Continued...

Homeopathy

An experienced homeopath can prescribe a regimen for treating alcoholism that is designed especially for you. Some of the most common acute remedies are listed below.

• Arsenicum album for anxiety and compulsiveness, with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

• Nux vomica for irritability and compulsiveness with constipation, nausea, and vomiting

• Lachesis for cravings for alcohol, headaches, and difficulty swallowing

• Lycopodium for low self-esteem, heartburn, impotence

Acute dose is three to five pellets of 12X to 30C every one to four hours until symptoms are relieved.

Acupuncture

Alcoholics who stop drinking often experience withdrawal symptoms, especially during the first week or so that they abstain from alcohol. Insomnia, visual and auditory hallucinations, convulsions, acute anxiety, a rapid pulse, profuse perspiration, and fever can occur. With time, however, and with appropriate supervision if necessary, these symptoms pass and the alcoholic is set free to begin the lifelong work of recovery.

Acupuncture can help committed people to stop drinking by reducing or eliminating the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol abstinence and reducing cravings. Ear and/or body acupuncture can be used by TCM practitioners to treat people with alcoholism based on an individualized and thorough assessment of the excesses and deficiencies of qi located in various meridians. In the case of alcoholism, a qi deficiency is usually detected in the liver meridian, while the gallbladder meridian tends to contain excess qi. From a TCM perspective the related syndromes of addiction to alcohol or other substances can be defined as follows:

• liver qi stagnation (swellings, lumps, distended abdomen and chest, tension, thyroid problems, repressed emotions, frustration, anger, impatience), which over time leads to liver heat (red face, eyes, and tongue, insomnia, splitting headaches, constipation, aggression, violence), liver wind (moving or fluctuating pain, pulsating headache, spasms, cramps, dizziness, manic/depression) and/or deficient liver yin (dry eyes, weak vision, night blindness, dry brittle nails, and other general deficient yin signs).

• kidney-adrenal stress, resulting in deficient kidney yin (ringing in the ears, dry throat, dizziness, low backache, weak legs, red tongue, insecurity, agitation), deficient kidney yang (cold extremities, aversion to cold, weak knees and low back, frequent urination, edema, enlarged, pale tongue, lack of will power), and deficient jing (poor physical and/or mental development, inadequate brain function, early senility, impotence, dizziness, loose teeth, loss of head hair). Many drug “highs” consume massive amounts of jing essence.

• heart-mind spirit lack of balance (lack of mental focus, forgetfulness, poor sleep patterns, mental illness, speech problems, and agitation during de toxification).

• general qi deficiency (frailty, weakness, faint voice and shallow breath, little or no tongue coating, lack of motivation) and blood deficiency (pale lips, nail beds, tongue, and complexion; thinness; thin, dry hair; spots in the field of vision; irregular menstruation).

One of the primary aims in addiction work is a smooth, obstruction-releasing qi flow throughout the body-mind so that intoxicants are no longer craved. This entails clearing the liver, which directs smooth qi flow in general. Imbedded in the liver are chemical residues representing the life history of unresolved problems, denials, resentments, and repressions that have been masked by alcohol?

In addition to performing needling treatment, acupuncturists may employ other methods such as moxibustion, herbal remedies, diet and therapeutic massage.

Acupuncture has shown potential as an effective treatment for addictions, according to the studies performed in last two decades in China, Europe and North America. They found that acupuncture may reduce the desire to drink alcohol and the lower the number of admissions to alcohol detoxification centers, other studies have failed to duplicate these findings. Interestingly however, many addiction programs that currently offer acupuncture report that people appear to "like acupuncture" and, in many cases, want to continue with their detox program for longer periods of time when acupuncture is provided as a treatment option. This is very important since attendance is essential for the success of treatment.

Following Up

After initial care, medical and/or health care follow-up should continue for 6 to 12 months.

Recommendations

• Avoid all alcohol. Total abstinence is an absolute requirement for regaining control over your life and your health. Even after years of sobriety, you cannot begin drinking again and expect to maintain control over it. As little as se sip of something containing alcohol can renew the drinking pattern. You must choose not to drink.

• Seek help from a person or persons knowledgeable about this disorder. Alcoholics Anonymous has been doing wonderful work for many years in helping alcoholics achieve and maintain sobriety. Al-Anon is a similar group that pro vides support for the friends and families of alcoholics. The assistance and counseling services of these groups are avail able in nearly every city and town nationwide. Look in your local telephone directory for the group nearest you, or call your local mental health association for information.

• If possible, consult a nutritionally oriented physician or a TCM practitioner to determine your specific nutritional needs.

• Go on a ten-day live juice and cleansing fast to remove toxins from the body quickly.

• Eat a nutrient-dense diet of fresh whole foods, organically grown if possible, and follow the nutritional supplement program outlined above. Your primary foods should be raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.

• Avoid saturated fats and fried foods, which put stress on the liver. For essential fatty acids, use primrose oil supplements plus small amounts of cold-pressed organic vegetable oils.

• Do not consume refined sugar or anything that contains it. Alcoholics often have disorders of sugar metabolism.

• Get plenty of rest, especially in the early weeks of recovery, to allow your body to cleanse and repair itself.

• Avoid people, things, and places that are associated with drinking. Make new friendships with people who do not drink. Taking up a hobby, becoming involved in sports, and exercising (including Yoga, Tai-chi, Qi-Gong) or promote self-esteem and provide a productive outlet for energy.

• As much as possible, avoid stress. Cultivate patience, meditate, pray; this will be needed for the long, slow road to recovery.

• Do not take any drugs except for those prescribed by your physician.

• If you suspect that someone you know may be abusing alcohol, encourage the person to seek professional care.

Next Page