Kudzu Supplement Cuts Binge Drinking in Small Study

In a 120-person trial, adults with alcohol use disorder who took kudzu drank on fewer days than those on placebo.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Substance Abuse

Screen-print poster illustration of dried kudzu root and unlabeled capsules on a pale stone surface beside a tipped amber vessel. — A small U.S. trial found adults with alcohol use disorder who took a kudzu supplement drank on fewer binge days than those on placebo, with benefits lasting three months. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A small U.S. study found that a kudzu supplement reduced binge drinking days among adults with alcohol use disorder more than a placebo did. The benefit was still present three months after treatment ended, though the study was small and its findings are preliminary.

Why it matters

Binge drinking is a common and damaging pattern for people with alcohol use disorder, and most available support combines medication and counselling. A low-cost, low-risk option that reduces drinking days would be meaningful if larger studies confirm the result, which the researchers say is still needed.

This randomized, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 120 adults with alcohol use disorder who binge drank at least weekly and ran for 12 weeks alongside weekly counselling. Binge drinking days fell about 34% in the kudzu group compared with about 4% in the placebo group, and the difference persisted three months after treatment ended. The study is small, and its authors say larger studies are needed to confirm the results.

The players

University of California, San Francisco

A major U.S. academic medical center whose researchers lead clinical trials in addiction and substance use treatment.

The details

Kudzu is a plant with a long history of traditional medicinal use in East Asia. In this study, participants took the supplement about two and a half hours before they expected to binge drink, and they were told to take it whenever they felt a strong urge to drink heavily or had alcohol cravings. Researchers said reducing alcohol use during treatment may have helped participants rethink their relationship with alcohol and build confidence, though the stub does not describe a specific biological mechanism.

The 12-week treatment period ran with kudzu or placebo alongside weekly counselling.
Three months after treatment ended, the kudzu group still had fewer binge drinking days than the placebo group.

Health Landscape

Current treatment for alcohol use disorder relies on a small set of approved medications alongside counselling, and many patients do not respond fully to these options. Investigations of plant-based and other low-cost approaches remain early-stage, and this small trial represents one of the preliminary steps in testing whether such options deserve larger evaluation.

If you or someone you know struggles with binge drinking, this study suggests that research into low-cost supplements is ongoing, but the evidence is too preliminary to change care. Anyone considering a supplement for alcohol use should talk with a doctor first, especially since supplements are not regulated like medications.

The takeaway

A small study found a kudzu supplement reduced binge drinking days more than placebo, and the effect lasted three months after treatment. Larger trials are needed before this can be considered a treatment, so anyone seeking help for alcohol use should talk with a physician about evidence-based options.