Alcoholism

Background

Though there are many different definitions, I consider alcoholism to be present when drinking excessive alcohol is causing significant harm to one’s health, relationships or job.

Drinking up to 2-3 drinks a day can be OK and is even associated with longer life than being a non-drinker. 3-4 drinks a week is a more common intake in most people.

Denial is a common component of alcoholism. I have found that by the time most people wonder if they have an alcohol problem, they usually do. Not sure? See if you can stop drinking for a month.

Alcohol is sometimes used excessively in an attempt to "self medicate" for physical or emotional pain. The good news is that better options are available. For physical pain, refer to the specific pain type you have under the "A-Z" feature in this app, or see my book Pain Free 1-2-3. For emotional pain, see Anxiety and Depression, or my book 3 Steps to Happiness.

In addition to causing liver inflammation (see Hepatitis), excess alcohol routinely causes widespread nutritional deficiencies and can trigger numerous other health problems.

Treatments

There are two main approaches to treatment — either total abstinence or an interesting approach which supports moderation. In addition, the side effects of the excess alcohol need to be treated.

In some people it is the sugar in alcohol drinks, such in wine, beer and any sweet cocktails, that cause the mood shifts that result in being a “mean drunk” and the associated binge drinking. Switching to vodka and soda and other sugar free options may help.

Being an alcoholic is not a character defect, it is a metabolic issue just like any other illness. Often we use alcohol and drugs to self medicate for physical, emotional and spiritual pains. The solution is to find people who can help you with these, not people who treat you like you are defective. The rehab center that we recommend is “The Exclusive Hawaii” (see www.theexclusivehawaii.com).

Recommended Supplements

General nutritional support

Begin with nutritional support (I recommend using a multivitamin powder instead of pills). Alcohol causes severe widespread nutrient losses and the powder can help support your health dramatically.

Other Therapies & Advice

If low blood sugar, manage your diet

In some people, low blood sugar may trigger alcohol cravings. You may find that drinking 4 oz of orange juice (followed by a meal or some protein such as nuts, eggs, meat or cheese) may help settle the alcohol cravings.

Stopping excessive drinking

To stop excessive alcohol consumption, you need to see whether your personality requires an "all or nothing" approach, or if moderation is an option. If the alcohol is causing major life problems, it may be best to try one of the following:

1) 12-Step Programs

Enter a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous. A knowledgeable physician can help with withdrawal, and adding nutritional support is very helpful, especially high-dose B vitamins (for brain support) and magnesium to lower the risk of DT’s (withdrawal shakiness or seizures).

2) The Sinclair Method

The "Sinclair Method" employs the use of a medication called Naltrexone, which blocks much of both the alcohol craving and high. This allows the person to drink in moderation, and has been quite effective in a number of studies.

The Sinclair Method is explained in the book "The Cure for Alcoholism" by Roy Eskapa Ph.D. We first heard about this method by downloading the iPhone app "Little Miracle Pill Cures Alcohol Addiction" by Amy Luwis, and found it to be helpful for certain people. Some people find this technique very rewarding as they feel that they can finally feel in control of their own actions and possibly regain the metabolic balance needed to drink alcohol at a normal level once again.

Essentially the technique is to take the medication Naltrexone one hour before consuming any type of alcoholic beverage. Complete avoidance of alcohol is not necessary. By affecting the opioid receptors, Naltrexone helps alcoholics feel that they do not have to drink in excess and therefore they often stop drinking after one or two drinks.

The dosage of the Naltrexone recommended by Sinclair is 50 mg. We have noticed that certain people cannot start at this dose.  So if you wish to try this technique, we recommend considering starting out at a quarter or half of this dose and working up as needed to find the optimal dose for you.

Warnings: Do not take Naltrexone if you are pregnant, on opiates (narcotics), have acute hepatitis or liver failure, or if you are a successful teetotaler.

More Information Online

"The Cure for Alcoholism" by Roy Eskapa Ph.D. (book that includes a detailed  description of the "Sinclair Method")