Kudzu
Scientific names: Pueraria montana var. lobata, Pueraria lobata, Pueraria thunbergiana, Pueraria pseudohirsuta, Dolichos lobatus, Dolichos hirsutus, Neustanthus chinensis, Pachyrhizus thunbergianus, Pueraria hirsuta, Pueraria lobata var. chinensis, Pueraria montana var. chinense, Pueraria montana var. thomsonii, Pueraria thomsonii, Pueraria candollei, Pueraria mirifica, Pueraria tuberosa, Hedysarum tuberosum
Family: Fabaceae/Leguminosae
Alternate names: Bidarikand, Bilaikanda, Daidzein, Fen Ke, Fenge, Gange, Ge Gen, Gegen, Ghora-bel, Indian Kudzu, Isoflavones, Japanese Arrowroot, Kakkon, Kudsu, Kwaao Khruea, Mealy Kudzu, Nepalem, Pueraria, Radix Puerariae, Red Indian Kudzu, Thai Kudzu Root Extract, Vidarikand, Vigne Kudzu, Wa Yaka, White Indian Kudzu, Yege
Actions: Alcohol, Anti-inflammatory, Antilipemic, Antioxidant, Antipyretic, Antithrombotic, Bone, Cardiovascular, Cytochrome P450 system, Estrogenic, Hypoglycemic, Neurologic, Stroke, Hepatotoxic
Background
Kudzu (Pueraria montana) is a climbing vine native to Asia. It's now an invasive vine in the US. The root, flower, and leaf are used as medicine.
Kudzu contains ingredients that might counteract the effects of alcohol. It might also have effects like estrogen.
People use kudzu for alcohol use disorder, heart disease, diabetes, menopausal symptoms, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse kudzu with arrowroot, arum, cassava, wahoo, or zedoary. These are not the same.
Kudzu contains ingredients that might counteract the effects of alcohol. It might also have effects like estrogen.
People use kudzu for alcohol use disorder, heart disease, diabetes, menopausal symptoms, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse kudzu with arrowroot, arum, cassava, wahoo, or zedoary. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Kudzu is possibly safe when used for up to 4 months. It's usually well-tolerated.
When applied into the vagina: Kudzu gel is possibly safe when used for up to 12 weeks. It may cause mild irritation during the first few days of use.
Bleeding or blood clotting disorders: Kudzu might slow blood clotting. It might make bleeding and blood clotting disorders worse.
Hormone-sensitive condition such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Kudzu might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don't use kudzu.
Liver disease: Taking kudzu might harm the liver. People with liver disease or a history of liver disease should avoid kudzu.
Surgery: Kudzu might affect blood sugar levels and might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking kudzu at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
When applied into the vagina: Kudzu gel is possibly safe when used for up to 12 weeks. It may cause mild irritation during the first few days of use.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if kudzu is safe to use when pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Bleeding or blood clotting disorders: Kudzu might slow blood clotting. It might make bleeding and blood clotting disorders worse.
Hormone-sensitive condition such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Kudzu might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don't use kudzu.
Liver disease: Taking kudzu might harm the liver. People with liver disease or a history of liver disease should avoid kudzu.
Surgery: Kudzu might affect blood sugar levels and might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking kudzu at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- Alcohol use disorder. Taking kudzu by mouth might help heavy drinkers consume less alcohol. But kudzu doesn't seem to decrease the craving for alcohol or improve sobriety in people with alcohol use disorder.
Dosing & administration
Kudzu extract and powder have been taken by mouth by adults in varying doses. Kudzu gel has been applied into the vagina in varying doses. There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of kudzu might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Caffeine
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Kudzu might decrease how quickly the body breaks down caffeine. This might increase the risk of caffeine side effects, such as jitteriness, headache, fast heartbeat, and others.
Estrogens
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Kudzu might act like estrogen in the body. This might increase or decrease the effects of estrogen medications.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Kudzu might lower blood sugar levels. Taking kudzu along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications that can harm the liver (Hepatotoxic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Kudzu might harm the liver. Some medications can also harm the liver. Taking along with a medication that can harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Kudzu might slow blood clotting. Taking kudzu along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Methotrexate (Trexall, others)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Kudzu might decrease how fast the body gets rid of methotrexate. This might increase the risk of methotrexate side effects.
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Tamoxifen is used to help treat and prevent cancers that are affected by estrogen. Kudzu might act like estrogen in the body. By affecting estrogen in the body, kudzu might decrease the effects of tamoxifen.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Caffeine-containing herbs and supplements: Taking kudzu along with supplements that contain caffeine might increase caffeine side effects. Examples of supplements that contain caffeine include black tea, coffee, green tea, guarana, and yerba mate.
Herbs and supplements that might harm the liver: Kudzu might harm the liver. Taking it with other supplements that can also harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage. Examples of supplements with this effect include garcinia, greater celandine, green tea extract, kava, and kratom.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Kudzu might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Kudzu might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Herbs and supplements that might harm the liver: Kudzu might harm the liver. Taking it with other supplements that can also harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage. Examples of supplements with this effect include garcinia, greater celandine, green tea extract, kava, and kratom.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Kudzu might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Kudzu might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
View all products
Per tablet:
- Pueraria lobata (Kudzu) ext. 111.12 mg
- Actaea racemosa ext. 153.85 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 225 mg
- Hypericum perforatum ext. 209.3 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 100 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) 10 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 15 mg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 400 μg
- Folic acid 400 μg
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acetate 101.2 mg
Discontinued by Metagenics
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Pueraria lobata (Ge Gen) ext. 44.7 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 33.3 mg
- Morus alba ext. 33.3 mg
- Notopterygium incisum ext. 33.3 mg
- Paeonia veitchii ext. 33.3 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 33.3 mg
- Saposhnikovia divaricata ext. 33.3 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 11.1 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 11.1 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 33.3 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Pueraria lobata (Ge Gen) ext. 20.4 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 22.5 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 27 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 22.5 mg
- Morus alba ext. 22.5 mg
- Lycium chinense ext. 22.5 mg
- Xanthium sibiricum ext. 20.4 mg
- Magnolia liliflora ext. 20.4 mg
- Angelica dahurica ext. 20.4 mg
- Mentha haplocalyx ext. 20.4 mg
- Pseudostellaria heterophylla ext. 20.4 mg
- Scutellaria baicalensis ext. 20.4 mg
- Atractylodes lancea ext. 19.8 mg
- Saposhnikovia divaricata ext. 20.4 mg
Practitioner product
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This monograph was last reviewed on 19/02/2024 11:00:00 and last updated on 22/08/2022 07:45:37. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
