Using Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture as Adjunct Therapy Can Help Overcome Addictions

Drug addiction is one of the biggest health problems that a lot of people face at this time. In the United States, addiction to prescription medications has become an especially difficult problem to solve. You can be addicted to certain different things: prescription drugs, pornography, food, street drugs, gambling, and alcohol. For these, there can be several various forms of treatment some of which include counseling, 12-step programs, and group therapy. One specific therapy that has been proven to work quite well especially for drug addictions and alcohol is Chinese medicine and acupuncture in Bellmore.

All over the country there has been a surge in the rate of drug abuse and alcoholism. According to the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, the most common addictive substance is alcohol. In the US, more than 17 million people have alcohol problems. This country also has 20 million individuals who have used drugs within the past 30 days.

The brain is mainly affected by addiction, which is a complex disorder. It is marked by the relentless craving and seeking of drugs and alcohol despite the terrible damage they do to the body. Longstanding changes to the brain’s chemistry may cause you various mood disorders, anxiety, and a difficulty to think clearly. Oftentimes if you’re unable to get a fix, you may undergo various withdrawal symptoms, as well.

What Are the Treatments Available for Addictions?

As mentioned above the twelve step programs, individual counseling, and group therapy have been shown to be effective treatments. However, the possibility of relapse and the continuity to have those cravings are both problems patients face. That is why instead of using current treatments, one should try out Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

Chinese medicine and acupuncture are both holistic medical systems that identify and treat health conditions including addictions. Acupuncture has been used for over 4,000 years. It became popular in the US in the 1970s. During that time, the Lincoln Clinic in New York adopted the use of auricular acupuncture for the treatment of drug addictions and alcohol. The treatment yielded tremendous results. Since then, treatment centers and drug courts around the United States have used acupuncture as a complementary treatment for addictions.

Acupuncture can virtually be used for any type of addiction, but since the most common addiction problems are drug addictions and alcoholism, it is mostly used for these types of addictions. Acupuncture has the ability to modify the body’s physiology in order to jumpstart the body’s self-healing mechanisms. These are the things that acupuncture can address:

• Insomnia
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Cravings
• Muscle cramps
• Body aches
• Excessive sweating

Having a holistic treatment is important in any treatment program. It’s also important to continue using all of the conventional treatments, but it is wise to include Chinese medicine in your healing program. The ability to cure your addiction will be greatly boosted.

Nutrition and exercise are important components of addiction therapy, as well. Exercises such as Qi Gong and Tai Chi can assist you in lowering your anxiety and stress and attain balance in your life.

Equally important is good nutrition. It is important to eat in a balanced way, according to Chinese nutrition. Consume a variety of food groups and eat many different colors of foods. Eating lots of vegetables and fruits is quite important more so when you are in the process of detoxifying your body.

All in all, using Chinese medicine and acupuncture along with Western conventional therapies for drug abuse and alcohol will be the best way to treat drug addiction and alcoholism.