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Kudzu Helps Curb Binge Drinking
jeepliberty writes "CNN has a story that the invasive
ground cover vegetation Kudzu is being tested to curb binge
alcohol drinking. In the health story posted Monday, researchers at the
Harvard-affiliated McClean Hospital in Boston stated that volunteers
who were given kudzu drank about 50% less beer in a 90-minute period
than the group that was given a plecebo. The kudzu group got just an intoxicated."
The article states that the BAC levels in the kudzu group were still raised. This is the most dangerous part of binge drinking which leaves me wondering if using it is really safer. It may help break the habit but doesn't seem like it's safe method of trying to be able to drive home sooner.
The use of herbal plants to treat alcohol-related diseases dates back to 600 AD. One such Chinese herbal medicine XJL (NPI-028), has long been used to reduce the inebriation that results from alcohol consumption. NPI-028 contains the extracts of several plants including Pueraria lobata (kudzu) and Citrus reticulata, which were recorded in an ancient Chinese materia medica entitled Ben Cho Gang Mu (li, 1590-1696 AD) and have long been used to lessen alcohol intoxication (antidrunkenness) (Sun, circa 600 AD). However, it is difficult to assess the real efficacy of kudzu based on these writings because they are primarily anecdotal in nature.
The scientists were very well aware of the ancient literature. However, the article continues to site sources showing that Kadzu has been extensively tested and no antidrunkenness effect was found. What makes this study new is that they isolated and concentrated the active ingredient that causes the effect (isoflavones). The study used an isoflavones concentration of 25% - in contrast the highest concentration that you can buy on the market is 1-2%, with the ranges varying widely within samples from the same manufacturer.
This study doesn't state that the sun rises in the east; it suggests that perhaps the earth revolves around the sun.
Before you all run out and start munching on Kudzu, you should note that the study had the participants take 1000mg of concentrated Kudzu extract containing 25% isoflavones twice per day over a period of one week. In contrast, the article reports that when they tested over-the-counter preparations of kudzu, "none of the preparations contained more than 2% isoflavones, and most contained less that 1%". In order achieve the same dose used by the researchers, one would have to consume a minimum of 12.5 grams of over-the-counter preparations twice per day. Researchers tried using over-the-counter Kadzu in the past but didn't see any effect until the isoflavones were concentrated.
How long before 40oz manufactures start adding kudzu to their malt liquor, bottling it in 20oz bottles and charging twice as much?
Or hell, add it to a regular 40oz, and call it an (80)oz.
BTW - i call dibbs on these ideas! You all are my witnesses.
There are 01 types of people in this world. Those that understand binary, and me.
But... all that tells us is people who drink more tend to die from other causes before they'd die from (or develop) heart disease. As you stated: "However, above one drink per day deaths from accidents starts to rise extremely rapidly.
I think you might have more of a point if the effect started at four or five drinks, but most of the benefit comes from the first drink. Also, if your theory was correct, then as mortality from accident rises dramatically at three to four drinks, the mortality from heart attacks would fall even more rapidly. Howver it does not; the marginal benefit drops dramatically from one to two to three drinks.
To my mind this argues that both factors are independent.
In any case, the overall mortality rate is low enough at the levels we are talking (zero to four drinks), that population effects aren't significant. However, among people who drink ten or fifteen drinks a day, it is likely that those people kill themselves at a sufficient rate to alter other mortality rates.
If I recall directly, these results come from longitudinal studies such as the Framingham study and the Nurses Health study; which makes them about as solid as any epidemiological data is. To do a controlled study, you'd, er, have to assign people to the five or six drink a day group. There might be some ethical considerations...
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
You can start with the 1976 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species rhino ban agreement. I know that happened probably a good 15 years before you were born, which is like, o-my-god, soooo long ago...
RTFA. They gave a placebo for a control group.
"Quack medicine" better decribes what managed care dishes out than it describes the clinical use of traditional medicinal herbs.
If you're interested in the scientific and reductionist research into herbal preparations rather than spouting FUD, I suggest you search PubMed.
Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
You cannot wash away blood with blood