Reducing Alcohol Cravings: Medications, Foods, Natural Supplements

These are some of the best ways on how to help someone with a drinking problem. Jukić, Tomislav; Rojc, Bojan; Boben-Bardutzky, Darja; et al. “The use of a food supplementation with D[…] withdrawal symptoms.” Collegium Antropologicum, December 2011. Over time, meditation can help you become more comfortable with the thoughts and feelings that arise in moments when you crave alcohol, which will help lessen cravings in that moment and in the future. Similar to ashwagandha, holy basil may help alleviate anxiety from alcohol withdrawal. During NAD IV therapy, patients typically receive a series of infusions over several days or weeks, depending on their individual needs and treatment plan. IV administration allows for the direct delivery of high doses of NAD into the bloodstream, ensuring maximum absorption and effectiveness.

2 Behavioral and Subjective Effects

There are several medications available that can help reduce the urge to drink, including naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. These medications work by either reducing the pleasurable effects of alcohol or causing unpleasant side effects when alcohol is consumed. Several supplements can help repair liver damage caused by alcohol, including milk https://ecosoberhouse.com/ thistle, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). These supplements can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the liver, which can help promote healing. Some common ingredients to look for include milk thistle, dandelion root, and ginger root. These ingredients are known to support liver function and aid in detoxification.

Brain Function and Mental Health

• Addiction is severe and extremely difficult to overcome without proper rehabilitation.
• This post is the sixth in a series on non-pharmacologic approaches for managing symptoms related to alcohol and drug abuse and withdrawal and decreasing the risk of relapse.
• Although there is little data about the benefit of vitamin B1 on alcohol withdrawal cravings, supplementing with vitamin B1 is important to avoid complications from alcohol use.
• The primary danger of these supplements in those with alcohol dependency is not necessarily knowing the drug—drug interaction potential or side effects.
• Generally, the more alcohol you drink on a regular basis, the longer it takes for cravings to subside.
• Meditation, practiced on your own or via guided meditation, can help you learn to react less to alcohol cravings (8).

This herb is an excellent home remedy for treating liver diseases caused by alcoholism. This herb enhances liver functions, along with repairing the damage caused to the liver. More popular as a liver tonic, milk thistle has the active ingredient of silymarin, which can repair the damage caused by alcohol or drug addiction, hepatitis, and other toxins. The timeline of detoxification varies between individuals and depends on the duration and extent of their drinking behavior.

Vitamin A (retinol)

Long-term alcohol use can cause vitamin A levels to fall in the liver, the primary organ that breaks down alcohol and stores vitamin A. This occurs as both substances use similar pathways in the body to metabolize them. If someone regularly drinks more than the recommended amounts of alcohol — one drink daily for women and no more than two drinks daily for men — they may experience negative health consequences. For example, their body may become dependent on the alcohol, and their brain chemistry may change. People who misuse alcohol can experience a range of symptoms if they abruptly stop drinking.

• Experts believe its calming effects might be due to its activity on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain, which slow down the central nervous system.
• Experiencing alcohol cravings may not automatically mean you have an AUD.
• In the second, participants who were treated for 4 weeks with kudzu extract significantly reduced their alcohol consumption during weeks 2 through 4 of the study (Lukas et al., 2013).
• Having the backing of loved ones can foster motivation, resilience, and a commitment to recovery.

• They may also experience vitamin deficiencies, as alcohol impairs the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and nutrients.
• Rapid changes in mood and thinking often accompany intoxication with alcohol and drugs.
• Therapists can also teach new mindfulness strategies and coping techniques, along with cognitive behavioral techniques you can use to challenge and reframe negative thoughts or self-beliefs linked to alcohol cravings.

Figuring out which ones worked best for me was an empowering process of self-discovery, and the same will be true for you. People often ask me if I still take all of the supplements I’ve written about. I have a medicine cabinet filled with the aforementioned supplements, and it feels good to know that I have them just in case I need them. Benzodiazepines activate a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma amino butyric herbs to curb alcohol cravings acid), preventing seizures that can arise as fatal complications of withdrawals. Alcohol abuse is a direct abuse of your liver and is the leading cause of liver disease in the U.S.  But there’s hope, even after years of abuse because your liver has the fascinating ability to regenerate itself over time. In my experience, my nutritional deficiencies were resolved after one to three months of supplementation.

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