Herb module
Ge Gen
Kudzu RootPueraria lobata
The root of a famously fast vine, used to cool Heat, generate Fluids, and loosen tight neck and back muscles.
Ge Gen is the root of kudzu, a climbing vine in the bean family. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is cool in nature and is used to release the Exterior, relieve Heat, generate Fluids, and raise Spleen Yang so digestion holds steady. Zoi uses it in three formulas: Digestive Relief | Édafos™, Heart Meridian™, and Liver Meridian™.
Best functions
- Traditionally used to release muscles, especially of the neck and back
- Relieves Heat and generates Fluids
- Raises Spleen Yang and is used to settle loose stools
- Discharges exterior conditions
- Studies suggest it supports the liver and the heart
Fascinating facts
- Kudzu grows so fast that in the southern United States, where it was brought from East Asia, it blankets trees, fences, and whole hillsides. It is sometimes called 'the vine that ate the South.'
- Noa's herb notes call Ge Gen 'kudzu, the unstoppable root.' In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is known for lifting Yang energy upward and generating fluids.
- Ge Gen is traditionally known for releasing the muscles of the neck and back, the place where many of us carry our tension.
- In Japan, starch from the kudzu root, called kuzu, is a prized kitchen ingredient used to thicken sauces, soups, and delicate desserts.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ge Gen is cool, with a sweet and pungent flavor, and enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is a Wind-dispelling herb.
Biomedical deep dive
Ge Gen Kudzu Root
From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.
On the fact sheet
- Ge Gen (Kudzu Root, Puerariae lobatae) is cool and enters the SP and ST meridians; discharges exterior conditions, releases muscles especially of the neck and back, relieves Heat, generates Fluids, raises Spleen Yang and stops diarrhea. Digestive Relief | Édafos · Heart Meridian · Liver Meridian sheets
Key active constituents
- Puerarin, a Pueraria compound named in several cited studies (Liver, Édafos, Heart sheets).
- Daidzin, an antioxidant isoflavonoid (plant compound) named in the cited alcohol study (Liver sheet).
Pharmacology and mechanisms
- The Liver sheet says Puerariae has been shown to be protective of the liver.
- It protected the liver from alcohol damage in animal studies, and lowered blood alcohol levels and intoxication in rats.
- It shows promising inhibitory activity against H. pylori, a stomach bacterium (Édafos sheet).
- It has gastro-protective activity (protects the stomach lining).
- Some studies report fever-reducing, pain-easing and muscle-relaxing effects.
- It has anti-inflammatory activity and anti-diabetic effects, and lowers triglycerides (blood fats).
- It has anti-cardiac-remodeling activity: it inhibits heart enlargement, improves energy use in the heart, and suppresses inflammation.
- It helped improve glutathione, the body's master antioxidant, per the Liver sheet.
- Puerarin is a phytoestrogen isoflavone (plant estrogen-like compound) with cardioprotective and vascular effects. Noa’s notes
- Reduces alcohol absorption and dependence by modulating aldehyde dehydrogenase (an alcohol-processing enzyme). Noa’s notes
- Anti-diabetic: improves insulin sensitivity and reduces glucose output from the liver. Noa’s notes
What the research says
- Puerarin protected against acute liver injury in animals by restoring autophagy, the cell's cleanup system (Li et al., Am J Transl Res 2018).
- Daidzin decreased blood alcohol levels and shortened alcohol-induced sleep time in rats (Xie et al., Alcohol Clin Exp Res 1994).
- Studies showed decreased ALT and AST (blood markers of liver damage), and reversal of signs of liver fibrosis (Wang et al., Biomed Pharmacother 2020).
- Kudzu vine protected against chemically induced liver damage in lab and animal studies (Chang et al., BMC Complement Altern Med 2016).
- Puerarin was studied for protecting the stomach lining from stress injury in rats.
- Clinical studies in Asia found puerarin inhibits cardiac hypertrophy and reduces inflammation in cardiac remodeling (Lv et al., Pharmacol Res 2022).
- Puerariae significantly reduced total cholesterol and triglycerides in mice (Wang et al., Biomed Pharmacother 2020).
Safety, interactions and cautions
- Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
- May potentiate metformin and other blood-sugar-lowering medicines. Noa’s notes
- Caution with anticoagulants (blood thinners). Noa’s notes
In these Zoi formulas
- Digestive Relief | Édafos (#6 on the fact sheet)
- Heart Meridian (#4 on the fact sheet)
- Liver Meridian (#7 on the fact sheet)
