If you’ve become frustrated with Western medicine’s approach to treating drug and alcohol dependency, you may be interested in trying a few alternative medicine techniques. Substance abuse continues to be a problem in all areas of society. Both young and old, rich and poor, college-educated and high-school drop outs can have addiction problems. Many people find that a genetic tendency towards addiction seems to draw them towards substance abuse at the first sign of a crisis, while others develope problems through boredom, experimentation, or peer pressure. Regardless of the cause, once someone decides to get clean, it can be a long and frustrating journey.
Many people with a drug or alcohol problem have a nutritional deficiency due to malnutrition and can have liver problems due to toxins. Nutritional support is an alternative medicine technique that attempt to correct nutritional problems and flush toxins from the body. For addicts, the levels of beta-carotene, vitamins B1, C, and E, zinc, and selenium should be increased through diet and/or supplements. Calcium and magnesium can also be helpful. The recovering addict should avoid refined carbohydrates and processed sugars while increasing their intake fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Herbal remedies are often used as alternative medicine approaches. Certain herbs reduce alcohol and drug withdrawal symptoms including anxiety and insomnia. Some can also reduce the body’s craving for its drug of choice. For relaxation, try peppermint, catnip, chamomile, or skullcap. St. Johns Wort can reduce depression. Burdock root, Echinacea, and milk thistle act as cleansing agents. Rudimentary Chinese studies show that Kudzu root tea can reduce the cravings for alcohol by up to half.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine, has been used successfully to treat alcohol and drug addiction. This method attempts to restore the imbalances in the body that led to addiction in the first place and has up to a 50% success rate. The treatments can reduce the withdrawal symptoms and prepares the mind to face any underlying emotional problems. Acupuncture treatments for addiction concentrate on the liver, kidney, and nervous system meridian points or channels in most cases.
