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In February of this year, my sister died of the consequences of many years of alcohol abuse. She suffered from liver failure, jaundice, and pneumonia, and had also developed a slew of infections ensuing from the excessive use of antibiotics in hospitals. The irony in the situation is that hours after she was finally admitted, of her own accord, to a treatment facility, she was found to be so ill that she needed to be transferred to the emergency department of a nearby hospital. She was only 52 when she passed through God's other door three weeks later. I know, of course, that we are all eternal beings and she has simply gone back to the spiritual world, but here on this earth, I miss her greatly.

Yes, she did bring this upon herself, ignoring years of pleading by family and friends to seek help for her addiction; and yes, the hospital staff were doing their best to keep her comfortable and contain the ravages of the disease. They even allowed me to administer castor oil packs and give her herbal and nutritional supplements, although it was too late for these measures to save her life. But as a society, we are not doing enough to prevent and treat alcohol abuse, as well as educate the public about this devastating illness. Addicts are not getting the help they need once they finally muster the courage to seek it. In Ontario, OHIP-covered short-term detox centres are seriously inadequate, to say the least. To get access to effective rehab, addicts require not only determination and family support, but often also a deep wallet. And even then, the myth prevails that alcohol addiction is primarily a mental illness. It is commonly believed that alcoholics lack either willpower or strength of character, or have other psychological problems that prevent them from coming clean. Biochemical factors are considered secondary and complementary at best. But nutritional deficiencies often result from long-term alcohol consumption, and they severely aggravate and perpetuate the cravings that keep the addict hooked.

Chronic alcohol abuse is both cause and symptom of nutritional deficiencies. It interferes with the absorption of nutrients and inhibits access to vital amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and hormones. This can catapult the body into a state of malnutrition. By continually triggering insulin reactions from the pancreas, heavy alcohol use contributes to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which in turn increases cravings. The pancreas becomes exhausted and unable to produce sufficient digestive enzymes, thus impairing digestion and assimilation.

There is even a nutritional and biochemical connection between chronic alcohol abuse and depression, which so often accompanies this illness. Caught in a roller-coaster ride of biochemical ups and downs, the addict is unable to gain control over physical cravings, leading to ever deeper feelings of despair, guilt, and hopelessness.

Clearly, nutritional deficiencies brought on by chronic alcohol abuse are not eliminated through psychological counselling alone. No wonder so few individuals have long-term success in kicking alcohol addiction!

Research has shown that an overall improvement in nutritional status through diet and supplements can reduce alcohol cravings and lessen withdrawal symptoms. In the book Seven Weeks to Sobriety: The Proven Program to Fight Alcoholism through Nutrition, author Joan Mathews Larson, Ph.D., explains how appropriately targeted orthomolecular nutrition can halt years of addiction in its tracks. The unique program described in the book is offered at Health Recovery Center, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where therapy is designed to address the altered brain chemistry that typically occurs in addiction and that causes distortions far too great for willpower to control.

Not everyone who suffers from alcohol addiction has the resources, mobility, and family support required to travel to Minnesota and undergo treatment at Health Recovery. It is therefore important that more health professionals, as well as individuals affected by alcoholism, learn about the connection between alcohol addiction and nutrition, so that this devastating illness is better understood and that all who suffer from it can someday have access to effective treatment.
Here are some of the most important nutrients to consider:

Vitamin B-Complex
Heavy alcohol consumption depletes B vitamins, which are essential for proper brain and nervous system function. Depression, confusion, memory loss and insomnia are some of the symptoms of vitamin B deficiency that are also associated with alcoholism. Supplementation with B-complex reduces cravings and restores the health of the nervous system. Choline and inositol, which are co-factors in the function of B vitamins, are also important for the repair of alcohol-induced liver damage.
                                                            Therapeutic dosage: 150 to 200 mg/day

Vitamin A
Progressive alcoholic liver disease can result in failure of the liver to store vitamin A. Supplementation is therefore important to prevent deficiencies of this important nutrient. It also helps to alleviate potential liver dysfunction.

                                                            Therapeutic dosage: 10,000 to 25,000 IU/day

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful detoxifier. Supplementation with this vitamin has been shown to reverse addictive states and to reduce the effects of alcohol toxicity. For best results, use a buffered (with calcium) form of vitamin C, which is less acidic in the body. The addition of bioflavonoids increases the effectiveness and bioavailability of vitamin C.

                                                            Therapeutic dosage: 3,000 to 6,000 mg/day

Calcium/Magnesium
Heavy ingestion of alcohol severely increases calcium and magnesium output, producing symptoms such as muscle tremors and cramps, changes in heart rhythm, irritability, insomnia, slow reflexes, and emotional instability. Chronic alcohol use can lead to reduced bone mass and osteomalacia, a softening of the bones in adults. Impaired liver function in alcoholics results in an inability of the liver to hydroxylate vitamin D, which further aggravates a calcium deficiency. Convulsive seizures and delirium result from seriously depleted magnesium levels.

When choosing a supplement, look for a readily assimilable form of calcium, such as hydroxyapatite, citrate, or phosphate, in a 2:1 ratio with magnesium.

                                                Therapeutic dosage: 1,000 to 1,400 mg (calcium)/day

Zinc
Zinc is a co-factor for alcohol dehydrogenase, which works in the liver to detoxify alcohol. Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with zinc deficiency. Supplementation with this important mineral can lessen withdrawal symptoms and help to prevent seizures and brain dysfunction. Normalizing zinc levels also reduces alcohol cravings.

                                                            Therapeutic dosage: 50 to 80 mg/day

Essential Fatty Acids
Excessive alcohol intake severely disrupts essential fatty acid metabolism by blocking the conversion of linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), required for the formation of prostaglandin E1, an important factor in brain metabolism. An alcohol-induced deficiency can be prevented or eliminated by supplementing the diet with evening primrose oil, one of only a few known sources of dietary GLA. Supplementation helps to diminish alcohol withdrawal symptoms and to improve liver function.
                                                            Therapeutic dosage: 3,000 mg/day

Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein which the body extracts from food sources. Amino acids are also required for the production of specific brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) which determine moods and emotions. In alcoholics, amino acid metabolism is often impaired and conversion to neurotransmitters is disrupted, resulting in mental confusion, aggressive behavior and depression. Supplementation has been shown to reduce alcohol intoxication, balance moods, and diminish the desire for alcohol. Of special importance are L-cysteine and L-glycine.

                                                            Therapeutic dosage: 1,500 mg/day

Other nutrients that play a role in controlling metabolic damage from excessive alcohol consumption include vitamin E, chromium, iron, phosphorus, and selenium. Heavy alcohol use can also contribute to food allergies, thyroid disorders, and candida in the intestinal tract. As well, each of these conditions can aggravate cravings for alcohol. A naturopathic physician or other qualified health professional can help to determine the best nutrition plan and supplementation program so that specific deficiencies are properly addressed.

Advice from the Edgar Cayce readings
The Edgar Cayce readings acknowledge the vital role that physical influences play in alcohol addiction, emphasizing that the correction of physical aspects is as important as corrections on the mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. In addition to nutritional considerations, spinal manipulation was sometimes recommended, as was treatment with the wet cell battery.

In reading 1439-1, a thirty-eight-year-old man, who asked if he was correct in his belief that he had successfully conquered the addiction, was told: "This may not be accomplished until there is removed physically those pressures that cause the nervous forces of the body, to prevent the possessions of the appetites seeking desire by influences without as well as gratification within."

In at least one reading for a victim of alcoholism, Cayce recommended a combination of eucalyptol, rectified oil of turpentine, benzosol, and codeine to be administered while under a physician's care. This remedy was intended to produce a reaction within the patient so that he would become sick when taking alcohol. This is still the principle behind certain medications on the market today. There are other drugs that have helped some to stay off alcohol by preventing cravings, but they, too, fail to address the nutritional deficiencies created by years of heavy drinking.

In summary, there is an undeniable connection between physical imbalances and substance abuse. This knowledge, when acted upon, is the first step in healing addiction and can make all the difference in how we look at the terrible scourge that is substance abuse.

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Simone Gabbay, RNCP, is the author of three books based on the Edgar Cayce readings.
www.simonegabbay.com

This article is dedicated to the memory of my sister, Claudia Schoepke, née Seefeldt.
May God rest her soul and give her peace.

"Death is the immortal pilgrim's short rest on the path of eternity."
                                                                                                ~Sri Chinmoy