Natural ways of treating addictions
Methamphetamine, or "meth" as it is commonly called, can cause serious damage to the human body, especially with prolonged use. In particular, this drug can harm neurotransmitters within the brain which can lead to serious mental and physical issues over time.
A recovering meth addict will need to address their addiction on several levels during their road to recovery. This is a physical and mental addiction, and the use of certain natural vitamins and supplements can speed recovery in many cases.
As with any nutritional supplement, it is best to consult with a physician before beginning any regimen. Your physician may also be able to guide you on which nutritional supplements and vitamins will be best for healing your meth addiction.
GABA, Seratonin and Dopamine
In order to begin recovering from a meth addiction, and to assist the brain in healing damaged neurotransmitters, vitamins and supplements that contain amino acids are essential. For example, GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid), seratonin and dopamine are all indicated as being helpful for brain function.
While these statements are not endorsed by the FDA, the brain does normally produce GABA, seratonin and dopamine and all three are affected by methamphetamine. With prolonged use, brain receptors are damaged and will need to be rebuilt using these three supplements.
Restoring Brain Chemicals
The use of meth creates a chemical imbalance within the brain that can affect a recovering addict's mood. For example, dopamine levels are greatly reduced in meth addicts as well as norepinephrine levels.
The amino acids L-Phenylalanine and L-Tyrosine can assist in bringing these levels back up to a normal level as well as improving the overall mood and feeling of well-being for a recovering addict.
Detox the System
In addition to causing brain changes, methamphetamine is a dangerous substance made of a variety of harmful chemicals and household products that contain powerful toxins like hydrochloric acid. These chemicals can affect the body in a variety of ways, especially the liver.
In order to clear these toxins out of the body and assist the recovering meth addict, a full body cleanse is recommended under the care of a qualified physician. Vitamins that support the liver and adrenal systems can also be useful in this situation.
For example, milk thistle has long been used as a liver restorative. B vitamins and vitamin C can help increase overall immune health and assist in restoring proper function to the body as a whole.
Supporting Recovery with Diet
Taking vitamins and amino acids is vital for a recovering meth addict, but eating right can support these efforts and help the affected person return to normal in less time. Eating a properly balanced diet free of refined and processed sugars, animal fats and coffee or caffeinated beverages can assist the body in the recovery process.
It is also important to note that many recovering meth addicts are malnourished and can benefit not only from the vitamins and mentioned above, but also a daily broad spectrum vitamin. Former users may experience weight gain as they recover as the body's metabolism returns to a more normal rate. This is to be expected and can be addressed once the former user has recovered.
Tags: amino acids, meth addict, recovering meth, recovering meth addict, meth addiction, recovering addict, seratonin dopamine