However, if you are a daily or heavy drinker, quitting alcohol without medical supervision can be dangerous.
People withalcohol use disorder(AUD) or alcoholism can experience severe withdrawal symptoms that can be deadly.
You should never replace medical treatments or counseling with alternative remedies for AUD.
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This article discusses home remedies that may help when you’re trying to stop drinking alcohol.
If you have tried unsuccessfully to quit drinking on your own, you may meet the criteria.
People with AUD who quit drinking abruptly may go into alcohol withdrawal.
More research is needed to understand the efficacy of these remedies better.
Before taking them, consult a healthcare provider to prevent interactions with other medications.
Kudzu flower is the chief ingredient in Ge Hua Jie Cheng San TCM formula.
That’s the blend often used to treat intoxication and hangover.
It has several effects.
One is that it raises your blood alcohol levels faster, which means you may feel intoxicated sooner.
The people who received a dose of kudzu extract drank significantly less beer than they usually did.
They also drank less than people who had taken the placebo.
They drank more slowly, too.
But it did reduce the number of drinks they had each week by a third to a half.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandhais an herbal supplement made from theWithania somniferaplant.
It is used in Ayurvedic medicine, which originated in India.
Ashwagandha is sometimes used for alcohol withdrawal and cravings.
In studies with alcohol-addicted mice, ashwagandha seemed to relieve anxiety.
More studies would be needed to see if it works the same way in humans.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is an herb rich in the antioxidant silymarin.
Some research shows that milk thistle may help those looking to treat alcohol-related liver disease.
It’s important to note that more studies are needed to confirm that the herb enhances liver health.
Older studies show St. Johns wort may help to reduce alcohol intake and relieve withdrawal symptoms in animals.
However, more recent research and human studies are lacking.
St. Johns wort can help to relieve depression and mood swings that come with alcohol withdrawal and early recovery.
Research shows the herb works as well as some depression medications.
St. Johns wort works to balance serotonin and dopamine, brain chemicals responsible for a feeling of well-being.
It can also interact with other herbs and medications.
Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking St. Johns wort.
These programs usually include meditation.
Some studies report that mindfulness led to better outcomes than 12-step programs only.
Not all studies had the same results, however.
A 2017 research reviewdid notfind that this therapy was more effective than other forms of relapse prevention.
Lifestyle Changes
Making changes to your daily routine can be helpful when quitting drinking.
Replacing unhealthy habits with a healthier lifestyle can ease withdrawal symptoms and help keep cravings at bay.
Support Groups
The online recovery community expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Many rehabs and treatment centers now offer virtual programs that treat alcohol use disorder.
Acupuncture
Acupunctureuses tiny, sterile needles placed in targeted spots on your body.
It’s used intraditional Chinese medicine(TCM) to help reduce alcohol cravings and easewithdrawal symptoms.
Some people also use it to treat theanxietyanddepressionthat go along with alcohol addiction and withdrawal.
Research on how best to use this treatment is ongoing.
A 2017 research review found that acupuncture helped with alcohol cravings and withdrawal.
In one of the studies in the review, researchers compared a real acupuncture treatment to a fake one.
In the real treatment, researchers placed needles into zones linked to alcohol-related behaviors.
In the sham treatment, they placed needles into other areas of the body.
TheNational Acupuncture Detoxification Program(NADA) focuses on treating addiction.
Acupuncture should be used along with medical care, counseling, and other kinds of support.
Summary
Home remedies and complementary therapies are often used to help people quit drinking.
you’ve got the option to also find support for quitting drinking online.
Multiple recovery fellowships offer support group meetings online throughout the day.
Heavy drinkers who stop drinking alcohol abruptly can experience serious withdrawal symptoms that could be deadly.
If you have a drinking problem, talk to your healthcare provider about how to quit safely.
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