Herbal Remedies

KUDZU 

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.

How 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 lowers High blood pressure. 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 Kudzu If…
No known medical conditions preclude the use of Kudzu.

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

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 and High blood pressure.

Typical Dosage
Crushed root: 9 to 15 grams per day for treatment of High blood pressure
Concentrated tablets: 30 to 120 milligrams 2 to 3 times per day

Source Citation: “Kudzu.” The PDR Family Guide to Natural Medicines and Healing Therapies. David W. Sifton, Editor in chief. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., A Thomson Healthcare Company, Fall 2004.