Kudzu for Alcohol Addiction
Confidential, free and impartial advice from a clinician on rehab, detox, withdrawal, therapy and counselling for alcohol dependency
Kudzu for alcohol addiction
What is Kudzu?
Kudzu is a fast growing vine that is getting a lot of interest for it's potential to help people reduce their alcohol consumption. Recently, there has been growing curiosity about Kudzu for alcohol addiction.
Researchers are interested in how it might support those trying to cut back.
While sometimes seen as a noxious weed, the Kudzu plant has a long history of use in traditional medicine for helping people reduce their desire to drink alcohol. For those struggling, kudzu for alcohol addiction is becoming a topic of interest in holistic circles.
This ancient remedy is seeing a resurgence in interest and is becoming increasingly popular. Furthermore, many people are now looking into Kudzu for alcohol addiction as a modern solution rooted in tradition.
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The science
Kudzu contains active compounds called isoflavones.
These are highly concentrated in the root extract, which has been investigated for alcohol addiction by researchers studying Kudzu’s effects.
Recently, there has been research into three compounds of Kudzu: Puerarinm, Daidzin and Daidzenin.
These are known to have an effect of the way the body processes alcohol by disrupting enzymes.
When you drink alcohol, the liver breaks it down into a chemical called acetaldehyde.
This is the chemical that causes hangover symptoms such as nausea and flushing.
Acetaldehyde is then converted into a harmless material. Research suggests that it is the Daidzin that helps to neutralise the acetaldehyde.
This relates to the therapeutic value of Kudzu for alcohol addiction.
The theory is that , by interfering with this enzyme, Kudzu increases a much faster build up of acetaldehyde in the blood.
When this happens, a person will start to feel physically unwell. This reaction occurs even if they only drink a small amount of alcohol.
This uncomfortable feeling acts as a natural deterrent to drinking alcohol, and for some, the use of Kudzu for alcohol addiction may offer a helpful strategy.
One of the other elements of Kudzu, Puerarin, is thought to interact with the feel good chemicals released when you drink alcohol by restricting them.
This means that the normal euphoria and relaxation you feel when you drink is diminished. This is another way Kudzu for alcohol addiction is being studied.
Kudzu
Current research
Research into the effects of Kudzu has moved from animal modelling to human clinical trials. These have focused on measurable changes in people's drinking habits.
Moreover, kudzu for alcohol addiction is being evaluated for its impact on heavy drinkers.
Double blind trials (where half the subject group take a placebo and the other the real thing but neither know which is which) have shown that Kudzu can be effective in reducing alcohol consumption.
This is promising for those interested in Kudzu for alcohol addiction.
One trial which involved heavy drinkers have shown a reduction in alcohol consumption by 22%.
This suggests Kudzu may play a useful role for alcohol addiction treatment options.
Kudzu
Binge drinking
Recent research has shown that those who receive a single dose of Kudzu, before they start drinking, consumed nearly half the amount of alcohol they normally would.
Those taking part also drank more slowly.
As a result, this evidence shows that using Kudzu for alcohol addiction may affect binge drinking patterns.
The research may suggest that Kudzu can alter the perception of when people feel they have had enough to drink.
This is though to be one of the reasons why people drink less when they take Kudzu.
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Limitations
Kudzu has it's uses but there are things it can not do and things you should not try to do with it. You can not use it as a detox medication.
If you experience alcohol withdrawal because you have stopped drinking (or reduced too quickly) you need a medically supervised detox with the appropriate medication in the appropriate environment: Rehab.
And while Kudzu for alcohol addiction may be discussed as a supportive tool, it is not a replacement for proper medical care.
Using Kudzu, after rehab, to stay abstinent won't work.
Its use has only been shown to be effective if you are drinking moderate amounts and are not systemically dependent. Therefore, kudzu for alcohol addiction must be approached realistically within proper context.
Kudzu
What about home treatment with Kudzu?
This simply isn't possible.
Kudzu is not licenced for addiction treatment and thus it can not be prescribed, either under the NHS or privately.
In any event, treatment at home won't provide the three other elements needed for recovery: Therapy, relapse prevention and aftercare.
Therapy
All centers who provide treatment for opioid addiction provide a fully immersive therapy programme, either along a 12 step approach or a SMART based recovery model. These run seven days a week and , those in treatment, are obliged to attend all sessions if physically well enough to do so. For new admissions, it can be 24-48 hours , on occasion, before someone is able to take part.
Sitting alongside this programme, many centers also offer adjunctive treatments and therapies such as:
Yoga
Mindfulness
Art therapy
Gentle exercise and group walks
Music therapy
Individual sessions (for those staying more than a week)
Clients, before leaving, are linked in with support groups in their local community, be they voluntary or statutory. A psychological tool kit is built up so that clients have a selection of techniques to employ.
If you need treatment for heroin addiction, heroin addiction advice call and speak to us. We can provide heroin addiction help on 0333 041 9922.
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