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Alcoholism Therapy - Comprehensive Overview, treatments, complementary and alternative

General

With regard to body is concerned, alcohol is a poison. Some of the effects of chronic consumption of alcohol include brain damage (women may be more vulnerable to chronic alcohol), liver, pancreas, duodenum, and the central nervous system. The alcohol causes metabolic damage to every cell in the body and depression the immune system. It may be years before the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption are evident, but if an alcoholic continues to drink, your life may be reduced from ten to fifteen years or more.

Alcohol is metabolized in the liver. The repeated consumption of alcohol inhibits the liver's production of enzymes affecting the body's ability to absorb proteins, fats and fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) and B complex vitamins (thiamin especially folic acid) and other water-soluble vitamins. Many essential nutrients are not retained for use by the body and is rapidly eliminated through the urine. The toxic effect of alcohol on the liver is very serious. First, excessive amounts of fat accumulate in the liver, a result of the effect of alcohol on the ability the body to digest fats properly. Then, the alcoholic may develop hepatitis, a condition in which cells of the liver becomes inflamed and may die. The final, often fatal, stage of liver damage in alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, a disease characterized by inflammation, hardening and scarring of the liver This prevents the normal passage of blood through the liver, inhibiting the body's ability to filter toxins and foreign substances.

The liver is an organ of the body more robust. It is the only body that has the ability to regenerate after certain types of damage. Up to 25 percent liver can be removed, and within a short time, it will grow back to its original shape and size. Continually abuse, but if cared for properly, they function more than adequately for decades. Alcohol is one of the toxins that the liver does not control, and others. The liver does not regenerate after being severely damaged by alcohol.

There are many other health consequences of alcoholism as well. Alcoholics often experience nervous system damage peripheral. This damage can occur initially as a loss of feeling in hands or feet, with an accompanying difficulty in walking. Chronic drinking also causes inflammation of the pancreas. This further hinders the body's ability to digest fats and other nutrients, and can lead to diabetes.

Alcoholics a wrinkled face the risk of cancer of the mouth and throat due to direct toxicity of alcohol. They may also experience high blood pressure, reducing production of testosterone, dilation of blood vessels visible just below the surface of the skin, and enlargement of the heart disease can progress to congestive heart failure.

The social consequences of alcoholism may also be very destructive. Alcohol abuse takes a huge toll society through the traffic and other accidents, poor job performance and emotional harm to entire families.

Alcoholism and pregnancy

Drinking during pregnancy is particularly dangerous. The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects and increases the likelihood of miscarriage. The alcohol passes through the placenta from the mother and fetal circulation. This substance is toxic to the central nervous system of the fetus. In addition, the fetal liver should try to metabolize alcohol, but the fetal liver is not fully developed, the alcohol remains in the fetal circulation. Women who drink during pregnancy often give birth to babies with low birth weight. Its growth may be slowed or prevented, their brains may be smaller than normal, and may having mental retardation. The limbs, joints, fingers, and facial features may be deformed. Heart and kidney malformations can occur. Some children alcohol exposure in utero to be hyperactive in adolescence and exhibit learning disabilities. Each drink you consume a pregnant woman increases the risk of your child of being born with fetal alcohol syndrome, and also increases your chances of miscarriage. Even moderate amounts of alcohol can be harmful, especially in the first three to four months of pregnancy.

Signs and symptoms

Alcoholism is often accompanied by the following signs and symptoms. Symptoms vary with the amount of alcohol taken and how long it has been abused.

• Craving for alcohol
• Inability to monitor consumer habits
• Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, tremors and anxiety, when alcohol consumption is stopped after a period of excessive alcohol consumption
• Tolerance (the need for increasing amounts of alcohol to feel its effects)
• Psychological social dysfunction, occupational
• Malnutrition, anorexia
• Cardiovascular symptoms (main cause of death)
• Levels elevated cancer (second leading cause of death)
• Repeated infections, for example, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections
• Lung diseases complicated by smoking, for example, respiratory failure, pneumonia
• Central nervous system disorders, unsteady gait or posture, impaired cognitive, psychiatric symptoms (eg mood, anxiety, psychotic disorders), blackouts, coma, sleep disruptions
• Diarrhea, vomiting
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• The men's sexual desire increases with decreased ability to maintain an erection
• Women-miscarriage, termination of menstrual periods
• Inflammation of the pancreas
• Hepatitis (liver disease)
• Poor wound healing
• Accumulation of fluid in the body
• Swelling, muscle pain, paralysis, lack of highlights
• Increased bone fractures
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Hypothermia (low temperature body)

  Moderate drinking
  
  Alcoholism is caused by chronic alcohol abuse.

  Moderate alcohol consumption is probably best defined as the consumption level that represents a low risk of alcohol-related problems for both the drinker and for others. It is difficult to give a quantitative definition of moderate consumption of alcohol because alcohol can have different effects in different individuals.

  The Centre for Addiction Mental Health and Ontario and the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse defines moderation, or "low-risk guidelines as follows:" Adults healthy choose to drink should limit alcohol intake to 2 or fewer standard drinks per day, with consumption not exceeding 14 standard drinks per week for men and nine standard drinks per week for women.

  Who is most at risk?
  
  People with the following conditions or characteristics are at higher risk than average of developing alcoholism.

• Genetically predisposed
• Pre-existing psychiatric disorder
• He began drinking at an early age
• Stress

  What to expect at the health of its Office Providers
  
  If you or someone you care for is experiencing symptoms associated with alcoholism, you should consult your health care provider. He or she can help make diagnosis and help determine what treatment or combination of therapies including alternative therapies are most effective.

  Your provider take a history and physical examination to look for specific organ damage or trauma and to evaluate if your muscles are tender or weak. Tests reveal laboratory indicators of alcoholism, such as high blood alcohol. Imaging techniques can be used to diagnose disorders related to alcohol.

Treatment Options

- P revention

The type of treatment depends on the severity of your alcoholism and the resources available, and should address both medical and rehabilitation issues. Treatments can be provided in a hospital, a facility residential treatment or outpatient basis.

- Treatment plan

To understand the treatment and make treatment decisions appropriate, it helps to have an overview. Treatment is often seen as having four general phases:

• First Steps (Assessment and Evaluation symptoms of the disease and accompanying problems of life, making the treatment options and the development of a plan)
• Detoxification (is stopping use)
• Active drug treatment (residential or therapeutic communities, intensive and regular outpatient treatment, to help with the desire for alcohol and discourage the consumption of alcohol, drugs to treat concurrent psychiatric illness, 12-step programs, other self-help and mutual aid groups)
• Maintaining sobriety and relapse prevention (outpatient treatment, as needed, 12-step programs, self-help and mutual aid groups)

  Promising types of counseling and complementary alternative medicine to teach people to identify situations and feelings that trigger your urge to drink and to find new ways to cope without using alcohol included. Furthermore, due to the involvement of family members is important for recovery, many programs offer marriage counseling and family therapy as part of the treatment process. Some programs also link individuals with community resources such as legal aid, job training, childcare, and parenting classes.

  Here are 12 questions to consider when selecting a treatment for alcohol or substance abuse or program rehabilitation, according to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (U.S.):
  1. Does the program accept your insurance? If not, they will work with you on a plan payment or find other means of support for you?

  2. Is the program run by accredited, licensed and / or trained professionals?

  3. Do facilities are clean, organized and well run?

  4. Does the program covers the full range of needs of the individual (medical: including diseases infectious psychological: including co-occurring mental illness, social, professional, legal, etc)?

  5. "The treatment also address sexual orientation and physical disabilities as well as provide age, gender and culturally appropriate treatment services?

  6. Is further supported long-term and / or guidance encouraged, provided and maintained?

  7. Is there ongoing assessment of the treatment plan of an individual to ensure that meets the changing needs?

  8. Does the program employ strategies to attract and keep people in long-term treatment, increasing the likelihood of success?

  9. Does the program offer counseling (individual or group) and other behavioral therapies to enhance the individual's ability to function in the family or the community?

  10. Does the program offer medication as part of the treatment regimen, if any?

  11. Is there monitoring activities of relapse possible to help guide patients back to abstinence?

  12. Are services or referrals to family members to ensure they understand addiction and the recovery process to help support the recovery of the person?

  - Prognosis
  
  Recovery Alcoholism is a lifetime process. In fact, people who have suffered from alcoholism are encouraged to always refer to themselves as "a recovering alcoholic," never recovered alcoholic. This is because most researchers in the field believe that, given the potential for alcoholism is still part of biological constitution and welfare of the individual, one can never recover from alcoholism. The potential for relapse (return to illness) is always there, and must be acknowledged and respected. Statistics suggest that among middle-class alcoholics in stable financial situation and family who have undergone treatment, 60% or more may have success in an attempt to stop drinking for at least a year, and many for life.

  - Drug therapies
  
  Your health doctor may prescribe these medicines.

  • Tranquilizers called benzodiazepines used during the first days of treatment to help to patients safely withdraw from alcohol

  • Antipsychotic drugs for people who do not respond to benzodiazepines

  • The naltrexone, a drug recently approved to help people stay sober. When used in combination with counseling, medication may reduce the desire for alcohol and help prevent a return to heavy drinking.

  • Disulfiram, more drugs, which discourages drinking by causing nausea and vomiting and other reactions unpleasant physical when alcohol is used

  Medications for specific organ damage or symptoms associated with abstinence from alcohol.

  - And other types of complementary therapies
  
  A comprehensive treatment plan for alcoholism may include a wide complementary therapies and alternatives.

- Nutrition (Western medicine)

A well-balanced, nutritionally adequate diet helps to stabilize fluctuations induced by alcohol in blood sugar and cravings decrease. Following these tips can help reduce symptoms.

• Eliminate sugars simple.

• Increase complex carbohydrates (if possible, replace highly processed grains, cereals and sugars with a minimum of processing of whole grain products).

• Eat enough protein. (If you eat meat, you go to the leanest cuts. If I like dairy products, skim milk or low fat versions are healthier. Beans, soy, nuts and whole grains offer protein without much saturated fat healthy and high in fiber and micronutrients).

• Increase essential fatty acids (essential fatty acids - two polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA] you can not do in the body are linoleic acid [omega-6 family - for example, safflower oil, sunflower, corn, soy, evening primrose, pumpkin,] Wheat Germ and alpha-linolenic acid [omega-3 family - for example, linseed (flaxseed), rapeseed (canola), soy] beans. They must be provided by diet and are known as essential fatty acids. Inside the body can become so other PUFAs such as arachidonic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In the body PUFAs are important for maintaining the membranes of all cells; for making prostaglandins which regulate many bodily processes including inflammation and blood clotting. Another requirement for fat in the diet is to allow the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K are absorbed from food, and to regulate the body's metabolism cholesterol.)

• Reduce saturated fats and fried foods (saturated fat - usually derived from animal origin such as lard, tallow and lard. Saturated and monounsaturated fats are not necessary in the diet, as they may be in the human body).

• Avoid caffeine.

Potentially beneficial nutrient supplements include the following.

• Vitamin B1 (50-100 mg per day - alcoholics are deficient in B vitamins, especially B1)

• Vitamin B2 (50 mg daily), B3 (25 mg daily), B5 (100 mg daily - aids the body in alcohol detoxification. Needed for counteract stress), B6 (50-100 mg daily), B12 (100-1000 mg daily)

• Vitamin C with bioflavonoids (3000-10500 mg per day divided doses -)

• Vitamin E (400 IU per day) to protect the heart

• Calcium (2,000 mg daily at bedtime) a mineral vital to have a sedative effect

• Magnesium (250 - 1000 mg) to reduce withdrawal symptoms

• Selenium (200 mcg per day) to protect the liver

• Zinc (15 mg per day) to aid metabolism

• Amino acids: carnitine (500 mg twice daily) to protect the liver, glutamine (1 g per day) to decrease cravings, glutathione (300 mg daily) to protect the liver and heart

• multienzyme complex (as indicated on the label. Take with meals - to help digestion), and proteolytic enzymes - As indicated in the label. Take between meals - Essential for the assimilation of protein. Caution: Do not give these supplements to a child.)

• Chromium (250 to 500 mcg twice a day) helps reduce cravings for sugar and reduces blood sugar low in relation to alcohol cravings.

- Herbs

Herbs are generally available as dried extracts (pills, capsules or tablets), infusions or decoctions, tinctures or (extraction alcohol, unless otherwise indicated). Dose for teas is 1 tsp per cup soaked in water for 10 minutes (roots need 20 minutes). Herbal extracts done with the alcohol should be avoided in alcoholics. For traditional Chinese medicine herbs the dose prescribed by the TCM practitioner or herbalist.

- Herbs Western

The use of certain herbal remedies can offer Western relief of symptoms.

• Milk thistle (Silybum marianum): 80-200 mg three times daily, to support the liver

• Primrose Oil (Oenothera biennis): 1,000 mg 3 times daily with meals. Used successfully in Europe, this supplement is a good source of essential fatty acids.

• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): 2-8 g root three times a day in tea, or 5 ml three times daily dye leaf helps detoxify the liver. Works well with milk thistle.

• Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): historical use for hysteria, stress and nervous disorders, especially anxiety, a cup of tea before bedtime may help insomnia.

• valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) has a calming effect. It is best taken before bedtime.

• desiccated liver capsules (500 mg three times daily) can help heal the liver tissue.

- Diet Herbal and Traditional Medicine

plan diet for the Garden of Eden: In the book of Genesis, chapter one, verse 29, God tells man what to eat: "Look, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is on the face of the face of the earth and every tree whose fruit yields seed which will be for food. "

Some cooling, detoxifying foods are commonly prescribed by (TCM) in the treatment of alcoholism: tofu, bean sprouts, mung beans, wheat germ fresh romaine lettuce, bananas, raw sugar cane, either dry or cane juice, pears and spinach. Tablespoons honey eaten to satiety during a Hangover reduces the desire for more alcohol. Soups are useful and provide a good means of tofu, mung beans, romaine lettuce, spinach and diet.

Kudzu or Ge Gen (also known as Pueraria lobata) is one of the earliest medicinal plants used in traditional Chinese medicine. Researchers at the Center for Biochemistry and Biophysics and Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA has many profound pharmacological actions including antidipsotropic (Alcohol Abuse) activity. Although both the roots and flowers of Kudzu (Ge Gen), Pueraria Radix and Flos, respectively, have been used to treat alcohol abuse safely and effectively in China for more than a millennium (reduce anxiety).

The herb American ginseng, Shen Xi Yang in Mandarin, (quinquefolium Panax ginseng) is highly regarded in East Asia for the treatment alcoholism, and may be used in conjunction with goldenseal or formulas chaparral. In cases of extreme weakness, American ginseng is indicated as part of the diet based herb that contains the formula of regeneration in equal parts (in fact, this formula is a hybrid between Chinese and Native American traditional medicine):

Suma Root (Pfaffia paniculata)
Dried Ling Zhi (Reishi - Ganoderma lucidum), Maitake, and Shiitake Mushrooms
Job tear seed (Coix lacryma-jobi)
America / Canada the root of ginseng (Panax quinquefolium)
Astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus)
Due to its warming nature, do not use Chinese or Korean Panax ginseng. Avoid warming spices like ginger, cinnamon and black pepper.

After a cleaning program that purges heat and other signs of excess, high protein sources can be added for one or two years to rebuild the liver. It is very important to tone the body after or simultaneously even during cleaning because a lot of qi (energy) is lost. TCM purge (cleaning), the formula of herbs are balanced this view.

Especially beneficial is spirulina or other green micro-algae, and in cases of weakness, small amounts (1-3 ounces) of products of animal origin may be taken three or four times a week: sardines, mackerel, tuna, pork liver, pork and beef and kidney cancer.

- Homeopathy

An experienced homeopath can prescribe a regimen for the treatment of alcoholism that is designed especially for you. Some of the more severe remedies common are listed below.

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

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

• Lachesis for cravings for alcohol, headaches and difficulty swallowing

• Lycopodium low self-esteem, heartburn, impotence

Acute dose is three-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 to abstain from alcohol. Insomnia, visual and auditory hallucinations, convulsions, anxiety acute, a rapid pulse, profuse sweating, and fever may occur. Over time, however, and with proper control if necessary, these symptoms pass, and the alcoholic is released to start life-long work of recovery.

Acupuncture may help people committed to stop drinking to reduce or eliminate symptoms of abstinence from alcohol withdrawal and reduce cravings. Ear and / or body acupuncture can be used by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine to treat people with alcoholism on the basis of an individualized and comprehensive assessment of the excesses and deficiencies of the life force qi () located in various meridians. In the case alcoholism, a qi deficiency is usually detected in the liver meridian, while the gallbladder meridian tends to contain excess qi. From a perspective of TCM-related syndromes of addiction to alcohol or other substances can be defined as follows:

• The stagnation of liver Qi (inflammation, packages, distended abdomen and chest, stress, thyroid problems, repressed emotions, frustration, anger, impatience), which eventually leads to liver heat (Red face, eyes and tongue, insomnia, headache, constipation, aggression, violence), liver wind (moving or fluctuating pain, pain head throbbing, spasms, cramps, dizziness, manic / depression) and / or liver yin deficient (dry eyes, low vision, night blindness, dry brittle nails, and other general signs yin deficient).

• The kidney and adrenal stress, leading to renal failure yin (ringing in the ears, dry throat, dizziness, low back pain, weak legs, red tongue, insecurity, agitation), renal failure yang (limbs cold, aversion to cold knees, weak and back pain, frequent urination, edema, enlarged tongue, pale, lack of will power) and Jing deficiency (poor physical and / or mental development, poor brain function, premature senility, impotence, dizziness, loss of teeth, loss of head of hair.) Many of the drugs "maximum" to consume large amounts of essence jing.

• heart-mind has no spirit of balance (Lack of concentration, forgetfulness, patterns of sleep deprivation, mental illness, slurred speech, and agitation during detoxification of).

• general qi deficiency (fragility, weakness, weak voice, shallow breathing, little or no coating of the tongue, lack of motivation) and blood deficiency (Pale lips, nails, tongue and complexion, thin, sparse hair, dry spots in the field of vision, irregular menstruation).

One of the objectives at work of addiction is a good circulation, obstruction of qi release throughout the body-mind so that they are no longer toxic craved. This involves cleansing the liver, which directs the smooth flow of Qi in general. Located in the liver are the chemical residues that represent the life history of unresolved problems, denials, grievances, and repression that have been masked by alcohol?

In addition to acupuncture treatment, acupuncturists may use other methods such as moxibustion, herbal remedies, diet and therapeutic massage.

Acupuncture has shown potential as an effective treatment for addictions, according to studies conducted in the past two decades in China, Europe and North America. They found that acupuncture can reduce the desire to drink alcohol and how smaller the number of admissions to alcohol detoxification centers, other studies have failed to duplicate these results. Interestingly, however, many programs addiction that currently offer acupuncture report that people seem to "like acupuncture" and, in many cases, wish to continue their detox program for longer periods of time when acupuncture is presented as a treatment option. This is very important since attendance is essential for successful treatment.

Following up

After initial support, medical and / or health care monitoring should continue for 6-12 months.

Recommendations

• Avoid alcohol. Total abstinence is a requirement to retake control over their life and health. You can not start drinking again and hope to keep control over it, even after years of sobriety. As little as one drink of any beverage containing can renew alcohol consumption patterns. You should not choose to drink.

• Seek help from a person knowledgeable about the disorder. Alcoholics Anonymous has been doing a wonderful job for many years to help alcoholics achieve and maintain sobriety. Al-Anon is a similar group that pro vides support for friends and families of alcoholics. The assistance and guidance services for these groups are available in almost all capable of cities and towns across the country. Look in your local phone book for the group nearest you, or call the local mental health association for information.

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

• Make a living juice ten days and cleaning quickly to eliminate toxins from the body quickly.

• Eat a nutrient dense diet of whole fresh foods, organically grown, if possible, and follow the nutritional supplement program mentioned above. Their main food should be raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

• Avoid saturated fats and fried foods, causing pressure on the liver. For essential fatty acids, use of evening primrose oil supplements smaller amounts of cold-pressed oils of organic vegetables.

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

• Get enough rest, especially in the early weeks of recovery, for your body to clean and repair himself.

• Avoid people, places and things associated with drinking. Make new friends with people who do not drink. In response to a hobby, involved in sport and exercise (including Yoga, Tai-chi, Qi-Gong) or promote self-esteem and provide a productive way to produce energy.

• How to avoid as much as possible, stress. Cultivate patience, meditate, pray, what will be necessary for the long, slow road to recovery.

• Do not take any medicine, except as prescribed by your doctor.

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

ANNEX 1 - "Alcohol worse for female brain"

Images of the brains of more than 150 volunteers revealed how women come to more harm and quicker than men when they drink excessively.

Scientists have suspected long known that men are more resistant to drink than women. The German research gives visible evidence of this. The University of Heidelberg team published its findings in alcoholism.

In the study, about half of the volunteers were alcoholics. All the volunteers had brain scans at the beginning and end of the six-week study. Those who were alcoholic were helped to "dry up" during the six weeks.

When the researchers analyzed the brain scan results were clear evidence of brain damage among heavy drinkers.

The anti-smaller brains because to loss or atrophy, than controls.

Brain loss

Women who were heavy drinkers lost the same amount of brain volume than men to drink, but in a much shorter period of alcohol dependence.

Lead author Professor Karl Mann said although men generally drink more alcohol, women probably develop alcohol dependence and adverse consequences more easily.

Other disorders with alcohol, such as heart problems, depression and liver disease, also occurred earlier in women than men, said:

"Women typically start drinking later in life, consume less ... and one might argue that women are less affected by alcohol. However, there is evidence of a a more rapid progression of events leading to dependence among female alcoholics and an earlier onset of adverse consequences of alcoholism. This suggests that women may be more vulnerable to chronic alcohol consumption. "

For these reasons, he said it was even more important for detect and treat alcohol abuse early in women.

A spokesman for the Institute of Alcohol Studies said: "This study supports previous findings that women experience much harm associated with alcohol before men at the same level of consumption. These findings are particularly worrisome since alcohol consumption increases the women in the UK, and the increased risk of alcohol dependence that goes with it. This concern suggests that alcohol-related harm experienced by women in United Kingdom is expected to increase rapidly in coming years. "

About the Author

Dan Micu, Diplomat Acupuncturist works full-time in his private practice "Soothe - Pain and Stress Management", North York, Ontario, Canada with a team of Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners.

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