Addiction is a complex health problem that includes both mental health and physical risk factors. If you were suffering from an illness such as high blood pressure, your doctor would be able to provide medication to help. Yet, because addiction is more than just a physical problem, it often requires more than just medical care. That’s where holistic treatment may be beneficial.
What Is Holistic Treatment?
Holistic treatment is any type of treatment that aims to provide full-body care. By focusing on improving the wellbeing of the whole body, it is possible to manage both the physical and mental challenges addiction brings.
Should you focus just on a scientific-based treatment program? You could, and many people do just that with good results. Yet, incorporating holistic treatment alongside your medical doctor’s plan may be more effective for you. It certainly can offer benefits and doesn’t have any drawbacks. Most importantly, this type of treatment can provide a key opportunity for you to not just restore your physical health, but to start feeling good about yourself as well.
Why Does Holistic Treatment Work?
Depending on the type of treatment, along with the overall frequency of it, you may see significant improvement from incorporating holistic treatment into your plan. Many people report improvement in a variety of aspects of their life, including:
- Reduction of their physical symptoms of withdrawal
- Fewer cravings
- Reduced pain symptoms
- Better stress management
- Improved quality of life from physical fitness
- Improved sleep patterns
- Better ability to manage emotional factors of recovery
- Better ability to overcome triggers
It’s important to remember that holistic treatment isn’t a cure and shouldn’t be your only treatment option. We can help you find a treatment center that addresses all of your needs—including both physical and mental health.
What Types of Holistic Treatments Are Best for Addiction?
This is where you get to choose treatment programs that work for your needs. There are some very common alternative treatments for drug abuse that may help you, and you should follow the guidance of your counselor in choosing one. Yet, if one doesn’t sound appealing, try another.
Massage Therapy
One of the most important realizations for many people is that addiction isn’t just a mental health condition. It’s also a very taxing situation on your body. Massage therapy works at reducing the stress on the physical body that is brought on by addiction and withdrawal.
Massage therapy stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal. It does this by encouraging oxygenated blood to flow to key areas. Massage therapy also reduces the stress that’s so common during recovery.
Yoga
Yoga is a feel-good treatment that offers both body and mind improvement. Any form of yoga can be beneficial. It works to stimulate the body’s blood of oxygen-rich blood, reduce the tension that builds up in the muscles, tone your body, and boost your self-confidence.
Yoga also works well as a way to calm the mind. It can help you to breathe easier and focus your thoughts to fight cravings and stress.
Nutritional Therapy
Addiction depletes your body of nutrition. Over the months of your drug use, you will see your body become weaker and unhealthy. Nutritional therapy helps to encourage improvement within each and every cell. By delivering nutrition that your body’s organs and cells need, this type of alternative therapy can be very effective in improving your physical health.
Yet, it, too, has a mind-body connection. By balancing your diet and hormone levels, you’ll also notice a significant improvement in your mood. You may not feel as depressed or anxious.
Other Types of Addiction Treatments to Consider
There are plenty of other ways to improve your health through holistic treatments. Here are some additional options to consider:
- Reiki and other types of energy work can help improve your sense of worth and the body’s ability to heal.
- Biofeedback and neurofeedback therapy work to improve your thought processes and encourage change at a cellular level.
- Meditation can be an excellent way to focus your thoughts away from negative thought patterns.
- Acupuncture has long been used as a way to improve health in the body by addressing the flow of energy.
- Visualization can work well to stimulate healing and improve your sense of calm and wellbeing.
- Consider laughter therapy to boost good hormones in your body.
By focusing on the whole person, holistic treatments for drug and alcohol abuse can be very effective. Use them as a way to complement and enhance your current counseling efforts. You may see that they help improve your quality of life more so than any other treatment you use. When you visit DK Solutions Group, we can provide guidance and referrals to create a plan that identifies your unique needs.