I am researching the bio-availability of kudzu root, radix puerriae in non-alcohol extraction methods. With the many studies from excellent sources, it appears that it does in fact reduce cravings for alcohol. However, the only medical use that is having any widespread success with well-documented studies seems to be in a product called Fineta. It is produced by a US company, Avantcare, Inc., but is mostly sold in Europe. Avantcare claims that kudzu root alone as the source for the isoflavone daidzin, will result in a diminishing effect over several months. None of the studies other than their own has apparently followed subjects for more than several months. The company has followed subjects for 13 years. I am trying to get a copy of a symposium Avantcare's founders presented in Europe in 2008. It is unavailable from the company. If anyone has any information about Fineta or info from the symposium, I would be grateful for the contact. One of the presenters was Dr. Neil Westby-Gibson and it was in November 2008. There is a press announcemnt for a press conference on the internet but the rest is in another language, probably Bulgarian.

Further info on Avantcare's Fineta...Some hospitals in Europe use Fineta. You can get a lot of information about the science on Avantcareinc.com (the company's U.S. website). You can translate the Bulgarian sites through Google. Fineta and studies are also on thisisthelastcall.com . There is enormous research on the brain chemistry of addiction from the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse which matches Fineta principles.