Kudzu Root

Kudzu root (Pueraria lobata) is described in the Donguibogam as having “a mild nature, sweet taste, and no toxicity.” Its defining action is hae-gi (解肌)—releasing the muscle layer from the inside out. Since the Shanghan Lun first recorded “when the neck and upper back are stiff with no sweating, use Galgeun-tang,” kudzu root has been the go-to herb for tension release in East Asian medicine for nearly two thousand years.

Its signature compound, puerarin, supports vasorelaxation via endothelium-related NO pathways and ion-channel mechanisms, helping blood vessels relax and widen. Daidzein provides antioxidant and phytoestrogenic support for circulation. In UVA-stressed human skin fibroblasts, kudzu root’s isoflavone complex reduced reactive oxygen species by approximately 58% and boosted total antioxidant capacity by over 60%.