Your
body may be sending you a token that you demand to take a break from alcohol.
It may be time to detoxify alcohol from your body when you feel exhausted and
tired, have digestive problems, or have sore muscles. If you regularly drink
and celebrate and have any of these symptoms, simple alcohol detox may be right for you.
Repeated
or prolonged use may cause liver and kidney problems, addiction and weight
gain. While drinking and celebrating often seem harmless, regular intake of alcohol can lead to the build-up of
toxins and sugars and eventually to alcoholism or alcohol dependence. Excessive
consumption and dependence on alcohol
can also pose serious health risks.
However,
most of us have no serious problem and consume alcohol socially. What can we still do to limit the long-term
effects of alcohol consumption?
In
its simplest form, an alcohol
detoxification program is simply to give up alcohol for a while and allow the body to remove all traces of the
substance from the tissues and bloodstream. Most health professionals recommend
not drinking for at least one to four weeks. However, if you are a heavy
drinker or suspected of being an alcoholic, it may be easier for you to lower
your alcohol level or switch from schnapps to wine in the first few days or a
week. Many people who have become addicted to alcohol suffer from unpleasant
withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, tremors and an almost overwhelming
craving for alcohol.
Allowing
your body to "take a vacation" from drinking can result in healthier
habits as you feel more energetic and vital as your body begins to recover.
During this time, take the opportunity to also perform intestinal, liver and
kidney cleansing. Many report an increase in energy, sexual drive, and function
as well as a decrease in appetite after the detoxification phase.
Let
your body recover and rest. Take a break from alcohol for a month and you'll be surprised how good you feel!
How
To Make Alcohol Detoxification
If
you love someone who is an alcoholic, or if you are struggling with your own
alcohol problem, the process of alcohol
detoxification could be of interest to you. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can
be uncomfortable to life-threatening, depending on the severity of the
dependency, and detoxification may
be helpful in this process.
Alcohol detoxification simply eliminates alcohol from the body
and provides medical help for the withdrawal symptoms associated with this
process. Healthcare professionals generally require a limited amount of
treatment with one of several medicines developed for this purpose. Chlordiazepoxide
is most commonly mentioned. I do not like the use of drugs in most cases, but I
admit that in certain cases, such as here, they can be extremely helpful and
effective in helping someone recover from a harmful addiction.
The
treatment usually takes about a week. The dosage is highest on the first day,
on the following days the dosage decreases. This allows the use of the highest
dosage at a time when the withdrawal symptoms are the strongest. As a rule,
close monitoring by a doctor is required and the patient must agree to cease
all alcohol consumption during the treatment period.
Without
treatment, an alcoholic who suddenly stops drinking can develop mild symptoms
such as sweating, cravings for alcohol, and tremors. More severe withdrawal
symptoms may include delirium tremens, hallucinations, and even convulsions in
a small percentage of patients. The detoxifying agents help the body to
eliminate alcohol and limit these unpleasant and sometimes dangerous symptoms.
With
drugs like chlordiazepoxide, withdrawal is less dangerous and more pleasant
than without medication. However, most users still have sleep problems,
nervousness and irritability.
Detoxification, however, addresses only the physical
problems of alcoholism, and many experts advocate a combined therapy that
includes counseling or a 12-step program to follow the detoxification process. Most claim that the craving for alcohol,
both physical and mental, persists long after leaving the system. Counseling
and continued treatment are needed to help the patient change their attitudes
and prevent the return to alcohol.
In
addition to counseling and support, various medications may be prescribed to
prevent relapse and facilitate recovery. Acamprosate helps reduce food
cravings, and another drug, disulfiram, makes the user ill when he drinks
alcohol.
It
is no shame to ask for help with an alcohol problem. Most GPs and consultants
can prescribe detoxification
treatment or make appropriate referrals. Take advantage of the available
support; recovering from alcoholism is often a difficult road.
The
use of available help can make the difference between recovery and relapse. Ask
your doctor about detoxification
programs.
