Alcoholism
Alcoholism refers to addiction to alcohol. It is a
chronic disorder, in which a person is unable to refrain from frequent and
excess consumption of alcohol for physical or psychological reasons. The World
Health Organization (WHO) has listed alcoholism as one of the three most deadly
killer diseases of the 20th century. Alcoholism is also one of the serious
social problems. It often brings poverty and certain amount of crime and
results in material unhappiness and broken homes. It also leads to numerous
traffic accidents. Alcohol is not a product found in nature. It results from
decomposition and as such belongs to a family of poisons. Ethyl alcohol, the
main intoxicating ingredient in wine, beer and distilled liquor is a toxic drug
which depresses the brain and nervous system. Alcohol cannot be called a food for
it enters the alimentary canal and is not changed or digested in any way. It is
quickly absorbed in the bloodstream and then travels to every part of the body,
adversely affecting vital organs like brain and liver.
Symptoms
According to the WHO, "Alcoholics are those excessive drinkers whose dependence on
alcohol has attained such a degree that it shows a noticeable mental
disturbance or interference with their bodily or mental health, their
interpersonal relations and their smooth social and economic functions, or who
show the prodormal signs of such development."
Alcoholics have a puffy face with bloodshot eyes, a
hoarse voice and a rapid pulse. They are suspicious, irritable and over-
emotional. Vomiting, delirium, impaired judgement and disturbed sleep are some
of the other symptoms.
The chronic alcoholic, who would rather drink than
eat, fails to get enough vitamins. The few vitamins acquired by him are drained
out of his system in the process of burning the alcohol in his body. Vitamin
deficiency can lead to delirium tremors, convulsions, nutritious, disorders of the
eyes and impaired memory. Excessive drinking often causes premature greying of
hair due to vitamin deficiency. Chronic alcoholism results in a depletion of
minerals in the body, particularly magnesium. Its lack produces symptoms like
tremor of the hands, feet and tongue, convulsions, mental clouding and
perspiration. Excessive drinking imposes a strain on the liver. It gradually
destroys its functions and often causes cirrhosis of the liver. It leads to
disorders of the stomach and bowels. It can cause brain damage as brain cells
are often affected by it. Alcohol also affects the heart which becomes weak and
flabby.
Causes
Alcoholism results from intemperate drinking.
Sometimes it sneaks upon a person comparatively rapidly; other times, years may
pass before a person becomes a full-fledged alcoholic. A weak-minded person
consoles himself by taking to drugs or alcohol. In doing so he simply tries to
escape the situation rather than face it boldly. A person generally takes to
drinking as a means to enliven social life, to overcome anxiety or to induce
sleep. He becomes an alcoholic if he gets dependent on alcohol physically and psychologically.
He resorts to heavy drinking because of his maladaptive way of dealing with life’s
stresses.
Treatment
The chronic alcoholic first of all must make a firm
resolve to stop drinking. He should abstain from alcohol all at once for the
habit cannot be got rid of in gradual stages. The most effective way to treat
alcoholism is to build the body’s nutritional integrity soaps to prevent
craving for stimulants like drinks. The patients should be put on a cleansing juice
fast for at least ten days in the beginning. During this period, he should have
juice of an orange every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The juice may be
diluted with warm water, if desired. If orange juice does not agree, vegetable
juices may be taken. Each day while fasting, bowels should be cleansed of
effete and poisonous matter thrown off by the self-cleansing process set up by
the body. This can be achieved by warm water enema. During the juice fast, the
patient will usually feel no craving for alcohol. This will give a good 10 day
start towards breaking the drinking habit and would help remove not only the
physical dependence but also the psychological factors. After the initial fast
on juices, the optimum diet of vital nutrients is essential. Such a diet should
consist of whole grains, cereals, nuts, seeds and sprouts, fresh fruits and
vegetables. It is advisable that in the beginning of the treatment, the patient
is given a suitable substitute to relieve the craving if and when such a
craving occurs. The best substitute drink for alcohol is a glass of fresh fruit
juice, sweetened with honey, if desired. In the alternative, wholesome candy may
be taken. The patient should always have easily available juices, candy, or
other snacks to be taken between meals if he feels a craving for a stimulant. All
refined foods such as sugar, white rice, macaroni products and white flour and
meat should be avoided. The patient should eat several small meals a day in
preference to two or three large ones and avoid strong condiments such as
pepper, mustard, and chilli. He should not smoke as this will only increase his
desire for alcohol. Apples are considered valuable in the treatment of
alcoholism as their use removes intoxication and reduces the craving for wine
and other intoxicating liquors. The raw celery juice is also considered
helpful. It has a sobering effect and is an antidote to alcohol. In addition to
proper nutrition, plenty of rest and outdoor exercises are necessary.
The healthy condition of the appetite centre, which
controls the craving for alcohol is improved by exercise. Yogic asans for
general health such as padmasan, vajrasan, vakrasan, paschimotanasan, yogamudra,
bhuajangasan, halasan and shalabhasana and yogic kriyas like jalneti, kunjal
and simple Pranayamas like kapalbhati , anuloma-viloma, shitali and sitkari
will be beneficial. Copious drinking of water, hot fomentations on the
stomach and abdomen with a wet girdle pack between applications are also
effective water treatment for alcoholism. And finally, it will be advisable to
follow the ten commandments to prevent alcoholism, offered by psychiatrist Dr.
William B. Terhune. These are:
- never drink when you ‘need one’;
- sip slowly;
- space your drinks, taking a second drink 30 minutes after the first
and a third an hour after the second;
- dilute your alcohol;
- keep an accurate and truthful record of the amount and number of
drinks you take;
- never conceal the amount of alcohol you drink;
- do not drink on an empty stomach;
- stop drinking on ‘signal ‘ ( signals are lunch, dinner, fatigue,
sex stimulation, boredom, frustration and bedtime);
- make it a rule never to take a drink to escape discomfort - either
physical or mental; and
- never, never take a drink in the morning thinking it will cure a hangover.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through
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