8

Getting Sober

Dealing with Alcoholism

We are a society well versed in the dangers of alcohol. MADD, SADD, AA—most of us are familiar with these acronyms because these and other organizations have been running grassroots campaigns against alcohol abuse for many years. Yet the news media is filled with reports of the ongoing rise in binge drinking, the younger and younger ages at which our children first start drinking, and the terrible tragedies caused by drunk driving. If we know that alcohol has such serious side effects, why are we still drinking?

Alcohol is an integral part of the social milieu of our culture, as it has been for centuries. It relaxes the body, loosens our inhibitions, and helps us feel sociable—less tense and more open to our emotions. But don’t consider this an endorsement for drinking. For many of us, the risks inherent to drinking far outweigh any benefits. In the United States alone, there are more than ten million alcoholics, and alcoholism causes about two hundred thousand deaths a year.

Drinking doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re an alcoholic, of course. But if you find that one drink always leads to another, that you regularly say or do things while drinking that you later wish you hadn’t, that you frequently suffer from blackouts, or that your drinking has caused arguments or tension between you and your family and friends, it may be time to take a good hard look at your relationship with alcohol.

THE CHEMISTRY OF DRUNKENNESS

Ethanol, the intoxicating agent in alcohol, is composed of tiny watersoluble molecules that affect every organ and nerve system of the body within minutes of ingestion. Ethanol is a simple sugar. When ingested, it passes through the stomach and intestines into the bloodstream and then on to the liver, where it’s metabolized, or broken down. The liver can metabolize only a certain amount of alcohol per hour, regardless of the amount consumed. Excess alcohol remains in the bloodstream. When that excess ethanol reaches the central nervous system, it decreases brain activity and impairs physical coordination, speech, and the reflex system.

Liquor	Alcohol Content
Beer	4%
Brandy	35–50%
Champagne	12–13%
Fortified wine (port, sherry)	17–20%
Gin	35–50%
Liqueur	20–50%
Rum	35–50%
Vodka	35–50%
Whiskey	Up to 50%
Wine	12–20%

 

Drinking and Temperament

According to Donna Cunningham and Andrew Ramer, authors of Further Dimensions of Healing Addictions, what kind of alcohol someone is addicted to can tell us a lot about the drinker’s temperament:

• Beer drinkers often have excess physical energy they aren’t using. They should seek out physically and mentally stimulating activities.
• Wine imbibers are said to have excess mental energy and could benefit from more physical activity to get them out of their heads and more into their bodies. Or they could use that mental energy productively to write or pursue the arts.
• Hard liquor consumers tend to have excess emotional energy. They need to find constructive ways of expressing their emotions such as journaling, art, or therapy.

 

IS SOCIAL DRINKING DANGEROUS?

Many people can safely enjoy alcohol in moderate amounts. Moderate drinking is generally defined as no more than one drink—twelve ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or an ounce and a half of 80-proof hard liquor—per day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men.

Why are there separate guidelines for men and women? Studies have shown that when drinking equivalent measures of alcohol, women become more intoxicated than men, in part because their bodies do not break down alcohol as fast as men’s bodies, so a larger percentage of the alcohol reaches the bloodstream. Also, women’s bodies contain a smaller percentage of water than men’s bodies, so that the alcohol remains more highly concentrated.

Alcohol’s actions on the body are anesthetic, depressant, diuretic, euphoric, sedative, and soporific. In moderate amounts alcohol can stimulate the appetite, improve digestion, enhance cardiovascular function, improve circulation, and reduce the risk of heart attack. Alcohol drunk in moderation can elevate levels of the “good” cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which can help prevent heart disease. Several studies have determined that moderate drinkers are less likely to develop heart disease than heavy drinkers or those who do not drink at all.

Red grape juice contains many of the same beneficial compounds found in wine.

For those who drink without moderation, however, alcohol can be a serious health threat. In addition to the dangers inherent to the accidents and mishaps that accompany drunkenness, alcohol in large amounts increases your risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, liver cirrhosis, and, some studies suggest, cancer.

 

Warning

Anyone taking prescription drugs, women who are pregnant or soon planning to be, and people with diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, gout, neuralgia, psoriasis, rosacea, yeast overgrowth, stomach disorders, liver ailments, chronic fatigue, and viral diseases should avoid alcohol altogether.

 

THE MAKING OF AN ALCOHOLIC

Next to sugar addiction (see chapter 3), alcoholism is the oldest and most prevalent addiction in America. The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 7.6 percent of men and 4.1 percent of women suffer from an alcohol use disorder. Research has shown that alcoholism has a genetic marker: children of alcoholics are much more likely than the general population to develop alcoholism, even when they’re removed at an early age from the alcoholic home. But there are many other factors, including sugar dependency, allergies, and the chemical reactions of the body, that contribute to the making of an alcoholic.

Alcohol addiction is at heart a sugar dependency. Low blood sugar is a factor for most alcoholics, and hypoglycemia may well be a major cause of alcoholism. Alcohol is the ultimate refined carbohydrate, capable of elevating blood sugar levels even faster than white sugar.

Consuming alcohol gives a temporary rise in blood sugar so the imbiber feels relaxed and energized. When blood sugar drops, the desire to drink more rises. Over time an alcoholic may begin to consume alcohol in place of food, which causes even worse hypoglycemia. Food allergies can also contribute to alcoholism. As described in chapter 6, food allergies or sensitivities often create food cravings; counterintuitively, the body often craves what it’s allergic to. Many people who are allergic to yeast, wheat, barley, rye, or corn may find themselves craving an alcohol derived from that substance; consuming a beverage containing the offending substance fuels the allergy, creating a cycle of dependence.

Alcoholism can also be affected by malfunctioning chemistry in the body. Acetylaldehyde, the chemical produced by the liver as it metabolizes alcohol, is highly toxic and generally considered a carcinogen. In healthy people acetylaldehyde is quickly broken down, but alcoholics either produce excess acetylaldehyde or destroy it more slowly. When acetylaldehyde reaches the brain, it combines with neurotransmitters to form tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ), which causes a craving for alcohol and, like the drugs morphine and heroin, binds to the same receptor sites as naturally occurring endorphins.

 

Eastern Perspectives on Alcoholism

Traditional Chinese medicine considers alcoholism to be a damp heat condition and alcohol to be a hot, damp, pungent, and ascending substance. Alcoholics are stuck in a cycle of relieving and then recreating stagnant liver chi: alcohol’s pungent taste can move stagnant liver chi, but its high sugar content impairs digestion and causes damp heat, which ultimately causes chi to stagnate in the liver again.

In Ayurvedic medicine alcohol is thought to heat the body and damage the liver, blood, and ojas (the vital essence that rules our immunity), while increasing Vata and Pitta. Kapha and Vata types are likely to be addicted to the sugar aspects of alcohol. Late stages of alcoholism are a Vata state—blank stare, shuffling gait, talkativeness without meaning, and delirium.

 

ALCOHOL’S PROGENY: LIVER CIRRHOSIS AND DIABETES

Alcohol is a factor in a host of chronic and debilitating health conditions, including suppressed immune system, cancer, stroke, brain hemorrhage, sexual dysfunction, fetal alcohol syndrome, rosacea, premature aging, and many, many more. However, the two most common and deadly conditions alcoholism creates are cirrhosis of the liver and diabetes.

Cirrhosis of the liver is one of the most common and best-known side effects of alcoholism. According to the National Institutes of Health, 10 to 15 percent of alcoholics develop cirrhosis of the liver. When the liver cannot keep up with the rate of alcohol ingestion, the unmetabolized alcohol kills liver cells and deposits fat in the liver. If alcohol consumption persists, damaged liver cells are replaced by scar tissue. As liver cirrhosis (scarring) advances, the liver becomes less and less able to perform its many functions, which include filtering bacteria from the blood, storage and manufacturing of vitamins and nutrients, regulation of cholesterol and fats, regulation of metabolism, removal of waste products from the bloodstream, and metabolization of alcohol, to name just a few. When the liver can’t perform, the body can’t function.

Women taking birth control pills are at even greater risk of developing cirrhosis from excessive alcohol consumption.

Alcoholism also contributes to many problems related to blood sugar levels, including, in serious cases, diabetes. For example, the liver is responsible for converting glucose (blood sugar) to glycogen (a form of glucose that can be stored in the liver). When the liver is persistently occupied with breaking down alcohol, it becomes less able to metabolize blood glucose and store it as glycogen. Excess sugar accumulates in the blood. The body tries to compensate by releasing extra insulin into the bloodstream, which lowers blood sugar levels. Later, when the body is in need of more blood sugar, the liver is unable to supply it and low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, becomes a chronic problem. Low levels of glucose correspond to low levels of energy and impaired brain function. For temporary relief an alcoholic uses more alcohol, which contains plenty of sugar but serves only to exacerbate the problem.

Alcoholism can also cause hyperglycemia—too much sugar in the blood—for some people. The constant influx of alcohol creates persistent high blood sugar levels. As more and more insulin is released to compensate for the high blood sugar, the body becomes inured to its effects. Glucose intolerance and even diabetes can result.

ALCOHOLISM IS FOREVER

There is no cure for alcoholism, and a cure may never be found. An alcoholic who has been sober for a long time and has regained health must still avoid alcohol. Recovered alcoholics may no longer crave alcohol or suffer from withdrawal symptoms, but they may suffer relapses. If they drink again, they will most likely quickly find themselves addicted again. Numerous studies have shown that you cannot recover from alcoholism simply by cutting back on your consumption. You must cut alcohol out of your life entirely.

 

Antabuse—A Wonder Drug It’s Not

Antabuse (disulfiram) is often prescribed to alcoholics who are trying get sober. When combined with alcohol, Antabuse induces an unpleasant physical reaction, including sweating, nervousness, nausea, throbbing head and neck pain, sudden blood pressure drop, vomiting, and respiratory problems. Symptoms can be so severe that hospitalization is needed.

Antabuse causes rapid toxin buildup and can sometimes be fatal. It’s especially dangerous for those with diabetes, hypothyroid conditions, and liver or kidney weakness. It should be used only under the close supervision of a physician, and only as a last resort.

 

BEHAVIOR THERAPY

Giving up alcohol is, first and foremost, a change in consciousness. There is no magic pill you can take, no wonder drug that will overcome the alcohol dependency for you. If you are an alcohol abuser, the only force that can make you quit drinking is you. There are plenty of natural and herbal therapies that can help you through the withdrawal process, but they will not cure you. Only you can make that change.

You may fall off the wagon, as they say, a time or two. Most alcoholics trying to quit drinking do. But if you persevere; if you build a support network for yourself; and if you take things one day, or even one hour, at a time, you can and will overcome alcoholism.

For many alcoholics, fear is a motivating factor behind the desire to overcome alcoholism. They fear losing their family, their friends, their job, and their standing in the community. Ask for support from people in these networks. Tell your family and friends that you are quitting drinking—they will love you for it, and they will make every effort to help you. Find a support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, in your community. They’re often listed in the yellow pages. Support groups are inexpensive and available worldwide. They have changed many people’s lives for the better. Do whatever you can to find people, groups, and places that support you emotionally and spiritually.

Throw out all the alcohol in your house. Practice your new nondrinking lifestyle just one day at a time. When you wake in the morning, tell yourself, I will not drink today. Just today. I can get through this one day without alcohol. Tell yourself this every day.

While you’re still in the withdrawal stage, avoid exposure to toxic chemical fumes such as those from cleaning fluids and gasoline. These can cause alcohol cravings in some people.

When you feel a craving for alcohol, practice relaxation or get some exercise. In addition, try some of the nutritional and herbal therapies discussed in the following pages.

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY

When you quit drinking, it’s essential that you feed your body a cleansing, healthy diet that supplies the nutrients it needs to recover from the degradations of alcohol abuse.

Remember that alcoholism is, at heart, a sugar dependency. You must be careful not to aid that dependency by giving the body the refined sugar it will crave. Research has shown that high-carbohydrate diets loaded with junk food tend to increase the desire for alcohol, while nutritious diets create less desire for alcohol. Alcoholics Anonymous recommends a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet with nutritional supplements to help alcoholics stay sober. Good protein sources include fish, lean poultry, tofu, legumes, and nuts. Black soybeans are particularly nourishing and also help quell alcohol cravings. Tofu and mung beans have cooling and detoxifying properties that can help the body overcome alcoholism.

It’s also important for a recovering alcoholic to keep the body’s blood sugar level stable. Eat small, frequent meals. Avoid sugar, sweets, sweetened fruit juices, caffeine, and refined carbohydrates such as those found in breads and pasta. Eat plenty of vegetables and whole grains such as brown rice, oatmeal, millet, and buckwheat. Drink plenty of water, which will help cleanse the body and diminish cravings. To help detoxify the liver, add freshly squeezed lemon juice to your water.

When drinking juice to quiet the craving for alcohol, use a straw and drink as slowly as possible. Instead of feeding your addiction in one swift gulp, sipping slowly will help your body wean itself from its sugar dependency.

When you have a craving for alcohol, try any of the following:

• Dates are nourishing and will satisfy your body’s craving for something sweet.
• Bananas, unsweetened fresh coconut, and romaine lettuce are said to deter the desire for alcohol.
• Celery helps balance the body’s pH balance and is thought to lessen the desire for alcohol.
• Tomato juice with lemon squeezed into it is a popular folk remedy to ease the urge to drink.
• Carrot juice diluted by half with water will taste sweet enough to satisfy the body’s sugar cravings and is cleansing to the liver.
• Boysenberry juice is another juice that tastes sweet and also decreases the desire for alcohol.
• Fresh cabbage juice contains small amounts of glutamine, which helps curb the brain’s craving for alcohol. It’s also helpful for alcoholics who have suffered liver and stomach distress.
• Fresh string bean and tomato juice is a semisweet beverage that aids in repair of the liver.
• Bitter tonic waters will help dispel the craving for alcohol.

SUPPLEMENT THERAPY

Alcohol robs the body of nutrients, and alcoholics are commonly deficient in many vitamins and nutrients, especially vitamins A, B, and C, magnesium, and zinc. The following supplements can help overcome alcoholism.

HERBAL THERAPY

Herbal therapy can help cleanse the body, relax the mind, and overcome alcohol addiction. Do not use alcohol tinctures; instead, use teas, glycerites, or capsules.

Cleansing herbs such as red clover blossoms, burdock root, and dandelion root can help detoxify the body. Also important will be calming nervines, such as oat seed or oatstraw and skullcap, to help you through the anxiety endemic to withdrawal. Liver tonics, such as alfalfa leaf, ashwagandha, and bupleurum, will help your liver recuperate from alcohol abuse. Other herbs to try include the following:

• Aloe vera can help balance liver function and cool heat.
• Angelica, when used as capsules or tea, is said to help create a distaste for alcohol.
• Chaparral helps eliminate drug and alcohol residues from the body.
• Cinnamon is naturally sweet and thus satisfies the body’s desire for sugar-rich alcohol. It also has a calming effect on the nerves.
• Ginseng nourishes the adrenal glands.
• Gotu kola helps detoxify the body and has a revitalizing effect on the nerves.
• Kudzu flowers have long been a remedy for drunkenness in traditional Chinese medicine, and several studies over recent years have shown that it suppresses alcohol consumption in both rodents and humans. It can be purchased in capsules. Kudzu root can also be used.
• Milk thistle seed capsules help prevent and repair alcoholic-induced liver disease.
• Poria helps drain dampness.
• St. John’s wort helps heal damaged nerves, lifts the spirits, and calms irritability.
• Turmeric improves liver function and protects the body from damage from alcohol.
• Valerian has sedative properties; try taking it in capsule form to help you get through the first few days of withdrawal.

AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy can be a powerful ally for someone trying to quit drinking. Inhalations of various essential oils can quell cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms.

• Bergamot calms anxiety, lifts depression, and has a generally encouraging effect on the psyche.
• Clary sage is relaxing and rejuvenating. It helps relieve tension, fear, and paranoia and has a revitalizing effect on the nervous system.
• Eucalyptus (E. citriodora) is mildly stimulating and helps calm feelings of emotional overload.
• Fennel has a sweet fragrance that helps dispel sugar-based cravings for alcohol. It also helps promote self-motivation.
• Helichrysum helps detoxify the body and relieves depression, stress, and nervous exhaustion.
• Juniper calms anxiety and helps soothe those who feel emotionally drained.
• Lemon is uplifting; it brightens your outlook and helps open the emotional heart.
• Marjoram is relaxing and comforting; it helps calm emotional cravings.
• Rose encourages love and patience; it relieves sorrow and depression and helps you feel more emotionally open.
• Rosemary uplifts the spirit, stimulates memory and brain function, and helps relieve anxiety.
• Sandalwood calms nervous tension and anxiety; it can help you feel less isolated and/or emotionally volatile.

Angelica flower essence can help you get to the root of an alcohol problem and aid in major life changes. Agrimony flower essence helps people who use alcohol or drugs to forget their pain.

REMEDIES FOR HANGOVERS

If you’ve ever suffered from a hangover, you probably deserved it. However, everyone is entitled to a few mistakes.

As a general rule, darker-colored alcohols (whiskey, dark rum, bourbon, brandy, red wine, and so on) are more likely to give you a hangover than lighter-colored ones (vodka, gin, white wine). And “top shelf” drinks that are more highly distilled are less likely to give you a hangover than budget options. But, all in all, different people respond differently to different alcohols, and all alcohol has the potential to give you a hangover.

Hangovers are produced by dehydration and hypoglycemia. To prevent a hangover, eat before drinking. When your stomach is full, alcohol absorption is slowed. Eat oily foods such as cheese or nuts before drinking and starchy foods while drinking. Eat a snack of fruit, or drink some fruit juice, before going to bed—the natural sugars will help your body metabolize the alcohol faster. Drink lots of water to avoid getting dehydrated. Take a teaspoonful of honey or a 100-milligram B-complex vitamin before bed and again upon arising to help break down alcohol in your body.

To dispel a hangover, drink a glass of orange or tomato juice or a teaspoon of umeboshi plum paste stirred into a cup of hot water. Eat a few dates to elevate your blood sugar levels, which will help you feel closer to normal.

Best of all, learn from your mistakes. If whatever you did the night before gave you a hangover today, don’t take things to that extreme again!