Kudzu

Scientific Name(S): Pueraria lobata (Willd) Ohwi. Also known as P. thunbergiana. Family: Leguminosae. Other species include the following: P. mirifica (Thailand herb known as kwaao khruea, used for hormonal content), P. tuberosa DC (also studied for hormonal effects), and P. thomsonii Benth

Common Name(S): Japanese arrowroot, kudzu vines, ge gen (Chinese)

Botany: Kudzu is a fast-growing vine native to the tropics of China and Japan. It has been used as fodder and as a ground cover crop. Because it produces long stems that can attain 20 m in length and extensive roots, it has been used to control soil erosion. The plant was introduced into the US where it has become established and proliferates particularly in the moist southern regions. It is in the southern regions that it grows vigorously and is now considered a pest. The leaves of the plant contain 3 broad oval leaflets with purple flowers and curling tendril spikes.

History: Although kudzu has been widely recognized as a ground cover and fodder crop in the Western world, the plant has a long history of medicinal use in Asian cultures. As far back as the 6th century BC, Chinese herbalists have used the plant for muscular pain and for the treatment of measles. Kudzu is cited in botanical herbals from Japan, China, and Fiji. The Chinese have also used extracts of the plant to treat alcoholism.

Uses of Kudzu

Kudzu has been used as a ground cover, fodder, and medicinal herb especially for treating alcoholism. It is also used for muscular aches, heart disease, and related disorders.

Side Effects of Kudzu

No known toxic effects; safety undefined.

Summary: Kudzu is a fast-growing plant native to Asia that has been naturalized to the southern US. It has been used as a ground cover and for fodder and in Asian medicine for the management of alcoholism. Several compounds in kudzu root can inhibit enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism, thereby inducing a reduction in alcohol consumption in animal models. Kudzu is also used for muscular aches, heart disease, and related disorders. Its toxicity profile is low. More clinical studies in humans are needed to verify its wide use in numerous medical conditions.