Yes, very very long vines. They can grow more than a foot a day in the summer and it dies off in winter. It is an invasive species. Edible too. Haha.
Kudzu has medicinal properties too!! Check this out....
The [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard"]Harvard[/ame] Medical School is studying kudzu as a possible way to treat [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic"]alcoholic[/ame] cravings, by turning an extracted compound from the herb into a medical drug.
[6] The mechanism for this is not yet established, but it may have to do with both alcohol [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolism"]metabolism[/ame] and the reward circuits in the brain.
Kudzu also contains a number of useful isoflavones, including [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daidzein"]daidzein[/ame] (an
anti-inflammatory and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial"]antimicrobial[/ame] agent). [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daidzin"]Daidzin[/ame] is a [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer"]cancer[/ame] preventive and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genistein"]genistein[/ame] (an [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leukemia"]antileukemic[/ame] agent). Kudzu is a unique source of the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isoflavone"]isoflavone[/ame] [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerarin"]puerarin[/ame]. Kudzu root compounds can affect [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotransmitters"]neurotransmitters[/ame] (including [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin"]serotonin[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GABA"]GABA[/ame], and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamate"]glutamate[/ame].) It has shown value in treating [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migraine"]migraine[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headache"]cluster headache[/ame].
[7] It is recommended for allergies and diarrhea.
[8]
Research in mice models suggests that kudzu is beneficial in women for control of some post-menopausal symptoms, such as hypertension and diabetes type II.
[9]
In [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_medicine"]traditional Chinese medicine[/ame], where it is known as gé gēn ([ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language"]Chinese[/ame]: 葛根
, kudzu is considered one of the
50 fundamental herbs. It is used to treat [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus"]tinnitus[/ame],
vertigo, and
Wei syndrome (superficial heat close to the surface)
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudzu[/ame]
