The pueraria lobata plant has been used in medical treatments for hundreds of years. The root, flower and leaf all can be utilized. Medical uses might include treatment of alcoholism, hangover symptoms, heart and circulatory problems, upper respiratory problems and skin problems.

The pueraria lobata is a member of the pea family, with reddish-purple flower clusters. It is native to southern Japan and southeast China. In Japan, it is known as kudzu, a name that might be more familiar to many people. In China, the plant is called ge-ge.

Since about 200 B.C., pueraria lobata has been used by Chinese medical experts. It is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs. Since about 600 B.C. the Chinese people have used it as a hangover medicine.

Following in that tradition, scientists at Harvard Medical School have studied it as a treatment for alcoholism. Some research suggests that drinkers who take it for at least a week will drink less per sitting, but it seems to have little effect on the desire to drink. In the United States, many over-the-counter hangover medicines include extracts of the plant.

Those who practice traditional Chinese medicine also use pueraria lobata as a treatment for high blood pressure and circulatory problems. In the U.S., some research has shown that the plant might be useful to treat cardiovascular disease and chest pain. Pueraria lobata also might have uses as a preventative for heart attacks.

Another traditional use for pueraria lobata is as a treatment for women who are undergoing menopause. Enzymes in the plant might act like estrogen. People who have conditions that might worsen with exposure to estrogen should not use pueraria lobata.

In China and Japan, doses usually are consumed in tea. It is possible to buy such medicinal teas in the U.S. It also can be administered intravenously.

Pueraria lobata has an advantage when compared to other medical treatments. When taken by mouth, it has no known side effects. When taken intravenously, it might cause itching and nausea.

In 1876, the pueraria lobata was introduced to North America to prevent soil erosion in the southeastern United States. The plant spread more rapidly than expected, though. To compound the problem, seeds might not germinate for years, causing surprise regrowth after the plant is thought to be eradicated.

In addition to its medical uses, pueraria lobata also is used as animal feed. Grazing animals enjoy it, and it takes about three to four years of constant grazing to overgraze a stand. The plant is, however, difficult to store, because it tends to stay wet and does not bale well.