Addictions Treatment Ayurvedic Medicine: The Ayurvedic medicine claims that an individual develops addictive behavior while attempting to cope with fear and anxiety. Each of the body types—vata, pitta, and kapha—copes with anxiety differently. Ayurvedic diagnostic method examines the pulse, the tongue, and the eyes, which indicate the condition of inner organs and suggests natural remedies. Ghee is often used in treatment, as are ashwagandha and calamus. Biofeedback Training and Neurofeedback Therapy: Neurofeedback therapy is a treatment approach for addiction that uses biofeedback and visualization techniques in hopes of reducing negative behaviors. The treatment is used for a wide range of applications, including alcoholism and drug abuse. Neurofeedback therapy involves three separate treatment procedures: First, alcoholics and addicts learn how to use biofeedback in association with breathing exercises and relaxation phrases. These techniques help the brain's alpha waves rise while also facilitating a theta state of consciousness (a very deep level of relaxed brain wave activity). The next phase of the program is visualization. Patients visualize scenarios in which they confront addictive scenarios, but reject the negative behaviors associated with the disease. Brain wave training is the third part of the treatment. Using sophisticated biofeedback equipment, the patient is further induced into an alpha state and then into a theta state. When this state is induced, a trained professional helps to explore past memories and embed new images depicting healthy behavior. The program also includes instruction in relapse prevention, shame and guilt work, the biology of addiction, spirituality exercises, and self-help. Chiropractic: Realignment of the spine, or more commonly referred to as chiropractic adjustment, may assist recovering patients, and increase the likelihood that they fully complete a drug treatment program. In fact, in an 18-month study conducted by Jay Holder, MD, DC in conjunction with researchers at the University of Miami School of Medicine and the Florida Chiropractic Society, it was shown that recovering addicts who received regular chiropractic adjustments were ten times more likely to successfully finish drug treatment programs compared to recovering addicts who did not receive chiropractic care. Dr. Holder's research showed that a misaligned spine interrupts a chemical sequence in the brain known as the "brain reward cascade." When the spine is properly aligned, the "brain reward cascade" creates feelings of well-being. Conversely, a misaligned spine results in what Dr. Holder calls "reward deficiency syndrome," in which the brain starts to crave mood-altering substances to recover feelings of well-being. The interference of the natural flow of brain chemicals, especially when used in conjunction with amino acid therapy, particularly amino acid DL-phenylalanine, will help the brain restore its reward system. Diet: Proper diet is essential in treating addictions. Most addictive people have problems processing sugar and carbohydrates. A strict diet of three meals a day, emphasizing protein, may improve symptoms of addiction. Typical protein choices include organic fish, poultry, meat, cheese, eggs, tofu, and nut butter. Complex carbohydrates are permitted, including beans, grains, and vegetables. Fats in the diet tend to stabilize blood sugar, which in turn stabilizes serotonin production. Following this eating plan will normally create positive changes in mood, often within three to four days. Over time, caffeine and sugar intake are examined and gradually reduced. Because of its high sugar content, excess fruit is avoided, particularly grapes, cherries, watermelon, and all fruit juices. Citrus fruits, apples, and strawberries, however, can be permitted due to their lower sugar content. Flower Essences: Flower essences can help ease addictive cravings. Some of the most effective flower essences for aiding recovery from addiction are Black Cohosh, Bleeding Heart, California Poppy, Chrysanthemum, Five Flower Formula, Milkweed, Morning Glory, Nicotiana, Rescue Remedy, Self-Heal, and Walnut. Herbal Medicine: Herbal medicine can play an important role in treating addiction. Cleansing and healing the liver is a critical step in the recovery process; the liver is responsible for filtering the toxins in our blood. Cleansing and Detoxification Milk thistle (Silybum marianum), which contains some of the most powerful liver-protective substances, not only protects it from damage, but also encourages the growth of new cells. Other herbs for supporting liver function include dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and bupleurum (Radix bupleurum). Since the optimal function of eliminative organs, such as the kidneys and liver, are necessary to battle addiction and sustain recovery, blood-cleansing herbs are vital. Oat extract, burdock root, fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), echinacea, and licorice root, are all useful. Like other drugs, the withdrawal symptoms of caffeine, mainly headache, fatigue, and depression, make abstinence difficult. Feverfew, lime blossom, and chamomile flowers can help break the coffee habit. Skullcap, valerian, balm (Melissa), kava-kava, and vervain are natural alternatives to pharmaceutical sedatives and tranquilizers used to treat anxiety, inside and outside of addiction treatment. Oatstraw (Avena sativa), Siberian ginseng, and St. John's wort are other useful herbs that can help ease addictive cravings. Homeopathy: Useful homeopathic remedies for treating alcoholism and drug addiction are Berberis, Nux vomica, Sulphur, Lachesis. Lycopodium, while Daphne ind., and Tabacum are effective in helping people to quit smoking. Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists, and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. We suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments. Please seek the advice of your alternative health care practitioner before undergoing these procedures to make sure they are appropriate for you. *Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy treatment. The section: Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water, offers clear instructions and recommendations. Juice Therapy: A juice fast of organic vegetable juices over two to three weeks can help detoxify the blood of nicotine and help to end the craving for cigarettes. Avoid acidic juices such as orange, grapefruit, and tomato. Cleansing and Detoxification Nutritional Supplementation: Megavitamin therapy is commonly cited as one of the most vital tools for replenishing vitamin deficiency, which affects more than 50% of alcoholics. They are almost always deficient in one or more of the B vitamins, particularly thiamin (B1) and B6. Narcotics addicts often suffer from a deficiency of essential minerals, especially magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Alcohol enhances free-radical formation (molecules that damage the body). Therefore, antioxidants such as selenium, zinc, and vitamins C and E are needed to oppose their effects. Zinc may help the body metabolize and detoxify from alcohol, as does vitamin C. Chromium aids in stabilizing the erratic blood sugar seen in alcoholic hypoglycemia, while choline and folic acid are also commonly cited as important supplements to assist in the body's recovery from addiction. Children of alcoholics may have a deficiency of the amino acids GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and glutamine. Glutamine assists in improving mental alertness and memory and also increases levels of GABA. Both GABA and glutamine help stop alcohol and sugar cravings and aid in the absorption of minerals into the tissues. Amino acid therapy, consisting of the amino acids DL-phenylalanine (750 mg 3x/day), 5-hydroxtryptophan, or 5 HTP (500 mg, 3x/day), L-glutamine (750 mg/day) and L-tyrosine (500 mg, 3x/day) has also been shown to be extremely valuable in helping to rebalance brain chemistry, thus reducing the biochemical cravings for alcohol, drugs, and/or nicotine. Traditional Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for heroin, cocaine, and crack addictions. Acupuncture is also useful for helping to reduce nicotine addictions. Auriculotherapy (ear acupuncture) has been shown to be particularly helpful for treating addictions. Dr. Jay Holder, MD, DC developed a specific form of auriculotherapy that he uses in conjunction with chiropractic and amino acid therapy to treat addictions. Its use has an 80% success rate in treating patients addicted to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, nicotine, as well as other drugs, and also for addictive behaviors such as sex, gambling, and workaholicism. Chinese herbs can also be helpful. These include astragulus, ginger, and ginseng.
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