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Is drinking kudzu root beneficial for liver disease?

May 10, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
In general, drinking kudzu root (Pueraria lobata) may offer certain benefits for liver disease, including regulating immune function, providing antioxidant effects, anti-liver fibrosis properties, improving liver function, and protecting the liver against alcohol damage. Although kudzu root may be beneficial for patients with liver disease, its specific usage and dosage should follow medical advice to avoid adverse reactions caused by self-administration or excessive intake. Patients with liver disease should adopt a comprehensive medical approach for disease management.

Generally speaking, drinking kudzu root (Pueraria lobata) can be beneficial for liver diseases to some extent, including regulating immune function, exerting antioxidant effects, resisting liver fibrosis, improving liver function, and protecting the liver from alcohol damage. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Regulation of Immune Function

Kudzu root can enhance the body's immune capacity and improve the liver's resistance to disease. This helps prevent the occurrence of liver diseases and aids in the treatment of existing liver conditions to a certain extent.

2. Antioxidant Effects

Kudzu root contains abundant flavonoid compounds that have strong antioxidant properties. These compounds can scavenge free radicals, reduce oxidative stress-induced liver damage, and thus protect the structure and function of liver cells.

3. Anti-Liver Fibrosis

Kudzu root can inhibit the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells and reduce the synthesis of extracellular matrix. This helps alleviate the degree of liver fibrosis, delay the progression of cirrhosis, and aid in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases.

4. Improvement of Liver Function

Kudzu root can promote the regeneration and repair of liver cells and enhance their metabolic functions. It also helps improve various biochemical indicators of the liver, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), thereby improving overall liver health.

5. Alcohol Detoxification and Liver Protection

The soy glycosides in kudzu root have the ability to break down ethanol, reducing the irritation of alcohol on the brain and gastrointestinal tract. This helps reduce alcohol-induced damage to the liver and lowers the risk of alcoholic liver injury.

Although kudzu root may be beneficial for patients with liver disease, its specific usage and dosage should follow medical advice to avoid self-administration in excessive amounts, which could lead to adverse reactions such as skin itching and swelling. Patients with liver disease should adopt a comprehensive approach to disease management, including medical treatment and lifestyle adjustments. Before using kudzu root or any other herbal supplements, consultation with a physician or traditional Chinese medicine practitioner is recommended.

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