Alcohol abuse is becoming a global concern, with it not only affecting adults, but the teenagers of today as well. According to the Global Status Report published by WHO in 2014, the burden of alcoholism has grown globally, and in India, per capita consumption of alcohol has increased from 1.6 litres in the 2003-2005 period, to 2.2 litres in 2010-2012.
Worse still, 11 per cent of the population in India still indulges in heavy or binge drinking. Gypsogenin
Over-consumption of alcohol can have serious effects on an individual’s health and contributes to huge economic impact on society as a whole. Treatment modalities are limited and range from psychological to pharmacological therapies.
A novel plant called Kudzu seems to offer hope in the efforts to limit alcohol consumption. Native to India, Japan, China, and the US, it is also known as the ‘Grandmother of Ashwagandha’ in India. Other Indian names used to refer to Kudzu include ‘Vidarikanda’, ‘Indian Ginseng’, and ‘Wild Yam’.
The effect against alcohol abuse is attributed to the plant chemicals in Kudzu — Daidzin and Daidzein. Other phytochemicals in Kudzu are glycosides, sterols and isoflavones.
As per a study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence in 2015, a single dose of kudzu extract (2 grams) when administered about 2.5 hours before the onset of a 90-minute afternoon drinking session, could significantly reduce consumption. Kudzu-treated participants also drank slower. This suggests that an extract of this leguminous plant may be an useful adjunct in reducing alcohol intake.
Kudzu has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years, and it is still regarded as one of the 50 most important herbs in Chinese herbal medicine. It has been known to be used against alcoholism even in China. Other ailments it has been used to trest include infections, high blood pressure, angina, headaches, muscle pain, psoriasis, allergies, and menopausal symptoms.
While using kudzu as a medicinal herb is considered relatively safe and there are no reports of serious side effects associated with it, even at high dosages, the plant has a serious downside with respect to the environment and ecosystem.
More scientific research is needed to evaluate the health effects of Kudzu. Kudzu’s role in treating alcoholism and binge drinking appears promising but its burden on the ecosystem needs to be addressed as equally important.
Salvianolic acid A Ishi KhoslaIshi Khosla is a practicing clinical nutritionist, consultant, writer ... read more