Tag Archives: Alcohol

Topamax and Alcoholism Treatment

May 22, 2015

Role of Topamax in Alcoholism Treatment

TopamaxAlcoholism is serious problem that many people are still battling with today. After consuming alcohol for a long time, the brain chemistry becomes altered and there the brain becomes dependent on alcohol to function properly. Any person who is trapped in alcoholism may find it very hard to creep out of it, courtesy of cravings. for a person to be treated effectively of alcoholism he needs to have these cravings brought down without which all the possible positive outcomes during the treatment will all be in vain as very few people will be able to resist the craving for alcohol. Today almost a third of Americans who drink wine, spirits, beer and other alcoholic beverages are considered problem drinkers, meaning that they are at risk of becoming alcohol dependent, according to a 2005 study in the American Family Physician journal. Alcoholism is the final stage of alcohol addiction and it affects about 12 percent of the population. However alcoholism is not a problem of the Americans alone, it is a problem of the world, even in Middle East which was once considered an alcohol free territory has alcohol addicts.

Some of symptoms of alcoholism include;

  • Intense craving for alcohol
  • Inability to stop taking alcohol
  • Binge drinking
  • Other symptoms include; Nausea, sweating, shakiness, restlessness, or anxiety after drinking has stopped

The need for alcoholism treatment has led to rise of certain drugs that have been in use for some time. Alcohol dependence is a serious problem and FDA approved certain drugs like disulfiram (Antabuse and generic), naltrexone (ReVia, Vivitrol, and generic), and acamprosate (Campral). However these drugs haven’t been very successful in treating alcoholism as most of them had to be effective only when the patient has abstained from alcohol. This is surely a problem for alcohol cravings can never allow an addict to abstain before the problem is addressed. Therefore the need for a drug that could work even when the patient is still drinking rose. Topamax is the drug that was found to be effective in treatment of alcoholism as it could work without the need of the addict stopping the use of alcohol; Topamax was found to be very successful in treating volunteers who were still drinking heavily, according to a new analysis by the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists. However effective it is, topiramate is not approved by the FDA to treat alcohol dependence.

The drug is approved for treatment of certain types of seizures and as remedy for some conditions like migraine headaches. topiramate is also used as an off-label to combat alcoholism because it does not only not only quell other effects of alcohol but also appears to correct the brain chemistry imbalance caused by chronic drinking which includes a decrease in rewarding effects in the brain from continued alcohol consumption.

Speaking about the effectiveness of topiramate in treatment of alcoholism, Henry R. Kranzler, M.D., associate scientific director of the Alcohol Research Center at the University of Connecticut had this to say, “The advantages of topiramate are that it works well and can be used in people who are actively drinking,” however Kranzler emphasized the negative effects of using the drug to treat alcoholism, “But it causes troublesome side effects, especially memory and thinking problems and sedation. To minimize them, the dosage must be increased slowly over as long as eight weeks, which requires multiple doctor visits and means patients, may not achieve results as quickly as they would with another medication.” therefore it must be administered by a qualified doctor who’ll know the right dosage.

How effective is topiramate in treatment of alcoholism?

There have been some researchers that have been done to show the effectiveness of topiramate in treating alcoholism. In two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials, topiramate was found effective as it did not only decrease drinking but also increased abstinence in alcohol-dependent adults. The craving for alcohol was also decreased in one of the two studies and it also improved the quality of life of the addicts. Other problems that are always associated with excessive drinking like blood pressure issues, liver enzyme and increasing cholesterol levels were also remedied. However these two studies were only conducted for 12 to 14 weeks, therefore the long-term effectiveness of the drug could not be determined. Another reason that made these results doubtable was the fact that Topamax manufacturers partly or fully funded these trials.

TopamaxIn another study that was not blinded, Spanish researchers randomly assigned alcohol-dependent patients to treatment with either topiramate or naltrexone for six months. The patients knew that they were taking the medication and which drug they took. In this study topiramate was found to be very effective in reducing the cravings for alcohol. In another observational study in Spain it was found that topiramate was effective in treating alcoholics who had failed to respond to other standard treatments for alcoholism. It helped reduce craving and drinking in these patients.

The results of these researches are very positive on the use of topiramate in treatment of alcoholism however there is still need to come up with other long term research to help determine whether the use of topiramate for treatment of alcoholism can be beneficial, also the need for accurate dosing should be looked into to minimize chances of the patients suffering gross side effects.

Alcoholism is a menace that should be fought by all means that is why we at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts and offering them a place to call home. It does not matter what kind of addiction you are wrestling with right now, just call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) today and begin your journey to victory against addiction.

Role of Topamax in Alcoholism Treatment

 

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Addiction Recovery Steps Pose Comprehensive Challenges

May 20, 2015

Addiction Recovery Steps Pose Comprehensive Challenges : Why we must defeat Relapse

Addiction Recovery Steps Pose Comprehensive Challenges

Comprehending the challenges involved in Addiction Recovery steps:is the starting point if meaningful treatment is to take place

When dealing with drug addiction by all means there will be numerous challenge along the way. How you go about those challenges will determine how determine you are with the treatment program. Ideally it will not be a walk along the park and occasionally you may stumble, that is very normal however the way you will behave when you stumble matters a lot to your recovery steps process. Many have relapse and stood up to pick the pieces and have succeeded while others have relapsed and deteriorated further into addiction of the substance they were taking and even more. This article is going to help us comprehend the challenges involved in addiction recovery and how best we can overcome them. Doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center tells us that comprehending the challenges involved in addiction recovery steps are not very easy due to the fact that most addicts are in denial and do not want to acknowledge that they have a problem.

In our last article we mentioned that a healthy mind and clear goals are very crucial when dealing with challenges involved in the treatment process. When the mind is not healthy, goals cannot be realized. That is why many are in great denial because their minds have been corrupted with the substances they are abusing. However it is not only a clear conscience that will help in this challenge, there are very many factors which when addressed properly, the issue of will be settled and that is what we want to further on this discussion.

Addiction Recovery Steps Pose Comprehensive Challenges  Healthy Relationships

You may get the best professionals like doctor Dalal Akoury taking you through the recovery process but if the people around you are not supportive in your course, then the treatment efforts will be greatly affected. Remember that these drugs are very addictive and life threatening. Therefore maintaining your sobriety goes hand in hand with caring for the relationships in your life. There is no two ways about it; the relationship must be healthy and supportive by all means. And for the avoidance of doubt a healthy relationships will offer you support in your addiction recovery steps program best. This support is very essential in drug relapse prevention. According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, a healthy family environment contributes in many ways including the following:

  • Providing support in sobriety
  • Creating a stress-free environment
  • Providing happiness and overall well-being
  • Offering a healthy outlet to talk about your feelings openly

How then do you bond with your family? Because these people will be there for you, it is very important that you strengthen your relationships with your family by attending family therapy with a mental health counselor. You and your loved ones will work on your communication skills with one another and strengthen the bond that you share through the therapy. You will learn to work through potential conflicts in healthy ways and establish a healthy family atmosphere says doctor Akoury.

Addiction Recovery Steps Pose Comprehensive Challenges: Reaching Out to Others

Oh yes, education or reaching out with addiction recovery steps programs is very important not just to the recovering addicts but also their counterparts who are yet to register into the program. If you have made the first step of acknowledging the problem treatment becomes easy and even drug relapse prevention becomes attainable. At this level you can become a very good tutor tor the other addicts. Therefore creating awareness to other drug users and surrounding yourself with drug prevention materials encourages you to stay sober and serves as a reminder of how far you’ve progressed. Drug relapse prevention is strengthened by holding yourself responsible for spreading encouragement and education to others.

An opportunity to reach out is to speak to members of our youth such as students at a high school. According to the 2010 NSDUH report, 10.1 percent of youths ages 12 to 17 use illicit drugs. Speaking to youths about your addiction promotes drug-free habits in young people, and working with them is very rewarding for some addicts. Educating others about drugs helps you feel empowered and reinforces what you know about drugs and the effects of addiction. This will lessen your risk of relapse as you will continue to feel good about what you’re doing. You will begin to feel responsible for your work as a drug educator and feel a sense of accomplishment. This feeling of accomplishment will help you in drug relapse prevention.

Educating young adults is especially helpful in alcohol relapse prevention. Over 15.6 percent of college-aged persons are heavy drinkers, and 42.2 percent are binge drinkers according to the 2010 NSDUH report. These rates are extremely alarming, and a recovering alcoholic may find solace in educating students about alcoholism and sobriety.

The best addiction recovery steps begin with attending group meetings for addicts, this is very beneficial for recovering addicts as well. Meeting with other addicts provides peer support for recovering addicts. Other addicts understand what you are going through and provide encouraging words to help in recovery. Seeing people who have maintained sobriety for an ongoing period is uplifting and helps in drug relapse prevention.

Addiction Recovery Steps Pose Comprehensive Challenges: Mistakes Do Happen

As hard as recovering addicts try, some may slip up and relapse. If you suffer a relapse, do not fear that your path to recovery is blocked, because you are not the only one who may go through ups and downs on the road to recovery. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 40 to 60 percent of substance abusers relapse at some point in recovery. Drug relapse prevention is an ongoing process that may need to be adjusted after treatment.

Should a relapse happen, it is important to immediately seek treatment for yourself or a loved one? Starting the addiction treatment process over again is most beneficial as you or your loved one will relearn the essentials of sobriety and detox in a safe environment that is free of temptations. It is also important that the addict remains in treatment for as long as needed. According to NIDA, the most effective treatments for substance abuse addiction last longer than three months.

Addiction Recovery Steps Pose Comprehensive Challenges: The Best Drug Relapse Prevention

As with treatment, the best form of drug relapse prevention varies by the addict. Different addicts need different kinds of treatment to continue addiction recovery steps . The most effective method of drug relapse prevention is one that not only treats the substance addiction but also any underlying physical or mental conditions that may exist. And that is what we will give you at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Get to that phone and call us right now and we will be there for you all the way to your total recovery process.

Addiction Recovery Steps Pose Comprehensive Challenges: Why we must defeat Relapse

 

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Research Findings on alcohol consumption and cancers

May 8, 2015

Research Findings on alcohol consumption and cancers: The Experts Opinion

Research Findings on alcohol consumption and cancers

Research Findings on alcohol consumption and cancers indicates that cancer and alcohol abuse are never a good combination and nothing good can come from their association

In our previous article we dealt with the effects of alcohol and cancer risk and in particular we were able to disclose who the use of alcohol increases the risk of contracting head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer and breast cancer. You realize that these are not the only types of cancer that are closely associated with alcohol consumption. In this article we are going to further onto the discussion but this time focusing on the research findings on alcohol consumption and cancer. When research is done, what follows is getting the outcome of that research. In this line of duty a lot of studies have been done primarily to establish if there is any association between alcohol consumption and the risk of cancer. And other than what we discussed previously, the risk is not as evident in other cancers like cancers of the pancreas, ovary, prostate, stomach, uterus, and bladder. Therefore in these cancers cases, studies have not established any close association with alcohol or where there is evidence it was inconsistent.

However, for two cancers renal cell (kidney) cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) multiple studies have shown that increased alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of cancer. A meta-analysis of the NHL studies (which included 18,759 people with NHL) found a 15 percent lower risk of NHL among alcohol drinkers compared with nondrinkers. The mechanisms by which alcohol consumption would decrease the risks of either renal cell cancer or NHL are not understood.

Research Findings on alcohol consumption and cancers: How does alcohol increase the risk of cancer?

Doctor Akoury in response to this question acknowledges that several studies have in the past established numerous ways through which alcohol consumption may increase the risk of cancer. She shares with as some of them as follows:

  • Metabolizing (breaking down) ethanol in alcoholic drinks to acetaldehyde, which is a toxic chemical and a probable human carcinogen; acetaldehyde can damage both DNA (the genetic material that makes up genes) and proteins
  • Generating reactive oxygen species (chemically reactive molecules that contain oxygen), which can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids (fats) through a process called oxidation
  • Impairing the body’s ability to break down and absorb a variety of nutrients that may be associated with cancer risk, including vitamin A; nutrients in the vitamin B complex, such as folate; vitamin C; vitamin D; vitamin E; and carotenoids
  • Increasing blood levels of estrogen, a sex hormone linked to the risk of breast cancer

Alcoholic beverages may also contain a variety of carcinogenic contaminants that are introduced during fermentation and production, such as nitrosamines, asbestos fibers, phenols, and hydrocarbons.

Research Findings on alcohol consumption and cancers: How does the combination of alcohol and tobacco affect cancer risk?

Epidemiologic research shows that people who use both alcohol and tobacco have much greater risks of developing cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx (throat), larynx, and esophagus than people who use either alcohol or tobacco alone. In fact, for oral and pharyngeal cancers, the risks associated with using both alcohol and tobacco are multiplicative; that is, they are greater than would be expected from adding the individual risks associated with alcohol and tobacco together.

Research Findings on alcohol consumption and cancers: Can a person’s genes affect their risk of alcohol-related cancers?

The answer to this question is yes. It is actually true that a person’s risk of alcohol-related cancers can be influenced by their genes, and specifically when the genes that encode the enzymes is involved in metabolizing that is breaking down of alcohol. For example, one way the body metabolizes alcohol is through the activity of an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase, or ADH. Many individuals of Chinese, Korean, and especially Japanese descent carry a version of the gene for ADH that codes for a “super-active” form of the enzyme. This super-active ADH enzyme speeds the conversion of alcohol (ethanol) to toxic acetaldehyde. As a result, when people who have the super-active enzyme drink alcohol, acetaldehyde builds up. Among people of Japanese descent, those who have this super-active ADH have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than those with the more common form of ADH.

Research Findings on alcohol consumption and cancers: Can drinking red wine help prevent cancer?

Researchers conducting studies using purified proteins, human cells, and laboratory animals have found that certain substances in red wine, such as resveratrol, have anticancer properties. Grapes, raspberries, peanuts, and some other plants also contain resveratrol. However, clinical trials in humans have not provided evidence that resveratrol is effective in preventing or treating cancer. Few epidemiologic studies have looked specifically at the association between red wine consumption and cancer risk in humans.

Research Findings on alcohol consumption and cancers: What happens to cancer risk after a person stops drinking alcohol?

Most of the studies that have examined whether cancer risk declines after a person stops drinking alcohol have focused on head and neck cancers and on esophageal cancer. In general, these studies have found that stopping alcohol consumption is not associated with immediate reductions in cancer risk; instead, it may take years for the risks of cancer to return to those of never drinkers.

For example, a pooled analysis of 13 case-control studies of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx combined found that alcohol-associated cancer risk did not begin to decrease until at least 10 years after stopping alcohol drinking. Even 16 years after they stopped drinking alcohol, the risk of cancer was still higher for ex-drinkers than for never drinkers.

In several studies, the risk of esophageal cancer was also found to decrease slowly with increasing time since stopping alcohol drinking. A pooled analysis of five case–control studies found that the risk of esophageal cancer did not approach that of never drinkers for at least 15 years after stopping alcohol drinking.

Research Findings on alcohol consumption and cancers: Is it safe for someone to drink alcohol while undergoing cancer chemotherapy?

Cancer is a killer disease and alcohol is equally very bad for your health even if you were not struggling with cancer. What benefit can one get from alcohol especially when you are also on cancer treatment? Certainly nothing good will come out of it. However if you are so much into alcohol and you feel like you cannot get along without drinking, then you must and timely consult with your doctor. Your doctor who has been administering treatment on you will able to advice you professionally on specific issues including whether drinking whether drinking alcohol is safe with particular chemotherapy drugs or other medications prescribed along with chemotherapy. Nonetheless you can also seek for professional help from other medical experts like doctor Dalal Akoury, all you need to do is to call her for an appointment and she will gladly give you her best from her experience of over two decades of practice.

Research Findings on alcohol consumption and cancers: The Experts Opinion

 

 

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alcohol and cancer risk

Is Alcohol Causing Your Cancer?

May 8, 2015

Hope to Patients Fighting Alcohol & Deadly Tumors

Is Alcohol  Causing your Cancer? 

The effects of Alcohol and Cancer Risk

The effects of Alcohol and Cancer Risk are realistic and must not be taken lightly. Alcohol contribute immensely in causing cancer and treatment must be taken seriously

Globally alcohol is the most abused drug, it is also addictive and one of the biggest government source of revenue across the globe. Alcohol despite its effects in human health and the economies of the nations, it is legally acceptable and it finds its way in both the high and mighty and low places of our societies. So what exactly is this drug alcohol? It is the common term used ethanol or ethyl alcohol which is a chemical substance commonly found in beer, wine, liquor, some medicines, mouthwashes, household products and other essential oils scented liquids taken from plants. Now that we are up to date with what this product is, we want to shift focus to our theme of discussion in this article that primarily targeting the effects of alcohol and cancer risk. And for value addition, we spoke to experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. This facility was founded by doctor Dalal Akoury and currently she is also the MD of the establishment. Together with her team of experts, they are going to help us put to perspective some of the concerns we have in relation to our topic of discussion today which is “the effects of alcohol and cancer risk”.

Nonetheless before we get into that alcohol is produced by the fermentation of sugars and starches by yeast, and it is very important that we are aware of the main types of alcoholic drinks and their alcohol content. This is going to be very helpful to us as we explore the primary effects of alcohol to cancer and cancer patients. The alcohol content in various alcoholic beverages is as follows:

  • Beers and hard ciders: 3-7 percent alcohol
  • Wines, including sake: 9-15 percent alcohol
  • Wines fortified with liquors, such as port: 16-20 percent alcohol
  • Liquor, or distilled spirits, such as gin, rum, vodka, and whiskey, which are produced by distilling the alcohol from fermented grains, fruits, or vegetables: usually 35-40 percent alcohol (70-80 proof), but can be higher

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a standard alcoholic drink in the United States for example contains 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Generally, this units of pure alcohol is found in

  • 12 ounces of beer
  • 8 ounces of malt liquor
  • 5 ounces of wine
  • 1.5 ounces or a “shot” of 80-proof liquor

Up to this point let me pose briefly and find out or justify why alcohol is the most abused drug globally. Take for instance according to the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 just five years ago, the federation position or definition of what should be considered to be moderate alcohol drinking is a maximum of one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Heavy alcohol drinking is defined as having more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks per week for women and more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week for men. With that piece of information, you are now beginning to appreciate the realities of alcohol abuse. Ideally what is considered heavy drinking per week is equivalent to what most people consume in just two hours daily. If in just two hours one would take this much, translate that in to a day then to a week, a month and a year. It thus explains why this is the most abused drug in our societies. Now let us get back to the effects of alcohol and cancer risk.

The effects of Alcohol and Cancer Risk: There is clear evidence that alcohol drinking is a cause of cancer

Based on extensive reviews of research studies, there is a strong scientific consensus of an association between alcohol drinking and several types of cancer. In its Report on Carcinogens, the National Toxicology Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services lists consumption of alcoholic beverages as a known human carcinogen. The research evidence indicates that the more alcohol a person drinks particularly the more alcohol a person drinks regularly over time, the higher his or her risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer. It will shock you to know that the effects are very fatal when accounting for deaths resulting from the consumption of alcohol. From the available statistics, it was estimated that in 2009 about 3.5% of cancer deaths in the United State, were alcohol related. That percentage represents about 19500 people dying from this scourge.

Request more information on screening and treatment of Alcohol and cancer today: Call (843) 213-1480  or contact online.

Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury while studying the formation of different types of cancer, they established that there is an emerging pattern between alcohol consumption and the development of the following types of cancer:

Head and neck cancer: Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for certain head and neck cancers, particularly cancers of the oral cavity (excluding the lips), pharynx (throat), and larynx (voice box). People who consume 50 or more grams of alcohol per day (approximately 3.5 or more drinks per day) have at least two to three times’ greater risk of developing these cancers than nondrinkers. The matter is even more complicated where the patient is also smoking thereby increasing the risk even much higher.

Esophageal cancer: The consumption of alcohol poses a major risk factor for a particular type of esophageal cancer commonly known as esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Besides that, individuals who inherit a deficiency in an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol also have significantly increased risks of alcohol-related esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Liver cancer: Alcohol consumption is an independent risk factor for, and a primary cause of, liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). (Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus are the other major causes of liver cancer.)

Breast cancer: Ideally no study about types of cancer can be done without torching on the breast cancer. Actually this in one of the most discussed types of cancer globally. In our case study following more than 100 epidemiological studies whose objective was to find any link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, it was established in most of these studies that breast cancer is closely linked to alcohol intake. A meta-analysis of more than half of these studies revealed that women who drunk more than 45 grams of alcohol daily (3 drinks) had 1.5 times the risk of developing breast cancer compared to nondrinkers. The risk of breast cancer was however higher across all levels of alcohol intake: that is to say for every 10 grams of alcohol consumed daily (slightly less than one drink), researchers observed a small (7 percent) increase in the risk of breast cancer.

It therefore confirms that alcohol abuse is a serious threat to life as it introduces cancer into your life. You can have this prevented or corrected by seeking for immediate help from the experts at of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center by scheduling for an appointment today and doctor Akoury will professionally and personally handle your condition.

Request more information on screening and treatment of Alcohol and cancer today: Call (843) 213-1480  or contact online.

The effects of Alcohol and Cancer Risk: What is alcohol?

 

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The Relationship Between Addiction and Adrenal Fatigue

April 21, 2015

Addiction Causes Adrenal Fatigue

Addiction is a serious problem, addiction is the genesis of many health issues and it is even complicated to know that it is one of the wars that few people win. In the past addiction to drugs and other substances have been linked to myriads of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and other neurodegenerative disorders. This explains why addicts are not always on the good side of health, when a person is addicted to drugs and alcohol he will begin to feel sick, generally an addict is never in good health and that is why most of them may have certain strange behaviors such as irritability and even slurred speech. The reason for this is that when a person takes drugs that are rewarding in nature he will be compelled to increase the doses day by day so as to get the euphoric feeling they seek in drugs. Even the drugs that are used in pain management like the opiates have specified dosages beyond the patient will not only get addicted to the drug but will suffer other diseases that come with overdose of such drugs. Drugs of abuse majorly affect the neurotransmitter and this will be extended to the central nervous system (CNS) which is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain is the engine that drives all the activities in the body of every human being but these drugs will interfere with chemical balances in the brain making it unable to perform normally. In some instance even the neurotransmitters that work to transmit signals so as to provoke certain necessary responses may get debilitated hence everything will be messed up. As expected when the neurotransmitters are affected and the entire nervous system is adversely altered then the proper coordination within the nervous system is tampered with and this is what causes a series of health complications.

Adrenal Fatigue

Recently researchers have shown that substance addiction may be linked to adrenal fatigue. Adrenal Fatigue refers to a stress-related condition that is suffered when the adrenal glands, hypothalamus and pituitary gland are functioning below their optimal level. Adrenal gland is the source of various neurotransmitters that are very vital in our nervous systems. These neurotransmitters include; cortisol, DHEA and epinephrine. These neurotransmitters are used to regulate your heart rate, immune system, energy storage and improve the general health and stability. When the adrenal glands have malfunctioned and fail to release these neurotransmitters in good amount then it will not be easy for any individual to have good health.  It is suspected that prolonged stress on the adrenal glands is what causes adrenal fatigue.

Some drugs of pleasure not only affect the dopamine but also the release of other neurotransmitters like adrenaline which is the fight or flight neurotransmitter. Even an addiction to caffeine does this. Ralph T. Golan, ND, in his book, Herbal Defense explains how using caffeine for prolonged periods can exhaust your adrenals:  “Caffeine forces your glands to secrete when they don’t have much left to give, and they have to keep digging deeper and deeper, making you more and more tired over time. And over the years, it takes more and more coffee to get the same result. Some people reach the point of drinking half a dozen or more cups of coffee to get the same result and it’s barely keeping them awake. That’s severe adrenal depletion.”

Role of adaptogens in addiction

Adaptogens are herbs that help in enhancing your immunity and ability to deal with stress, anxiety trauma, and even fatigue. Some adaptogens have been used as anti-aging herbs and have been found to have a capacity to rejuvenate the body and aid longevity. They also work to correct defects that the body is subjected to as a result of long term use of drugs of abuse.

Siberian Ginseng also known as Eleutherococcus senticosus root. This adaptogen is known for its ability to combat lack of appetite, correct insomnia, and improve memory. Siberian ginseng also increases mental alertness that is known to be lacking in those who have been addicted to substance use for quite a long time. This adaptogens also helps in healing nervous disorders and enhances energy. This adaptogens increases the body’s ability to adapt to metabolic stress and helps in recovery from substance abuse.

American Ginseng also known Panax quinquefolius root. American Ginseng is known to be a superior tonic herb with an immense ability to strengthen metabolism and the entire endocrine system. Like other species of Ginseng, the American ginseng also has adaptogenic properties, and is quite useful for the recovering addict. American Ginseng combines well with Siberian Ginseng and can be used together to heal an addict.

Adrenal Fatigue

Astragalus, also known as Astragalus membranaceous root. This adaptogens helps in promoting overall body function by strengthening digestion among other core benefits.  This herb can be used to help in restoring energy and balance the immune system in recovering addicts. It is good for some of the withdrawal symptoms of addiction like stress, colds and even chronic fatigue syndrome. It is also safe and be taken on a daily basis without it having negative side effects.

Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil. In the past this herb was used for treating such illnesses as stomach upsets and bronchitis. This herb has been found to be effective also in reducing stress that most addicts battle with. It has been found to reduce mental confusion that is common with most addicts using cannabis.

Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we are committed to availing the best integrative approaches to treatment of diseases. We advocate for dietary as well as natural healing to diseases wherever possible. Visit as at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) will be of help.

Addiction Causes Adrenal Fatigue

 

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