Kudzu might help weed out alcoholism: study
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Wed, 18 May 2005 18:02:00 GMT |
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Chris Leeming |
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A weed might come to the rescue of alcoholics and binge drinkers who have given up on Alcoholics Anonymous. A new study, by researchers from Harvard Medical Center, has found that kudzu, a fast-growing weed, possesses compounds called isoflavones that depress the urge to consume alcohol.
“We want to develop a medication that would be effective and safe, and pills without side effects like other drugs on the market,” said Dr Scott E Lukas, lead author of the study and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Under the study, researchers administered pills made from kudzu to a group of 11 men and women, all of whom took an average of 25 drinks a week. Some were given kudzu pills and others placebos. All were allowed 90 minutes to drink as much alcohol as they wanted. Those who took kudzu pills drank an average of 1.8 beers as against the 3.5 beers taken by those who were given placebos.
“Eight drank fewer beers while receiving kudzu Vs placebo treatment, two drank the same number of beers, and one drank one more beer,” Lukas said, while speculating that kudzu might be increasing alcohol levels in blood, giving a feeling of being drunk with fewer drinks.
“That rapid infusion of alcohol is satisfying them and taking away their desire for more drinks. That’s only a theory. It’s the best we’ve got so far,” he said.
Earlier studies, like one in 2003 by David Overstreet and his team, have shown that kudzu extracts decrease alcohol urges in rats but the Lukas study is the first one to show its effect on humans. “There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence from China that kudzu could be useful, but this is the first documented evidence that it could reduce drinking in humans,” said Overstreet, adding that Lukas’ findings were ‘groundbreaking’.
The Chinese have long been using the herb in the treatment of a variety of disorders, including obesity and alcoholism and hangovers. In addition, liver syrups and pills made from kudzu extracts are commonplace in health food stores.
However, Lukas does not recommend chewing on kudzu leaves before going out for drinks. He also asserts that kudzu won’t help drinkers abstain completely from alcohol, but might help them cut down their intake. “That way, they’re a lot closer to being able to cut down completely,” he said.
The study has been published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Copyright,
respective author or news agency
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Kudzu's Mechanism of Action
By:
Al Stone ,
Sat, 11 Jun 2005 16:18:12 GMT |
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The way that traditional Chinese medical theory looks at the body is quite different from the biomedical perspective. The way that both alcohol and Kudzu effect the body are also viewed differently from the TCM theory perspective.
This article may provide you with some insight as to how TCM explains the actions of Kudzu.
http://beyondwellbeing.com/herbs/kudzu.herb.3.shtml
-al.
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kudzu
By:
Laura Lindbergh ,
Thu, 19 May 2005 00:05:42 GMT |
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What exactly does kudzu do in the brain. Does it give you a feeling of well-being? Please respond. Thank you!
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The Easier Softer Way
By:
Gedub ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 23:12:47 GMT |
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"Here are some of the methods we have tried: Drink-
ing beer only, limiting the number of drinks, never
drinking alone, never drinking in the morning, drink-
ing only at home, never having it in the house, never
drinking during business hours, drinking only at
parties, switching from scotch to brandy, drinking
only natural wines, agreeing to resign if ever drunk on
the job, taking a trip, not taking a trip, swearing off
forever (with and without a solemn oath), taking more
physical exercise, reading inspirational books, going
to health farms and sanitariums, accepting voluntary
commitment to asylums--we could increase the list
ad infinitum."
Add this taking Kudzu
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True cure
By:
freeman280 - A recovered alcoholic/drug addict ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 22:53:19 GMT |
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Until you realize that you have a sin problem and turn your life over to Jesus Christ, all else is vanity. I have been sober and drug free since March 18,2001. No programs, no medicine, just the blood of Jesus.
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kudzu
By:
sarita ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 22:45:24 GMT |
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i've used a kudzu root drink for a few years now to help me with alcohol cravings. it works for me. it also works for hangovers and other imbalances. i'm glad someone's finally taking notice.
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Cannot hurt...
By:
Jack ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 22:10:44 GMT |
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Study is interesting, not conclusive, but if it helps one person, that is great. Since dependency on alcohol is a created by weak will power, anything to assist will be a valuable tool. Blaming it on it being a disease is a cop out for just being weak willed, if thi
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alcoholism
By:
Austin ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 21:40:04 GMT |
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Based on my extensive first hand research I do not believe that Kudzu should be given to alcoholics. The alcoholic mind only will use the Kudzu as an excuse to keep drinking whether it be more or less alcohol. Kudzu should not be used to falsely give hope to alcoholics but rather used for people that are moderate to heavy drinkers that have not yet reached the brink of alcoholism. Kudzu may even cause recovering alcoholics to start drinking again under the assumption that the weed will control their drinking to a more moderate level. There is no room for error in dealing with people that have alcoholic tendencies and Kudzu should not be regarded as a solution for alcoholics to use as a crutch. The only cure for alcoholism comes through the alcoholic themself. It is the person not a drug or plant that solves the disease and I call this cure willpower.
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Can anticipate these results with many supplements
By:
Friend of Bill ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 21:19:11 GMT |
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There are many mind altering and relaxing supplements that would cause the same results. Ninety minutes isn't a test. If the drinkers passed around a joint, I doubt if they would drink more than the average amount of beer in the following ninety minutes. Besides it's just trading one addiction for another, really. There is a better way when they are ready. I've been sober and sane for 16 years and married for 13 years this week. Whoa, now there's a reason to drink. ;)
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Kudzu and calories
By:
Georgia ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 21:09:44 GMT |
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Regardless of kudzu's use in treating alcoholism, many dieters I know would be happy to reduce their alcohol intake simply because of the "empty calories" in alcohol. Now how about a pill that cuts in half the consumption of fats, sugars, and complex carbs?
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Kudzu works for me
By:
josi ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:58:36 GMT |
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I am a stress drinker who tends to drink too much once I get started. I have been using Kudzu and I notice a definite decreasing in the "I must have a drink after work" and "I must have another one now that I feel good" urges.
Probably whether or not it is useful depends on personal body chemistry and degree of dependance.
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Kudzu
By:
Phillip ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:57:35 GMT |
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After 28 years of soberity in AA, would you now have me take a Kudzu and drink a beer? We know in soberity that alcoholism progresses whether we drink or not. That is to say if I returned to alcohol I would not start where I left off but where the progression of disease is at this time. The Kudzu vine would not prevent my demise. It is not only a physical disease but spiritual and mental as well. Every few years this type of idea surfaces and kills a few alcoholics. You should have a disclaimer for alcoholism. Unless you have been under the bridge, you know nothing about alcoholism. Friend of Bil W. and Dr. Bob.
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Kudzu
By:
Larry Bower ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:54:07 GMT |
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What are isoflavones and how do they work? Will isoflavones work as appetite suppressants?
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Cure?
By:
Reggie ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:46:29 GMT |
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I don't see how this weed would be helpful except to lower the financial burden of heavy alcohol consumption. This substance would simply help deliver alcohol to your brain more efficiently. That is, the dose of alcohol the brain recieves would be the same, but the amount of beverage consumed would be less. This would be effectively equivalent to consuming a beverage with higher alcohol content. Example: Two shots of bourbon is less liquid than one bottle of beer. Does this mean drinking bourbon is a potential cure for alcohol abuse? Was this study performed by the Keystone Docs? Or perhaps it was underwritten by the Kudzu Growers Advocacy Group!
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I gave up on AA, but not for Kudzu
By:
rlr ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:45:52 GMT |
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Can't judge the study by the article, which infers that if AA doesn't get you sober nothing will.
I got sober when I gave up on the AA approach (or what it has become today). Now, I don't drink. Ever. Not today, tomorrow, next week, or 50 years from now - "one life at a time"?
THAT'S keeping it simple. Anything that can reduce craving is great, but in the end it's the impulse control, working through that sure a drink would feel good (great) but you don't drink, so it's not on the agenda. And get off to something else.
Once realizing that one drinks because it's fun, it feels good, etc, and not because of "character defects" that need to be fixed (may well have them, but that's no reason to drink), one comes to face that you need to choose between the transitory pleasure or everything else you'd rather be doing instead of sitting around buzzed.
If kudzu can help, great - but it's not the key.
Don't want to drink? Don't. Drank anyway? You probably wanted to drink more than you wanted not to, just like I had that second slice of pizza, even though I want to lose weight.
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kudzu and alcohol
By:
eg ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:40:42 GMT |
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The authors make very clear that their patients were not alcohol dependent (alcoholic), rather heavy drinkers without the clinical signs of dependence. It is not known whether kudzu will have any role in the treatment of alcoholism.
The question about the blood alcohol levels is fair, but the authors discuss this too. The authors explain that in order to take breath or blood samples during the experiments, the whole naturalistic feel of the procedure might have been defeated. However, they may be able to calculate what the levels were based on the measurements that were taken after the experimental session to insure safety before letting the subjects go home.
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Health - Kudzu
By:
Jim ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:39:34 GMT |
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I would like to know how to make use of the weed which is available locally. Does anyone have any idea how to make an extract?
Jim
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A possible solution to my drinking problem?
By:
desertfish ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:35:31 GMT |
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I'll drink to that!
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kudzu
By:
ndpease ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:30:24 GMT |
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Saying that alcoholics may choose kudzu because they have not been able to stay sober in AA is ridiculous. Alcoholics who aren't successful in AA are constitutional incapable of being honest with themselves and are not willing to go to any lengths to stay sober. Eating kudzu isn't going to get them honest or willing.
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I tried it many years ago and ...
By:
Ken ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:30:13 GMT |
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kudzu didn't do a damn thing for me, a long time, now in recovery 5 years, chronic alcoholic. I actually bought some over-priced kudzu from a Chinese herbalist, made a tea and drank the nasty stuff for 30 days as recommended. No joy. Naltrexone finally did it for me. YMMV
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I don't think this is too helpful
By:
On the wagon ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:26:31 GMT |
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This seems to only make one drunk quicker. The only use in that would be economical. The only way I can stop drinking is to stop drinking. It's not easy, and a pill that would cloud my judgement faster would not help me. I would think it harmful in the long run.
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Does not give the feeling of being drunk
By:
equuspower ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:23:27 GMT |
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I've taken kudzue in a compond created for me by an herbalist to take care of dermatological problem that I had. While I was taking this mixture I noted (and told my herbalist) that it had the pleasant side effect of lessening my desire for alcohol. I could go to parties or dinners and be happy with about 3 drinks over the evening - and not want any more. Since alcohol always seems to stimulate the "want" for more alcohol, I found this interesting that the desire was gone.
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Kudzu
By:
judy ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:20:42 GMT |
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Finally, the southern states have a reason to harvest kudzu. While this may not iradicate it, it will make it easier to live with!
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A quick study
By:
bro ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 20:20:40 GMT |
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"Why should this be speculation?"
I agree. This seems to have been a 'very' small study that lacked any real depth. Only 11 people, and apparently no attempt whatever to determine the effect in any depth. You wouldn't think measuring blood alcohol levels is an especially difficult or expensive procedure for a medical center involved in an alcohol study.... The effect 'seems' significant enough for a more in-depth study. Let's hope they do one soon.
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Kudzu might help weed out alcoholism: study
By:
Gary C ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 19:44:03 GMT |
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The only "weed" that a Real Alcoholic would take would not be Kudzu. This (story) shows there is a Huge misunderstanding of the nature of the disease of alcoholism.
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Better than AlAnon
By:
Jenn ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 19:28:48 GMT |
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Finally there's help in the back yard for all our cousins in them thar hills :)
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Why speculate on blood level?
By:
mds ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 19:22:16 GMT |
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"...Lukas said, while speculating that kudzu might be increasing alcohol levels in blood, giving a feeling of being drunk with fewer drinks."
Why should this be speculation? Why not measure the levels of alchohol in the blood for all the subjects and know the answer definitively? I don't understand.
mds
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Health
By:
josh ,
Wed, 18 May 2005 19:12:16 GMT |
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I bellive this is good news because many people have alcohol problems, even my dad
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