Last week we talked about the dangers of opioids and how this is the last resort for pain management. There are quite a few other options that have actually been shown to be just as efficient as opioids against pain and with no nasty side effects. One such is the hot chili pepper. The reason cayenne works for pain is due to its contents of capsaicin. The endorphin rush capsaicin triggers makes this compound an effective remedy for pain.
Read MoreI am a big fan of Roman chamomile. Not just chamomile tea, but the actual essential oil Roman chamomile. The essential oil is much more powerful than the tea of it. It has a soothing effect on the body and mind and is scientifically shown to target apigenin that binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain which makes for a calming sensation without any side-effects. This makes it especially valuable for those dealing with irritation, impatience and feeling disagreeable aka moody.
Read MoreMore and more research is pointing in the direction that depression might be associated with chronic inflammation. And thus explaining why an anti-inflammatory nutrition strategy like including plenty of fish oil, turmeric, broccoli etc. has shown to be valuable in treating depression.
Read MoreOur emotional health is closely tied to our physical health. For every emotion there is a biochemical equation. As an example, when we are under stress, we store fat and crave sugar, carbs and stimulants. We also store “molecules of emotion” in our fat cells.
Read MoreGut damage, post-addiction depression and serotonin issues related to liver and gut damage are well-known obstacles in spite of managing to quit alcohol. However these health troubles are almost unbearable for many, because now the digestive and mood balancing biochemical markers really become obvious in daily life, when not numbing out from the mental and physical discomfort on the regular with alcohol. Researchers are finding that L-Glutamine plays a critical role in healthy digestion and brain function. Glutamine has been shown in studies to protect against mucosal breakdown in the gut. There are even studies looking into how glutamine can aid in reducing side-effects of chemotherapy treatments.
Read MoreAlcohol and drugs deplete the body of B-complex vitamins, zinc, magnesium and other nutrients. A hangover is mainly an acute nutritional deficiency. When we begin drinking alcohol the nutrient deficiencies worsen, and this further increases the cravings for alcohol or sugar. The body can run on alcohol although it is a poor fuel, as it wrecks our body balance over time. Often we will find ourselves going after carbs or sugar when cutting down on alcohol. Alcohol and sugar addiction is closely tied, why it is not uncommon to find food addiction issues surface after alcohol rehab. The biochemical and nutritional aspects of addiction, are still not widely understood in the medical community. Some of the major nutritional causes for alcohol addiction and cravings include nutrient deficiencies, toxic metal excess, adrenal gland exhaustion, blood sugar issues and yeast infection in the intestines.
Read MoreLast week we went over the specific aspects of the form of B3 vitamin called niacinamide - not to confuse which Niacin. Both forms of vitamin B3 have important therapeutic functions for recovering addicts; especially concerning alcohol and serotonin-mimicking drugs. Today we will be focusing on Niacin. Many of you will know, that this is the form that causes the intense flushing sensation in the skin. While it is completely harmless, it is important to know what to expect reaction wise, as this is a quite distinct skin-tingling rush. The niacin flush helps to increase circulation, detoxification and nutrient absorption, so the flush is a welcome reaction.
Read MoreNiacinamide is a specific form of vitamin B3 that has shown to address many of the issues addicts need to rebalance post addiction - and a key nutrient for alcohol addiction recovery. It specifically targets liver damage, blood sugar, brain health, rapid aging, aggressiveness, anxiety and sleep. So how much should you take? And how does it work at a biochemical level exactly?
Read MoreAfter en addiction it's safe to say, that we have experienced a traumatic level of stress - psychologically as well as physically. The thing is, that just because we no longer expose ourselves to the original stressors, we often get caught in the negative stress-response feedback loop which is the underlying biochemical cause of what we call "Chronic stress". When we get caught in this negative feedback loop, we continually pump cortisol into our system. So how do we break the loop?
Read MoreOur gut is the primary driver of optimal health. This is where nutrient breakdown and assimilation happens. We know that we are not what we eat, rather what we absorb. Eating "healthy" means nothing if our gut is damaged. Alcohol, drugs and too much sugar, coffee and chemicals incl. gmo and pesticide-laden foods will sooner or later compromise our gut health, leading to a variety of symptoms. Surface symptoms that we may not link back to our gut, as the primary driver behind the dysfunction we are dealing with.
Read MoreEssential oils are becoming ever more popular to treat ailments a-z. This, because we are beginning to realize, that there is no man-made synthetic medicine to which there is not already a God-made plant medicine. We just need to understand how to utilize it, rather than focus more energy on developing things based on wanting to patent side-effect laden synthetic stuff, just to get money out of it. We should be focusing on what gets results. Now, it is important to match symptom with the essential oils we use, as they are potent; affecting both our mental and physical body. It has been shown, that certain oils stimulate sympathetic nervous system activity, whereas others calm it.
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