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ALCOHOLISM REMEDIES

Updated: 08/30/2009

"...In common and historic usage, alcoholism refers to any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages despite health problems and negative social consequences. Modern medical definitions[1] describe alcoholism as a disease and addiction which results in a persistent use of alcohol despite negative consequences. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, alcoholism, also referred to as dipsomania[2] described a preoccupation with, or compulsion toward the consumption of, alcohol and/or an impaired ability to recognize the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption.

Although not all of these definitions specify current and on-going use of alcohol as a qualifier for alcoholism, some do, as well as remarking on the long-term effects of consistent, heavy alcohol use, including dependence and symptoms of withdrawal."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholism

DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

TED'S REMEDIES
Ted from Bangkok, Thailand writes: "As in most remedies against addiction, it involves the lowered serotonin levels that bought about such condition, generally speaking. Hence remedies that increase serotonin levels is the key but not used in practice, but can be extremely effective if done right. I have noted a friend of mind "suddenly" one day disappeared the addiction to cigarettes completely but that was due to his dietary pattern changes that helped his brain restore its ability of serotonin as I have observed.

Depressant drugs (ie., heroine, opium, alcohol, etc.) lowers the serotonin signals through their suppression of neuroactivity but does not directly resolve this problem. In extreme cases, the brain through the use of drugs also loses its ability to produce serotonin and takes weeks to restore the brain's ability to produce serotonin, bringing extreme suffering for its victim.

People feels anxiety and withdrawal syndrome whenever cigarettes or alcohol are withdrawn, but from different causes but they are still linked to reduction in serotonin levels.

A cigarettes has a nicotine, so if the brain level is already low with nicotinic acid for example (vitamin B3 niacinamide), the nicotine, being a close cousin of the nicotinic acid or vitamin B3 niacinamide, actually does lower the anxiety problems, but is not nutritionally relevant and hence damages the brain in the long run. B3 or niacinamide, by the way is related to the brain's synthesis of serotonin and is one of the required nutrients. A simple demonstration of its effectiveness of reduction of anxiety level can be noted if I took B3 niacinamide, about 300-500 mg mixed in a water, and the feeling of reduction of anxiety or burn out can be felt within 30 minutes. It is actually faster, but 30 minutes is my worse case scenario. Similar instance can be noted if a general amino acid supplements (or predigested protein) are taken, but those take a bit longer within one hour, because certain amino supplements don't have suffient amount of them.

In case of an alcoholic addiction it is seen with a twist, the alcohol's depressive effects lowers the brain activity, thus reducing the need for serotonin only temporary, because brain activity is reduced. Whenever the alcohol goes out the system, the brain also loses some ability to produce serotonin due to the physiological damaging effects of alcohol has on the brain. Hence, the brain needs serotonin, but instead of treating the cause, we turn our backs and take alcohol or even barbiturates, which again lowers the need for serotonin without actually resolving the cause.

Hence, the addiction cycles becomes vicious and the more alcohol is taken the worse it becomes. Although I won't deny the blood sugar hypothesis to addiction because alcohol helps replenish the sugar. A much simpler solution can be seen by eating candies, toffees and chocolate. However I don't see any alcholic running to eat candies or even at least a glucose supplement to raise his blood sugar. Hence, in psychology, the science of addiction is understood to be serotonin as the primary cause of addiction and eating candies to raise sugar level or at least stabilize it won't help directly in reducing such addiction.

A more reasonable approach appears to be to take supplements to HELP in raising the serotonin levels as being the remedy to resolve this addiction problem. Obviously I can use generalized remedies against this through eating fishes (high in protein, an hence amino acid), eating brocolli and partially cook liver (high in vitamin Bs).

Of course a more specific supplement might more fitting in raising the serotonin. The most well known amino acid is the tryptophan, which helps reduce anxiety level and helps increase serotonin levels, but can also help in certain children (ADHD) with restless leg syndrome just the same. Firing of serotonin levels if it becomes problematic, can lead to restless leg syndrome, hyperactivity, anxiety, learning disorders, addiction, and even grinding of teeth during sleep (serotonin and heavy metals are implicated here). Hence, for an adult dose I might consider 1000 mg-3000 mg of tryptophan, for example.

The second one I think that has helped is the niacinamide B3 about 300 mg, biotin about 8 mg, vitamin C sodium ascorbate 1000 mg, and some B6 about 100 mg, zinc gluonate 50 mg three times a week, as well as the general vitamin B complex overall three times a week, as one possibility. Those are synergistic in helping the brain produce serotonin. But this list is not complete, without considering a tiny amount of lithium, which is a required nutrition. Its been known for ages that lithium helps stabilize the serotonin levels. This is one reason why a person who gets addicted easily to alcohol do so because his level of serotonin is unstable and lithium is implicated as one possiblity, as opposed to the blood sugar hypothesis. The dose for lithium is extremely small if we compare to people who take it for other reasons, and the dose that I find ideally are about 5-10 mg of lithium citrate or lithium carbonate. A bipolar disorder uses a large amount, such as 250 mg, but I think at that dose, they are physiologically damaging to the such size of the dose. Hence, I would much prefer to take supplements that help increase serotonin and stabilize them if an alcholic addiction or even a withdrawal symptoms, or even people who desire to quit smoking or drinking, a supplements such as these are called for.

Now I am not trying to discourage the use of glutamine amino acid, but there is some study to show that the increase of serotonin lead to a decrease in glutamine (Molecular Pharmacology, Vol 13, 640-651, Copyright © 1977 by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Inhibition by Serotonin of Amino Acid Release and Protein Degradation in Skeletal Muscle) and this leads me to wonder whether the opposite is true, such as increases in glutamine, leads to decrease in serotonin. However, what I can be for certain is amino acid supplements will generally increase the serotonin but a more direct approach might be to take tryptophan amino acid as a more direct approach. I will also at least consider niacinamide B3 as the second most important one, but others should not be generally ignored either.

Even if addiction is dealt with, I cannot ignore the negative effects alcohol does in destroying the liver, and certain supplements are protective of fatty liver from alcohol and hence granulated lecithin, one tablespoon. Assuming the theory of unstable blood sugar is at risk, well stabilizing the blood sugar are most effective from the lecithin and perhaps the glutamine, however, I would concentrate more phyisological dependency of the brain to drugs, cigarettes and alcohol as the primary consideration at the very least."

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

1 YEA

[YEA]  07/18/2009: Alfred from Bangkok, Thailand writes: "True story.. My neighbor was a Alcoholic, every afternoon he would come over for a drink. One day I ran out of his favorite whiskey.. I put two Jiggers of Apple Cider Vinegar in the glass with orange juice and ice cubes.. I mixed it the same way I would mix it if I had used whiskey.. We sat down as we had done for months.. he drank his drink and did not say a word.. We did for 10 days.. no comment from Ken.. T hen told him I substituted Apple Cider Vinegar for the Whiskey.. He did not beleive me..He said it tasted the same. Now NO More Whiskey.. He switched to Apple Cider Vinegar.

Stay well my friends,
Alfred"

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

07/22/2009: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand writes: "Over the past weeks I have been looking over the use of hydrogen peroxide to stop alcohol addiction and drug abuse addiction. The remedy is a straightforward one, a 3% H2O2 food grade one capful is added into an ordinary drinking water. Use this as a normal drinking water. If a person happens to be drinking wine, beer, liquor, the body will immediately reject it and tries to detoxify it, causing nausea, or vomiting when they take it. The body may also reject certain drug meds, such as birth control pills, cocaine, for example in a few cases. So if the drinking water with hydrogen peroxide is taken at one glass is taken within one hour, the effects is even more stronger and will encourage people to quit the alcohol use.

Ted"

L-GLUTAMINE

1 YEA

[YEA]  09/18/2007: stephanie from Chicago, IL writes: "Most "alcoholics" don't realize their addiction is chemical and a direct result of being "hypoglycemic". The addiction to the alcohol is so strong because their blood-sugar level drops so severely and gets replenished so quickly with alcohol--because of the high sugar content. In other words, it's not your fault! This is the answer, if you are trying to cut back on your alcohol intake or go "cold turkey", just buy a bottle of "L- Glutamine" and take one every time you have a craving for alcohol. "Glutamine is an amino acid that your brain can use as an emergency substitute fuel when you haven't eaten recently or have been eating too many carbs and your blood sugar level is too low. This is a glucose stand-in that stops the impulse to run to the candy machine when it's low blood sugar time. L-Glutamine can stop your cravings and get you feeling steady and even within ten minutes." Julia Ross, from The Mood Cure-awesome book. I'm telling you, it works, now go help yourself!"

L-GLUTAMINE, KUDZU, B COMPLEX, MAGNESIUM

1 YEA

[YEA]  10/17/2008: Kevin from Chicago, IL - US writes: "I have had a few bouts w/ alcoholism myself. I've found the following to be helpful: L-glutamine (an amino acid) [already mentioned], Kudzu (an herb), grapes or grape juice, B complex vitamins [already mentioned], & magnesium - use as directed by what the supplement bottle(s) says. As far as I know, it's safe to combine any & all of the above supplements. There may be others not mentioned here, but I think these are worth mentioning. Hope this helps."

READER COMMENTS

1 QUESTION

01/13/2009: Rich from Boca Raton, Fl writes: "For border-line alcoholics(5-6 beers per day), you can set rules like: no drinking before lunch. If you have kids, a rule like no drinking before the kids go to sleep might help.

Once those rules are in place, you can set a limit like 4 beers. When you get used to that, decrease to 3. At that point, change to a cheat day like 1 day per week. Alcohol steals your time, but it is possible for some to wean off of.

If beer is your alcohol of choice, and you're quitting, beer is high in b-vitamins, so a b-complex may be helpful. Unclear.
*********

Since Ted mentioned liver damage, it would seem that this may be reversible. My chemistry isn't very good, but I see Phenyl and Sulfur, two anti-fungals in this Drug, so the closest natural remedy might be turmeric (which has both).

http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news/Arthritis-Drug-to-Reverse-Cirrhosis-14519-1/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfasalazine

****
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=78
"Improved Liver Function"

[QUESTION]  01/25/2009: D from SF, CA replies: "Rich: I must have missed something. Sorry. In your last sentence, you said "in this drug". What drug are you referring to that has the same anti-fungal components as turmeric? Thank you. "

REMEDIES NEEDED

1 QUESTION

[QUESTION]  05/08/2009: Carol from Hesperia, CA writes: "I have a question, if someone could give me some feed back that would be great. I recently quit drinking (60 days now!) I feel alot better and have lost 20 pounds, but my skin looks worse and the dark circles under my eyes have gotten a great deal darker and i have real puffy bags to where i didnt before when i was drinking??? Im frustrated! I am taking a multi-vit, omega 3's, and started 2 Tlbs. ACV/ 1/4 tsp. cayenne a couple a days ago. I did go to the Drs. and have blood work and tests done, waiting on the results. My bp was great but she put me on Welbutrion to help me quit smoking but im hesitant on taking it. Im tring to rid my body of all these toxins (years of heavy drinking) and she puts me on Drugs go figure!!! Please Help"

05/09/2009: Mary Frances from Mineral Wells, Texas, USA replies: "This is a reply to Carol from Hesperia, Ca. Resently, I was reading my new book on H2O2 therapy, "The One Minute Cure" by Madison Cavanaugh and found a suggestion that taking 35% food grade H2O2 daily, is a good soluation for alcoholism with good side effects of alleviating dark circles under the eyes. Her suggestions are that you start with 3 drops in 6 to 8 oz. of distilled water three times a day. You add a drop each day until you reach 25 drops three times a day, then back off at the same rate until you get to 3 drops three times a day again and stay there for maintance. You might give that a try. Good Luck and God Bless."

05/09/2009: T from Maryland, USA replies: "Carol, congratulations on 2 months sober! Be patient, it will take some time for the body to show you the happier results. Drinking and smoking greatly rob your body of nutrients, and it will take time to get that optimized and to actually see the results - but you know that can't really progress if you're still smoking. You definitely CAN quit smoking without drugs. I quit cold turkey after nearly 25 years at 1.5 packs a day. Once I had the right mindset I was able to do it reasonably aggravation-free, and I've never looked back! You already know you can make big changes for yourself, because you did that with the drinking. You definitely have the strength :) A helpful tool, which I didn't use myself but have heard many great things about, may be to read Allen Carr's books. Check out the large number of positive reviews on Amazon for "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking". The book is cheap; you really have nothing to lose. Apart from stopping smoking, make sure your diet is excellent. Lots of salads, little or no sugar, stay away from the bad fats, all forms of MSG, artificial colorings and sweeteners. You may want to add a B-complex and milk thistle (for the liver) to your supplements; some inositol would probably be a good thing as well. Give yourself 6 months smoke-free and with a great diet and I bet you'll see fantastic improvements! Good luck, and please keep us posted on your progress!"

05/12/2009: PR from Houston, Texas replies: "I was listening to the link below on nutrition and the speaker was saying that sometimes when you change your health habits you can get dark circles and puffy eyes, etc. as your body is not use to it and is going through changes and cleansing. He had some very helpful ways to deal with these effects. Hope this helps. http://robertvon.com/"

EC: PR, have you tried the Mini Beet Protocol for fluoride detoxing that he writes about on that website? Sounds interesting...

05/13/2009: Carol from Hesperia, CA replies: "To Mary Frances, T and PR, Thank you all so much for your encouragement and remedies. Today is May 13, 65 days and going strong! Still smoking though. =( One thing at a time is how I see it for now, can't have to many things on my plate or i will drop it! PR, I listened to Robert Von late last night and this morning and I found him so interesting that I didn't get what I needed to done, I was totally pulled in by the conversation! ALot of great info, thought I would try blending the tomatoes and romaine lettuce every morning to see if it helps the dark circles. I have been eating a very good diet containing lots of veggies, protein shakes, ground turkey, chicken and lots of green tea and water. My supplements are multi-vite, omega 3, 3 Tlbs ACV w/ 1/2 tsp cayenne daily, stress vit-B complex and still need to get the milk thistle. I had a few more questions:

I am taking 2 Tlbs ACV w/ 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper in the morning and then 1 Tlbs in the evening, is this too much, too little, and should I add some baking soda to it? I am also ingesting organic, unrefined coconut oil in the morning ( 1 Tlbs in my coffee) is this OK? To Mary: is H202 peroxide? To T: What is Inositol and what is its function?

Thank you all sooooo much for your time but most of all for CARING! Thanks also to Earth Clinic for have such a wonderful website!

HUGS, Carol"

05/14/2009: PR from Houston, Texas replies: "Hi Carol, I am glad that you found Robert Von lecture helpful. It has helped me a lot and explains some of the things I had been going through. I have tried the mini beet protocol on a smaller scale and love it. You do have to be careful with if you don't eat enough apples as it does purge the toxins out and I do mean purge. If you don't do enough apples it will knot you on your butt as they can't get out fast enough. From my understanding you need to eat a lot of vegetables to build your body up so it can handle the herbs and other benefical supplements which is what I have been working on. I got into trouble when I was taking cayenne too fast my body couldn't handle it. You will know if you aren't ready for some of these these as you will not feel so good. It is hard to answer how much of anything for any body is too little or too much as everybody is different. When you get ready to quit smoking (which I agree one thing at time) there is a book named Utimate Healing with a really good protocl for stopping to smoke. Hope this has helped some. Keep up the good work!!!!!"

05/14/2009: T from Maryland, USA replies: "Hi Carol! It looks like you've got a good routine there with the diet and all. The smoking cessation will come; you've planted the seeds and I am sure you will reap the rewards in due time. See if your library has the Allen Carr book anyway - he even tells you to keep smoking while you read! Consider it preemptive, low-effort psychological warfare against the addiction monster ;)

Inositol is a B vitamin which helps clear the liver, among many other benefits. I use a powder. It's sweet and taken easily in a drink, even plain water. Here is a link with info on it:

http://www.diagnose-me.com/treat/T47006.html

You might choose to take lecithin instead, which combines inositol and choline. I personally won't take the usual lecithin supplements as I have concerns about soy, but you can also get plenty of lecithin in dandelion, capsules of which are easily found in places like GNC. Any of these plus the milk thistle are a good idea to utilize. Your liver needs the support for detox and healing from alcohol damage.

In case Mary doesn't make it back to this thread - yes, H202 is hydrogen peroxide. As for the ACV you're taking, I really don't know what an ideal amount is. I sip a little bit in water all day long and have no ill effects (I'm guessing I take in several Tbs. a day altogether). I personally don't add baking soda as I really can't stand it in the water, but my pH levels are fine so I don't worry about it (you can get pH test strips at Amazon if you want to check on yours). If you don't mind the baking soda, then just follow Ted's instructions found elsewhere here for taking it. I think the coconut oil you're taking is fine if it's giving you no side effects, and you might see some great benefits from it.

Continue to keep us posted - there will be people looking in here for possibly years to come who will benefit from your experiences! And besides that, we would love to know how you're doing.

Sending big hugs back at you! :)"

TED'S REMEDY FEEDBACK

08/30/2009: Devon from Johnson, Vt writes: "Hey Ted, interesting article on Alcohol addiction. I was surprised to see very little on Glutamine, but then at the end noticed it mentioned. From what I was reading Glutamine under the tongue can have an immediate effect on alcohol craving. Also, I noticed you singled out Seritonin entirely as the nerotransmission basis for your article. Makes me curious about the other transmitters; in particular I thought that dopamine release was related to alcohol as well. Finally, I thought that Kudzu would be a worthy mention as well. Thanks for your article."

 

 

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