Herbs for overcoming drug addictions and alcoholism
Herbs can help drug addicts and alcoholics get sober.
Whether quitting alcohol, methamphetamine, prescription pills, cocaine, heroin, cigarettes, vaporizers, or chewing tobacco, there are herbal remedies that can help cure chemical addictions, shorten withdrawal periods, and make getting clean easier.
21 herbs for addiction and alcoholism:
- Kudzu
- Milk Thistle
- Oatstraw
- Licorice
- Ashwagandha
- Cayenne Pepper
- Dandelion
- St. John's Wort
- Passion Flower
- Goldenseal
- Ginseng
- Valerian
- Wild Lettuce
- Bee Balm
- Hawthorn
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Rosemary
- Chamomile
- Angelica
- Skullcap
- Black Pepper
All the medicinal herbs listed above are used to treat addiction, alcoholism, and the symptoms of withdrawals. Some herbs are to stop cravings, some work by relieving headache pain, some support liver function, some relax the muscles, and others herbs help heal the brain.
If one herb doesn't do the job, try another one. Everyone is different and different herbs work for different people.
Here's a short video I made about fighting addiction:
Herbs work best with a good diet.
A healthy diet is key to overcoming addiction. Your body, mind, and spirit need nourishment!
Eat slow-burning complex carbohydrates, including vegetables and whole grains every day. Eliminate refined sugar, alcohol, and caffeine from the diet. All of these things help reduce cravings and shorten withdrawal periods.
Other natural remedies and alternative medicines for treating addiction are also useful. Acupuncture, aromatherapy, deep breathing exercises, and reflexology come to mind. They can bring excellent results when quitting addictive substances.
Vitamins, minerals, exercise, and lots of clean water are very important. As you read this post, take notes and prepare! Keep a journal - writing can help more than you realize. If you can't think of anything to write about, then copy favorite poems or verses from the Bible.
You can overcome addiction!
Whatever substance you are addicted to, be it nicotine, alcohol, prescription pain pills, or heroin, you can do this. Preparation and determination are the keys to success.
Stock up on herbs and healthy foods - enough for a week or two. Find a support person that will listen and hold you accountable. If you can afford one, start seeing a professional behavior-therapist. Set goals for your future self. Keep a Bible handy. The more tools you have the better.
Get rid of triggers like ash-trays and drug paraphernalia. Then you want be constantly reminded!
Use milk thistle seeds for liver support.
Supporting liver function with healing herbs is extremely important when fighting addiction and alcoholism.
Milk thistle seeds protect and heal the liver. Drink milk thistle seed tea with a few drops of passion flower extract three times a day for a week, and your liver will thank you.
Exercise is important.
Exercise often, even if it's just a few deep knee bends. Stretch you muscles. Run in place to get your heart rate up. Avoid smoke. Practice deep breathing, but not in a polluted environment.
Herbs for fighting addiction
Herbal remedies for easing withdrawal symptoms like nervousness and shaking include valerian, wild lettuce, passion flower, angelica, skullcap, and bee balm tea.
Enhance blood circulation with hawthorn or ginkgo biloba extract. This helps your body recover from addiction at a faster rate.
Drink rosemary tea to offset depression and chamomile tea for relaxation.
Honey or sorghum syrup may be added to herbal tea if desired, but avoid sugar and sweets when undergoing withdrawals.
Oat straw tea for nicotine withdrawal
Oat straw herbal tea is good when fighting addictions especially smoking and nicotine withdrawal. Use oat straw tincture when trying to stop smoking, vaping, and chewing tobacco products.
Another remedy for nicotine addition is essential oil of black peppercorn. Inhale the vapors when the urge to smoke strikes, but do not take internally.
If you suffer with smoker's cough, read this post about treating coughs with herbs.
Herbs for opiate addiction
Ashwagandha and ginseng fight cocaine and opiate addiction, although ginseng should not be used in cases of hypoglycemia, high-blood pressure, or a heart disorder.
Valerian root has a calming effect, and when used with the amino-acid tyrosine, it can be helpful for those undergoing opiate withdrawals.
Anise has been shown to help with morphine addiction due to its effect on the brain's neurotransmitters. More studies need to be done. Read more about anise and its healing properties.
Using kudzu to treat addiction and alcoholism.
A dose of kudzu root tincture will take the edge off when cravings become unbearable. Just put a few drops on your tongue. It's that easy! You can also use kudzu root powder in teas and capsules, or add it to juice if the tincture is unavailable.
When fighting addiction or alcoholism, always have kudzu root on hand. Studies prove that kudzu will also help slow down binge drinking, reducing the amount a drinker consumes. This is great news.
Every bit of help is better than nothing when facing addiction. Give kudzu root a try. It might just be the answer to your prayers.
The future of using kudzu to treat people with addictive personalities is very promising. Tests also show that kudzu root tea can sober up a drunk better than coffee, but I have not had the chance to try it.
Next time you are dealing with an intoxicated person, offer them a cup of kudzu root tea. I'd love to hear the results, so send me an email if you don't mind sharing your story.
Oriental cultures have used kudzu root (gegen) for centuries to treat both alcoholism and drug addiction. The Chinese not only use kudzu root to overcome addiction, they use kudzu flowers for relieving hangovers.
Kudzu is widely available in the southern USA. It can be found on the sides of roads, covering barns, and overtaking pastures. All you need is a shovel and permission to dig! Give kudzu root a try if you need to overcome any addiction including nicotine.
If you aren't up to digging or don't live in the south, then order it online. Last time I looked, you could get 4 ounces of kudzu root powder for around $7.50. The price alone makes it worth a try.
If you have been reading my Every Green Herb blog for a while, then you know we grow and sell a variety of herbs, but we also buy a lot, too. Try our favorite herbal suppliers for quality and value.
Herbs are powerful medicines.
Doses of kudzu powder or tincture are given several times daily to inhibit the desire for alcohol and other harmful substances. Dose size depends on body weight and many other factors.
It is always important to talk with a professional herbalist or your doctor before beginning any herbal remedy, especially if you have pre-existing conditions like heart disease or diabetes.
Kudzu root has been found to stimulate regeneration of liver tissue while protecting against toxins. Two potent isoflavones, daidzin and daidzein, are responsible for these properties.
Of course that doesn't mean to double up on doses! Just like with prescription drugs, too much kudzu root could be harmful to your liver and other organs.
Read more about kudzu in herbal medicine.
Treating drug addiction is a world wide problem.
Besides opiods, meth, and alcohol, there are many new "drug-combos" on the streets today. Benzo dope, tranq, and other blends containing fentenyl are highly addictive and dangerous.
People are dying every day from overdoses. If you are an addict, please be careful. Can you really trust your dealer? I think not.
100's of new recreational drugs have been found in the United States over the past few years. Watch this video about the next wave of the overdose crisis for more info.
Fight addiction with liver detox herbs.
If quitting cold turkey seems impossible, try detoxing the body with herbs while slowly reducing the amount of alcohol or other addictive drug that enters your body. One of the first steps when trying to kick addiction is to detoxify the liver with an herbal cleanse.
This can be accomplished in as little as 24 hours although a 48 hour cleanse is even better. It's easy. Just give your digestion a break from heavy foods.
Do not eat any meat, fat, oils, or dairy products for 24 to 48 hours. Eat lightly cooked vegetables and fresh fruits. Drink lots of water, some juice, and herbal teas. If you must have protein, eat a spoonful of peanut butter or some tuna. Green herbal drinks including wheatgrass are also very beneficial. And don't forget milk thistle seeds!
After your liver has rested, don't load up on dairy and fatty foods immediately. Keep eating healthy and things will go a lot smoother.
Although quitting is not easy, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Every little thing that helps is one more step to success.
What can help me get through withdrawals?
Eat lots of green leafy and yellow vegetables, citrus fruit, whole grain cereals (including oatmeal), fish, and legumes for extra magnesium. Include oranges, broccoli, green peppers, seafood, sea veggies, bananas, and tomatoes for potassium.
Add brewer's yeast, mushrooms, and peas for chromium. Drink a variety of herbal teas. Good diet and herbal tea can really help fight addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
Get plenty of vitamin C.
Drink lots of orange juice and add fresh lemon juice to tea. Vitamin C detoxifies the system, lessens the craving for drugs, and it enhances immunity.
Also use essential oils like bergamot, orange, lemon, and grapefruit in aromatherapy. The scent of citrus can soothe the mind and body. Jasmine essential oil is also good for easing withdrawal symptoms.
Read more about the benefits of jasmine essential oil.
Stock up on healthy foods before quitting any addictive substance.
Health foods such as wheat germ, bee-pollen granules, sesame seeds, molasses, and green drinks speed the process of withdrawing from addictive substances. Nuts, avocados, low-fat cheese, eggs, apple juice, and papaya juice are also beneficial.
Increase intake of vitamins and minerals.
Supplement diet with vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B-complex, glutamine, tyrosine, evening primrose oil, omega 3 flax oil, and minerals. Getting enough healthy vitamins and minerals can mean success or failure when overcoming addiction.
If you slip, don't give up!
There are options out there that can really help once you decide you want to quit. And if you do slip, herbs can help to get rid of nausea, headache, and the shakes.
Read herbs for hangovers to find home-remedies that work.
Whether quitting slowly or going cold turkey - ask for help.
It is worth repeating over and over. Get help when coming clean!
Herbal treatment will vary depending upon the abused substance and overall health of the addict. To minimize withdrawal symptoms, stopping any drug should probably be done slowly, although some addicts find it easier to quit cold-turkey. Everyone is different.
The task of quitting cannot usually be accomplished alone and professional help should be sought if at all possible. It helps to find someone that will hold the addict accountable for their actions.
Try group therapy, treatment centers, reflexology, acupuncture and other alternative treatments until you find something that helps. Visit other websites like Drug Abuse.gov for lots of helpful information. Do not give up!
Jesus - The Great Physician
This is a good place to mention the healing powers of Jesus. He can heal us in an instant, but usually wants us to take the first step. When we take one step towards Jesus, He takes ten towards us.
I have seen addicts completely healed from drug addiction and in every case that I know of, a Bible was involved. One girl copied the whole Bible into her journals with an ink pen. She copied Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John from the New Testament twice!
Every time she wanted a hit of meth, a pain pill, or a bottle of liquor, she sat down with her Bible and began copying. She went through lots of pens and a stack of journals, but it was worth the small price of those inexpensive items. The words of Jesus saved her life in more ways than one. Praise the Lord!
Congratulations for taking the first step.
If you are trying to overcome an addiction, seek help from clinics, family, healthcare providers, therapists, ministers, and spiritual leaders. There are many programs available.
Searches on the internet can provide valuable resources. Remember that you are not alone unless you choose to be. Help is available. Just by reading this article, you are on your way to a better life.
Risks of Drug Addiction
Addiction is a big problem in America. Find out about risks of drug addiction, types of illicit drugs, symptoms of drug addiction, and treatment options at addictions.com.
What about e-cigarettes? Can herbs help me quit?
Yes, herbs can help when quitting all types of addictive substances.
E-cigarettes, just like regular cigarettes, contain nicotine and are highly addictive. Use is on the rise especially among teenagers with reports showing a huge increase in 2018. If you are a teenager that vapes, please quit. The same natural remedies that help with other addictions can help you to quit vaping.
For more information, see herbs for mental health.
*Always consult with a healthcare professional before using any herbal remedy especially if you are taking over-the-counter or prescription medications.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4510012/
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/kudzu
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21315814/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17980785/
Blessings to you and yours!
Thanks so much for reading my blog. Jan.
*Note - the information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
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