer to open and drink their beers than
when the same subjects were given the placebo. The authors concluded
that a one-week treatment of kudzu extract resulted in a significant
reduction in the number of beers consumed in a simulated natural
environment.
This scientific research coincides with a small,
informal, unpublished pilot study conducted in England. Eleven
individuals were given an herbal combination containing kudzu. Of those
who started the experiment, three dropped out because they were not
enjoying their alcohol and one was getting drunker on fewer drinks. Of
those who completed the experiment, 64% claimed to be drinking less and
experienced less alcohol cravings; 60% said they experienced other
improvements such as greater alertness, improved emotional well-being,
and reduced stress; 55% said they felt improvements in physical
symptoms such as increased energy levels, less headaches and less
hangovers. The average number of alcohol units drunk prior to the kudzu
compound was 36 units; this was reduced to 16 units after consumption
of the herbal compound. Some herbal consumers reduced their intake by
75%.
Some mechanisms of action associated with this activity have
been postulated, including enhancement of hepatic antioxidant defense
systems by increasing activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde
dehydrogenase, and increased superoxide dismutase and catalase
activities, all of which can help clear alcohol from the system, as
well as protect the liver from damage.
As is typical of such
research, the goal is to turn this traditionally used botanical into a
multi-million dollar pharmaceutical - likely at a high cost associated
with all the advertising needed to make it a household name.
Nevertheless, this humble botanical now sits on the shelves of health
food stores awaiting thoses who want to get their alcohol consumption
under control, and those parents who would like to spike the water of
their teenagers.
The very good news: thus far, based on centuries
of use in Asia (representing most of the world's population) and on the
recent scientific research, kudzu appears to be completely safe. It is
actually used as a food thickener in Japanese macrobiotic cooking.
Kudzu does, however, have positive side effects: in scientific
studies it has been shown to have a protective effect on the liver, a
bonus for those who drink alcohol. It is one of the most fantastically
effective botanicals for relieving neck and shoulder tension. And it is
used in China to improve hearing - not bad for a humble and inexpensive
wayside botanical.
References
Keung WM,
Vallee Bl. 1994. Therapeutic lessons from traditional Oriental medicine
to contemporary Occidental pharmacology. EXS 71: 371-381.
Lukas S, et al. 2005. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 29(5): 756-762.
Overstreet
D, et al. 2003. Suppression of alcohol intake after administration of
the Chinese herbal medicine, NPI-028, and its derivatives.
Alcohol Clin Exp Res 20: 221-227.
Overstreet
D, et al. 2003. NPI-031G (puerarin) reduces anxiogenic effects pf
alcohol withdrawal or benzodiazepine inverse or 5HT2C agonist. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Jun; 75(3):619-25.
