What to Expect at Holistic Alcohol Detox

There are many different types of detox options, including holistic alcohol detox. Holistic detox takes a whole-person approach to detoxification services, offering complementary and alternative therapies and treatment methods to help manage alcohol withdrawal.

What Is Holistic Alcohol Detox?

Alcohol detox is the first step on the continuum of care for alcohol use disorder (AUD). This is a chronic condition that doctors diagnose when a patient has developed a pattern of compulsive drinking, despite negative consequences. The detox process involves treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms that emerge once you stop drinking.

Detox can occur on an inpatient or outpatient basis. During inpatient detox, a treatment team provides you with 24/7 monitoring and care to ensure your safety. Different inpatient detox programs for alcohol withdrawal use various approaches to recovery, such as holistic therapies.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms you may experience during detox include:

Mood changes including anxiety, depression, and irritability
Feeling fatigued or having difficulty sleeping
Jumpiness, shakiness, tremors of the hands or other body parts
Nightmares
Feeling confused or not thinking clearly
Sweating, clammy skin
Enlarged pupils
Headaches
Loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting
Increased heart rate

Some alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous or potentially life-threatening, such as seizures. Another severe form of alcohol withdrawal is known as delirium tremens or withdrawal delirium, which is characterized by hallucinations and delusions.

Holistic Approach to Detox

A holistic approach to alcohol detox treats your withdrawal symptoms differently than traditional treatment approaches. Holistic detox covers your whole person, including your body, mind, and spirit. All three of these facets will be included in your customized treatment plan. It also focuses more on your wellness than your illness.

Holistic detox often turns to remedies found in nature as alternatives to traditional medicines used in treatment centers. This approach also puts more emphasis on spiritual and emotional well-being than a traditional approach.

Holistic detox centers view prevention as the best intervention and often believe in principles like those of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, including:

Integration of various healing systems is more effective than just one approach.
Holistic treatment is relationship-centered care.
Treatment should be individualized based on each person’s needs.
Treatment providers teach patients by the example of their own behaviors.
Healing powers are innate in the human body and require little intervention.
All experiences are learning opportunities for growth.
Embrace the healing power of love.
Optimal health is always the primary goal of treatment.

The holistic approach also looks at the big picture and how each issue or symptom is connected to your whole story.

A holistic alcohol detox program may seem appealing to you, especially if you’re already into holistic remedies like yoga, acupuncture, or meditation. Howeve, it’s important to note that a holistic program may not offer the medical care necessary to address severe alcohol withdrawal. It’s essential to receive an evaluation from your provider before entering a detox program so they can refer you to one that has appropriate care for you.

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What to Expect From Holistic Alcohol Detox

You can expect different things with any detox treatment you choose. Contrary to traditional treatment centers, holistic alcohol detox will not include prescribed medication in the process. As an alternative, they will engage all parts of your mind, body, and spirit through various techniques.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness refers to the state of being aware of yourself and your surroundings. This practice can help you remain calm in the present moment and alleviate feelings of anxiousness, nervousness, and restlessness. Some activities that help with mindfulness that a holistic detox center may provide include:

Yoga
Meditation
Sensory exercises
Spending time in nature
Deep breathing
Relaxation exercises

Physical Health

A holistic approach looks at your physical health during detox as more than just medicating your physical withdrawal symptoms. A holistic detox center may utilize some of the following protocols to improve your overall physical health while you are in treatment:

Massage
Chiropractic care
Acupuncture
Nutrition training
Daily exercise

Herbal Remedies

One of the main differences between a traditional center and a holistic one is the use of medicinal practices. A holistic practitioner prefers to use herbal remedies for treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Some of the commonly used herbs to help with nervous system support while detoxing include:

Catnip
Valerian
St. John’s Wort
Hops
Damania
Passionflower
Skullcap

Holistic vs. Traditional Treatment Centers

In contrast to holistic detox centers, traditional detox centers will utilize a few different evidence-based treatment techniques throughout your withdrawal process. Most traditional centers will use medications to help with alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the detox stage.

Typically, the treatment team will administer a benzodiazepine, such as Klonopin, to manage alcohol withdrawal. Benzodiazepines and alcohol have similar mechanisms of action so they help relieve withdrawal symptoms and cravings. They can also prevent medical emergencies associated with alcohol withdrawal, such as seizures. Again, holistic alcohol detox centers don’t utilize medications or offer medical care, so they may need to transfer you to a hospital if you experience a medical issue.

Along with medication, many traditional detox centers will also offer behavioral treatments and counselingto help you change your drinking habits. Specifically, they may use motivational enhancement therapy or motivational interviewing to try to improve your motivation for change and to encourage you to transition into an alcohol addiction treatment program once detox is complete.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Holistic Detox?

Your physician is the best source of knowledge when it comes to choosing an appropriate type of detox program for your alcohol withdrawal. They know your personal health history and the details of your substance abuse, and they can help you choose a center that will meet all of your needs.

The detox process can have an impact on one’s mental health. Trying to detox without proper treatment can result in the following:

Feelings of anxiety
Anger and irritability issues
Depression, hopelessness, and thoughts of self-harm
Delusional thinking and paranoia
Seeing or hearing things that are not really there

If you are thinking about choosing a holistic detox center, mental health concerns are something to consider. If your alcohol withdrawal symptoms become severe, holistic detox may not be the right treatment option for you.

What Are the Risks and Benefits?

Holistic alcohol detox treatment has several risks and benefits, which are important to consider when deciding if this detox setting is right for you.

Risks

One of the major risks involved in choosing a holistic alcohol detox treatment is related to withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal can range from mild and uncomfortable to a serious, life-threatening condition, and your symptoms can depend on the amount of organ damage you have and whether or not you can stop drinking altogether.

A holistic treatment center may monitor your withdrawal symptoms less intensively, which increases the risk of serious side effects that may need medication and medical care to treat.

Benefits

Choosing a holistic detox center can offer several benefits. Most centers of this type have relaxing and comfortable environments that can be a pleasant alternative to the more clinical settings in hospitals or medical detox centers.

Holistic centers often provide individualized treatment specific to your desires for healing and growth. You will also avoid any adverse reactions to medications at a holistic center since they do not use traditional medicines in their detox treatments.

Whether you choose a holistic detox center or a traditional treatment center, simply choosing to enter a detox center is a positive first step toward recovery. If you or someone you know has an alcohol addiction, please call 800-996-6135 to speak to a rehab support specialist about what treatment option is best for you.