Holistic Modalities to Treating Addictions

An addiction is a strong recurring compulsion to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to that individual, possibly affecting his health, mental state, lively hood, well being, or social life. Addictions come in two forms physical and psychological (with some overlapping taking place.) physical addictions includes all the drugs, opiates, prescription drugs, cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, etc, things your body gets used to and you need to "feel normal". Psychological addictions are things you "think" you need and can include most anything with some common addictions being overeating, under-eating, video games, gambling, porn, etc. The list goes on and on! Whether you addiction is physical or psychological, keep in mind an addiction is an addiction- a behavior you want to change.

Holistic addiction treatment offers comprehensive, spiritual and progressive techniques that treat not just the addition but the full person behind the addiction. From meditation and massage to vitamin therapy and more, holistic techniques can offer lasting peace for those who engage it. Through various types of addiction therapy, there is one central component: Finding holistic and natural modalities to recovering from addictions can help people remain sober for the long term.

June’s newsletter will focus on just a few holistic techniques that can help people as they make a choice to recovery from addictions with a holistic emphasis. If you are seeking recovery from addictions and live in Arizona and want a more holistic approach please visit these sites.

http://asoberwayhome.org/
http://www.addictiontreatmentrehab.com/
http://www.drugrehabcenter.com/
http://www.theriversource.org/
http://www.sedonanaturalhealing.net/addiction-retreats.php

Acudetox
Acudetox, or the NADA Protocol, developed in 1974 by Dr. Michael Smith of New York, is now used in hundreds of rehab centers throughout the United States. Clients in early recovery often still have the desire to use the drug of their choice and have much angst over it. Both of these phenomena may prevent the individual from hearing what is being said to him or her in therapy sessions or 12-step meetings. The Acudetox protocol assists the person in gaining serenity and acceptance in the recovery process.
The treatment will detox the body by reducing the cravings and controlling the withdrawal symptoms (pains, stress, insomnia, night sweats, lack of energy). It will calm the Central Nervous System and re-balances the body's energy. The treatment can help the body to restore itself with its natural healing qualities, leaving the person in recovery from drug abuse feeling calm and relaxed.
More importantly, Acudetox is clinically proven to have played a major role within drug misuse treatments, with clinical evidence showing that patients responded well to treatment, with the alleviation of cravings, anxiety, depression, and withdrawal symptoms.
The Acupunture detox locations are Shen Men (Spirit/Heavenly Gate), Sympathetic (Autonomic Nervous System), Kidneys, Liver and the Lungs. The Shen Men and Sympathetic points are very powerful: the two points share analgesic properties, relaxing the body physically and psychologically, relieving pain, lowering the blood pressure and allowing one to focus on inner peace as the natural endorphins release into the blood stream (natural endorphins are 100 times more powerful than morphine).
The reasons above are why Auricular Acupuncture for detoxification is so effective and accepted within drug rehab, drug community projects and prisons globally. The Sympathetic point balances disturbances of the Autonomic Nervous System, a strong pain killing point. It is a pain control principle point for thoracic and abdominal operations. The Sympathetic point will assist the other three vital organs (the kidneys, liver and the lungs) to function more effectively, allowing the body to expel the narcotic substances.

Aromatherapy
Smell is one of our five basic senses and is strongly associated with mood. Often a brief whiff of a particular fragrance can carry us away to other times and other places. Science has proven that aroma has a direct impact on the emotions. Certain aromas can stimulate the hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that controls the endocrine system as well as other body functions. The hypothalamus can then activate the pituitary gland, which produces hormones that can affect both the physical and emotional body. In addition to their many other functions, hormones influence emotions and behavior. The use of essential oils and aromatherapy is a wonderful and effective means for emotional healing and rebalancing the moods and energy of throughout the day.

Ceremony and Ritual
Sacred ceremony and rituals have been used for centuries and can help people in recovery achieve and maintain sobriety. Ceremony and rituals are used to celebrate successes, to calm and relax, and to help produce feelings of euphoria. Not only can ceremonies be meaningful, they can also be purposeful for the group as a whole, for it is through such celebrations that clients are given the opportunity to actively participate in the affirmation of their values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Many holistic practitioners believe that through celebration, clients can bring to light their rites of passage towards their recovery from addiction and fundamentally change patterns thus allowing them to experience themselves and others in a sober and healthy way.

Drumming and Drumming Circles
I used to work at a rehab center that did a few alternative methods to recovery. One of the methods that I noticed really had a powerful effect on people drumming and drumming circles for substance abuse. The clients who participated indicated that drumming enhances recovery through inducing relaxation and enhancing theta-wave production and brain-wave synchronization. Drumming produces pleasurable experiences, enhanced awareness of preconscious dynamics, release of emotional trauma, and reintegration of self. Drumming alleviates self-centeredness, isolation, and alienation, creating a sense of connectedness with self and others. Drumming provides a secular approach to accessing a higher power and applying spiritual perspectives.

Guided Imagery and Creative Visualization
Many people who are addicted to alcohol or other drugs started using these substances as a way to relax, ease tension, or improve self-esteem and confidence. They use these substances to escape from the people, places, and things in their lives. Guided imagery and creative visualization can help the person in recovery facilitate reaching these ideals without the assistance of harmful toxins. Breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques can be used to clear the mind and relax the body.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which is based on treating the individual with highly diluted substances given in mainly tablet form, which triggers the body’s natural system of healing. In homeopathy, a key premise is that every person has energy called a vital force or self-healing response. When this energy is disrupted or imbalanced, health problems develop. Homeopathy aims to stimulate the body's own healing responses. It works on the principle of “like cures like” - that is, a substance that would cause symptoms in a healthy person. Homeopathy can play an integral role in treating addictions, not by magically “curing” a persons craving for a substance or behavior but rather by treating the individual cause of their addiction. Some people believe that homeopathic medicine works by stimulating the body's own natural defenses. Homeopathic remedies will help the addictive personality by bringing him into a state of balance on all three levels of physical health, emotional health and mental health. This form of constitutional analysis results in the individual seeing his limited range of thinking and bring him into alignment with his higher purpose. The physical body balances and cravings are reduced. This process is deep and transforming.

Massage Therapy and Body Work
The use of alternative treatments for treating substance abuse has become more popular in the last few decades as holistic medicine is more widely accepted. The ancient art of massage has been used for centuries as a healing tool for a wide variety of therapies, including substance abuse and addiction to alcohol and drugs. Massage promotes healing and relaxation in the mind and body by using the combination of the systematic application of pressure and movement to manipulate the soft tissues of the body to cultivate well-being.

The human body has 12 main energy channels and these channels can become blocked. Licensed and qualified massage therapists are able to unblock energy which helps to relax clients as well as relieve internal stress that may be creating further stress or anxiety. This internal stress is a large factor in contributing to addiction to drugs and alcohol. The use of massage during drug rehab can help relieve stress and decrease negativity that contributes to an individual's desire to use drugs and / or alcohol.
When a person becomes sober and is detoxifying their body, they may experience symptoms such as headaches, depression and anxiety. During substance abuse rehab treatment, massage helps encourage the detoxification process by gently removing toxins from the body. At the same time, this process releases endorphins, which are the body's natural mood elevator.

Massage is used to help heal, reduce, and even altogether avoid certain symptoms of alcohol and drug abuse. Addiction experts understand that massage is related to psychosomatics and that the body and the mind are inextricably linked, and that healing the mind and body will inevitably lead to a much stronger and faster recovery from drug and alcohol abuse, and incorporate this wonderful modality into their treatment plan.

Meditation
Did you know that the words meditate, medicine, and medicate, share the same Latin root medicus, meaning to cure? Meditation is used by every culture on earth to relax the body, bring peace to the emotions, and expand spiritual knowledge. Modern health care is now integrating this practice into treating pain management, cancers and illnesses, stress reduction, and substance abuse recovery with a great deal of success. Most dis-ease is caused by some form of stress or other emotional component. Total healing of self cannot be attained by a chemically-induced state of mind that the affects of medication can produce. Meditation works in strengthening the mind by training, or “reprogramming” if you will, our way of thinking. Meditation requires positive, calm, and relaxing thoughts to occupy thinking. Meditation encourages self-love and high self-esteem. People with improved self-esteem are emotionally stronger and better equipped physically and mentally.

Nutritional Therapy

People with alcohol or drug addictions are usually malnourished and proper nutrition can correct nutritional shortcomings and help the body regain its strength and health. Experts know that people with substance abuse issues are often deficient in many important nutrients. Poor nutrition can severely affect a person's judgment and can limit the mind and body’s ability to heal. When people feel better, they are less likely to relapse into their addiction. Because balanced nutrition helps improve mood and health, it is important to encourage a healthy diet in people recovering from alcohol and other drug problems. If your treatment center does not pay attention to your diet (Sugars and carbs) then your treatment center is not paying attention to your addictions. How we eat and what we put in our bodies is the ground work for recovery!

Vitamins and Minerals
Supplemental vitamins and minerals can help compensate for our genetics, aging, nutrition, stress, and coping with traumatic events. Vitamins and minerals can provide what nature hasn't given us, or what life has taken from us. Supplements help the physical immune-deficient body; however, what people often fail to recognize is that supplements can also work in healing the emotional immune system. Supplements can improve mental health by treating and preventing mental illnesses, including many types of depression, mood and personality disorders, anxiety, addictions, alcoholism, as well as other ailments. In dealing with substance abuse, vitamin and minerals work wonders in helping with detoxifying from substances and rebuilding depleted immune systems. Vitamins and minerals are involved in one or more biochemical pathway, and/or physiological action that influence the function of the human brain.

Herbals for Alcoholism & Drug Addiction
The use of herbs can ease some alcohol or drug withdrawal symptoms from anxiety to insomnia and facilitate in detoxifying the body. They also may be used to reduce the addicted person's cravings for alcohol and other drugs. Particularly helpful are herbs that influence the nervous system, gently encouraging a relaxed and sedated state. These herbs include valerian, chamomile, peppermint, and skullcap and can be used separately or compounded together.

Yoga
Yoga is ideal for substance abuse recovery: Yoga is a 5,000 year old science from India. Yoga is taught and practiced today it is often used as a therapeutic tool in many models of healing, including drug addiction therapy. When practiced yoga can help balance the endocrine system, strengthen the nervous system, help increase self-awareness both on the mental and physical level and improve self-control and help harness the vital force which can be very helpful for people coping with addiction issues. In fact, Yoga is an ideal activity for substance abuse recovery, because it conditions the body, mind and soul. Recovering from an addiction takes physical, mental and spiritual strength, which can be developed by practicing yoga.