Holistic

Have you ever noticed how behavior in children changes dramatically when they are hungry? This is even more true of addicts, who, over time, have starved their brains of vital nutrients critical for optimal brain function, thereby exacerbating their behavioral disorders and inhibiting effective recovery.

Alcohol is not the only abused chemical, but perhaps the most and yet surprisingly unacknowledged worldwide cause of brain damage, cognitive impairment, and dementia. Many substances abused over years cause mental impairment. And let’s just state the obvious, when your brain isn’t working, you will struggle with mental illness.

Interviewing many of our patients, they tell us their addiction was about just needing something to get through the day, then fall asleep at night. Sometimes that was alcohol, cigarettes, or cannabis, other times it was harder substances like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines. Still, others were on prescription medications, like antidepressants or benzodiazepines, and had no idea how they could possibly live without them

Upon entering the program at Diamond Tree Recovery, nutritionist Amanda Kotter, MH, CN, author of “Mother Nature’s Medicine”, provides nutrient-rich meals to patients, most of whom would rather have a hamburger and fries. Very soon, however, they begin to feel differently. Their attitudes shift as they feel their health returning. Often times they assist in the food preparation and planning. By the end of their stay, they are asking for her cookbook.

In his book “End Your Addiction Now”, Dr. Charles Grant, physician and psychiatric consultant, says, “Unless the biochemical imbalances which are the true causes of substance problems are corrected, the benefits of psychological counseling will be marginal for most people.” (1)(2)

Recent studies reveal that drugs physically change the structure and function of the brain, which can lead to cravings. (A full list of studies is available for download at the end of this article.)

Several studies show a relationship between vitamin and mineral deficiencies and metabolic imbalances that tend to create addictive cravings. One such study by Dr. Roger Williams, the biochemist who discovered pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), showed that rats deficient in certain vitamins consumed more alcohol than those not vitamin deficient. But when those vitamin deficiencies were supplemented, alcohol consumption decreased.

1. abnormal neuronal development
2. disruptions in regulatory processes, such as the sleep-wake cycle
3. sub-optimal performance in global measurements of cognition, motor skills, and social-emotional behavior
4. cognitive deficits associated with reductions in learning capacity and productivity.(3)

Ultimately, these nutritional deficiencies can cause fatigue, depression, and irritability, all triggers that can block recovery and lead to a relapse.

The good news is those high-quality bioavailable nutrients that are so important to combating and correcting all of this are readily available to us in good foods and supplements.  Contact Diamond Tree Recovery today for more information!

1. Grant, Charles, M.D., Ph.D. and Greg Lewis, Ph.D. End Your Addiction Now. (NY, NY: Warner Books, Inc.), 2002

2. Nutrition in Addiction Recovery – Many Hands Organic Farm http://www.mhof.net/sites/default/files/Addiction%20and%20Recovery%20Report.pdf

3. NIH Public Access Neurodevelopment and Childhood Behaviors http://www.talkingaboutthescience.com/studies/Hibbeln2014.pdf

If you have ever experienced an addiction, you may remember the addiction was not so much about what you were addicted to, but more about why you were addicted to it. Recent research indicates the brain and its functions play a much more significant role in addictive behavior than previously believed. In fact, it is nearly impossible to overcome chemical dependencies without physically changing the way the brain is working.

Experts today typically argue that addictions are more a psychological problem than a physical. The controversy continues; is addiction a disease or a mental illness? However, endlessly debating what causes addiction or arguing why a person made certain choices isn’t immediately helpful to those grappling with its effects right now. Effective treatments need to be discovered without delay to help these individuals function in daily life, or, in some cases, save their life.

Enter Amino Acid Therapy

An incredibly promising holistic treatment known as Amino Acid Therapy has been demonstrating positive results in the lives of those afflicted with addiction. Aimed directly at repairing areas of the brain negatively affected through the years by substance abuse, Amino Acid Therapy can restore damaged tissue to normal.

Most addicts have been nutrient depleted from years of substance misuse. Their chemical dependency has taken a severe toll on the body and has left the brain in a state of disrepair. By replenishing vital nutrients, these patients can help their bodies and brains recover, and key among these nutrients, are amino acids. Amino acids directly influence the neurotransmitters of the brain improving perception, mood, and focus. When left in disrepair, our brains are confused as to what brings pleasure, subject to wide mood swings, and can launch a recovering addict into early relapse.

Neurotransmitters are those things in our brains that often influence our mood and increase our cravings. Those we hear of most include serotonin and melatonin, which influence our sleep, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine that drive our adrenaline or could leave us with depression or anxiety.

Most people don’t understand that neurotransmitter imbalances are often responsible for dramatic changes in our health or that they can cause or exacerbate conditions such as depression, anxiety, migraines, insomnia, cravings, increased appetite, low pain tolerance, hot flashes, mood swings and frequently provide a stimulus for relapse.

Studies show that treatment for substance abuse without treating the brain is less effective, and the results are short-lived. Those who strengthen the brain’s neurotransmitters with a steady stream of amino acids are rebuilding and restoring important decision centers within the brain. They are freeing themselves from the cycle allowing other treatment modalities to take hold.