Substance Abuse
Substance Abuse
Whether you’re talking about drugs, tobacco or alcohol, substance abuse can take control of your life and send it spiraling downward.
The misuse of alcohol, cigarettes and legal and illegal drugs is the main cause of premature death and preventable illness in the United States, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Some people—particularly those from families with histories of drug and alcohol problems—seem to be more susceptible than others to substance abuse. If you suspect that you have a problem, seek professional treatment. The natural remedies in this chapter—in conjunction with professional care and used with your doctor’s approval—may help you overcome substance abuse, according to some health professionals.
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Aromatherapy
The essential oil everlast (also known as helichrysum or immortelle) encourages cellular regeneration and helps the body repair the damage done by drugs or alcohol, says Fair Oaks, California, aromatherapist Victoria Edwards. According to Edwards, everlast is a key ingredient in the following blend of essential oils, developed to help those in recovery combat cravings for drugs or alcohol: Mix three parts lemon (to detoxify), two parts geranium (to balance the adrenal system) and one part everlast essential oils. Edwards suggests storing the mixture in a bottle small enough to fit in your pocket or purse. “You can inhale directly from this bottle whenever you have a craving,” she says. She adds that the blend can also be used in a diffuser.
For information on preparing and administering essential oils, including cautions about their use, see page 19. For information on purchasing essential oils, refer to the resource list on page 633.
Flower Remedy/Essence Therapy
“For most people, overcoming addiction is a very frightening experience,” says Eve Campanelli, Ph.D., a holistic family practitioner in Beverly Hills, California. She recommends taking the Bach remedy Rockrose three or four times a day to alleviate these fears. People recovering from addictions who are prone to anxiety attacks should also take the emergency stress relief formula whenever feelings of panic arise, says Dr. Campanelli.
Flower remedies, including the emergency stress relief formula, are available in some health food stores and through mail order (refer to the resource list on page 635). The formula is sold under brand names such as Calming Essence, Rescue Remedy and Five-Flower Formula. For information on preparing and administering flower remedies, see page 37.
Food Therapy
“It’s especially important to eat more citrus fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidant vitamins. Those who abuse substances are more prone to tissue damage, and antioxidant vitamins can help offset some of that damage,” says Allan Magaziner, D.O., a nutritional medicine specialist and head of the Magaziner Medical Center in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He also advises people who abuse alcohol to consume foods rich in magnesium and vitamin B6. “Drinking alcohol depletes magnesium and B vitamins, especially B6,” he says. Foods high in magnesium include nuts, tofu, spinach and wheat germ; beans, whole grains and dark green leafy vegetables are among the foods rich in vitamin B6. (For other food sources of these nutrients, see “Getting What You Need” on page 142.)
Imagery
Imagine there is a hole in the ground that you throw all of your alcohol and drugs into; they fall to the center of the earth and are burned. Then imagine that the same thing happens to the rest of the alcohol and drugs in the world, says Dennis Gersten, M.D., a San Diego psychiatrist and publisher of Atlantis, a bi-monthly imagery newsletter. There are now no drugs or alcohol in your world. How do you feel about that? Scared? Relieved? Joyous? Allow yourself to experience any emotion that pops into your head without judging it.
Next, imagine that there is a giant switchboard in your mind that regulates all of your cravings and desires. Find the wires that spark your addiction. Unplug those wires, so you won’t crave drugs or alcohol. Dr. Gersten suggests practicing this imagery for 10 to 20 minutes twice a day.
Reflexology
You can help your body deal with the toxic effects of substance abuse by working the pituitary, parathyroid and adrenal gland, pancreas, diaphragm, liver and kidney reflex points on your hands or feet, says St. Petersburg, Florida, reflexologist Dwight Byers, author of Better Health with Foot Reflexology.
To help you locate these points, consult the hand and foot reflex charts beginning on page 582. For instructions on how to work the points, see “Your Reflexology Session” on page 110.
Relaxation and Meditation
Studies have found that meditation reduces the use of illegal drugs and the misuse of legal drugs such as tranquilizers and painkillers, says Roger Walsh, M.D., Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, philosophy and anthropology at the University of California, Irvine, California College of Medicine. “People find the meditative experience satisfying in and of itself, and this can reduce the spiritual or inner lack that was driving them toward drug use.”
To give meditation a try, see page 117. Do it for 20 minutes once or twice a day, Dr. Walsh suggests.
Vitamin and Mineral Therapy
Those who abuse alcohol may be damaging the mucus lining of their intestines, says John Pinto, Ph.D., director of the nutrition research laboratory at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and associate professor of biochemistry at Cornell University Medical College, both in New York City. “Because of this, they could benefit from certain vitamins—thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and B6,” according to Dr. Pinto. He says that supplements may be preferable, because the nutrients in foods aren’t absorbed as efficiently in the bodies of people who abuse alcohol. You can get all of these vitamins in most multivitamin/mineral supplements, he adds. For Recommended Dietary Allowances, see “Getting What You Need” on page 142.