Kudzu has long been considered a medicinal plant for various ailments in Asia. Here you can find out more about its characteristics and whether it really delivers what it promises.b
Kudzu, also known as kuzu, is a plant that grows in Asia. It is one of the legumes. For example, while it has been known in Japanese naturopathy for some time, it is a newcomer in Europe. Here you can get them in powder, tablet or extract form dietary supplements to buy.
Manufacturers promise, among other things, that kudzu preparations make it easier to quit alcohol or smoking, help with various metabolic problems or alleviate symptoms during menopause. These promises have not yet been medically proven. The plant can also cause dangerous side effects.
What is Kudzu?
Kudzu originally comes from the Japanese mountains. The legume plant also grows in China and Korea. In Japan, its root is considered a traditional food when cooked. The starch from the kudzu root is also used as a binding agent.
The kudzu that you can buy today as a dietary supplement is also derived from the roots. To do this, workers crush the roots and extract the starch from the plant parts in several work steps. The starch then dries. As a powder, you can usually buy them freeze-dried.
Their healing effect is mainly due to the contained isoflavones be due. are isoflavones secondary plant substances. They are also found in soy, for example, and are similar in structure to the hormone estrogen.
Is kudzu healthy?
None of the supposed health benefits of kudzu have been scientifically proven. Instead, the plant can even have a rather negative effect in too high a dose. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment warns against taking isoflavones in addition to supplements. So far it has been disputed whether the secondary plant substances really have a positive effect on hormone balance, bone density or the cardiovascular system.
In addition, if the dose is too high, there is a risk of damaging the thyroid gland. The mammary gland tissue can also change if isoflavones are too high. This can possibly promote the development of breast cancer. Women undergoing hormone therapy during and after the menopause are particularly at risk because their risk of developing breast cancer is increased.
The consumer advice center also recommends that women suffering from cervical cancer should only take kudzu under medical supervision. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women and children should avoid the product. In addition, it is still unclear whether and how the Asian plant affects enzymes and medications in their effect. Interactions with alcohol are also not excluded.
Conclusion: How useful is the medicinal plant?
The myth still persists that herbal preparations are generally harmless to health. In some cases this is not the case. Not only are kudzu supplements expensive and may not perform as advertised, but they can also cause serious damage to your health.
From an ecological point of view, the plant is also problematic. It has to travel long distances to Germany and is processed using a lot of energy. This creates many CO2 emissionsthat drive global warming.
We therefore recommend that you always critically question the promises made by the manufacturers of kudzu and similar dietary supplements and seek medical advice before taking them.
Read more on Techzle.com:
- Maca and maca powder: high nutritional value and valuable ingredients
- Coconut water: 5 unpleasant facts about the trend drink
- Superfood list: These berries, fruits and powders pack a punch!