What is DHM?
Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is naturally derived from the fruit of the Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis). The tree is native to Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia and has been used in traditional herbal medicine as a treatment for alcohol hangovers and liver ailments for hundreds of years. [1]
What happens when you drink alcohol?
When you drink alcohol, it passes quickly into your bloodstream and travels to every part of your body. Alcohol affects your brain first, then your kidneys, lungs and liver. The effect on your body depends on your age, gender, weight and the type of alcohol. When you drink alcohol, your liver oxidises 95% of it. This means your liver converts alcohol into water and carbon monoxide. However, your liver can only oxidise one unit of alcohol an hour. [2]
A summary of the key benefits of DHM:
- Reduce alcohol induced symptoms such as headache
- Prevent liver damage and inflammation
- Helps the body to metabolise alcohol more effectively and faster
- Reduce fat accumulation in liver, which is a known cause of liver diseases
What is a "hangover"?
The word "hangover" refers to a set of symptoms that occur as a consequence drinking too much. These include fatigue, weakness and thirst among others; some people may also experience stomach pain or vertigo - just some examples on the list! Hangovers vary as each individual has their own unique experiences with them but they all share these common elements due in part from alcohol's effect upon our bodies when consumed excessive amounts over time. Hangovers are caused by a variety of factors, including dehydration, alcohol toxicity, and the effects of congeners, which are chemicals found in alcoholic drinks. [3]
How does DHM help?
When alcohol is consumed, the receptors in the nervous system are influenced to fire off inaccurate signals. This causes negative effects like headaches and cognitive impairment. Scientific studies have shown that DHM supports the receptors and inhibits the effect that alcohol has on the nervous system.[4]
Alcohol also causes Kupffer cells in the liver to activate more frequently. This leads to an increase in the production of inflammatory agents like cytokines [5], which can damage the liver and other organs at a cellular level [6] [7]. DHM has been scientifically proven to reduce such agents, and mediate against liver inflammation and damage [8].
As alcohol is identified as a toxin, our liver makes it a priority to break it down. This long and difficult process leads to fat deposits and liver tissue damage [9]. DHM reduces the burden and fat accumulation on the liver by promoting a higher effectiveness of alcohol metabolism enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) [10]. These enzymes convert alcohol into a simpler form that the body can eliminate easily [11].