Holistic Health Herbal Medicine The Health Benefits of Kudzu Some Cut Back on Alcohol With the Chinese Remedy By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD on July 02, 2019 facebook linkedin Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. Learn about our Medical Review Board Richard N. Fogoros, MD Updated on July 17, 2019 Print Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Health Benefits Possible Side Effects What to Look For Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) is a climbing vine that belongs to the pea family. Its flowers and starchy white roots have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Health Benefits Kudzu contains isoflavones, estrogen-like compounds thought to offer various health benefits. So far, scientific support for the benefits of kudzu is limited. In alternative medicine, kudzu is typically used for the following conditions: alcoholismmenopausal symptomsdiabetescommon coldfever Not all of these uses are supported by clinical evidence. Here's what the research says so far about kudzu health benefits. Menopausal Symptoms For a study published in 2003, researchers assigned 127 postmenopausal women (aged 50 to 65 years) to receive hormone replacement therapy, kudzu supplements (delivering 100 mg of isoflavone daily), or no treatment for three months. While only participants in the HRT group had a reduction in cholesterol levels, HRT- and kudzu-receiving study members both showed improvements in cognitive function and attention span. A more recent study, published in 2007, found taking kudzu extract in capsule form daily for 24 weeks helped alleviate vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women. Alcohol Intake Kudzu extract may be helpful in reducing alcohol intake, according to a 2005 study. Using a real-life setting (an apartment with a television, reclining chair, and refrigerator stocked with beer), researchers performed an experiment involving heavy drinkers. They found that those who took kudzu capsules for seven days prior to the experiment drank an average of 1.8 beers in 90 minutes (compared to the average of 3.5 beers consumed by those who took a placebo prior to the study). Learn more about the use of kudzu in the reduction of alcohol intake. Cluster Headache In a 2009 study of 16 people who had reported using kudzu to treat a cluster headache, researchers determined that kudzu may help decrease the frequency, duration, and intensity of attacks, with minimal side effects. Metabolic Syndrome Animal research published in 2009 indicates that kudzu may help manage metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by a cluster of health problems (including excess belly fat, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance) that are known to raise your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. For the study, a group of female rats with metabolic syndrome was fed a diet supplemented with kudzu extract. After two months, the kudzu-fed rats had gained less weight than rats that weren't fed kudzu. Rats in the kudzu group also had healthier levels of blood pressure, insulin, and cholesterol than their study counterparts. Possible Side Effects Individuals with breast (or any hormonal-sensitive) cancer, as well as anyone using diabetes medications, should avoid kudzu. You should also not take kudzu if you take methotrexate or tamoxifen. Liver damage was found in rats exposed to high doses of kudzu extract over a long period of time. But it is not known if this side effect occurs in humans. Dosage and Preparation There is not enough scientific data to provide a recommended dose of kudzu. But there are various doses that have been used in clinical trials. In studies examining kudzu's use on alcohol intake, a dose of 1.5-3 grams of kudzu root extract was taken in three divided doses per day for up to four weeks. A single dose of two grams of kudzu extract was taken before a drinking episode. The appropriate dose for you may depend on factors including your age, gender, and medical history. Speak to your healthcare provider to get personalized advice. What to Look For Supplements haven't been tested for safety and due to the fact that dietary supplements are largely unregulated, the content of some products may differ from what is specified on the product label. Also keep in mind that the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. You can get tips on using supplements safely, but if you're considering the use of kudzu, talk with your primary care provider first. Self-treating a condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Kudzu. Natural Medicines Database. Professional Monograph. 2/6/2019 Kudzu. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs, Botanicals, and Other Products. September 16, 2013 Manonai J, Chittacharoen A, Theppisai U, Theppisai H. "Effect of Pueraria mirifica on vaginal health." Menopause. 2007 14(5):919-24. Peng N, Prasain JK, Dai Y, Moore R, Arabshahi A, Barnes S, Carlson S, Wyss JM. "Chronic dietary kudzu isoflavones improve components of metabolic syndrome in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats." J Agric Food Chem. 2009 26;57(16):7268-73. Sewell RA. "Response of cluster headache to kudzu." Headache. 2009 49(1):98-105. Woo J, Lau E, Ho SC, Cheng F, Chan C, Chan AS, Haines CJ, Chan TY, Li M, Sham A. "Comparison of Pueraria lobata with hormone replacement therapy in treating the adverse health consequences of menopause." Menopause. 2003 10(4):352-61.