Find Natural Remedies for Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol Withdrawals
Alcohol withdrawals occur when an individual drinks alcohol excessively and suddenly stops. Symptoms in mild cases normally occur within a few hours after the last drink and typically resolve within 48 hours. More severe cases usually start after 48 hours. People who drink heavily can experience severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms for up to 5 days and it can take weeks or months before they feel less anxious, less depressed, more clear-headed, and have more energy.
Detoxification can be done at home, in a hospital, or at a drug treatment facility, depending on the person’s medical history and amount of alcohol consumed.
Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
Mild to moderate symptoms include:
- anxiety
- depression
- fatigue
- shakiness
- nervousness
- irritability
- difficulty thinking clearly
- rapid emotional changes
- bad dreams
- headache
- nausea and vomiting
- sweating
- loss of appetite
- insomnia
- pallor
- clammy skin
- rapid heart rate
- dilated pupils
- hand tremors
- involuntary movements of the eyelids
- fever
- agitation
Severe symptoms include:
- delirium tremens (confused state and visual hallucinations)
- blackouts
- convulsions
Natural Remedies for Alcohol Withdrawal
While detoxifying, whether at home or as an inpatient, it is important to strengthen the body with proper nutrients. Nutritional supplements show promise in reducing the need for drugs when treating alcohol withdrawals.
Eliminate foods that contain simple sugars, fruit juice, low-fiber fruits, and dried fruits. Limit processed carbohydrates, such as white flour and instant potatoes. Eat more complex carbohydrates, including whole grains, beans, and vegetables. This will help stabilize blood sugar levels and help relieve some alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Zinc supplementation, especially when given with vitamin C, greatly increases alcohol detoxification in rats and may produce similar effects in humans.[1]
Thiamin and other B vitamins, vitamin A (vitamin A supplements should not be taken if there is evidence of liver damage), vitamin E, selenium, magnesium, carnitine, and glutamine are also helpful when going through withdrawals.
Other natural remedies for alcohol withdrawal include:
- herbs (milk thistle, kudzu, and dandelion can help with alcohol withdrawal symptoms)
- exercise (regular exercise alleviates anxiety and depression)
- acupuncture (some studies have shown acupuncture to be effective in treating alcohol withdrawals).
References
[1] Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 154 (1977): 146-50
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