The herbal remedy kudzu showed promise in reducing binge drinking in adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to a study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry.Why It’s Relevant
Kudzu vine is known as “the plant that ate the South” due to its smothering, invasive properties in the United States. However, in its native habitat of Asia, the herbal supplement has been used for medicinal purposes since the sixth century. The root extract of kudzu contains isoflavones—including puerarin, daidzein, and daidzin—that have been shown to help suppress alcohol consumption in animal models and a handful of clinical trials.
By the Numbers
- Among 120 adults (average age 39, 17% living with HIV) with AUD who engaged in binge drinking and who had sexual intercourse while under the influence of alcohol during the past three months, participants who took as-needed oral kudzu (2mg) reduced their binge-drinking days per week by 27% compared with placebo. Participants also received medication management counseling.
- Participants who took kudzu ≥2.7 days per week experienced a 42% reduction in heavy drinking days. These participants also had lower levels of phosphatidylethanol (a biomarker of sustained heavy alcohol use) over the past three to four weeks.
- Average binge-drinking days per week also declined during the study among participants taking kudzu (from 2.15 at baseline to 1.42 at final visit) compared with placebo group (2.15 at baseline to 2.06 at final visit).
The Other Side
The overall frequency of adverse events was similar between the two groups, with the most frequent side effects including hyperglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice), dizziness, and nausea. In addition, the self-reported alcohol measures may been subject to social desirability and recall biases, and the single site design and exclusion of individuals with other severe substance use disorders may limit the study’s generalizability.
Takeaway Message
“Targeted use of kudzu was … found to be acceptable and feasible as a chemoprophylaxis strategy to manage periods of alcohol craving or at events when heavy drinking is imminent,” the researchers wrote. “Larger Phase 3 studies examining the treatment effects of targeted kudzu for AUD may be warranted.”
Related Information
Source
Glenn-Milo Santos, et al. Targeted use of kudzu for binge drinking among adults with alcohol use disorder: a Phase 2b randomized trial. The American Journal of Psychiatry. Published November 4, 2026. Doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.20251354
(Image: Getty Images/iStock/Martha Snider)
