Intravenous B Vitamins and the Addiction Disease

March 12, 2015

Nutrition plays a major role in keeping us safe from diseases of all kinds and even making our bodies able to fight these diseases when attacked. However addiction to certain drugs depletes some of the most crucial vitamins and other important nutritional components that are supposed to make us healthy and be safe from addictions. B vitamins are some of the most important vitamins in our bodies as they are very essential for the proper functioning of our brain and the entire nervous system. Supplements with natural vitamin B can help with drug addiction, stress, and depression. This is because most drugs are suppressants to the nervous system and in the long term they leave the nervous system incapacitated to work efficiently. Like sated earlier B vitamins are very crucial in our bodies but are often depleted by drug and alcohol use. To show how important B vitamins are let’s look at their roles in our body.

Intravenous B Vitamins

The roles of vitamin B in the body

One of the most important functions of B vitamins in our bodies in relation to addiction is that they can help in fighting addiction. Vitamin B3 or niacin are an effective bunch in treatment of addiction especially addiction to alcohol as they metabolize alcohol out of your body and regulates part of the stress-related hormones of the adrenal glands. Therefore in case of deficiency in these vitamins an IV supplementation of these vitamins will help. Another serious withdrawal symptom is Insomnia, this can be resolved by Vitamin B6 which is essential in production of the chemical serotonin, which helps in restoring calmness in case of anxiety and depression and also helps in regulation of melatonin levels to induce sleep. Brain is a victim of most drug of abuse, Vitamin B9 is crucial in restoring cellular as well as brain health. researchers have found out that when vitamins B3, B6 and B9 are given intravenously in higher doses they help in reducing alcohol cravings and anxious tension, as well as insomnia and mood fluctuations that are common symptoms of withdrawal.

Other important B vitamins include Vitamin B1 also known as thiamin, and vitamin B2, known as riboflavin. these two vitamins helps in maintaining cell health by processing nutrients from foods and converting carbohydrates, fats and proteins to usable energy. Thiamine supplementation is a recommended treatment in alcohol addiction treatment as it helps in reducing fatigue, maintaining mental clarity and decreasing disorientation. Riboflavin helps in reducing the severity of headaches and hand tremors associated with alcohol and other drugs withdrawal. These two vitamins can be intravenously supplemented in addicts to help them through the withdrawal phase of the addiction treatment. Owing to its importance in the body, it’s better to discuss thiamine in detail.

Thiamine in Detail

Thiamine or Thiamin also known as Vitamin B1 is a water-soluble vitamin of the B complex. This vitamin is needed so that our bodies can use carbohydrates as energy. It is a necessity for glucose metabolism. Thiamine also plays an important role in nerve, muscle and heart function.

Thiamine is found in many foods such as yeast, cereal grains, beans, nuts, and meat. It is part of vitamin B vitamins with which it is often used in making vitamin B complex products. Vitamin B complexes generally include vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin/niacinamide), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), and folic acid.

There are situations when a person will be required to take Thiamine, thiamine deficiency syndromes such as beriberi and neuritis that may arise during pregnancy require supplementation of thiamine. It is also used to treat digestive problems which may include ulcerative colitis, diarrhea and even poor appetite.

This vitamin has many uses, some of its uses include; it is used in vision problems like cataracts, it is also used by HIV patients as an immune booster, used in treating brain damage and in prevention of cervical cancer. It can still be used to enhance learning abilities and to enhance positive mental attitude. It also increases energy and is also useful in preventing memory loss.

Despite its many uses thiamine is widely used in treating a memory disorder known as Wernicke’s encephalopathy syndrome which is common in those addicted to alcohol. Therefore it has been found to be effective in fighting alcoholism which in itself is an indication of thiamine deficiency.

Intravenous B Vitamins

Generally deficiency of B vitamins has been found to be responsible for much of the fatigue, skin irritation, memory loss and depression experienced by people who are newly recovering from an addiction to alcohol. Therefore recovering addicts can benefit from IV B vitamins supplementation. Vitamin B in general, and particularly vitamins B1 , B3 and B5 have a role in ensuring there is enough energy in the cells as they are primarily responsible for turning sugars into energy. B6 and B12 play important roles in producing blood cells and the health of the nervous system. Naturally the B vitamins can be found in foods we eat particularly in pork, nuts, cereals, salmon, grains (whole grains), liver, egg and milk.

As can be seen above the functions of the B vitamins in fighting addiction are numerous and the effectiveness of having an IV B vitamins regimen cannot be underestimate as it is through the restoration of the normal levels of the regimen that we can heal the nervous system and provide the cells with enough energy throughout the addiction treatment and beyond.

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. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Intravenous B Vitamins and the Addiction Disease

St. John’s Wort Helps in Depression and Insomnia Treatement

March 4, 2015

St. John’s Wort Powers: The Treatment of Depression and Insomnia during Addiction Withdrawals

St. John’s Wort is a wonder plant that has been used in treatment of many conditions for quite a long time. The most used part of this herb is the flowers and the leaves. This herb has many medically active components but its known most active components are two; hypericin and hyperforin. Although hypericin was formerly thought to be the component of St. John’s wort principally responsible for its action, it is now understood that hyperforin, adhyperforin, and several other related compounds are the primary active constituents. Both hyperforin and adhyperforin appear to modulate the effects of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine and may inhibit reuptake of these neurotransmitters. This herb has been found to be very useful in treatment of conditions that are caused as a result of imbalances in the neurotransmitters.

St. John’s Wort for Depression during addiction withdrawals

Imbalances in the neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine cause depression. This imbalance may be caused by use of drugs of pleasure or by other diseases. Apart from these two causes, a person may also have a family history of depression and so predisposed to depression a case which makes it rather complicated for the brain to produce the neurotransmitters in required amounts. The brain has a great role to play in inhibiting depression; it has to produce the millions of chemicals it produces in the right amounts everyday failure to which you will be depressed. It’s that complicated.

In the long-term, all drugs and alcohol are brain depressants. In moderate amounts, alcohol does not lead to depression, but abusing drugs or alcohol will definitely lead to depression. This is because they deplete your brain of serotonin and dopamine. Researchers warn that it may take quite a long time for depleted dopamine to be restored and so it is important to avoid abusing drugs.

Alcohol abuse almost doubles the risk of depression. In one study that looked at 2,945 alcoholics. Fifteen percent were depressed before they began abusing alcohol, and that number jumped to 26 percent after they started abusing alcohol. Once they stopped drinking for an extended period, 15 percent remained depressed. This study showed that alcohol almost doubles the risk of depression.

St. John’s Wort

Marijuana has also been linked to depression. It is reported that marijuana users are four times more likely to develop depression. In one study which monitored a large group of people for 16 years, it was discovered that people who smoked marijuana were four times more likely to develop depression. Another study followed later with 1601 students and confirmed the findings. Depression is a serious illness that may make it hard for an addict to stop taking the drugs of pleasure to boost the dopamine levels for a moment. Fortunately this can be helped by use of St. John’s Wort. Taking St. John’s wort extracts improves mood, and decreases anxiety and insomnia related to depression. This herb seems to be effective in treatment of mild depression than some of prescription drugs. According to the American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine, St. John’s wort can be considered an option along with antidepressant medications for short-term treatment of mild depression.

St. John’s Wort for Insomnia during addiction withdrawals

According to National Sleep Foundation, insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, even when a person has the chance to do so. People with insomnia can feel dissatisfied with their sleep and usually experience the symptoms of poor sleep that may deter them from enjoying healthy lifestyles. This disease can affect people of all ages but adults are the major victims.

A person suffering from insomnia may show the following symptoms

Irritability, depression or anxiety
Difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering
Increased errors or accidents
Tension headaches
Distress in the stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract)
Ongoing worries about sleep
Difficulty falling asleep at night
Awakening during the night
Awakening too early
Not feeling well rested after a night’s sleep
Daytime tiredness or sleepiness

insomnia

Insomnia may be caused by depression and stress but it may also be caused by the imbalances in the neurotransmitters as a result of long term use of drugs of pleasure. Some other causes of insomnia include;

Anxiety– Anxiety is a common everyday problem. However there are more serious anxiety disorders like PTSD which will never give your brain a rest. Anxiety beckons insomnia and so should be avoided to help you sleep soundly and reap huge health benefits from it.

Medical conditions-there are conditions that cause insomnia. These conditions may include; chronic pain, chest problems and even frequent urination. These conditions may cause difficulty in sleep. Diseases like cancer, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and even Parkinson’s disease have been linked to insomnia.

St. John’s wort has been found to be very effective in treatment of depression that might cause difficulty in sleep and this is owed to its effects on serotonin may be primarily responsible for its antidepressant activity. Apart from being an anti-depressant this herb works on the neurotransmitters in unlimited ways it affects many neurotransmitters that are key to good sleep health.

Drug induced Insomnia may not be easy to treat. However there are also medical approaches to treating drug induced Insomnia but of all these going the natural way is much better since it has less side effects and is more effective. We at AWAREmed health and wellness center are dedicated to finding the best natural solutions to health problems. You can visit us at Myrtle Beach South Carolina where you will be attended to by Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) who has vast experience in integrative medicine for lifestyle diseases.

St. John’s Wort and treatment of depression and insomnia during addiction withdrawals

Natural Ways to Maintain Beautiful Youthful Skin

January 1, 2015

Natural Ways to Maintain Beautiful Youthful Skin – It has a lot to do with Lifestyle

Natural Ways to Maintain Beautiful Youthful Skin is the best and simplest ways of protecting your skin from further damage.

I have in the recent past posted several articles about skincare and I will continue doing so because of the wrong information available out there. Many people get the wrong information about nourishing there skin from the many marketing avenues targeting majority of people concern about keeping the beauty of their skin. There are very many natural ways to maintaining beautiful youthful skin today and doctor Akoury will be discussing some of them in this article. It will interest you to note that doctor Dalal Akoury is fellowship trained and certified in anti-aging functional and regenerative medicine, as well as having more than two decades of accumulated experience in emergency medicine, pediatrics, and a master’s degree in public health. She has also served fellowships in pediatric hematology/oncology and has performed research in leukemia and the effects of smoking. Her experience in skincare makes her to be the best medical professional you can consult for all matters pertaining to the beauty of your skin.

It is very interesting to note that everyone wants their skin to remain youthful yet what they do reflects the complete opposite. For instance the food we eat and how we treat ourselves can prevent or even reverse aging in many ways. The body actually requires adequate food nutrients to fight off damage, and your skin is no different. Nutrients help the cells replicate and have more energy. For instance processed foods, stress, toxins and low-nutrient diets will accelerate aging. Therefore, protecting yourself from harmful chemicals alongside getting enough sleep, relaxation and exercise will all help you in maintain a healthy glowing skin.

Natural Ways to Maintain Beautiful Youthful Skin – Drink plenty of water

Even with a small amount of dehydration, your body functions in a less optimal way. The instant you’re dehydrated, it will take a toll on your skin, causing it to look dull, flaky, saggy and loose.

Natural Ways to Maintain Beautiful Youthful Skin – Eat foods with antioxidants

Antioxidants are the best resources your body has to fight disease and aging by reducing damage and inflammation. Inflammation is a leading cause of wrinkle formation. Some of the best sources of antioxidants include:

Pomegranates
Seeds
Raspberries
Blueberries
Dark chocolate (70% or higher of cocoa content)
Nuts
Acai berries
Goji berries
Spinach
Purple grapes
Organic green tea

Natural Ways to Maintain Beautiful Youthful Skin – Have a rainbow colored plate of food

Free radicals form in our bodies and cause major damage to our cell structures. The different nutrient-rich foods we eat neutralize them. You need to consume the widest variety of antioxidants you can to fight off the different kinds of free radicals. Think about what colors you’ve missed throughout the day, and try to incorporate them into your next meal.

Natural Ways to Maintain Beautiful Youthful Skin – Limit your sun exposure

Small amounts of daily sun produce vitamin D and are beneficial, but too much sun will damage your skin. Don’t forget to wear your sunglasses, and use zinc or titanium dioxide sunscreen.

Natural Ways to Maintain Beautiful Youthful Skin – Opt for natural skin products
Many skincare products contain harsh chemicals. When choosing moisturizers or makeup, research the ingredients in them the best you can to confirm that they’re safe.
Use non-toxic cleaning products and own a plant

It is imperative to limit exposure to toxic chemicals because the skin absorbs them. Remember that indoor pollution levels can be even higher than outdoor levels. Therefore, a plant in your home or by your desk at work will act as an air filter.

Get enough vitamin C

A diet rich in vitamin C leads to fewer wrinkles. Researchers have found that skin exposed to vitamin C for long periods of time can produce up to eight times more collagen.

Avoid sugar and Consume healthy fats

Sugar can lead to damaged collagen and elastin, which cause wrinkles. Therefore eliminating sugar from your diet would be necessary. As you do that, incorporating foods such as avocados, olive oil, flax seeds, nuts and fish into your diet is important. The fatty acids are crucial for your skin to look youthful.

Natural Ways to Maintain Beautiful Youthful Skin – Cleanse your body

A buildup of toxins in the body due to the air, water and food causes damage to the body as well as aging. Detoxing by way of a juice cleanse is recommended for the body to be able to focus on energy production and eliminating toxins. Having a glass of water with squeezed lemon first thing in the mornings is also very cleansing.

Engage in activities that relieve stress

High levels of stress will compromise your skin. Consider yoga or meditating. Eliminate problematic people and activities from your life. Confide in your friends and openly talk to them about your worries and troubles.

Sleep and Exercise

You skin rejuvenates and repairs itself mostly while you are asleep. Make sure that you not only sleep for eight hours a night, but that it is quality sleep. Besides sleep exercise also increases the circulation of oxygen and nutrients and releases toxins through sweat, which leads to clearer, firmer skin. These two components put together delivers perfection to the quality of your skin, also do not forget to keep smiling since its the best exercise for your face.

Finally knowing and applying these natural ways to maintain beautiful youthful skin is not everyone’s cup of tea yet they are very essential and helpful for curbing premature aging. To effectively put them into practice, professional advice from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care would be very ideal. Therefore, upon scheduling for an appointment with doctor Akoury, she will evaluate your individual situation and administer treatment appropriately. With her experience, the kind of treatment she will offer to you will leave your skin well-nourished, healthy and glamorous for a very long time.

Natural Ways to Maintain Beautiful Youthful Skin – It has a lot to do with Lifestyle

Understanding Leaky Gut Syndrome

December 22, 2014

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is a term that is used to describe an abnormally hyperpermeable intestinal walls. This is a condition in which the intestines become more porous therefore leaking the undigested food particles into the blood stream. This creates very many holes that are allowing too much of undigested food particles into the bloodstream causing myriads of problems. Apart from undigested food particles toxins, yeast and other wastes find their way into the blood stream therefore overwhelming the liver which is supposed to be sieving all the unwanted content from the blood.

The biggest problem that is presented by this condition is that the intestine should function as the first sieve as it keeps the unwanted materials from getting into the blood stream but since holes have been created on the lining of the intestines everything finds their way in the blood stream and the body may react by inflaming.

Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome

Food Sensitivities – food sensitivities has been closely linked to leaky gut syndrome. This sis because of the high toxins that are accumulated in the blood, this will force the body to produce very many antibodies which makes them more susceptible to some kind of foods.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Researchers from Hungary have recently uncovered that elevated gut permeability is often times localized to the colon in people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.

Thyroid Problems – leaky gut syndrome causes thyroid problems so if you are experiencing thyroid problems, the leaky gut syndrome may be the culprit.

Malabsorption – the leaky gut syndrome causes poor absorption of food, this is because it causes nutritional deficiencies especially of vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and vitamin B12 that help in digestion of food.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Causes of Leaky Gut Syndrome

Unhealthy diet- when you eat lots of processed foods, refined sugars and preservatives, they cause high chemical amounts in the body which are considered toxins. The body will begin to fight these toxins but since you are taking more and more of these toxins the system may be overwhelmed and this may cause inflammations. Accumulation of these toxins will cause corrosion on the intestinal walls causing the leaky gut syndrome.

Medications- some medication has Aspirin or Acetaminophen as part of their content. Aspirin and Acetaminophen irritate the intestinal lining and decrease the mucosal levels .this affects the protection offered by the mucus on the walls of the intestine. It may also encourage inflammation which increases permeability of the intestinal wall.

Lack of Zinc- Zinc is a vitamin that is good in maintaining the strength of intestinal walls. A deficiency of the vitamin can lead to the mucosal lining losing strength and becoming more permeable. There are studies that show that supplementing with Zinc when it is deficient can dramatically improve intestinal lining integrity. Therefore eating meals that are rich in zinc such as nuts may help prevent against leaky gut syndrome.

Yeast- too much yeast causes candida that may grow roots in the intestinal lining, this results in their tentacles making holes on the lining of the stomach creating entry for non-digested food into the blood stream.

Chronic Stress-Chronic stress almost always results in a suppressed immune system. A weakened immune system cannot handle doing it’s normal job and gets easily overwhelmed with pathogens very. This increases overall gut inflammation leading to increased permeability of the intestinal lining.

Inflammation-Any type of inflammation in the gut can lead to leaky gut. This can be brought on by low stomach acid. Low stomach acid passes undigested food into the small intestine which then causes myriads of digestive problems that may in turn cause the leaky gut syndrome.

Treatment for Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is a mysterious condition that is up to now still not fully understood by the medical fraternity probably because it is not taught as a diagnosable disease. However it is a multifaceted condition that must be tackled by joining really several dots to form a line. Here are some of the approaches that can be used to treat this disease.

Watch what you eat- it is very important to keep away from foods that may lead to accumulation of toxins in your body. Foods that are over processed, high in sugar content should be avoided to alleviate inflammations that make the intestine lining more permeable. When you stop eating these kinds of foods the toxin levels will go down and the yeast will be starved and overgrowth stopped, this will enable the walls to repair and regain normal permeability.

Leaky gut syndrome

Using nutritional supplements- leaky gut syndrome causes nutritional deficiencies therefore the body needs to be supplemented with these nutrients. Some nutrients like zinc are also important in strengthening the intestine lining and hence boost recovery.

Digestive Enzymes– eating foods that are rich in digestive enzymes can help you a great lot in fighting leaky gut syndrome. The digestive enzymes are naturally found in the foods that we eat the whole foods that are not over processed. Fruits and vegetables are rich in these digestive enzymes, they work in the intestines helping to break food into finnier particles before they are absorbed to the blood stream. They also remove toxins, bad bacteria and even worn out cells of the intestine lining creating a clean environmental for absorption of digested food particles.

Leaky gut syndrome is a complicated, debilitating condition. But you aren’t on your own: please contact Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) on 843-213-1480 and tap into her wealth of knowledge and experience.

Understanding Leaky Gut Syndrome

The Aging Brain and Curcumin

December 8, 2014

The Aging Brain and Curcumin

As we grow older so does our brain. This is a natural phase of life and everyone goes through it at some point. All human beings tend to develop a reduction in cognitive ability as they continue growing up. In fact, research has shown that these changes start occurring as early as when an individual is in their mid-twenties. curcumin

The changes in brain functioning are characterized with conditions such as forgetfulness, loss of focus or ability to maintain it, a decline in capabilities of problem solving among others. You probably have an older relative or friend and you haven’t failed to notice some of these conditions in them. These changes occur as one grows older and are inevitable although some of them are not normal aging factors.

We all want to remain young forever due to the factors associated with old age. If only that was possible. None of us wants a situation where they start forgetting every little thing that happens or is said to them. That is life and it was meant to happen in stages and old stage is just but one phase of life.

With brain aging often comes serious cognitive conditions such as depression, dementia, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. On the brighter side, relax; I will show you an easy and natural way of keeping that brain healthy even when you are old. Research has come up with a natural solution to ease and prevent brain aging conditions. The secret is curcumin. It has been shown to be a very good remedy for that aging brain.

So what is Curcumin?

It is basically an active substance found in turmeric and also in limited potions in ginger. It is responsible for the yellow color of turmeric. Turmeric is a spice most commonly found in Indian foods. It is also part of the main components of curry powder. Past studies have shown that turmeric can help ease symptoms of pain and inflammation in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Compounds such as curcumin in turmeric have medicinal functions. For one it helps in stopping the growth of certain types of tumors. Some studies have also shown that it can stabilize cancer that was not helped by other forms of treatments. It is therefore not surprising that this active ingredient can help the brain as it is aging.

It would be argued that curcumin is the perfect daily dietary supplement. However, not everyone would enjoy a daily taste of curry in their food. Routine is sometimes boring and people prefer doing different things every day, like not eating the same thing from the beginning of the year to the end. However the healthy benefits of turmeric would encourage you to enjoy that meal spiced with curry on a daily basis. As this is not possible, it is advisable to take small supplements of turmeric either on its own in food as you cook or in the different curry dishes. The good news is that there are now pills containing a small percentage of curcumin. So if you don’t want to eat carry every day, at least take a pill supplement once in a while.

How Curcumin Helps the Aging Brain

The most common known cause of cognitive decline and age related diseases is oxidative stress and inflammation. Naturally the brain consumes about 20% of the oxygen that is used by the whole body. It is therefore very much susceptible to damage due to oxidation stress. As people grow older there is an increase in the level of oxidation damage of lipids and DNA in the brain which leads to the death of neurons in the brain. Oxidative stress has been linked to conditions such as mental impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. This is why such conditions are common as people grow older.

So how does curcumin come in? Various studies conducted show that the active turmeric ingredient protects brain tissues against oxidation stress by enhancing the production of an enzyme called heme oxygenase-1. This enzyme helps protect the tissues from destruction of the neurons that have been exposed to oxidation stress in the brain. Traumatic injury in the brain is also a cause of oxidation stress leading to cognitive inabilities. Curcumin helps reduce this stress in the brain.

Curcumin

Curcumin has also been proved to work as an anti-depressant. The condition is very common as brain ages and it can be quite stressful and in some cases lead to severe brain conditions such as memory loss, decline in decision making and mental dysfunction. Depression is linked with reduced levels of brain activity as well as shrinking of the brain area responsible for memory and learning. Taking turmeric in your food had been proved to boost brain neurotransmitters. This will lead to a reverse of the changes that occur in the brain when one is depressed.

Regular dosage of curcumin will also help the aging brain by lowering the chances of getting dementia. Dementia leads to a reduction in cognitive ability of an individual. The condition can be so severe that it completely affects the daily functioning of an individual and social life. The most common condition associated with dementia is memory loss. Studies show that loss of memory often begins at the age of 50. However, by the time people hit 80, they have completely fallen into some state of dementia where memory loss is now severe.

When memory loss starts, it may lead to depression as on feels they do not belong. Their life is completely changed and always to the negative. This condition typically affects the elderly but it’s not part of normal aging. It is often in most cases results from the Alzheimer’s disease. Drugs prescribed only improve the symptoms and slow them down but they do not cure dementia. Studies conducted have shown that curcumin works in preventing dementia by protecting aging brains from decline in mental ability.

Often make it a habit to take Curminin in your meals. It’s not only useful for the aged but also necessary as people grow older. Taking it regularly will help your brain as you grow older and you may prevent even those aging symptoms from occurring at all. Take change and remember a small dose of curcumin a day, keeps the brain awake and kicking.

AwareMed is the best place to learn all you need to know about how to manage the aging brain. You will also get more expert opinion about this from Dr. Dalal Akoury who has a wide experience on this and other health matters.

The Aging Brain and Curcumin

Tag Archives: Antioxidant