Natural Treatments of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Withdrawal

Let’s dig into the potential health benefits of this rad root. Kudzu root comes from a trailing vine that often grows over other plants. Here is a list of 4 natural supplements that are just as effective as pharmaceutical drugs. The kudzu root may interact with certain medications or pose other health risks for certain people. Therefore, it’s always best to consult your healthcare provider before taking it. Furthermore, it’s likely that the suggested doses for kudzu root will vary depending on the manufacturer and the type of supplement you may be considering.

Nine of the ten participants had previously tried other programs to eliminate alcohol cravings and intake with little or no success. The study was done in an at-home basis to allow for better compliance and prove if this program could be successful without daily intervention in a natural setting . Each subject had full time access to the study coordinator and had weekly contact with the coordinator during the full 8 week term. Subjects were all Caucasian, lower to middle income, residing in a small Midwestern town. Each subject was interviewed in person and determined to be actively drinking on a regular basis, all exceeding what would be considered normal consumption ranging from 1-2 times per week to drinking on a daily basis.

Other potential health benefits

The medications approved for treating alcohol abuse and dependence don’t work for everyone, he says. “For more than 2,000 years, Asian cultures have found great value in kudzu,” the article states. The Drug-Nutrient Interactions table may not include every possible interaction. Taking medicines with meals, on an empty stomach, or with alcohol may influence their effects. For details, refer to the manufacturers’ package information as these are not covered in this table. If you take medications, always discuss the potential risks and benefits of adding a supplement with your doctor or pharmacist. While kudzu extract won’t magically turn alcoholics into nondrinkers, it might help others cut back on booze. Like getting rid of kudzu, Diamond says you have to attack the roots. The key to beating alcohol dependence is to control the craving to drink.
kudzu root alcohol cravings
Read online reviews of that particular kudzu root supplement to find out more about other folks’ experiences. If you’re not sure whether kudzu root is right for you, talk with your doctor. They can give you personalized advice that takes into account any other supplements or medications you may be taking. According to some studies, kudzu root may help manage some symptoms of metabolic syndrome.

Are More Intelligent People More Likely to Be Alcoholics?

More than half of young adults at risk for alcohol-related harm report symptoms of insomnia. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the first-line treatments for insomnia, but it’s never been … Recently, unique discoveries have been made kudzu root alcohol cravings pertaining to the actions of bitters, and a family of 30 specific bitter flavor receptors in the GI Tract. Known as TAS2R’s, these receptors are located throughout the gut and are set to detect a variety of differing bitter profiles.

  • More than half of young adults at risk for alcohol-related harm report symptoms of insomnia.
  • As expected, I didn’t really feel anything after taking kudzu until I began drinking.
  • For the researchers, the next step is to determine if kudzu alters regional brain blood flow using an fMRI.
  • A study of heavy drinkers who were not in a treatment program found that taking kudzu had no effect on their alcohol cravings.
  • Policosanol may interact with blood thinners and increase the risk of bleeding.

But today you can find it in the supplement aisle of most grocery stores. Kudzu root is the edible root of the Pueraria genus of plants. The kudzu plant is a vine that resembles poison ivy and is native to several Asian countries. Some research specifically on the kudzu species Pueraria mirifica suggests that doses of 50–100 mg per day appear to have a low risk of adverse side effects . For instance, it may reduce the effectiveness of birth control due to its estrogenic effects . In its raw form, kudzu root resembles other root tubers, such as potatoes or yams. Dr. Rebeca Eriksen is the Nutritional Consultant for Fit Recovery. She has a PhD in Nutritional Genetics from Imperial College London, and over ten years of clinical experience designing custom nutritional repair regimens for patients recovering from alcohol addiction.

Is Alcohol or Drug Abuse Taking a Toll on Your Digestion?

Small studies in people have observed noteworthy improvements in these menopausal symptoms, among others, like vaginal dryness . What’s more, the kudzu plant leaves, vine tips, and purple flower blossoms are also edible. You can eat the root as you would other root vegetables, like potatoes or rutabagas. Kudzu roots can be dried and ground into a powder, which some people use as breading for fried foods or as a thickener for soups and sauces. The plant is a trailing vine that often grows over other plants and trees. Kudzu root, also called Japanese arrowroot, is native to China, Japan, and Korea. Today, kudzu grows in other parts of the world as well, including in the southern United States.

One small study looked at the effects of kudzu in 17 men ages 21–33 who reported drinking approximately 22–35 drinks per week. The researchers gave participants either kudzu extract or a placebo every day for 4 weeks . In retrospect, my experience demonstrates the utility of kudzu for alcoholism. If I had been committed to using kudzu to wean off of alcohol and then quit, it Sober Home might have been a very valuable part of my recovery. I did not know at the time that people also use kudzu to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms; nor did I care, because I did not intend to quit at the time. Drinking was recorded using a custom built end table that contained a digital scale beneath a ceramic tile insert in the tabletop (Ohaus model #B10P with I5S controller).

The nature of these spheres, possessing several layers, also allows both fat and water soluble nutrients to be combined in the same sphere. It’s important to seek AUD treatment only from a qualified healthcare professional or facility. It is often touted as a means of restoring liver health and protecting against liver damage from too much alcohol. Red root has been touted as a treatment for things from respiratory issues to UTIs.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being. Many people have reported success soaking infected nails in 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Such remedies won’t work for everyone and take several months to produce results.

Natural Treatments of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Withdrawal

This defect drives individuals to engage in activities of behavioral excess, which will increase brain dopamine function, for which we created the term Reward Deficiency Syndrome to categorize such biological influences on behavior. Consuming large quantities of alcohol or carbohydrates stimulates the brain’s production and utilization of dopamine. So too does the intake of crack/cocaine and the abuse of nicotine. We are proposing that a novel approach to nutritional supplementation may be required to target the RDS role in alcoholism and glucose homeostasis . Alcohol quickly affects blood sugar, especially in the brain . Certainly an added stress of attempting to eliminate alcohol usage is the drastic swings in blood sugar, which when occurring may stimulate a stronger desire to drink .