Kudzu's therapeutic uses
Kudzu, scientifically known as Pueraria lobata, is a plant that has been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine and cooking, but it is also recognized in the United States for its invasive nature. Therapeutically, kudzu is primarily investigated for its potential in treating alcoholism, with studies suggesting it may help reduce alcohol consumption and alter drinking behavior, although results in human trials have been mixed. Other proposed uses include alleviating menopausal symptoms, managing cardiovascular health by potentially lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and aiding diabetes management through improved blood sugar regulation.
Kudzu contains isoflavones that exhibit estrogen-like effects and possess anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, though further human studies are needed to substantiate these benefits. Despite its traditional applications, scientific evidence supporting many of kudzu’s proposed uses remains limited. It is generally considered safe for most people, yet caution is advised for specific populations, including those with hormone-sensitive cancers and certain medical conditions. Overall, kudzu's therapeutic potential continues to be a subject of research, highlighting its complex role in both health and environmental contexts.
Kudzu's therapeutic uses
DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: None
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Alcoholism, common cold, menopausal symptoms, cardiovascular health, diabetes
Overview
The herb Pueraria lobata, best known as kudzu, is cooked as food in China and used as an herb in traditional Chinese medicine. However, kudzu has become an invasive plant pest in the United States. It was deliberately planted early in the twentieth century for use as animal fodder and to control soil erosion. The plant was incredibly prolific and soon spread throughout the southern United States. Kudzu can grow one foot per day during the summer months and as much as sixty feet annually, giving it the folk name “mile-a-minute vine.” It wraps around telephone poles and trees and invades yards and fields.
Therapeutic Dosages
The standard dosage of kudzu ranges from 9 to 15 grams daily and is consumed in tea or taken as tablets.
Therapeutic Uses
Besides cooking with it, feeding it to animals, and weaving baskets out of its rubbery vines, people have also used kudzu to treat alcoholism. In Chinese folk medicine, a tea brewed from kudzu root is believed to be useful in sobering up people who are intoxicated by alcohol. A 1993 study evaluated the effects of kudzu on a species of hamsters known to drink alcohol to the point of intoxication. Ordinarily, if given a choice, the Syrian golden hamster will prefer alcohol to water, but administration of kudzu reversed that preference.
This animal study, along with another one involving rats, led to widespread speculation that kudzu may be useful in the treatment of alcoholism in humans. Though the results of reported human trials are conflicting, they do show promise in kudzu’s effectiveness in treating alcohol-use disorders. Participants in one study who were given kudzu did not express a decrease in the desire to drink, but it found that their overall alcohol consumption did decrease. Participants in another study found that kudzu supplementation caused them to take longer to consume alcoholic beverages and prevented binge drinking.
Kudzu has various applications in academic Chinese herbology (as opposed to Chinese folk medicine). One classic herbal formula containing kudzu is used to treat colds accompanied by neck pain. However, no scientific evidence shows it is effective for this condition.
Kudzu contains isoflavones similar to those found in soy. These substances are known to have an estrogen-like effect. On this basis, kudzu has been proposed as a treatment for menopausal symptoms. However, a published double-blind trial failed to find benefit.
Kudzu may also effectively treat heart disease, fever, and eye pain. It contains isoflavones, which, in lab tests, have been shown to provide anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective qualities, though more human study is needed. Kudzu is also high in antioxidants and has been shown to protect against liver damage. Other proposed uses for kudzu include cardiovascular benefits such as reducing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and inflammation. One small study appeared to show benefits to kudzu supplementation for improving cardiovascular health in patients with coronary heart disease. Kudzu may also help diabetes patients regulate blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity.
Safety Issues
Based on its extensive food use, kudzu is believed to be reasonably safe. However, safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, and those with severe kidney or liver disease has not been established. Patients with hormone-sensitive cancers should also avoid taking kudzu.
Bibliography
Benlhabib, Elhabib, et al. "Kudzu Root Extract Suppresses Voluntary Alcohol Intake and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms in P Rats Receiving Free Access to Water and Alcohol." Journal of Medicinal Food, vol. 7, no. 2, 2004, pp. 168-79. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Journals, doi:10.1089/1096620041224210. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.
"Kudzu." Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 4 Feb. 2022, www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/kudzu. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.
Lukas, S. E., et al. "An Extract of the Chinese Herbal Root Kudzu Reduces Alcohol Drinking by Heavy Drinkers in a Naturalistic Setting." Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, vol. 29, 2005, pp. 756-762.
Richter, Amy. "Kudzu Root: Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects." Healthline, 8 Feb. 2021, www.healthline.com/nutrition/kudzu-root#what-it-is. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.
Shebek, J., and J. P. Rindone. "A Pilot Study Exploring the Effect of Kudzu Root on the Drinking Habits of Patients with Chronic Alcoholism." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, vol. 6, 2000, pp. 45-48.
Woo, J., et al. "Comparison of Pueraria lobata with Hormone Replacement Therapy in Treating the Adverse Health Consequences of Menopause." Menopause, vol. 10, 2003, pp. 352-361.