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 judgment
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 graying 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
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
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.
Refer : http://www.healthlibrary.com
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