Using a more holistic approach to addictions can help treat not just the addiction but the full person behind the addiction. From meditation and massage to vitamin therapy and more, holistic techniques can offer lasting peace for those who engage it. Through various types of addiction therapy, there is one central component: Finding holistic and natural modalities to recovering from addictions can help people remain sober for the long term.
Meditation
Meditation is used by every culture on earth to relax the body, bring peace to the emotions, and expand spiritual knowledge. Modern health care is now integrating this practice into substance abuse recovery with a great deal of success. Meditation requires positive, calm, and relaxing thoughts to occupy thinking. Meditation encourages self-love and high self-esteem. People with improved self-esteem are emotionally stronger and better equipped physically and mentally.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy can play an integral role in treating addictions, not by magically “curing” a person's craving for a substance or behavior but rather by treating the individual cause of the addiction. Some people believe that homeopathic medicine works by stimulating the body's own natural defenses. Homeopathic remedies will help the addictive personality by bringing him into a state of balance on all three levels of physical health, emotional health and mental health.
Nutritional Therapy
People with alcohol or drug addictions are usually malnourished and proper nutrition can correct nutritional shortcomings and help the body regain its strength and health. Experts know that people with substance abuse issues are often deficient in many important nutrients. Poor nutrition can severely affect a person's judgment and can limit the mind and body’s ability to heal. When people feel better, they are less likely to relapse into their addiction. How we eat and what we put in our bodies is the ground work for recovery!
Herbals for Alcoholism & Drug Addiction
The use of herbs can ease some alcohol or drug withdrawal symptoms from anxiety to insomnia and facilitate in detoxifying the body. They also may be used to reduce the addicted person's cravings for alcohol and other drugs. Particularly helpful are herbs that influence the nervous system, gently encouraging a relaxed and sedated state. These herbs include valerian, chamomile, peppermint, and skullcap and can be used separately or compounded together.
Vitamins and Minerals
Supplemental vitamins and minerals can help compensate for our genetics, aging, nutrition, stress, and coping with traumatic events. In dealing with substance abuse, vitamin and minerals work wonders in helping with detoxifying from substances and rebuilding depleted immune systems. Vitamins and minerals are involved in one or more biochemical pathway, and/or physiological action that influence the function of the human brain.
Yoga
Yoga is taught and practiced today and is used as a therapeutic tool in many models of healing, including drug addiction therapy. When practiced yoga can help balance the endocrine system, strengthen the nervous system, help increase self-awareness both on the mental and physical level and improve self-control and help harness the vital force which can be very helpful for people coping with addiction issues.
Recovery encompasses an individual's whole life, including mind, body, spirit and community. Recovery embraces all aspects of life. It is a step-by-step process and is based on continual growth with occasional setbacks and learning from experience and it is incorporating a holistic approach to total recovery.
