Other Alternative Medicine Approaches to Substance Abuse Problems

February 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

There are dozens of different types of alternative medicine treatments. While alternative medicine is often thought to treat physical symptoms or diseases that cause pain it can also be used to treat some of the side effects that comes from substance abuse.

Alternative medicine is used to reduce the withdrawal symptoms and help the body detox. This allows anyone with a substance abuse problem to concentrate on themselves while they work on the issues that caused the substance abuse to arise.

The most popular forms of alternative medicine that help the body through detoxing and with any withdrawal symptoms include diet therapy, imagery therapy and acupuncture. However, there are other forms of alternative medicine treatments that can be used to help with substance abuse. Here is a look at some of the rarer forms of alternative medicine that have been used to help with substance addictions.

Homeopathy. Homeopathy is the use of different scents to create stimulations throughout the body. Homeopathy has several different scents that work for reducing cravings for drugs or alcohol and even help relax the substance abuser so that they are less likely to use the substance of choice.

Chiropractic. Chiropractic care often works in a similar way that acupuncture does. It is believed that there are a number of disturbances in the spinal alignment that can cause an individual to crave and want drugs or alcohol. Chiropractic care will fix the alignment and potentially cure any cravings or withdrawal symptoms.

Hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy works in the similar way that imagery and visualization does. It allows the substance abuser to put them into a slight trance so that their subconscious mind offers positive views of a drug or alcohol free life. Many substance abusers believe that hypnotherapy is essential to their sobriety or abstaining from their substance of choice.

Other alternative treatments include biofeedback training that works to rework the thinking of the substance abuser and meditation that works in the similar way that hypnotherapy and visualization does.

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Alternative Medicine Approach to Drug/Alcohol Addiction: Guided Imagery and Visualization

February 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment

When people use the term alternative medicine people will normally assume that they are talking about Chinese medicine, acupuncture, chiropractics or herbal medicine. However, there is a lesser known form of alternative medicine known as guided imagery and creative visualization that has been commonly used to treat those with an addiction to either drugs or alcohol.

Guided imagery and creative visualization have proven successful in helping treat those with a substance abuse because it is an alternative form to relaxation therapy. One of the most commonly cited reasons for turning to drugs and alcohol is because of the need to ease the high amount of tension in a person’s life, improve self esteem or to even relax at the end of the day. Guided imagery and creative visualization work to eliminate known triggers to drug or alcohol use by allowing the person to engage in exercises that will relax the body and therefore cause the person to not turn to drugs or alcohol.

Popular forms of guided imagery and creative visualization include relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation or breathing exercises. Muscle relaxation is also encouraged because it allows the substance abuser to learn how to properly relax the body and muscles through a natural, alternative way and not have to turn to drugs. It is believed that these types of relaxation and imagery techniques can work because it allows the substance abuser to picture themselves in a happy drug-free state of life and can work through positive reinforcement.

Guided imagery and creative visualization has been proven as a successful way to help treat those with a substance abuse problem. It has been so successful that many drug and alcohol treatment centers incorporate these practices into their therapy sessions. Some programs will start the day out with guided imagery and visualization as a way to help calm the addicts that are in the treatment center and help them get into the habit of engaging in these mental exercises.

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Knowing When to Seek Alcohol Treatment

December 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Dětský alkoholismus
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It is a sad time for any family, when it is realized that someone in the home needs alcohol treatment. Unfortunately, this happens way too often in the United States. It has become common for those dealing with stress and frustrations to turn to alcohol. Some of these people are able to partake of a drink and not have a problem. Many others, though, are unable to do this. In fact, alcoholism is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

For those in the situation of dealing with alcoholism, it can be hard to admit that it is time to look into alcohol treatment. It can also be difficult for those around the person dealing with the problem to admit it. This is because it is a very hard thing to deal with. Admitting that there is a problem, as we all know, is the first step. But that first step can feel like a never ending fall to some. Many people believe that if you have to seek treatment or help that you are weak or have some sort of personality flaw. This is most definitely not the case. In fact, admitting that there is a problem, and seeking help for that problem is one of the strongest things that a person can do.

Alcoholism should not be treated lightly. It is something that hurts not only those that are dealing with it themselves, but also those around them. Cases of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse rise significantly when alcohol and alcoholism are in play. This is something that can affect everyone around you. If you feel that you have a problem, and may need help, or if you have a loved one that is in this situation, finding help is crucial. There are treatment centers for alcoholism out there that are there to help.

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