A new study conducted in the United States suggests that an herbal supplement made from the root of the kudzu plant may help people with alcohol use disorder reduce excessive drinking.
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found that participants who took the kudzu root supplement experienced a reduction in the number of days on which they consumed excessive amounts of alcohol.
According to the study, the positive effects continued for up to three months after participants completed the treatment period, suggesting a possible new approach to helping people reduce their alcohol consumption.
Kudzu is a climbing vine native to East Asia. However, in the southern United States, it is considered an invasive plant species that spreads rapidly and can cause environmental damage.
Researchers noted that excessive alcohol consumption causes approximately 178,000 deaths every year in the United States. They also highlighted the limited treatment options available to people seeking to reduce or stop harmful drinking habits.
The study’s lead author, Glenn Mylos Santos, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, said excessive alcohol consumption was a widespread problem and that more effective ways were needed to support people trying to cut down.
He said the research aimed to expand the treatment options available to those seeking help.
Although the findings are encouraging, researchers stressed that further studies are needed before kudzu root supplements can be considered an established treatment for alcohol use disorder.