Kudzu powder is not only a source of nutrition but also a familiar traditional Oriental medicine with many positive effects on health. This article will explore the benefits of consuming kudzu powder and the best ways to use it effectively.
1. Origin and components of Kudzu powder
Kudzu, also known as Arrowroot, Pueraria, is a perennial climbing plant. Its stems are long and vine-like, and its roots develop into large, elongated tubers, typically 6–8 cm in diameter and about 15 cm long. The tubers are firm, dense, heavy, and rich in starch, with a mild fragrance, sweet taste, and cooling properties. Kudzu tubers are usually harvested from late October until April of the following year. After harvesting, the roots are cleaned, peeled, and cut into pieces for boiling or dried to produce Kudzu powder, which can be stored for extended periods.
Kudzu contains 12–15% starch. Additionally, it includes isoflavones—natural compounds with functions similar to estrogen, which help improve hormonal balance, enhance skin health, and maintain a slim figure for women. Moreover, Kudzu powder contains puerarin (which promotes vasodilation, provides antioxidant benefits, and protects the heart), daidzein (with muscle-relaxing properties), and genistein (which helps reduce belly fat, offers antioxidant effects, and improves body shape).
2. Health benefits of consuming Kudzu Powder
What are the benefits of consuming Kudzu? Kudzu powder offers numerous health advantages, including:
2.1. As a Food Source
Before being processed into powder, freshly harvested Kudzu tubers can be eaten by boiling or roasting them. Is boiled Kudzu beneficial for health? With its rich nutritional profile and sweet, nutty flavor, boiled or roasted Kudzu is a popular and healthy snack enjoyed by many.
Additionally, Kudzu powder can be used to make cakes, sweet soups, and refreshing beverages. Desserts like lotus seed soup or mung bean soup are often prepared with Kudzu powder to achieve the perfect consistency, enhance natural sweetness, and provide a cooling effect for the body.
2.2 Skin Care
Using Kudzu powder as a face mask is an effective remedy for melasma. Additionally, the genistein in Kudzu powder helps with weight loss and maintaining a balanced figure.
How to make a Kudzu powder mask for melasma treatment:
- Prepare 3 tablespoons of Kudzu powder and 1 egg white.
- Mix the Kudzu powder and egg white until a smooth, thick consistency is achieved.
- Clean your face with warm water and facial cleanser to open the pores.
- Apply the mixture to damp skin, massage gently for 3–5 minutes, and leave it on for about 15 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat your skin dry.
- Repeat 2–3 times per week for best results.
Using Kudzu powder for Weight Loss
Each day, simply drink a glass of water made by mixing 300ml of water, 15g of kudzu powder, and one teaspoon of lime juice. This can help your body lose weight, reduce belly fat, and effectively detoxify and cool down.
2.3. Healing Properties
In traditional Eastern medicine, Kudzu is a widely used medicinal herb known for its cooling, detoxifying, and thirst-quenching effects. Here is a notable remedy using Kudzu:
Treating the Common Cold
Traditional medicine offers a remedy called Cát Căn Thang (Pueraria Decoction) to treat wind-cold syndromes with symptoms such as fever, chills, aversion to wind, headache, and stiffness or pain in the neck.
Ingredients: 12g of Kudzu + 6g of cinnamon twig + 8g of ephedra + 8g of fresh ginger + 6g of white peony root + 6g of roasted licorice + 12 jujube fruits.
Instructions: Decoction is prepared by boiling these ingredients in water. Consume one dose per day, divided into three servings for maximum effectiveness.
Treating Heatstroke
To relieve heatstroke symptoms, dissolve 12 g of Kudzu powder in cooled boiled water. Add a small amount of sugar, stir well, and give it to the affected person to drink.
Treating Alcohol Poisoning
Prepare 30g of Kudzu flower powder and 15g of licorice powder, then mix them together. Each time someone is intoxicated, dissolve 3g of the mixture in cool water and have the person drink it. Alternatively, you can simply boil 20g of dried kudzu flowers with 1 liter of water and drink it multiple times throughout the day.
Treating Food Poisoning and Bloody Stool
Mix 500 ml of fresh Kudzu root water with 500 ml of fresh lotus stem water. Drink small sips until the symptoms of bloody stool are relieved.
Treating Dysentery
For symptoms such as abdominal pain, the urge to strain, and a burning sensation in the anus (possibly with blood in stool), try the following remedy:
Mix 15 g of Kudzu powder with an appropriate amount of sugar in 300 ml of water. Heat the mixture, stirring until it thickens, then let it cool before eating. Consume 2–3 times a day, and the symptoms should improve.
Relieving Itchiness from Sweat
Prepare 5 g of Kudzu powder, 5 g of bletilla striata powder (Thiên hoa phấn), and 20 g of talc powder (Hoạt thạch). Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and sprinkle the mixture onto the itchy areas for relief.
3. Important Considerations When Using Kudzu Powder
- People with a deficiency of yang energy should avoid using Kudzu powder. Symptoms of this condition include: loose stools, frequent bloating, a dull taste in the mouth, a tongue with thin white coating, cold hands and feet, and a lack of thirst.
- Do not give raw Kudzu powder water to children. Kudzu has a cooling property, which helps reduce heat, but if the child is not experiencing heat symptoms, raw Kudzu may cause stomach pain and diarrhea. If you want to give it to children, it’s better to cook the Kudzu to reduce its cold property and make it safer.
- Pregnant women with a history of miscarriage or threatened miscarriage should avoid consuming Kudzu powder.
- Limit the use of Kudzu powder mixed with cold water, as it may cause stomach pain and diarrhea. If possible, it should be cooked or mixed with hot water to reduce side effects.
- Do not combine honey with Kudzu powder as it may produce substances that are harmful to health.
- Do not combine pomelo flowers with Kudzu water, as this can diminish the medicinal properties of Kudzu.
- People with low blood pressure or those in a weakened state should not consume Kudzu powder in the morning, as this is when blood hormone levels are usually lower.
- Avoid drinking Kudzu powder at night, as it may cause the digestive system to work continuously, which could negatively affect the stomach.
- Do not drink Kudzu powder on an empty stomach. The best time to consume it is about 30–60 minutes after lunch or dinner.
- Do not overconsume Kudzu powder. The ideal amount is one glass per day.
- Avoid adding too much sugar when preparing Kudzu powder.
- Always buy arrowroot powder from reputable sources with clear origin and certification to ensure safety.
The article has provided answers to readers about Benefits of consuming Kudzu powder. While Kudzu powder offers numerous health benefits, users should avoid overconsumption or improper preparation to prevent potential adverse effects on health.
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