I just looked up kudzu on wiki
I didn`t know it`s edible.
Have you tried it?
I use it often.
The herb in Chinese is pu er. I buy it at any of several Chinese markets, usually not more than $3-5 a pound.
It is used in their formulas for colds and flus. It is a moisturizer in general, therefore recommended for diabetes.
It is very good for relaxing the neck and shoulders. Take a little and you will definitely feel your neck and shoulder area get a lot looser. I use it, along with curcuma (yu jin), the orange spice tumeric, before any workout. Yogis use both before stretching, as kudzu relaxs the shoulders and neck, while tumeric loosens all tendons and ligaments.
I usually grind it in a coffee bean mill, and then stuff it in capsules.
I also use it when recipes call for corn starch. It makes a great "sauce" as when you cook kung pao, mixing in kudze and water, added slowly, makes that great clear sauce.