Reducing Alcohol Cravings: Medications, Foods, Natural Supplements

There’s no need to force yourself to stay anywhere where you are experiencing cravings, whether it is a social event or a certain room in your home. Cravings are among the most persistent challenges people face in recovery. In the moment, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and unsure about how to handle them. This is why it’s so important to have a plan ready in advance for dealing with cravings—the same way you’d practice a fire drill to be prepared for a real fire.

herbs to curb alcohol cravings

A doctor or psychiatrist can offer more information and help you explore possible treatment plans. Experiencing alcohol cravings may not automatically mean you have an AUD. All the same, it could be worth talking to a mental health professional — more on that below. Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is an over-the-counter herbal remedy well-known for soothing hangovers. Research shows that DHM can increase the efficacy of enzymes that metabolize alcohol, helping your body to eliminate it faster.

Surprising Home Remedies for Addiction to Alcohol

Similar to ashwagandha, holy basil may help alleviate anxiety from alcohol withdrawal. Dairy products in general are good sources of calcium, vitamin D, and other vitamins and minerals that you’ll need to replenish to stay healthy and fight cravings. As your cravings for alcohol become more manageable, you may decide to try reintroducing situations that previously triggered your temptation to drink. Dr. Rebeca Eriksen, PhD MSc BSc (Hons) RD, is the Co-Founder at BioRebalance. She has a PhD in Nutritional Genetics from Imperial College London, and over ten years of clinical experience designing custom nutritional repair regimens for patients recovering from alcohol addiction and other disorders.

For some, they pass quickly, while for others, it takes a longer for them to resolve. Much of this is dependent on factors specific to the individual, such as how severe their alcohol use disorder was and how long it has been since they have engaged in drinking. Alcoholic cravings are an overwhelming compulsion to drink alcoholic beverages. An active drinker, with time, loses the will to fight alcoholic cravings. Active indulgences heighten cravings as people give in to the need to keep their blood alcohol at a high level, where they can easily escape from withdrawal symptoms. Kudzu extract was administered in gelatin capsules containing 500 mg of extract (Alkontrol-Herbal™; NPI-031) prepared by Natural Pharmacia International, Inc., Burlington, MA.

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Here are the basics of what cravings are, and six tips for dealing with them when they come up. For some people, being at a social event may not be helpful to sobriety and for some other people; loneliness may lead to Craving a drink. Some common triggers are negative emotions, bars and drinking spots, social events, being around friends, sudden trauma, and stress. Disulfiram – this drug reverses the pleasurable effect of alcohol by causing negative reactions such as vomiting, headaches, and systematic discomfort whenever a user consumes alcohol. Cravings develop into alcoholism and without alcohol counselors or drugs to stop alcohol craving, it can be a lifetime effect.

herbs to curb alcohol cravings

The number of participants who drank each available beer during the 1.5 hour drinking session following administration of placebo or kudzu. Other approaches that are sometimes beneficial for treating substance abuse, managing withdrawal or reducing the risk of relapse include acupuncture, EEG biofeedback, meditation, yoga and virtual reality exposure therapy. Virtual herbs to curb alcohol cravings environments are being used to stimulate alcohol, nicotine or cocaine craving followed by desensitization using cognitive-behavioral techniques. There is help available to you if you or a loved one has a physical dependence or psychological dependence on alcohol. These urges and compulsive behaviors can control your life, but you can take back control.

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