Ge Gen

There are 17 species of evergreen or deciduous, twining climbers in this genus, which is distributed in SE Asia and Japan. Pueraria lobata was introduced to the USA in the 1870s and widely planted in 1933 in the southeast for erosion control. Within ten years it had become an invasive weed, spreading over 200,000 hectares (500,000 acres). In warm areas it can grow 18m (60ft) in a single season; the flowers, although attractive, are largely hidden beneath the luxuriant foliage. The first mention of P. lobata in Chinese medicine was in the Shen Nong Canon of Herbs, begun during the Han dynasty (206BCE-CE23). The plant has long been used in Chinese medicine to treat alcohol abuse, and has been publicized as a potentially safe and effective treatment; it contains chemicals (daidzin and daidzein) in both roots and flowers that surpress the appetite for alcohol. (Existing drugs interfere with the way alchohol is metabolized and can cause a buildup of toxins.) It is also planted in the East to prevent soil erosion and as a fodder crop, and is an imprortant ingredient in Japanese cuisine. Pueraria is name after Marc Puerari (1766-1845), born in Geneva, who was a professor of botany in Copenhagen.

In China and Japan, the root of this fast-growing, flowering vine has been a common ingredient in foods and medications for centuries. More recently, researchers have found that substances in kudzu root interfere with the body's ability to metabolize alcohol, and a drug derived from kudzu root may help in the treatment of alcoholism.

Vigorous, deciduous, twining climber with a massive tuber, hairy stems and palmate leaves, divided into 3 ovate to diamond-shaped, lobed leaflets, to 18cm (7in) long. Fragrant purple flowers, 2cm (¾in) long, are produced in erect racemes, to 25cm (10in) long, in summer, followed by flat hairy fruits that split open when ripe.


Common Name:
Ge Gen
Other Names:
Japanese Arrowroot, Kudzu, Kudzu Vine, Pueraria Root
Botanical Name:
Pueraria lobata syn. P. thunbergiana, Pueraria Montana
Genus:
Pueraria
Family:
Papilionaceae
Native Location:
China, Japan, and Pacific Islands.
Cultivation:
Moist, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Train and prune regularly to control growth. May be grown as an annual. Remove all pieces of root when harvesting to avoid unwanted regrowth. Extremely invasive weed in warm areas.
Propagation:
By seed sown in spring at 13-18°C (55-64°F); by division in spring; by layering during the growing season. Seeds germinate more quickly if soaked before sowing.
Harvest:
Roots are lifted from autumn to spring and used fresh as juice, or dried for use in decoctions and powders. Flowers are picked before fully open and dried for use in decoctions.
Height:
20m (70ft)
Hardiness:
Z7-10
Parts Used:
Roots (ge gen), flowers (ge hua).
Properties:
A sweet, cooling, tonic herb that increases perspiration, relieves pain, relaxes spasms, lowers blood pressure, and soothes the digestive system.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for colds, influenza, feverish illnesses, thirst in diabetes, and muscular tension in neck and shoulders; also for acute conditions, such as stiff neck and sudden deafness (roots), gastritis, nausea and vomiting, alcohol poisoning, and abdominal bloating (flowers). Often combined with the flowers of Chrysanthemum x moriflorum (See, Florist's Chrysanthemum) for alcoholism, hangovers, and alcohol poisoning. Externally for snake bite (roots). Ground root is widely used in remedies for colds, influenza and minor digestive problems.
To treat measles, irregular heartbeat, breast pain, fever, diarrhea, diabetes, traumatic injuries, and psoriasis; to relieve the symptoms of alcoholic hangover.
Typical Dose:
A typical dose of kudzu for the treatment of chronic alcoholism is approximately 1.2 gm of kudzu root extract two times daily for four months.
Drug Interactions:
Taking kudzu with these drugs may enhance the effects of the drugs:
Acebutolol, (Novo-Acebutolol, Sectrol)
Adenosine, (Adenocard, Adenoscan)
Amiodarone, (Cordarone, Pacerone)
Bretylium, (Bretylium)
Digitalis, (Digitek, Lanoxin)
Diltiazem, (Cardizem, Tiazac)
Disopyramide, (Norpace, Rhythmodan)
Dofetilide, (Tikosyn)
Esmolol, (Brevibloc)
Flecainide, (Tambocor)
Ibutilide, (Corvert)
Lidocaine, (Lidoderm, Xylocaine)
Mexiletine, (Mexitil, Novo-Mexiletine)
Moricizine, (Ethmozine)
Phenytoin, (Dilantin, Phenytek)
Procainamide, (Procanbid, Pronestyl-SR)
Propafenone, (GenPropafenone, Rhythmol)
Propranolol, (Inderal, InnoPran XL)
Quinidine, (Novo-Quinidin, Quinaglute DuraTabs)
Sotalol, (Betapace, Sorine)
Tocainide, (Tonocard)
Verapamil, (Calan, Isoptin SR)
Taking kudzu with these drugs may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar):
Acarbose, (Prandase, Precose)
Acetohexamide, (Acetohexamide)
Chlorpropamide, (Diabinese, Novo-Chlopropamide)
Gliclazide, (Diamicron, Novo-Gliclazide)
Glimepiride, (Amaryl)
Glipizide, (Glucotrol)
Glipizide and Metformin, (Metaglip)
Gliquidone, (Beglynor, Glurenorm)
Glyburide, (DiaBeta, Micronase)
Glyburide and Metformin, (Glucovance)
Insulin, (Humulin, Novolin R)
Metformin, (Glucophage, Riomet)
Miglitol, (Glyset)
Nateglinide, (Starlix)
Pioglitazone, (Actos)
Repaglinide, (GlucoNorm, Prandin)
Rosiglitazone, (Avandia)
Rosigilitazone and Metformin, (Avandamet)
Tolazamide, (Tolinase)
Tolbutamide, (Apo-Tolbutamide, Tol-Tab)
Lab Test Alterations:
  • May decrease blood glucose levels.
  • May decrease blood cholesterol levels.
Disease Effects:
This herb may have estrogen-like effects and should not be used by women with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer or other hormone-sensitive conditions.
Supplement Interactions:
May increase the action of herbs and supplements that have estrogen activity, such as Black Cohosh, Chaste Tree Berry, and Soy.
Culinary Uses:
Root yields very fine arrowroot, used in Japanese cuisine to thicken sauces and soups, make noodles and coatings for tempura, and as a gelling agent. Popular in macrobiotic and vegetarian cooking.
Bibliography:
Encylopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright ©: 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited pg 336
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD. Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp.301-302