Alternative Treatments For Alcohol Addiction
Filed Under Dr. Zoltan Rona (MD) |
Alcohol addiction can be helped by many vitamins, minerals, herbs and amino acids. Due to the depleting effects of alcohol on nutrient reserves, alcoholics usually suffer from a long list of deficiencies, especially B complex vitamins. The ideal thing to do is see a natural health care practitioner for a comprehensive nutritional and biochemical assessment before starting on drastic diet changes and food supplements.
To help prevent liver, kidney and brain damage, alcoholics should take a broad spectrum antioxidant combination product. Herbal combinations of milk thistle (silymarin), artichoke and turmeric are excellent for liver support. Alpha lipoic acid and N-acetyl-cysteine are two other nutrient supplements that can reverse liver damage.
For amino acids and B vitamins, I recommend a combination of bee pollen powder, Biostrath elixir, aloe vera juice and beet root powder. These all provide strong nutrient support protection against alcohol without any dangers of vitamin toxicity (especially vitamin A).
The hormone melatonin and amino acids like tryptophan and GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) may also be effective therapy since many people drink in order to elevate their levels of these chemicals in the brain.
With alcohol problems, I have found that introducing one healthy thing into the lifestyle leads to further changes for the better. Psychological counselling and 12 step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (minus the free coffee and doughnuts) can be very helpful but biochemical/nutritional imbalances must be attended to at the same time for lasting results.
Dr. Rona
