Alcohol Addiction

Dear Dr. Meletis, My husband is an alcoholic with constant beer drinking after he retired. Are there any supplements that can curb this habit? Mrs. J.

Dear Mrs. J., Clinically, looking at the cause of the increased alcohol intake is important. Dopamine, a specific brain neurotransmitter, can often be implicated in cravings. When one does not have normal excitement or stimulation, dopamine levels can become unbalanced from what I have observed over the last 15 years of clinical practice. When ones patterns of life change, from busy to less busy, it is essential to replace the lost stimulation. So, adopting new healthy sources of daily routine and brain stimulation is important. When it comes specifically to alcohol cravings, controlling blood sugar levels with a healthy diet and sufficient protein is first and foremost critical. So, starting each day with a protein drink such as Amino EDGE can be a great way to start the morning, followed with a walk of 10 minutes in one direction from the front door and then 10 minutes back home. I call this the 10-minute rule of exercise. This should all be done within the first hour of the day. Use of Intox Rx and GluControl™ each day in the morning and mid-afternoon is also important to control blood sugars and curb cravings. Also a very exacting lunch and dinner schedule is essential. L-Tyrosine and 5-HTP can be helpful to support optimal brain chemistry: typical starting doses, assuming there is no other mental health medications being taken, are L-Tyrosine 500 to 1,000 mg per day and 5-HTP 50 to 100 mg at bedtime. Also it is of paramount importance that never during the day is thirst allowed to occur: a minimum of 64 ounces of water or tea must be consumed. As you are clearly aware, excess drinking is a very real and serious health concern and can rapidly rob an individual of the joy and fruits of a lifetime of hard work. Sincerely, Chris D. Meletis, ND