One of the first things I noticed as we drove into Gaffney South Carolina was the Kudzu. I didn't know what it was at the time, but it was growing everywhere. It covered the trees, the fences, the roadsides, and buildings. Hell I think if you stand and look at it long enough it will cover you too. It is a creepy almost scary vine with rather large leaves. It creeps along the ground and reminds me of pumpkin vines. The leaves are very similar looking to that of a pumpkin leaf as well.
I asked the local people what Kudzu was and I got a variety of answers. I heard from some that it is a vine that wraps itself around trees and bushes until it kills them. I heard it was impossible to kill, that even round up or weed kill makes it grow faster. I was even told it has a sap that you never want to get on yourself. Apparently this sap will itch and spread and itch until it drives you crazy.
So I thought I would actually research this mysterious plant and find out what it truly is.
This is Kudzu seed pods.
This is Kudzu vines creeping along the ground. It looks pretty innocent in this picture, just creeping along the ground.
Then it starts to take over. It wraps around and covers everything in it's path.
Now what I actually found out about Kudzu is that it is a climbing, coiling, and trailing vine native to southern Japan and southeast China.
Kudzu was introduced from Japan into the United States in 1876 and is now common throughout most of the southeastern United States. Kudzu been spreading at the rate of 150,000 acres (61,000 ha) annually.
Kudzu has been used as a form of erosion control and also to enhance the soil. Kudzu can be used by grazing animals as it is high in quality as a forage and greatly enjoyed by livestock. I t can be enjoyed up until frost and even slightly after.
The Harvard Medical School is studying kudzu as a possible way to treat alcoholic cravings, by turning an extracted compound from the herb into a medical drug. The mechanism for this is not yet established, but it may have to do with both alcohol metabolism and the reward circuits in the brain.
Kudzu also contains a number of useful isoflavones, including daidzein (an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent). Daidzin is a cancer preventive and is structurally related to genistein (an antileukemic agent). Kudzu is a unique source of the isoflavone puerarin. Kudzu root compounds can affect neurotransmitters (including serotonin, GABA, and glutamate.) It has shown value in treating migraine and cluster headaches. It is recommended for allergies and diarrhea.
Research in mice models suggests that kudzu is beneficial in women for control of some postmenopausal symptoms, such as hypertension and diabetes type II.
In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), where it is known as gé gēn (Chinese: 葛根), kudzu is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs. It is used to treat tinnitus, vertigo, and Wei syndrome.
Kudzu has been traditionally been used as a remedy for alcoholism and hangovers in China. The root was used to prevent excessive consumption, while the flower was supposed to detoxify the liver and alleviate the symptoms afterwards. Some TCM hangover remedies are marketed with kudzu as one of their active ingredients (e.g. Hangover Busters.)
The roots contain starch, which has traditionally been used as a food ingredient in East Asia.
In the Southern United States, kudzu is used to make soaps, lotions, jelly, and compost.
Now the negative side to the Kudzu is that vines can also destroy valuable forests by preventing trees from getting sunlight.
The climate of the Southeastern U.S. is perfect for kudzu. The vines grow as much as a foot per day during summer months, climbing trees, power poles, and anything else they contact. Under ideal conditions kudzu vines can grow sixty feet each year.
I asked the local people what Kudzu was and I got a variety of answers. I heard from some that it is a vine that wraps itself around trees and bushes until it kills them. I heard it was impossible to kill, that even round up or weed kill makes it grow faster. I was even told it has a sap that you never want to get on yourself. Apparently this sap will itch and spread and itch until it drives you crazy.
So I thought I would actually research this mysterious plant and find out what it truly is.
This is Kudzu seed pods.
This is Kudzu vines creeping along the ground. It looks pretty innocent in this picture, just creeping along the ground.
Then it starts to take over. It wraps around and covers everything in it's path.
Now what I actually found out about Kudzu is that it is a climbing, coiling, and trailing vine native to southern Japan and southeast China.
Kudzu was introduced from Japan into the United States in 1876 and is now common throughout most of the southeastern United States. Kudzu been spreading at the rate of 150,000 acres (61,000 ha) annually.
Kudzu has been used as a form of erosion control and also to enhance the soil. Kudzu can be used by grazing animals as it is high in quality as a forage and greatly enjoyed by livestock. I t can be enjoyed up until frost and even slightly after.
The Harvard Medical School is studying kudzu as a possible way to treat alcoholic cravings, by turning an extracted compound from the herb into a medical drug. The mechanism for this is not yet established, but it may have to do with both alcohol metabolism and the reward circuits in the brain.
Kudzu also contains a number of useful isoflavones, including daidzein (an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent). Daidzin is a cancer preventive and is structurally related to genistein (an antileukemic agent). Kudzu is a unique source of the isoflavone puerarin. Kudzu root compounds can affect neurotransmitters (including serotonin, GABA, and glutamate.) It has shown value in treating migraine and cluster headaches. It is recommended for allergies and diarrhea.
Research in mice models suggests that kudzu is beneficial in women for control of some postmenopausal symptoms, such as hypertension and diabetes type II.
In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), where it is known as gé gēn (Chinese: 葛根), kudzu is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs. It is used to treat tinnitus, vertigo, and Wei syndrome.
Kudzu has been traditionally been used as a remedy for alcoholism and hangovers in China. The root was used to prevent excessive consumption, while the flower was supposed to detoxify the liver and alleviate the symptoms afterwards. Some TCM hangover remedies are marketed with kudzu as one of their active ingredients (e.g. Hangover Busters.)
The roots contain starch, which has traditionally been used as a food ingredient in East Asia.
In the Southern United States, kudzu is used to make soaps, lotions, jelly, and compost.
Now the negative side to the Kudzu is that vines can also destroy valuable forests by preventing trees from getting sunlight.
The climate of the Southeastern U.S. is perfect for kudzu. The vines grow as much as a foot per day during summer months, climbing trees, power poles, and anything else they contact. Under ideal conditions kudzu vines can grow sixty feet each year.
So this is the story of the Kudzu. Love It, Or Hate It... It Grows On You!
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