Lesson 31: Kudzu

Lesson 31: Kudzu
In this video I discuss the medicinal, eatable and fiber uses of Kudzu. This hated weed, "The Vine That Ate The South" is actually one of our most powerful medicinal herbs and extremely useful. This lesson is in memory of Channing Cope, may history remember him fondly.
https://youtu.be/PX2u0rtujco

Indeed this plant could be lifesaving to those who know how to use it, and manage it well.       It would seem a herd of goats + kudzu would be the idea survival tools.

Absolutely!  An entire food and grazing system could be set up around it.

Judson Carroll wrote:Absolutely!  An entire food and grazing system could be set up around it.

In America at one time tomatoes were thought to be poisonous.          

I remember reading a book on George Washington Carver where he stood up in front of a crowd and took a bite out of a tomato, and the crowd thought he was going to die....

There was some truth in what was said about tomatoes,  as I understand it at that time people ate off pewter  ( lead ) plates, and when they ate tomatoes on their plates the acid of the tomato would take some of the lead of the plate off and was ingested by those who ate them, so...  they were poisoned....    

So often true how good things can be thought as bad for a lack of understanding.

If only ignorance was always so easy to dispel!  Last week, I received a message from a physician, who informed me that "all so called medical herbs are poisonous and evil!", he then accused me of being a charlatan and a fraud for discussing the medicinal and edible use of a plant.  I replied to him fairly politely, and included a quote from the Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine that stated the medical uses of the plant and declared that it was safe n designated therapeutic dosages.  The PDR is like a medical bible for prescription drugs and herbs.  It is huge, dense and comprised mostly of references to scientific studies.  He freaked out... sent me 27 messages, cussing and calling me "everything but a child of God" as a friend of mine used to say.  Education does not, necessarily make one wise.

Judson Carroll wrote:If only ignorance was always so easy to dispel!  Last week, I received a message from a physician, who informed me that "all so called medical herbs are poisonous and evil!", he then accused me of being a charlatan and a fraud for discussing the medicinal and edible use of a plant.  I replied to him fairly politely, and included a quote from the Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine that stated the medical uses of the plant and declared that it was safe n designated therapeutic dosages.  The PDR is like a medical bible for prescription drugs and herbs.  It is huge, dense and comprised mostly of references to scientific studies.  He freaked out... sent me 27 messages, cussing and calling me "everything but a child of God" as a friend of mine used to say.  Education does not, necessarily make one wise.

Familar with the PDR, as it helped get me out of the big pharma control grid.

Was very interested to know that the FDA sent people all over the world to get "medicines"  the locals used,  then tested them, then patented them...

https://www.amazon.com/Green-Pharmacy-Discoveries-Conditions-Authority/dp/0875963161?crid=1UGEV45H179NG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KdTi5t32wGssmJmQWRYDZZCKU9J2JKZ9UBcXeYF8C7JhsG6L3dDkQ6eL4be0N0MYECEiM1oADCNtFeRafCoZLUROh22DRnPW2dCnRtqNMOqI3DDBmPYCYQ9NdHjduNQbtJl94ySaLOxvlVO7kgK8ABdNjcBP-Ff-hjuATuptr8FvWbulzimM0EwYL75p9n11lEeA_QS-K4Qm0aZ2X7P0o6B2_mQrK_LyVpxvVYEX3rk.8ENx5eMATNiSlaH_bCyQ9qjGBi33gYZPS5pZXc8kDXw&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+green+pharmacy+by+dr.+james+duke&qid=1752001988&sprefix=the+green+phar%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-1


I found this book most helpful to get the big picture.

Mart Hale wrote:

Judson Carroll wrote:If only ignorance was always so easy to dispel!  Last week, I received a message from a physician, who informed me that "all so called medical herbs are poisonous and evil!", he then accused me of being a charlatan and a fraud for discussing the medicinal and edible use of a plant.  I replied to him fairly politely, and included a quote from the Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine that stated the medical uses of the plant and declared that it was safe n designated therapeutic dosages.  The PDR is like a medical bible for prescription drugs and herbs.  It is huge, dense and comprised mostly of references to scientific studies.  He freaked out... sent me 27 messages, cussing and calling me "everything but a child of God" as a friend of mine used to say.  Education does not, necessarily make one wise.

Familar with the PDR, as it helped get me out of the big pharma control grid.

Was very interested to know that the FDA sent people all over the world to get "medicines"  the locals used,  then tested them, then patented them...

https://www.amazon.com/Green-Pharmacy-Discoveries-Conditions-Authority/dp/0875963161?crid=1UGEV45H179NG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KdTi5t32wGssmJmQWRYDZZCKU9J2JKZ9UBcXeYF8C7JhsG6L3dDkQ6eL4be0N0MYECEiM1oADCNtFeRafCoZLUROh22DRnPW2dCnRtqNMOqI3DDBmPYCYQ9NdHjduNQbtJl94ySaLOxvlVO7kgK8ABdNjcBP-Ff-hjuATuptr8FvWbulzimM0EwYL75p9n11lEeA_QS-K4Qm0aZ2X7P0o6B2_mQrK_LyVpxvVYEX3rk.8ENx5eMATNiSlaH_bCyQ9qjGBi33gYZPS5pZXc8kDXw&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+green+pharmacy+by+dr.+james+duke&qid=1752001988&sprefix=the+green+phar%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-1


I found this book most helpful to get the big picture.

That is a good one! It was on the free to borrow shelf in the local health food store back in the 90s.

A few questions..

How does kudzu multiply?     Or how do you stop it from spreading?


Could it be grown in a pot?


For those who already have it growing, how do you use it?

Mart Hale wrote:A few questions..

How does kudzu multiply?     Or how do you stop it from spreading?


Could it be grown in a pot?


For those who already have it growing, how do you use it?

It can grow from seed, but the seeds seem to have a low germination rate. It mainly spreads through runners from the main vine.  Any part of the vine that touches the ground will root and become a new plant.  It would be possible to grow it in a very large container.  Maybe you could grow it in a 5 gal bucket or larger, and harvest the root before it gets too large for the container, cut off a piece of the vine and root it for a 2nd generation. You would have to decide how much of a concern birds spreading the seeds would be.  You could always screen it in or pick off the seed pods before they mature.  Or, if you have chickens and goats, they will probably keep the vine grazed back so it doesn't flower.