Natural Remedies for Healing the Effects of Addiction

Natural Remedies for Healing the Effects of Addiction

There are effective herbal remedies for all sorts of injuries and illnesses, but there are some conditions that most people tend to forget about: things like addiction and mental illness, for example, are often overlooked. In terms of addiction to substances like alcohol, prescription medications, and illicit drugs, there are some ways that herbal preparations and other natural remedies can be used to ease the pain that comes with withdrawal and recovery. There are several herbal preparations that make good additions to the herbal first aid kit, for this reason as well as other benefits.

Drug and alcohol addiction can have dangerous consequences in any society, but if the Event happens the results are potentially even more dire: no cushy rehabs to fall back on, and the likelihood is that the availability of prescription medicines that help with recovery from substance abuse will reduce as time goes by. Most important of all, someone who's affected by addiction is likely to have a reduced ability to survive in the aftermath of a serious disaster situation, not only because of the addiction itself, but because of the debilitating effects of addictive substances, including loss of mental alertness, and reduction in physical fitness. If someone you know right now has been affected by substance abuse problems in the past—or if it's something you yourself have struggled with—it's important to know how to deal with such problems naturally, without the use of prescription medicines and other artificial aids that are currently in common use.

Healing Herbs and Spices

• Burdock Root: supports the health of both the kidneys and the liver, and also helps improve digestion. It's also a mild diuretic, so using this may require drinking extra water stay properly hydrated.This herb is also a patent detox and blood purifier.
• Dandelion: helps to improve spleen function, so it's good for immune system support and red blood cell health. As well as this, it's good for the kidneys and liver.This herb will also detox these organ as well as act as a blood purifier
• Echinacea, Garlic, and Ginseng: are all good for bolstering the immune system; the physical effects of substance abuse, even in the short term, include physical deterioration that can impair the immune system; daily echinacea and garlic helps repair this damage.
• Ginseng:—as well as cinnamon—also helps to stabilize blood sugar.
• Ginger: is excellent for nausea, so it's great for people who are having a difficult time when withdrawing from physical addiction, as nausea and vomiting are common symptoms at this stage.
• Hawthorn berries: help support heart function, so they can be useful for people who have been affected by chemical dependency.
• Milk Thistle: helps to heal the liver, an organ that often takes a great deal of damage in someone who's suffering from an addiction. Milk thistle can cause diarrhea, so it's best to start with very small doses and gradually increase the amount taken.
• Passionflower: can be taken for easing symptoms of stress and anxiety, and can also help treat insomnia.
• Skullcap and Valerian: are both useful for easing insomnia, but skullcap. both these herbs are assist when there is a need to diminish withdrawal effects.
• St. John's Wort: can effectively treat mild depression, so it's a good one for people who are suffering from the psychological effects of withdrawal, which do often include depressive symptoms

Sources:

Amy Jirsa (2012). “Herbs to Help Heal from Addiction.” In Mind Body Green. Accessed December 23, 2014.

George Catlin (2014). “Proven Home Remedies for Opiate Withdrawal.” Accessed December 23, 2014.

Michael Castleman. “http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/health/herbs-heal.” In Natural Health. Accessed December 23, 2014.

University of Maryland Medical Center. “Herbal Medicine.” Accessed December 23, 2014.

Written by Anne Golden