Addiction Solution Source

The goal of a detoxification program should be to rid the body of all toxins that may be causing the biochemical imbalances in the body. This includes any drugs, as well as dietary and environmental toxins.

Withdrawal symptoms will vary depending on the toxins in the body and your overall health condition. If the detox is done correctly, the withdrawal symptoms will be minimized.

In some cases you should not attempt to detox on your own. For instance, in cases of severe alcoholism, withdrawal can be life-threatening. You could experience the DTs (delirium tremens) and should be under the care of a professional addiction treatment facility.

Also, if you have been taking any benzodiazapenes, such as Valium or Xanax, seizures could occur so they should be under professional care.

A drug treatment program should offer various detox options. Two of these possibilities are listed below.

Chelation Therapy

Chelation therapy is the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body. The most common forms of heavy metal intoxication involve lead, arsenic or mercury. Results are the best when chelation therapy is administered in conjunction with oral supplements such as Ginkgo biloba and phosphatidylserine, that act as oral chelators in the body. Chelation therapy has been used on more than one million patients in the U.S. over the past 50 years successfully.

Chelation therapy can be performed as an outpatient, is painless and takes approximately 3 hrs. The procedure is given intravenously with a solution of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) with vitamins and minerals. As part of the full treatment program, a low-fat diet and appropriate exercise is recommended.

Patients interested in chelation therapy should choose a doctor that is experienced and has completed the training conducted by the American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) or a doctor that follows the protocol of the American Board of Chelation Therapy.

Colon Hydrotherapy

Colon Hydrotherapy is mostly provided by specialty treatment centers and sometimes associated with Naturopathic services. It is the irrigation of the colon using a small amount of water or solution without the use of drugs. The purpose is to aid the elimination from the bowel. The procedure is used in detoxification from chemical exposure or abuse and also to relieve constipation.

In our society where Eastern and Western medicine combine to give us the best of both worlds, the acceptance of colon hydrotherapy has continued to grow.

Colonic irrigation should not be used in people with diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, severe or internal hemorrhoids or tumors in the rectum or colon. It also should not be used soon after bowel surgery (unless directed by your health care provider). Regular treatments should be avoided by people with heart or kidney disease.

To compare an enema to a colon hydrotherapy – an enema only reaches the rectum and lower part of the colon. But with the colon hydrotherapy the entire length of the colon is reached. Colon hydrotherapy uses lower pressures than enemas and is much more effective.

For complete information on detoxification and recovery from drug abuse, see our report:
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