Addiction Solution Source

Integrative Medicine methods can prove to be a powerful healing force to people in recovery from addictions to Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs.

Integrative medicine has advanced recently but very few of the powerful and healing integrative medicine methods have been made available to those in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions.

Recovery of the whole person – mind, body and spirit is crucial to recovery. This also describes precisely the Integrative Medicine approach to any physical or mental disorder provided by NIHA (National Integrated Health Associates) .

Addictions may be the cause of 90% of prison incarcerations, 50% of psychiatric admissions and 25% of admissions to general medical hospitals, as well as a major factor in the incidence of suicides, murders, vehicular homicides, spouse battering, divorce and other kinds of social and occupational upheaval. When a loved one is suffering from an addiction, the stress of that relationship (codependency) can be at the root of any medical or psychiatric disorder, and this cause of illness is often overlooked by both conventional and non-conventional health care providers.

Generally speaking, when a recovering person or their loved one looks for help, they will find assistance for a recovery of mind and spirit – but not the body. You may even find “energy” treatments like acupuncture, but few resources are available to assist you in the natural regeneration of neurotransmitters like serotonin, or to assist in detoxifying your body from the residual poisons left over from the use of drugs and alcohol.

NIHA offers this missing link in recovery- a recovery of the body. For instance, they offer amino acid precursor therapies to help restore the imbalanced neurotransmitters that may have caused substance abuse in the first place. These amino acid and nutritional therapies can be delivered through nutritional supplements, intravenously and trans-dermally (through the skin).

Also offered is detoxification therapies such as infrared sauna, oxygen/steam treatments, IV’s and other detoxification treatments. They can provide functional laboratory testing prior to treatment to determine what your specific nutritional and metabolic imbalances and toxicities are, so that your unique “body” or physical causes of addiction can be pinpointed and corrected.

How to Take Action

All addiction therapies at NIHA are medically supervised and are adjunctive treatments. They are not meant to take the place of conventional addiction treatment or peer support groups like AA. Integrative addiction therapies at NIHA are intended to complement and enhance the benefits of conventional addiction treatment and support groups.

On the first visit, patients will receive a history and physical examination. Laboratory testing will be recommended to determine the underlying biochemical imbalances. They will undergo an in person or phone counseling session to determine how best to proceed. Recommendations will be provided. The Integrative Medicine model of treatment invites you to be a co-equal partner in deciding what therapies are best for you.

Educational Resources

At the core of any Integrative Medicine therapy is patient education. Everyone is encouraged to read the book End Your Addiction Now by CE Gant MD, PhD, as well as other information which may be provided. This information emphasizes how to achieve a drug-free recovery using nutritional therapies to rapidly regenerate the “feel good” natural, brain hormone neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, GABA, endorphins and dopamine. Once these are regenerated, symptoms such as cravings, mood swings, compulsive behaviors, insomnia, anxiety and low moods often are lessened or disappear completely.

Specific Therapies Offered

• Smoking and tobacco cessation program
• Nutritional Supplements targeted to the needs of recovering people
• IV amino acid and nutritional therapies
• Integrative Medicine assessment and support with natural, safe and drug free treatments of complicated problems like depression, anxiety and ADHD
• Laboratory testing to pinpoint exact biochemical imbalances related to cravings, mood swings, sleep problems and compulsive behaviors
• Low intensity laser therapy
• Acupuncture
• Psycho-emotional energetic therapy and counseling
• Infrared sauna detoxification
• Oxygen steam cabinet
• Massage therapy
• Allergy elimination

Additional Resources

Read the article: How to Quit Smoking Naturally

Info about Dr. Gant’s book: End Your Addiction Now