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IV NAD: The Best Addiction Treatment

IV NAD Is the Best Addiction Treatment

After a long term use of drugs of abuse as a result of addiction to the drugs, the body’s cells, tissues, organs and neurotransmitters will be affected adversely by the drugs. It is therefore important to correct this during treatment therapy. NAD IV therapy can be used to replenish the drained enzymes and target brain restoration

What is IV  NAD?

NAD is an abbreviation of Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It is a coenzyme that is present in all living cells. The compound is a dinucleotide, this simply means that it consists of two nucleotides joined through their phosphate groups. One nucleotide contains an adenine base and the other nicotinamide. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide exists in two forms, an oxidized and reduced form abbreviated as NAD+ and NADH respectively. It is therefore safe for us to say that NADH is a reduced form of NAD. IV NAD is a crucial coenzyme in metabolism.  In metabolism, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is involved in redox reactions, carrying electrons from one reaction to another. The coenzyme is, therefore, found in two forms in cells: NAD+ is an oxidizing agent – it accepts electrons from other molecules and becomes reduced. This reaction forms NADH, which can then be used as a reducing agent to donate electrons. These electron transfer reactions are the main function of NAD. Therefore there is need for a balance between the NADH and the NAD to maintain a favorable environment for homeostasis. Apart from its functions in electron transfer, the NAD has other functions in the body such as being a substrate of enzymes that add or remove chemical groups from proteins, in posttranslational modifications.  Owing to its importance on performing these functions, the enzymes involved in IV NAD metabolism have been targeted to help come up with drugs that could heal different complications.

IV NAD

The IV NAD and the NADH are crucial in the production of energy in the mitochondria. What happens after eating is that the vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins and fats from our diet provide the building blocks to our bodies. Energy that is produced from citric acid cycle makes NAD and links it to hydrogen forming NADH which enters the electron transport chain in the mitochondria and is sparked with oxygen which breaks the nutrients to give energy through oxidation. This energy enables the heart to beat sufficiently and enable muscle contraction providing cellular energy that is required by the body cells to function. The energy that is produced is also used by the brain therefore if the level of NADH is low then the brain will not function well at the same time if NAD level is low then production of energy will be low. There is need to establish a favorable ratio between the NAD and NADH since without a good balance of the two then there will be fatigue and depression which are factors that mostly deter addicts from quitting using their substances of abuse.

In most cases IV NAD deficiency is first evident in brain-related symptoms of poor concentration, difficulty focusing, and attention deficit disorders. If the energy shortage lasts long enough, brain neurons cannot synthesize neurotransmitters. When this occurs, the molecules of consciousness such as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline are affected. Anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and other mood changes can then arise. These are not good for addicts as they may trigger them to use drugs as escapade. Many addicts got trapped after trying using drugs as self-medication against fatigue and depression. This even lowers NAD level even further and it is a continuous vicious cycle. It is also important to note that the crucial enzymes that catalyze the Citric Acid Cycle are inhibited and may get destroyed by chemical toxins that create oxidative or free radical damage. The sources of this damage are substances of abuse like cigarette smoke, drugs, and chronic stress. This problem may also be caused by exposure to myriads of toxins.

IV NAD the best therapy for addiction

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide often abbreviated as NAD is a metabolic co-enzyme and is charged with the important job of structuring, repairing, and remodeling every cell in the body. Drug use often leads to destruction of many cells and nerves in the body and therefore any addiction treatment therapy must seek to restore the health of the damaged tissues in order to give a lasting healing effect on the client. It is therefore important that there are adequate levels of NAD in the body.

IV NAD

IV NAD deficiency in the body can be corrected by having an IV NAD therapy. This will not only increase the production of energy but will also increase the level of NADH which is critical for enzymatic action. The IV NAD goes straight to receptors in the brain and so is not digested in the stomach. Another reason for ensuring balance between NAD/NADH is that the correct ratios will help in restoring damaged neurotransmitters by drugs. It is a detoxifier that works faster as it takes only few days rather than weeks or months to flush out stored drugs from the body and its organs, replenish balance in the brain, and reverse damage. Results can be mental clarity, cognitive function increase, focus and concentration returns, more energy, better mood, positive outlook.

And finally, AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center  encourages addicts to come for addiction recovery .We have qualified doctors who will see to it that every addict is helped to break the bond of addiction and enjoy life of freedom. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is committed to availing help to every patient. Call on her at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

IV NAD Is the Best Addiction Treatment

 

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Heroin Use on the Rise despite Its High Cost of Treatment

 Heroin on the Rise despite its High Cost of Treatment

Contrary to the common rule of demand and supply that the use of a product will be high when its price is at the lowest, heroin use has been on the rise in spite of the rise in its cost as well as the cost of treating those who are addicted to the drug.

To begin with, heroin is a highly addictive drug which is also illegal. Heroine is one of the drugs that are not very easy to stop using, thanks to its highly addictive nature and to its adverse withdrawal symptoms. Millions of those using heroine are too scared of its withdrawal effects to even attempt quitting it.  Heroin is made from the resin of poppy plants. Milky, sap-like opium is first removed from the pod of the poppy flower. This opium is refined to make morphine after further refined into different forms of heroin.

Being that the drug is mostly injected; those using this drug do not face its withdrawal side effects but also has high risks of acquiring other diseases that can be transmitted through sharing needles like HIV/AIDS.

How much do Heroin addicts spend on it heroin?

Heroine is one of the rare commodities whose increase in price do not interfere with its consumption. This drug is just as expensive as cocaine as or even slightly more than cocaine in other places but still people use it more in some places than even cocaine. Therefore, there must be some other reasons why people are turning to the use of heroine as opposed to other drugs. The factors that drive people to use of cocaine may not be new and we will explore them in this article. However, there is more than one way to look at the cost of heroine. Some people opine that the cost of heroine just like other goods and services depends on demand and supply and this may be true so it is better to stay away from using this drug even when it is being sold at a throw away price since you may not afford it later when you are now dependent on it. It is quite funny that when it comes to addictive drugs you will be able to access them for free from addicts who are ready to share them with you but when you have become dependent you shall have to find your own ways of getting your daily heroin.

Heroin

There are some hidden costs of using heroin that most people do not even think of. Most people will only be wary of the price of acquiring their daily heroin dosages for their recreational use but they give a blind eye to the real cost that arises when you need to be cured from the side effects of this drug.  A 2000 survey by the U.S. Government found that the cost of heroin addiction to our country may be anywhere from $15 billion to $20 billion dollars per year. Most of this tremendous figure is due to the price tag on treating medical conditions associated with IV heroin use – specifically, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. The use of heroin has another hidden cost– the societal ills cost. This is the cost that you and I pay when these addicts turn to crime just in a bid to find   money to buy their much needed heroine doses daily.

The cost of getting your daily dosage of heroin to fulfill your craving cannot be compared to the cost of treating all the ills that come with using the drug. The sad truth however is, most people who are using heroin cannot afford to cater for the cost to treat the side effects that come with it. The cost of treating a heroin addict is too expensive to be compared to the mere cost of obtaining a daily dosage no matter how long you are top use the drug before you seek medical attention.

Some of the side effects of heroin

Heroine is often used mainly because of the euphoria that sets in immediately it is used but afterwards a feeling of drowsiness sets in. Just like other drugs of abuse, heroin has myriads of side effects. These may include;

  • Shortness of breath
  • Dry mouth
  • Constricted (small) pupils
  • Sudden changes in behavior or actions
  • Disorientation
  • Cycles of hyper alertness followed by suddenly nodding off
  • Droopy appearance, as if extremities are heavy

Another serious problem with heroine is because of the way it is taken. Mostly heroin is injected. Unfortunately these needles are often shared increasing the spread of such diseases as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis among other diseases. Dependence on heroin is also dangerous.

Heroin overdose is dangerous

heroinOne of the serious problems that will arise in case of heroin overdose is death. Does that sound scary? Even as scary as it sounds many people still indulge in using heroin for mere recreational purposes. However there are measures that are put in place to treat heroin overdose.  Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose) and buprenorphine among other drugs are today used for treatment of heroin overdose. These drugs block the opioid receptors in the brain hence stops the effects of the heroin. However the use of these drugs is highly regulated in different states and hence may not be very accessible to a street user of heroin.

Finally, you need more information to stay away from dependence on heroin and other drugs as these have crippled societies and that is why here at AWAREmed we are dedicated to finding the best solutions to addiction and dependence on substances. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is always in the mood of helping any patient to be addiction free. Do not hesitate to call on her for help in managing any sort of chronic pain or any type of addiction as well as other diseases.

 Heroin on the Rise despite its High Cost of Treatment

 

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Alternative to Joint Replacement Stem Cell for Joint Diseases

Safe and Time-Proven Alternative to Joint Replacement Stem Cell for Joint Diseases

Joint diseases are common these days maybe because of poor eating habits that depletes the most important nutrients in the body. The most common joint diseases are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These joint diseases have maimed many people as they interfere with motion and movement around the joints. These diseases may occur as a result of wear and tear that happens around the joints. The bones in the joints are supposed to be separated from each other by cartilage however when there is wear on the cartilage the bones may begin grinding interfering with normal movements and leading to pain. there has been several ways through which the joint diseases were fought some pharmaceutical products have been in use for a good time some of which has yielded great results while some have not been very efficient . In cases of extremes a person may have a joint operated on, surgical treatments are mostly used after the pharmaceutical products have failed to yield any desirable fruits and the pain is unbearable.

Another promising approach to treatment of joint diseases is by utilization of the stem cells. The stem cells have become useful in regenerative medicine owing to the fact that they are able to differentiate into other types of cells that play crucial roles in the body. These stem cells can differentiate to give rise to daughter cells that are of their same type or give rise to even more differentiated cells forming bones, cartilage, tendons, and muscles among others. Due to this rare ability they have been targeted for treatment of not only joint diseases but also other diseases like cancer, diabetes, autism among other disorders. Mesenchymal stem cells that are found in large quantities in the adipose tissue and the bone marrow are useful in treatment of regenerative diseases. The treatment through stem cells is also safer with autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant, which means that the stem cells are from the body of the patient and therefore there is no risk of the patient’s body rejecting the stem cells transplanted. With several research institutions working on the stem cells medicinal abilities there is hope that treatment of bone diseases will be much easier. however the technology that may make stem cell transplant a reality may not be available in some countries or worse still may not afforded by a particular patient therefore there are other natural ways that have been in use over the years to manage joint diseases.

Joint Disease

Here are some of the natural alternatives of treating joint diseases

Use of supplements

We eat foods that we may get essential nutrients that may help us to fight against certain diseases. When our body fails to acquire these nutrients in the foods we eat it is logical to seek the nutrients from the supplements. There are quite a number of supplements that have been used for joint diseases. A combination of glucosamine and chondroitin is believed to help reform and repair worn or torn cartilage. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil or flaxseed oil are anti-inflammatory agents. Studies have found that SAMe (s-adenosyl-L-methionine) can help reduce osteoarthritis pain. Early evidence has shown that the natural vegetable extract called avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASUs) could be an effective osteoarthritis treatment that might even slow progression of the disease. Therefore you may consider shopping for appropriate supplements that can help you in case you are suffering from this disease.

Practice Mind-Body Medicine

Body and mind medicine may help you to reduce the pain on the joints. There are practices that encourage stretching the muscles and straightening the joints while relaxing the mind and shifting the mind from the pain. These practices include yoga and Tai chi. Yoga can improve your flexibility and strengthen muscles important to the support of arthritic joints. Tai chi also can relieve osteoarthritis symptoms. There is not enough literature to show the benefits or the effectiveness of these practices but there is a study published in the British Journal of Rheumatology that found that people with rheumatoid arthritis who participated in a yoga program over a three-month period had greater grip strength than those who did not practice yoga. Another study published in the same journal reported that people who practiced yoga showed a significant improvement in pain, tenderness, and finger range of motion for osteoarthritis of the hands. The benefits of exercises are known and yoga and tai chi are exercises that are even more effective that they also emphasize body mind connection and wellbeing.

Use Acupuncture

stem cellAcupuncture has been in use for centuries now. This practice was common in the ancient Chinese medicine. It involves inserting thin needles into specific parts of the body to help relieve pain. Several clinical trials have shown that acupuncture can be very effective in relieving pain though most doctors believe that it cannot be used solely for long-term healing goals. Be it for short term pain management it is effective and so its use is encouraged.

Include anti-inflammatory foods in your diet.

Joint diseases are characterized by persistent inflammations. It is these inflammations that mostly cause the unbearable pain. There are a number of foods that can help to reduce these inflammations and quell the pain that arthritic patients go through. Some of these foods include the following; horseradish, mustard, garlic, onions, watercress, parsley, celery, pickles, lemon, and rose-hip tea. The omega-3 fatty acids in nuts, seeds, and fish also can reduce inflammation. Using natural means to manage joint pains may be beneficial but again you need help of an integrative medicine expert, Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an expert in integrative and regenerative medicine will be able to help. Visit her at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Safe and Time-Proven Alternative to Joint Replacement Stem Cell for Joint Disease

 

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Kynurenine Tryptophan Cycle in Addiction

Kynurenine Tryptophan Cycle in Addiction

The immune system is an important part of normal body functioning. It is constantly modulating a balance between tolerance to non-harmful antigens and responsiveness to some pathogens. The process that facilitates tolerance is not known. However, recent studies show that this tolerance is due to tryptophan catabolism via the kynurenine metabolic pathway. The breakdown of tryptophan requires several enzymes which. These enzymes are found in various cells which includes those of the immune system.

Some of these enzymes involved in the breakdown of tryptophan produced through activation of the immune system. This process involves among others limitation of enzymes that are present in the dendritic cells and macrophages, 3-dioxygenase and indoleamine 2. Recent studies have shown that inhibition of these enzymes can result in the body rejecting allogeneic fetuses. This means that breakdown of tryptophan is necessary in immune tolerance aspects.

Some theories have been invented to try and explain how catabolism of tryptophan facilitates tolerance to drugs like alcohol. One such theory holds it that breakdown of tryptophan ends up suppressing proliferation of T cells by greatly reducing the supply of this amino acid that is critical in body processes. The other theory states that the down streaming of the metabolites involved in catabolism of tryptophan act as suppressors of some immune cells mainly through mechanisms of pro-apoptotic processes.

Kynurenine Tryptophan Cycle

What is tryptophan?

It is an amino acid that is required by all processes of the body for the synthesis of proteins and other body metabolic functions. Tryptophan is synthesized mainly from molecules like phosphoenolpyruvate that are present in bacteria, plants and fungi. Such organisms activate the tryptophan throughout the food chain. Animals are incapable of synthesizing this amino acid and because of this it must be taken in the diet in form of proteins which are then broken down into the respective amino acids in the digestive tract. The tryptophan that results from diet is deposited in the liver via the hepatic portal system. The protein that is not broken down in the liver enters into any of the two metabolic processes.

Because animals are incapable of synthesizing tryptophan, they must take it in the form of proteins, which are then hydrolyzed into the constituent amino acids in the digestive system. Dietary tryptophan is delivered to the liver through the hepatic portal system, and that portion which is not used for protein synthesis in the liver can then follow one of two basic metabolic fates.

In the first place, the protein that does not undergo synthesis can enter into the blood stream to later be used for synthesis of proteins and other cell functions in the body. Secondly, it can undergo degradation in the liver via a number of steps of metabolism which is basically referred to as the kynurenine pathway. Besides being a building block for proteins in the body, tryptophan also acts as the only source of substrate used for the production of important molecules in the body. Tryptophan is used in the gut and nervous system for serotonin synthesis and on the other hand pineal gland is useful in melatonin synthesis.  In case the content of niacin in the body is not enough to carry out metabolic processes, tryptophan come in to facilitate cellular cofactor synthesis and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD +) synthesis. NAD + synthesis as research shows take place mostly in the liver.

The kynurenine pathway

The kynurenine pathway results from proteins that are not synthesized in the liver. The enzymatic reactions take place proceeding from tryptophan. The main intermediates of the metabolic system include quinolinate, 3-hydroxyanthranilate and kynurenine. A catabolic reaction is completed in the liver and this result in the total oxidation of the amino acid tryptophan and in the process carbon dioxide and adenosine triphosphate are produced.

Tryptophan metabolism and addiction

Tryptophan metabolism and addiction

 

The three stages that take place in the kynurenine pathway include an intial stage that involves tryptophan being broken down into kynurenine. The second stage starts from the produced kynurenine all the way to production of quinolinate. The final stage of the process involves enzymes that translate into total oxidation. The other processes that occurs within the three major processes picolinate production, kynuretic acid synthesis and synthesis of NAD +.

Most cells in the body have some of the enzymes that are involved in the kynurenine pathway. However, only hepatocytes have been shown to contain each and every enzyme that is used in every stage of the kynurenine pathway.  Since the liver is the only tissue in the body that contains all thes enzymes of the pathway, the liver then acts as the major site in which NAD + is synthesized from tryptophan. Diet and intake of certain substances like alcohol can affect the flow of metabolisms in the kynurenine pathway. For more information about this topic visit www.awaremednetwork.com. At AwareMed you will also find other health and awareness tips that will benefit you.

Kynurenine Tryptophan Cycle in Addiction

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Histamine, Metabolism, Neuro-excitatory and Neurotransmitters

Role of Histamine, Metabolism, Neuro-excitatory and Neurotransmitters for Addiction

Histamine refers to transmitter that is endogenous in nature and one that is involved in gastric secretions, allergic manifestations and vigilance regulation. It is found in tissues of all animals especially mamma also with high concentrations in the skin, liver and lungs. In the tissues, the transmitter histamine occurs in mast cells which are simply a group of cells whose cytoplasm has high concentrations of basophilic granulations.

In the mast cells histamine exists bonded to acidic compounds like heparin. In most cells with histamine, its production is slow and when it sis depleted t may take several weeks to go back to normal levels. The brain also contains histamine in certain level. Histamine occurs in the brain region in the hypothalamus based o circadian rhythm which occurs in the brain. Its concentration in the plasma does not exceed 1 microgram per liter but this concentration is high in patients suffering from asthma.

neurotransmitters

In the blood the level of histamine ranges from 10 to 100 micrograms in a liter and is primarily concentrated in the basophils. This concentration as studies show rises especially in patients suffering from medical conditions like gastrodudenal ulcers and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Histamine depreciates some times in the body. This means that more has to be produced to replace the one that is lost. This replacement is often slow and can take several weeks. However, histamine renewal in the nervous system and the gastric cells is at faster rate because it is released continuously.

Histamine and Metabolism

Naturally the distribution of histamine in the body is not usually uniform. It however, occurs in in higher concentrations in the mucosa of the gastric system. Its metabolism is dependent on enzymes such as diamine oxidase, histamine N-methyltransferase and histidine decarboxylase. These enzymes seem to be dominant in the stomach region. Studies have been carried out to determine exactly the concentration of histamine in the gastric system. For years this has been a subject of controversial debate and it was only recently that a solution was found. Studies show that the inactivation process of histamine by histamine methyltrasferase takes place in the gastric mucosa that has a significant activity of enzymes.

However it is worthwhile to note that the intestines, liver and spleen have much higher activities which points towards little specification of catabolism of histamine in the gastric mucosa. There have also been debates concerning the activity of diamine oxidase which for years was thought not to exist in the corpus mucosa. Recent studies however, show that moderate enzyme activities of this enzyme is present in some species among them man. In this case then, the metabolism of histamine n the gastric mucosa does not mean its existence in mammalian tissues. Activities of these enzymes could also act as an indication that it has significant physiological functions in the body.

The formation and inactivation of histamine has been shown to be regulated through enzyme activities by during the process of secreting acid. Histamine N-methyltrasferase and histidine decarboxylase are enhanced by gastrin activities and not necessarily influenced by vagal stimulation.

Neuro excitatory and Neurotransmitters for Addiction

Studies show that rugs especially alcohol affect to a great extent the brain as well as some physical processes of the body. There are several reasons that make a person an alcohol addict. These reasons may range from depression, stress, impulse of just mere pleasure. Once a person becomes alcohol dependent, a pattern has already been established and this affects the neural system of the person.

Histamine

The Neurotransmitter Process

In order to fully understand the neurological effects of alcohol addiction in the brain, there is need to understand how the brain transmitters work. The brain communicates through neurons that send messages form ne cells of the brain to an0ther. Transmission of nerve signals takes place from one brain region to another. Once a neuron has been activated, an electrical signal is produced which travels all through the membrane that surrounds the body and axon of the neuron. The signal reaches the end of the neuron and this triggers neurotransmitters to be released from the brain cells. The neurotransmitters then travel from one neuron to another. On reaching the other neuron, the molecules in the transmitter bind with receptors in the neuron and this triggers new electric signal to be produced. Production of new signals depends on the type of neurotransmitter that is involved in the process.

Most neurotransmitters exhibit inhibitory and excitatory effects. This is dependent on the region of the brain and the receptors present in that region. Neurotransmitters with excitatory effects include among others glutamate, dopamine and serotonin while those with inhibitory effects include gamma-aminobutyric acid most commonly referred to as GABA. When one takes alcohol it tends to reinforce the transmitter system. This affects many neural transmitter processes which trigger some long term effects like withdrawal, tolerance, dependence, sensitization and finally addiction.

This information can be found for free at www.awaremednetwork.com. Here you will also find other health and awareness tips.

Role of Histamine, Metabolism, Neuro-excitatory and Neurotransmitters for Addiction

 

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