• Used traditionally in Chinese herbalism to reduce the negative effects of alcohol
• Naturally rich in isoflavonoids and saponins that provide anti-alcohol support.
• Supports a healthy liver.
• Helps the body's normal detoxification processes.

Kudzu (Pueraria lobata)

The roots of Kudzu have been used in traditional Chinese herbalism for reducing the negative effects of alcohol. Historically, it was used in formulas used for “drunkenness”. More recently, kudzu root received a lot of mainstream attention due to a Harvard University study on the plant's ability to help decrease consumption of alcohol in human subjects. The study published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, underscores what Chinese herbalism has long known, that kudzu is the premier herb for managing alcohol intake!

Planetary Herbals offers two ways to take advantage of the time-tested benefits of this remarkable and under-utilized botanical: Full Spectrum™ Kudzu, and Kudzu Recovery.

Full Spectrum™ Kudzu provides the whole roots with a extract standardized to isoflavone content to deliver a Full Spectrum™ of kudzu's constituents and benefits. Additionally, Kudzu Recovery™ contains a centuries old Chinese formula offering all the benefits of kudzu plus key botanicals to support liver cleansing, balanced blood sugar levels and enhanced energy.

Planetary Herbals offer the best of classic herbal traditions, integrating herbal formulas used continuously for hundreds of years with the latest findings of clinical pharmacological research.

History & Use
Kudzu is a fast growing evergreen vine native to parts of Asia, and an invasive species in much of the southeastern United States, where it was initially introduced to help fight soil erosion. First written about in 206 BCE, this unique botanical was popularized by macrobiotics proponents as a food thickener, and continues to be included in China's official pharmacopoeia. Although the entire plant is edible, kudzu's health supporting benefits come primarily from its flowers and roots, which contain several natural compounds including isoflavonoids and saponins.

While the roots and flowers of the common kudzu have been used historically in Chinese herbalism for anti-alcohol support, it is also used to support winter health and relax tightness and spasms of the neck and shoulders and is a key component of Neck and Shoulder Support™ by Planetary Herbals.

Validated Through Research
Though it's been used in Chinese herbalism to reduce abuse of alcohol for more than a millennium it is only within the last few decades that its actions in this respect have been scientifically supported. The study was interesting in that researchers emulated a drinker’s apartment and measured how much alcohol was taken from the refrigerator, drunk at a single sitting, how many sips were taken, how big the sips were, and how much was left at the end of the day. In all, alcohol consumption, though not desire, was reduced by almost 50%. Similar reductions in alcohol consumption were observed in numerous pre-clinical studies, supporting the historical knowledge of Chinese herbalists.

Kudzu Recovery™
Based on a 350-year old Chinese herbal formula for “drunkenness”, Kudzu Recovery provides a blend of kudzu roots in conjunction with key botanicals including coptis, codonopsis, and ginger, which support liver health, the nervous system, and detoxification processes. This gives the benefits of kudzu while supporting other systems necessary for the healthful management of alcohol intake.

Planetary® Herbals KUDZU RECOVERY™ features the roots of kudzu (Pueraria lobata), which have long been used in Chinese herbalism to help lessen the desire for alcohol. Researchers have identified two constituents in kudzu responsible for this activity, daidzein and daidzin, which in animal research have been found to cause a similar effect. These are combined with coptis, a primary cleansing and liver-supporting herb from Chinese herbalism, and other key botanicals historically used to reduce cravings.