Do Alcohol Detox Supplements Work?

Do you want to detox from alcohol?  Are you thinking about trying alcohol detox supplements?

There’s an old courtroom adage: The lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. The same could be said of an addict who decides to tackle his or her addiction on their own. Having medical and mental health professionals assist and oversee your detoxification can be the difference between success and failure.

If you or someone you love is addicted to alcohol, we can help. Speak to someone right now, confidentially, at (888) 837-6577.

Can I Do It On My Own?

Self-detox is attempting to give up drinking on your own, either by stopping cold-turkey or by tapering off your alcohol consumption. You’ll try to avoid triggers, people, and settings which usually lead you to drink. It’s a tough road to walk alone.

Studies suggest self-detox is rarely successful and many individuals give up within the first 24 hours. And it should go without saying, if you’ve been a heavy drinker, you may encounter severe withdrawal symptoms—and you don’t want to go these alone.

Can’t Supplements Help?

Vitamins and minerals are an important part of your overall health and wellbeing. And it is true, some vitamins and minerals can be helpful in the detox and recovery process, helping to remove toxins from your immune system, offering some measure of relief from some typical withdrawal symptoms, and possibly reducing some anxiety and restlessness caused by withdrawal.

Here are six vitamins and minerals that can help remove toxins and are sometimes beneficial during drug or alcohol detox:

1. Multi-vitamins – Drugs and alcohol deplete all soluble vitamins in your body, especially during the early stages of withdrawal. A round of multivitamins helps restore low levels of vitamins that your body badly needs. Additionally, vitamin deficiencies are partially responsible for much of the lethargy, skin irritation, memory loss and depression people experience in the early stages of detox and recovery. A good multivitamin should help optimize your body’s functions and help you feel a little more “normal.”

2. Vitamin C – Abusing drugs and alcohol often deplete your body of vitamin C. Taking extra vitamin C may be beneficial in supporting your immune system. It can also help to reduce the stress that your body creates as it returns to normal after withdrawal. You can get vitamin C from a number of different sources such as citrus fruits and juices along with green vegetables such as peppers.

3. B Vitamins – After years of drinking or drug use, B vitamins are often severely depleted. B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin) and B5 (pantothenic acid) play a role in turning sugar from your body into energy. Additionally, B6 and B12 play an important role in producing blood cells and keeping the nervous system healthy. B8 (inositol) and B9 (folic acid) are helpful in treating deficits that relate to dietary habits and substance-related changes in the digestive track. B vitamins—especially niacin supplements—have cleansing properties that help to quickly remove toxins introduced during drug use. Taking these vitamins helps bring your body to a normal, more regular state.

4. Vitamin E
Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant in the body to help reduce damage from chemicals and oxidative stress. It works to restore proper functioning of blood cells and may help repair skin damage that occurred due to excessive skin picking or abscesses that formed due to drug injection.

5. Calcium and Magnesium
A major withdrawal symptom from drugs and alcohol is anxiety, which can be severe. Calcium and magnesium help calm the central nervous system and relieve anxiety. They may also help relieve muscle tension, twitches and cramps that frequently occur during detox. Foods that are rich in calcium and magnesium include dairy products, green leafy vegetables and grains.

6. Garlic
Garlic combats toxins in your bloodstream. Instead of eating a lot of garlic (and finding out who your real friends are), try taking garlic pills every day. Or you might take a daily vitamin supplement that includes garlic as one of its main ingredients.

Supplements can play an important part in your detox and recovery. Not only will they help bring your body back to its proper chemistry and normal state, they can also aid in removing toxins and mitigating withdrawal symptoms.

But let’s be clear: Alcoholism is characterized by a physiological and psychological addiction to the substance, which gradually occurs from chronic use, changing brain chemistry. When you stop you alcohol use, your body undergoes withdrawal symptoms such as depression and anxiety, sleeplessness, and fatigue. In serious cases withdrawal can include seizures, hallucinations and other medical concerns. The use of supplements should be used in coordination with and not as a replacement for medically supervised treatment.

The Advantages of Detoxing in a Treatment Program

At Honey Lake Clinic, you’ll benefit from a qualified and capable treatment program. You’ll have medical and addiction professionals walk this path with you. Not only will you spare loved ones this difficult assignment, but you will lean on experienced professionals who’ve done this, successfully, many times over. They’ve seen it all and helped people through it. They know what to expect, how to respond, and have the necessary tools to help you at their discretion.