Addiction & Alcoholism

Addiction refers to the habitual and constant use of a drug or substance despite harm or negative effects. Other non-substance addictions are called Behavioral Addictions and may include Food addiction, Sex addition, addiction to playing games or shopping etc.

Alcoholism is the habitual and daily use of alcohol, especially to the point of intoxication.

As in modern times, addiction has long been an issue in many cultures, and as with today, many of the most used addictive substances are or have been medicines.

Symptoms maybe include ignoring normal healthy routines such as eating and sleep, behavioral changes, mood swings, erratic behavior etc. Manifestations vary depending on the substance of addiction.

Major substances of addiction:

• Tobacco
• Alcohol
• Opiates (Morphine, Methodone, Heroin, Fentanyl, Opium etc.)
• Betel nut
• Cocaine
• Amphetamine, Methamphetamine
• Benzodiazepines

Primary methods of Treatment

Treatment again depends on the drug. In general, removal from factors that support the addiction, such as friends, environment, social habits etc.

In most cases a substance can be stopped and treatment can be given to treat the withdrawal symptoms which may be over days or weeks. Counseling, psychotherapy, exercise, meditation, hypnotherapy are all useful interventions.

In Traditional medicine, various treatments have been used for addiction. In Traditional texts, Opium addiction was most commonly recognised, and certain herbs were viewed as effective to either help break the addiction, or to recover health following addiction.

Common Differentiations

The following Differential Diagnosis may be either how the patient presents upon arrival for treatment, or how they become during withdrawal. For example, some Spleen deficient patients may develop strong Liver Heat during detox.

Liver Heat: use of alcohol and stimulants often causes excess Liver heat. There is irritability, anger, restlessness, insomnia with a big, fast pulse, red eyes and a red tongue. This may also present during withdrawal. Formulas like Long Dan Xie Gan Tang or Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San can be used, or various Pills to purge Bile Humor.
Qi Stagnation: anxious, stressed, always fidgeting, restless, sighing, emotional, distention in the hypochondria, weak, thready pulse.
Spleen Deficiency: fatigue, poor appetite, losing weight, pale face, weak pulse
Yin Deficiency: dull complexion, dry mouth, cracks on the tongue, small or small and fast pulse.

Herbs for addiction

Herbs used for addiction may either have a direct effect against the drug or substance, or else may work to calm the mind and spirit to settle the effects of withdrawal. Some drugs are Opiate antagonists, for example. Also worthy of mention are the Exhilarative medicines of the Western tradition. These medicines naturally promote a sense of wellbeing and can therefore be very useful in addiction withdrawal.

To help against Addiction generally
Balm, Corydalus Yan Hu Suo, Cyperus rotundus, Ginseng, Indian Spikenard, Kava, Nux Vomica, Saffron, St. Johns wort, Withania, Valerian

Opium / Opiates
Asafetida, Avena, Barberry, Cannabis, Corydalus Yan Hu Suo, Cotton seed, Datura, Delphinium denudatum, Doronicum, Feverfew, Gelsemium, Ginseng, Gymnema, Kava, Mexican Poppy, Oregano, Poppy seed, Red Poppy, Rose, Rosemary, Silybum, Squill, St. John’s wort, Water Plantain (Ze Xie)
1. Doronicum: for those who have ‘taken too much Opium’. (Schroder)
2. Squill for ‘imprudent use of Opium’. (Culpeper)
3. Water Plantain: for ‘such as have drank Opium’. (Dioscorides)
4. Feverfew: ‘Special remedy against the overuse of Opium’ (Culpeper)

Alcohol
Coptis, Dandelion, Gelsemium, Gymnema, Ginseng, Kava, Licorice, Milk Thistle, Pueraiae Ge Gen, Rhubarb, Salvia miltiorrhiza Dan Shen, Scutellaria Huang Qin. St. John’s wort, Wormwood

Cocaine
Indian Spikenard, Kava, Valerian

Benzodiazepines
Corydalus Yan Hu Suo, Valerian, Indian Spikenard

Amphetamines
Cyperus rotundas, Indian Spikenard, Kava, Passion flower, Uncaria Gou Teng, Valerian

Tobacco
Avena, Coltsfoot, Kava, St. John’s wort, Valerian

1. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo helps prevent relapse into chronic drug dependence.
2. Cayenne pepper has been shown to mitigate withdrawal
3. Calamus is regarded as useful for the harmful effects of narcotic use on the brain and nervous system.

Strengthening and regulating medicines should be given after the initial stage of treatment. Formulas like Aromaticum Rosatum, Powder of Three Sandalwoods, or Letificans can be used. If there is severe deficiency, weak and thin, Qi tonic medicines like Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
can be used. Triphala can be used to balance the digestive system which is often disordered with chronic drug use.

Other Treatment:

1. Acupuncture has shown benefit in Opium / Opiate withdrawal, but had poor efficacy against alcohol and tobacco addiction.
2. Bloodletting can be useful if there is Heat or excess.
3. The Ear acupoint “Shen Men” (Spirit Gate) is effective to relieve mild symptoms of withdrawal, and the associated anxiety and insomnia. A small stud-needle can be implants for 1 week at a time, changing ears every alternate week.
5. Oleation is very useful; rubbing the body down with warm oil every day for 5 or 7 days. This settles the nerves, helps carry off toxins, moistens and softens the body, and is nourishing. A tablespoon of oil can be taken internally each day during the elation period.
6. Sweating is also very useful to expel toxins and waste from the body, relieving tension and relax the body.
7. Walking, Yoga, Tai Chi and Meditation are all useful adjuncts, as well as joining a support group.
8. Purging can be useful in those with excess / Heat-type constitution. A dose of Rhubarb every day for 5 days, or every second or third day for several doses can be very effective. A suitable compound purge can be used also.

Alcoholism

A. TO PREVENT DRUNKENNESS
1. Bitter Almonds: “Prevents drunkenness if 5 or 7 are taken beforehand” (Dioscorides)
2. Betony was taken before alcohol to avoid drunkenness
3. Against drunkenness, Wormwood with honey is effective.”. (Dorsetn, 1540) 2.
4. “Whoever drinks Saffron ground in wine first, does not suffer from drunkenness afterwards”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
5. “Give unto that man that is given unto drunkenness the Lights [Lungs] of a sheep, and he shall feel no drunkenness”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
6. “Give unto a drunken man the ashes of burnt Swallows. and he shall not be drunk while he lives”, (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
7. Pumice was believed to prevent drunkenness if taken before drinking (Theophrastus)

TO RELIEVE DRUNKENNESS
1. For Drunkenness, a few Ivy leaves boiled in wine and taken: the “Speediest cure”.
2. Infusion of fresh Dates relieves drunkenness (India)
3. Swedish Bitters is said to make a drunk man sober on the spot if he takes 2 tablespoons.

Electuary Preventing Drunkenness

Special Formula

Research:

–Traditional Chinese and Indian medicine in the treatment of opioid-dependence: a review

Asafetida
–Effect of the methanolic extracts of different parts of Ferula assa-foetida on naloxone-induced withdrawal behavior in morphine-dependent mice
Berberis
–The effects of Berberis vulgaris L. root extract on the opiate withdrawal syndrome and psychological factors: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.
Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
–The Extract of Corydalis yanhusuo Prevents Morphine Tolerance and Dependence.
–Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Drug Addiction.
–[Study on acting mechanism of anti-morphine conditioned place preference between aqueous extract of Corydalis yanhusuo and L-THP and comparison of their effects].
Silybum, Milk Thistle
–Influence of Silybum Marianum on Morphine Addicted Rats, Biochemical Parameters and Molecular Simulation Studies on µ-Opioid Receptor.
Shilajit
–Traditional Chinese and Indian medicine in the treatment of opioid-dependence: a review.