Natural Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Hangover and Alcohol Use Disorder PMC

However, it is important to recognize that one of the major weaknesses of the measure that we used to record desire to drink alcohol was that it was unidimensional. It is quite likely that the desire to use alcohol in an outpatient setting cannot be captured with a single question; we also observed an absence of an effect on desire for alcohol in our previous study (Lukas et al., 2005). In summary, P. lobata has been used traditionally in China for treating various diseases including heart, stroke, high blood pressure, etc.

• It is the only natural medication regarded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to treat alcohol use disorder [44].
• The aim of this review is to provide an overview of effective natural products for the prevention and treatment of hangover and alcohol use disorder, and special emphasis is paid to the possible functional component(s) and related mechanism(s) of action.
• 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].
• A similar effect was observed in isolated rat soleus muscle (Hsu et al, 2003).
• In a separate study, puerarin 15 mg/kg iv reduced blood glucose level and increased endorphin content in the absence of insulin stimulation in STZ-diabetic rats (Hsu et al, 2004).
• Scientists need to do more research on the safe and effective dosages of kudzu root for various uses.
• Our laboratory has been involved in assessing an extract of the kudzu root (Pueraria lobata) for its ability to reduce alcohol consumption in humans.

2 Behavioral and Subjective Effects

Another study found that kudzu may really “affect alcohol consumption patterns.” In this same study, people who took an isoflavone extract from the kudzu plant before drinking took longer to reach for the liquor cabinet. In fact, even a single dose of kudzu extract may be helpful if you’re looking to reduce your drinking. In some instances, even a single dose of kudzu extract reduced alcohol consumption and prevented binge drinking (4, 5). Also a researcher made a small clinical study of 14 men and women who were heavy drinkers. The investigator speculated that Kudzu increases blood alcohol concentration.

Can you be ‘fat’ and still healthy?

A clinical study suggested that Puerana thomsonii (one kind of the kudzu) had a certain stimulatory effect on the clearance of blood acetaldehyde in humans, which might reduce acetaldehyde toxicity and hangover symptoms such as flushing, palpitations, and headache [41]. In addition, the flowers of kudzu exerted protective effects against alcohol-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells [43]. Medication adherence was excellent kudzu to stop drinking and there were no adverse events and changes in vital signs, blood chemistry, and renal or liver function. Regardless of the mechanism of action, the present finding that a modest, single dose of kudzu extract reduces binge drinking has profound implications as it offers a unique opportunity for early intervention for problem drinkers. As an herbal plant extract, kudzu can be made available without a prescription.

• However, most treatments have several shortcomings, such as neuritis, gastrointestinal (nausea) and central nervous system-related symptoms [31].
• He suggested that they test Kudzu to see if it would reduce alcohol consumption among their rats.
• A standardized formulation of kudzu extract produced minimal side effects, was well-tolerated, and resulted in a modest reduction in alcohol consumption in young nontreatment-seeking heavy drinkers.
• The BDI and BAI scores remained unchanged during the course of treatment with both kudzu extract and placebo.

General pharmacology of P. lobata

The degree of reduction is often as high as 50% and the effects appeared within one to two days of treatment. Regardless of the actual mechanism of action, it is widely accepted that the isoflavones in kudzu are effective in reducing alcohol intake in a number of mammalian species. A standardized formulation of kudzu extract produced minimal side effects, was well-tolerated and resulted in a modest reduction in alcohol consumption in young non treatment-seeking heavy drinkers.

Although kudzu is used in traditional medicine, the evidence on whether it has benefit for any condition is unclear. Kudzu is an herb used in Chinese medicine to treat alcoholism, heart disease, menopausal symptoms, diabetes, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ fever, the common cold, and neck or eye pain. Lab studies suggest that kudzu has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Compounds called isoflavones are thought to be responsible for its potential effects.

Because prescription medications are not universally used or have a perceived modest effect (Krystal et al., 2001; Mark et al., 2003), providing heavy drinkers with any type of intervention that yields even a modest reduction in drinking is desirable. Furthermore, there is a need to develop efficacious medicines from natural products that have a low incidence of side effects or toxicity (Xu et al., 2005). The ultimate role that natural preparations play will be complementary and might be useful in treating drug withdrawal and possibly relapse (Lu et al., 2009). Three-day samples of wrist actigraphy data from one subject during baseline (top) and after 10 d of kudzu extract treatment (bottom); arrows depict alcoholic drinks.

2. Mechanism of action of puerarin in reducing alcohol consumption and secondary benefits

This pretreatment time was selected based on our pharmacokinetic study of puerarin absorption and elimination (Penetar et al., 2006). During the baseline session, the placebo-randomized group consumed 2.7 ± 0.78 beers before treatment and increased consumption to 3.4 ± 1.1 beers after treatment. The kudzu group significantly reduced consumption from 3.0 ± 1.7 at baseline to 1.9 ± 1.3 beers after treatment. The placebo-treated group opened 33 beers during baseline conditions and 38 following treatment whereas the kudzu-treated group opened 32 beers during baseline conditions and only 21 following treatment.

Are there natural alternatives to HRT?

Kudzu Root: Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects