Kuzu or kudzu root belongs to India, China, and Japan. Known as the Japanese Japanese arrowroot, it has been used as a popular soup and sauce thickening agent. But the medicinal properties of this fabulous root has been prevailing for more than 2,000 years. It has been widely used by the traditional healers of the Eastern nations to quell stress and calm down the turbulent digestive system.
Its innate ability to balance the natural sugars and the rich flavonoid constitution makes it a powerful natural remedy for a wide array of health conditions. Read on to know more about the health benefits of kudzu root.
List of Top Kuzu Root Health Benefits
1. Helps in managing alcoholism
This is one of the most reputed benefits of this root. According to a study that appeared in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal in 2012, it was mentioned that this root helps in alcohol withdrawal in a very effective way. It also helps in lowering the risks of alcoholism like live damage. Yet another study that appeared in 2013 in the Psychopharmacology journal suggested that using kuzu helps in lowering the negative impacts of alcoholism by helping the person reduce alcohol consumption.
2. Good for liver and diabetes management
The phytonutrient, miroestrol, found in this root helps in detoxifying the liver and promotes improved metabolism of nutrients. It also helps in preventing the oxidative damage, which otherwise could trigger diabetes. According to a study that appeared in the Journal of Natural Medicine in 2013, it works towards eliminating the free radical oxidization. In yet another that, it was noted that the presence of puerarin in this root shields the liver from toxicity and damages.
3. Promotes weight loss
If you are trying to shed those excess pounds, then kudzu root could be helpful. A starchy root, it is low in calories, yet keeps you fuller for a longer period. In addition it helps in curbing the net calorie intake and boost the metabolism, thereby promoting weight loss.
4. Beneficial for cardiovascular health
The presence of a powerful phytonutrient, Puerarin, in Kuzu keeps your heart safe by lowering the risk of cardiac hypertrophy. It is a medical condition that shrinks the chambers of your heart, negatively impacting the normal functioning of the heart. This particular phytonutrient has the power to stimulate the gene that could prevent this lethal cardiac condition.
In a study that appeared in 2013 in the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine magazine, it was noted that kidzu could help in shielding you from the risk of atherosclerosis.
5. Could help in balancing hormones
Kuzu root has innate power to regulate and balance the levels of hormones, including progesterone. It also helps in restoring the natural alkaline state of human body.
6. Could be used to manage kidney failure
According to a research, which is still in its infant stages, daily consumption of 750 mg phytonutrient puerari along with anti-diabetic medications could ease and even prevent diabetic nephropathy.
7. Helps you to exercise better
Using the isoflavones extracted from kudzu in your workout supplement could help you exercise better, says some preliminary researches.
Other Health Benefits of Kuzu
There are numerous studies that are being conducted on the immensely potential health benefits of kuzu. The studies, which still are in their preliminary stages, suggest that kuzu could be helpful in managing conditions like angina pectoris, migraine, encephalitis, polio myelitis, arrhythmia, pruritus, sinusitis, psoriasis, and urticaria. It is also suggested that intravenous administration of this root could be beneficial for those who have been affected by ischemic stroke.
Kudzu root has been used as a natural remedy for measles and pains as well as in easing digestive tract issues. It has also been advocated by folk medicine practitioners to boost your vitality, ease fatigue, and ward off bacterial infection.
How to use Kuzu Root?
One of the most popular way to use kuzu root is to prepare a tea using the ground roots. The recipe for the same is as given below –
Ingredients
- Kuzu powder – 1 tsp
- Cool water – sufficient to dissolve the powder
- Boiling water – 1 cup
How to prepare
- Dissolve kuzu root powder in cool water.
- Add boiling hot water to this mixture and stir thoroughly.
Add a little sea salt and sip the drink slowly.
It is pretty safe to use this beverage in your diet regularly. But if you are already on medications, please do consult with your doctor to eliminate negative impacts.
It is safe to consume kudzu root for up to 4 months while you can use it intravenously for about 20 days. There are certain studies that suggest that using kudzu could affect clotting, and hence could interfere with clotting medications. Being hypoglycemic in nature, it could interfere with the anti-diabetic medications also.
There is no written texts that talk about the appropriate dosing of this root. There is a wide prevalent notion that using this drug, in excess, could affect the liver and worsen conditions like hepatitis, despite the fact that it is used widely during alcohol withdrawal. While there are no established studies that talk about the side effects of this root, it is always better to exercise caution to stay safe!
