Kudzu

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Latin name: Pueraria lobata
Other name: Ge-gen

A Remedy For

• Hardening of the arteries
• High blood pressure

Kudzu contains ingredients known to lower blood pressure and improve circulation in the muscles of the heart. It shows promise as a treatment for alcoholism, as well.
   In Chinese medicine, Kudzu is also used for allergies, migraine headache, measles, and diarrhea, but its effectiveness for these disorders has not been clinically verified.

What It Is; Why It Works
Native to the thickets and forests of China, Kudzu is a high-climbing perennial vein with an immense root (sometimes reaching the size of the human body). It is this root that's considered medicinal. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine since at least the 1st century AD.
   Certain glycosides in Kudzu are responsible for its effect on the heart and circulatory system. Two of these substances--daidzin and daidzein--have also been shown, in an animal study, to inhibit the desire for alcohol. Kudzu has, in fact, long been considered a remedy for drunkenness in traditional Chinese medicine, but human trials to verify its anti-alcohol action have not yet been conducted.

Avoid If...
No known medical conditions preclude the use of Kudzu.

Special Cautions
At customary dosage levels, Kudzu seems to pose no problems.

Possible Drug Interactions
No interactions have been reported.

Special Information If You Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding
No harmful effects are known.

How To Prepare
Kudzu can be taken in crushed-root or concentrated tablet form. In present-day China, tablets equivalent to 1.5 grams of crushed root are taken for the chest pain (angina) caused by hardening of the arteries.

Typical Dosage
Crushed root: 9 to 15 grams per day
Concentrated tablets: 30 to 120 milligrams 2 to 3 times per day

Overdosage
No information on overdosage is available.