A 60p-a-day kudzu supplement could help people with alcohol use disorder reduce how often they binge drink, according to new research. The US-based study found that those taking the herbal supplement drank a third less frequently than those on a placebo.
Kudzu is a plant used in traditional medicine in East Asia. In the UK, it can be bought for around £20, which works out to 60p a day. The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, followed 120 adults with alcohol use disorder who binge drank heavily at least once a week.
Study Findings
Participants were asked to take kudzu whenever they felt an urge to drink. By the end of the treatment, the average number of binge drinking days for those taking kudzu fell from 2.15 to 1.42 per week, a reduction of 34%. For those taking a placebo, binge drinking days reduced by just 4%.
Three months after treatment, people who had taken kudzu continued to have fewer binge drinking days compared with those given the placebo. No serious side effects were reported by those who took kudzu.
Potential Benefits
Researchers found the benefits were still apparent after three months. Some studies suggest kudzu could also help with liver damage due to its antioxidant content, and it may be helpful for menopause symptoms.
Despite the promising findings, researchers say more studies will be needed to confirm them, as this one was small.
NHS Advice on Cutting Down
The NHS advises that if you regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week, you should try to cut down. It says 14 units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 6 medium glasses of wine.
The immediate effects of cutting down include feeling better in the mornings, being less tired during the day, better-looking skin, feeling more energetic, and better weight management. Cutting down can also lower your risk of serious conditions linked to drinking too much alcohol, such as cancer, diabetes, dementia, stroke, and heart, liver and kidney problems.
