Benefits of Holistic Drug Detox

Someone entering drug addiction recovery must contend with a range of physical and psychological effects of addiction, most of which work against his or her efforts to stay drug-free. While these aspects of addiction must be addressed during the course of treatment, traditional detox programs don’t address the damaging effects of addiction on the spiritual self. Holistic drug detox programs incorporate the spiritual self into the treatment process while taking a whole person approach in terms of treating the physical, psychological and spiritual aspects of the individual together rather than separately.

For people looking for more than the straightforward, boilerplate detox experience, holistic drug detox offers many benefits that ultimately work to provide individualized treatment care based on a person’s specific needs.

The Holistic Rehab Treatment Approach

Holistic drug detox facilities use alternative therapies such as acupressure.

The holistic rehab treatment approach views internal imbalance as the source of addiction. This imbalance tends to develop out of underlying issues that cause discord within a person’s sense of well-being. Over time, a person’s inability to cope with daily life pressures leaves him or her stuck, emotionally and unable to make sense out of his or her thoughts and feelings. These conditions inevitably give way to destructive behavior patterns, namely drug abuse.

According to the University of California-San Francisco, the overall goal of this treatment approach works to restore a state of natural balance by reconnecting the mind and the body. In the case of holistic drug detox, helping a person identify areas of emotional and spiritual imbalance becomes just as important as helping him or her overcome physical withdrawal effects.

During the course of the treatment process, holistic drug detox equips recovering addicts with the tools needed to take responsibility for the way they think, feel and behave.

Holistic Drug Detox

With any form of detox, be it drugs or alcohol, the body goes through a process of adapting to a drug-free state. In addition, prolonged drug abuse has created a state of chemical imbalance in the brain making it all the more difficult to adjust.

While relief from uncomfortable withdrawal effects becomes the overall goal, holistic drug detox programs treat the whole person rather than just the physical symptoms that result.

According to The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The world Bank, the holistic approach employs a range of alternative interventions in addition to the established treatment protocols commonly used in traditional drug detox programs. Alternative interventions commonly used in holistic drug detox include:

• Energy-based techniques, such as reiki therapy and energy balancing
• Body-based techniques, such as massage
• Biological-based techniques using mineral, herbal and vitamin therapies and alternative diet plans
• Alternative therapies, such as acupressure and acupuncture
• Mind-body approaches, such as relaxation and medication techniques

Benefits of Holistic Drug Detox

The overall benefits of holistic drug detox not only help a person make it through this most difficult stage of recovery, but also address any underlying issues that feed addiction by:

• Speeding up the body’s natural toxin-cleansing processes
• Improving circulation
• Relieving pain symptoms
• Reducing stress and anxiety levels
• Strengthening the body’s immune system
• Enhancing mood state

If you or someone you know are considering holistic drug detox and have more questions, or need help finding a program that meets your needs, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 800-996-6135(Who Answers?) to speak with one of our addictions specialists.

Sources

1. University of California, San Francisco. (2017). Complementary Therapies.
2. The International Bank for Reconstruction/The World Bank. (2006). Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition-Chapter 69: Complementary and Alternative Medicine.