Herbs & Supplements

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Uses

Chemicals extracted from kudzu include isoflavones known as daidzein, daidzin, genistein, and puerarin. Isoflavones are plant chemicals that have estrogenic and antioxidant effects. In the past several years, these chemicals have been studied for their potential ability to treat alcoholism and to reduce the symptoms of hangovers. At least some of them are known to block two of the natural enzymes that break down alcohol in the body. As a result, study animals given alcohol and kudzu had lower blood alcohol levels than animals given comparable amounts of alcohol alone. The kudzu-treated animals showed less interest in drinking alcohol, as well. In other laboratory studies, kudzu also appeared to protect animal brain, liver, and spine cells from damage by alcohol and other toxic chemicals. Whether these effects apply to humans is being investigated intensively.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the types of kudzu that grow in Asia have been used to relieve muscle pain. Some evidence from animal studies and human case reports suggests that kudzu may have an anti-inflammatory effect, but no controlled studies have been carried out in humans to determine how kudzu might exert this effect. It is known that chemicals in kudzu may help to lower heart rate and regulate heart rhythm, in part by widening blood vessels near the heart. Studies in animals show that puerarin and perhaps other components of kudzu may promote the formation of new blood vessels around areas of heart tissue damaged by heart attacks or low blood supply. Kudzu may also relax blood vessels in the brain, which may help to relieve migraine headaches. More research is needed to prove or disprove all of these potential uses.

The isoflavones in kudzu belong to a larger chemical group known as phytoestrogens. In the human body, phytoestrogens may exhibit weak effects like the female hormone, estrogen. The type of kudzu that grows in North America may not have enough phytoestrogens to provide natural hormone replacement, but the types that grow in Asia may more effective. In small studies of menopausal women, Asian kudzu relieved hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause slightly or moderately. They may also have some ability to improve memory and thinking ability in postmenopausal women. Additional early results from animal studies suggest kudzu phytoestrogens may help to protect against bone loss for individuals with osteoporosis. An additional effect of kudzu's phytoestrogens may help to lower cholesterol levels. For commercial use, phytoestrogens from kudzu may be combined with other herbals such as soy, which are believed to exert estrogen-like effects in different ways. Currently, not enough is understood about kudzu's possible estrogenic effects to recommend it for use in menopause or other conditions.

In laboratory animals, chemicals derived from kudzu have affected blood sugar levels. For some animals kudzu reduced blood sugar levels, but not by increasing insulin release. Instead, it is thought that these chemicals increase the body's production of a substance known as beta-endorphin. In turn, glucose tolerance (the ability of body cells to absorb sugar and convert it into energy) also increases. In general, animals with diabetes experienced a bigger reduction in blood sugar while given kudzu than normal animals. However, recent research in laboratory mice shows that kudzu's main isoflavone, puerarin, may improve glucose tolerance, but another isoflavone that it contains, daidzin, may actually decrease glucose tolerance. Much more study is needed to prove or disprove kudzu's possible role in managing diabetes.