Substance Use Disorder Treatment with Nervine Herbs

February 27, 2015

Substance Use Disorder Treatment with Nervine Herbs

The basic knowledge of drugs is that they are substances that interfere with the normal functioning of the body. This therefore means that after using some drugs and substances a person’s behavior will be altered by the substances he has used. However it should be known that there are far more damages that drug and substances use cause to an individual health wise. Substance use disorder, also known as drug use disorder, is a condition in which the use of one or more substances leads to a clinically significant impairment or distress. In this context contrary to common knowledge that substance can mean any physical matter, the term substance here is used to mean drugs. Substance Use Disorder refers to the overuse of, or dependence on, a drug leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual’s physical and mental health as well as the effect on other people’s welfare.

The diagnosis of substance abuse disorder has improved treatment of patients. Before his approach to treatment of addiction related cases, doctors used to treat addiction and other clinically significant abuse as separate issues but with substance use disorder diagnosis, doctors can simultaneously treat both addiction and non-addiction related dysfunctional substance abuse in patients. the rule of this approach of treatment is that the doctor will identify the specific cause of problems to an individual for example if a person is alcohol-related issues then he Is termed to suffer alcohol use disorder while a person suffering from cocaine is termed to be suffering from stimulant use disorder.

Nervine Herbs

a person suffering from any substance use disorder will exhibit at least three and at most eleven specific symptoms related to the use of the substance with the most prominent examples of these symptoms being substance cravings, an inability to curb substance intake, the development of tolerance to a substance’s effects, serious life disruptions that stem from substance use, use of substances in clearly dangerous circumstances and devotion of significant time or resources to either using a substance or recovering from substance intake. However, people affected by the minimum number of symptoms have mild substance use disorder, while people affected with many or most of the required symptoms have major or severe substance use disorder but all of these people need substance use disorder treatment in order to be free from the effects of the drugs they are using.

Treatment of substance use disorder with nervine herbs

What are Nervine Herbs?

The Nervines are herbs that are very essential in supporting the nervous system. The nervines may work as tonics and to create a mild calming effect. The tonic nervines may include the Skullcap and the oat tops while Catnip and chamomile can be used for mild calming of the nervous system. Apart from these two categories there are also nervines that work as strong sedatives on the nervous system, they may include the Hops and the Valerian among others. Generally the nervine herbs are used to relieve nagging muscle tension and spasms, circular thoughts, insomnia, and the occasional worry that has become a part of day to day life. Some of these herbs provide multiple nervine actions, such as Skullcap which relaxes the muscles, helps calm worried thoughts, and nourishes the nervous system. Others such as Oat Tops, are not necessarily relaxing to the physical body, but help restore and support healthy nerve functioning when taken on a regular basis.

The nervous system is Composed of the all the nerve tissues in the body and plays very critical roles in the body. They are composed of the nerve tissues that receive stimuli and transmit stimuli to the nervous systems and to initiate responses. The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord and functions as the points of collection of all the nerve impulses. This is how the nervous system works; the sensory nervous system receives the stimuli, the central nervous system interprets them while the motor nervous system initiates responses.

The nervous system are very vital in the body and so they ought to be performing at optimum always, however due to some of the substances that a person may use such as drugs and alcohol the communication between these nerve tissues may be tampered with leading to rise of some complications in a person . Therefore there is need for the entire nervous system to replenished, relaxed and strengthened and nothing does that better than the nervines. The nervines are herbs that are specifically for the nervous system. They correct all the defects in the nervous system as well as strengthening the nervous system.

Nervine Herbs

Here are some of the useful Nervine Herbs

Catnip – this nervine is a very gentle sedative that is used in solving insomnia related problems. Some drugs may often leave the user with sleeplessness after along use. Catnip could be the answer. It’s also good for headaches.

California poppy – this herb has anti-anxiety, sedative, and analgesic properties. It’s used to promote relaxation in those seeking rest from nerve pain.

Passion flower – This stunning plant offers anti-spasmodic power and is helpful with tension headaches, occasional nerve pain, nervous restlessness, and restful sleep. Good for many symptoms of substance use disorder.

Lavender – Calming herb that is often used in aromatherapy applications for its mild calming action. This herb is uplifting hence good for low moods. It is good for mild anxiety and improves sleep quality. For persistent depression use lavender with holy basil and damiana.

Finally, Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we are committed to availing help to addicts by availing some of the most integrative approaches to healing an addict. We advocate for natural healing to all kinds of addiction. In case you are struggling with addiction just call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Substance Use Disorder Treatment with Nervine Herbs

Addictions and the Internet

December 1, 2014

The Potential of Web 2.0 Internet Technologies in Enhancing Treatment for Alcohol/Other Drug use Problems

Addiction and the internet Over the past decade there has been proliferation of e-health applications across disease categories. With the emergence of the next generation of Internet-based applications, Web 2.0, there are increasing opportunities for integrating these technologies into treatment approaches for alcohol/other drug use problems, in a way that engages and empowers like never before. No evidence currently exists to demonstrate the benefits of Web 2.0 applications, such as social networking and social media, on alcohol/other drug use problems. However, social learning and influence theories point to the possible mechanisms of action and effectiveness. More research is urgently required to examine the potential of Web 2.0 applications on alcohol/other drug use problems.

The internet has become very useful today. All information is sought online and medical information is no exception. As is evident the social platforms that came with the digital age are not only used to chat and catch up on social issues but have become a very valid platform through which professionals seek ideas and debate on crucial issues that are very important to their careers. The internet has become unequalled hub of information where professionals seek information and share ideas. Likewise patients have also found the internet a good place to air their concern and this has been boosted by the fact that you can be anonymous and still have your problems solved by professionals who may question and answer columns on their websites or blogs. The internet has the advantage of speed, unlike looking for information in a library full of books where you have to go through table of contents of many books to find what you want you just write the keywords on the search pane on the search engines like Google, Bing or Yandex and then the information will be brought within seconds. Even with many choices to select from you can still refine your search by keying in specific keywords that will make your search more local hence very effective. Today most internet users seek health information from the internet, it is estimated that 80% of internet users in America seek health information from the internet and 59% of them are adults.

The youth form the majority of the internet users, it is estimated that 71% of these youths seek health information online. Right now apart from email and search engines use, health information searching is the most popular activity for adults. There are also many forums that are created on online communities like Facebook and twitter that people use to access health information. On these sites people of like mind come together discuss their health problems and find solutions to their problems and drug addicts are no exception. The internet is a platform for seeking information but as it stands right now drug and alcohol addicts can get computerized treatments. Research testing the efficacy of computerized psychological treatments for alcohol and drugs addiction revealed that when coupled with weekly therapist support the computer-delivered alcohol and drugs treatment can be as effective as face to face treatment. With technology based for depression, it has been found that coupled with guidance it works twice better.

The web 2.0 technology

The emergence of web 2.0 technology may find the best solution that incorporates all the convenience and efficacy to the internet based treatment delivery while providing a platform for the development and maintenance of social connectedness and support which is key in achieving effectiveness in online computer-delivered treatments. However as stated earlier there is still little research reports that have been published on the subject of alcohol and other drug use and how they can be treated. But scientists opine that the web 2.0 has applications such as the social influence tool that can be useful in alcohol and other drugs use and treatment. This application allow individuals to learn in a more social context with changes in opinions, feelings , attitudes, thoughts and behavior as a result of group discussion. Interacting with like-minded individuals in the group helps in educating a person more on the issues of alcohol and other drugs abuse and how they can be treated.

This application will help individuals to know more about drugs and alcohol before they begin using them. It is a known fact that most people who are now addicted to alcohol and other drugs of abuse were exposed to environments where these drugs were used, having a social forum where adolescents can seek information and learn about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs abuse they will stay away from the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Many youths now stuck in the use of drugs began using the drugs when they were cajoled by friends who told them that using drugs of abuse is ‘cool’ and so they knew all the good things associated with drug abuse but no one ever told them the dangers of these drugs on friendly and in social context as they will learn on the web 2.0 applications. It is a known fact that adolescents listen to their peers more than they do to their parents and therefore the adolescents are led into using these drugs by their peers. The internet therefore presents an alternative interactive platform where these adolescents can seek information and guidance from health practitioners.

Finally, We at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts by availing some of the most integrative approaches to healing an addict. We advocate for natural healing to all kinds of addiction. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

The Potential of Web 2.0 Internet Technologies in Enhancing Treatment for Alcohol/Other Drug use Problems

Dopamine and RDS

December 1, 2014

Dopamine Genes Affect Clinical Outcomes in Reward Deficiency Syndrome

Dopamine is crucial neurotransmitter and hormone in the body. This hormone serves many purposes. It plays a role in the pleasure and reward pathway of the brain as well as in memory and motor control. And any decline in this hormone presents the body with myriads of ill-health conditions. This hormone however is greatly affected by drugs of abuse, most drugs that are taken to produce induced euphoric feelings in a person works in such a manner that they increase the production of the dopamine neurotransmitter, when this neurotransmitter is produced up to certain levels it will get depleted in the long term and hence the problem sets in. Specifically, the euphoric properties of cocaine and other drugs of leisure lead to the development of chronic abuse, and appear to involve the acute activation of central dopamine (DA) neuronal systems. They proposed that DA depletion results from overstimulation of these neurons and excessive synaptic metabolism of the neurotransmitter. When this happens may suffer ill-health conditions. These may include; poor nutrition, stress, lack of sleep and the habitual use of antidepressants, symptoms such as depression, mood swings, poor attention and food cravings will also occur. Some of the major symptoms of dopamine deficiency are depression, chronic boredom, and a loss of satisfaction, apathy, chronic fatigue and low physical energy with no desire to exercise the body. To correct these problems, it is necessary for this hormone to be supplemented so that the normal levels are restored. In addicts the use of buprenorphine to treat opioid dependent individual is common and is approved by the FDA. While to many people it has been working well with many studies supporting its use has now been reported that using buprenorphine for a long time will jeopardize the life a person as cases of severe withdrawal symptoms have been common. Researchers have found it necessary to embrace genetic testing to reveal reward circuitry gene polymorphisms especially those related to dopaminergic pathways as well as opioid receptor(s) as a way of improving treatment outcomes.

Researchers have currently proposed the use of dopamine agonists instead of antagonists like buprenorphine that is mostly used with naloxone can offer long term solution to dopamine deficiency. While it is well established that dopamine deficiency or a hypodopaminergic trait leads to aberrant substance seeking behaviors (RDS) and intact mu opiate receptors are important for maintaining “dopamine homeostasis”, scientists have suspected that opioid-dopaminergic interaction must be involved in buprenorphine response. In this regard they have provided some evidence that a putative dopamine agonist, KB220Z shows long-term potential as an opioid replacement compound especially in subjects having a genetically determined hypodopaminergic trait like RDS.

In a research study done by Kenneth Blum, Marlene Oscar-Berman, William Jacobs, Thomas McLaughlin and Mark S. Gold, it was found that dopamine genes can affect clinical outcomes in reward deficiency syndrome and therefore it is safe to use less powerful dopamine agonist dopaminergic genes in helping patients with low dopamine levels on a long-term basis.

Dopamine agonist therapy

Based on these earlier studies both Blum et al has continued to propose dopamine agonist therapy rather than dopamine antagonistic therapy currently favored by the approved FDA drugs as medical assisted treatment. Specifically, they proposed that D2 receptor stimulation can be accomplished via the use of KB220Z which is a complex therapeutic nutraceutical formulation that potentially induces DA release, causing the same induction of D2-directed mRNA and thus proliferation of D2 receptors in the human. This proliferation of D2 receptors in turn will induce the attenuation of craving behavior. In fact, this model has been proven in research showing DNA-directed compensatory overexpression which is a form of gene therapy of the DRD2 receptors, resulting in a significant reduction in alcohol as well as cocaine craving behavior in alcohol and cocaine preferring rodents.

This research done by Blum and his team suggested that utilizing less powerful dopaminergic repletion therapy to promote long term dopaminergic activation will ultimately lead to a common, safe and effective modality to treat Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) behaviors including Substance Use Disorders (SUD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obesity and other reward deficient aberrant behaviors. This concept is further supported by the more comprehensive understanding of the role of dopamine in the NAc as a “wanting” messenger in the meso-limbic DA system. This team had a hypothesis that D2 receptor stimulation signals negative feedback mechanisms in the mesolimbic system to induce mRNA expression causing proliferation of D2 receptors.

As revealed by the researchers stress and dopamine D2 receptor levels play a significant role in alcohol seeking behaviors. Another researcher Delis and his team observed that in the presence of a stressful environment, low DRD2 levels are associated with increased ethanol intake and preference and that under this condition, increased ethanol consumption could be used as a strategy to alleviate negative mood this also supports dopamine agonist therapy not antagonistic. It is therefore safe to use dopamine agonists instead of dopamine antagonists in treating those with low dopamine levels as they are much safer.

Finally, We at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts by availing some of the most integrative approaches to healing an addict. We advocate for natural healing to all kinds of addiction. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Dopamine Genes Affect Clinical Outcomes in Reward Deficiency Syndrome

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