Natural treatments for narcotic addictions
Natural treatments for narcotic addictions encompass a variety of approaches aimed at alleviating the symptoms associated with withdrawal from substances like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. While there are no widely recognized or established natural therapies, several alternatives have been explored for their potential benefits. Among these, passionflower has shown promise in easing emotional withdrawal symptoms when combined with clonidine, a commonly used medication for narcotic withdrawal. However, further research is necessary to establish its efficacy fully.
Acupuncture and other herbal treatments, such as Brahmi, Ginkgo biloba, and N-acetylcysteine, have also been investigated, although results have been mixed, with some studies failing to demonstrate significant benefits. Other natural approaches, like kratom, have been noted for their potential to reduce withdrawal symptoms but carry risks of addiction themselves. Additionally, Chinese herbal medicine has shown some effectiveness, although specific herbs beneficial for managing narcotic addiction remain to be clearly identified. Overall, while natural treatments may offer some support during recovery, they should be approached with caution and ideally used in conjunction with more established methods of treatment.
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Natural treatments for narcotic addictions
DEFINITION: Treatment of addictions to narcotics, including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
- PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: None
- OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Acupuncture, Brahmi (Bacopa monniera), Ginkgo biloba, lobelia, N-acetylcysteine, passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), rosemary, velvet antler, yoga
Introduction
The family of drugs loosely known as narcotics includes chemicals in the opiate family, such as heroin, along with cocaine and variations of methamphetamine (or speed). All of these drugs produce intense psychological symptoms during withdrawal, and most cause physical symptoms, making them some of the most addictive substances known.
The process of overcoming narcotic addiction involves short-term assistance to ease the immediate withdrawal period, long-term psychological work to induce behavior change and address coexisting mental health conditions, and, in some cases, maintenance treatment with long-acting narcotics such as methadone and suboxone. New classes of medications are under investigation for aiding withdrawal.
Proposed Natural Treatments
There are no well-established natural treatments to aid the treatment of drug addiction, but some have shown some promise.
Passionflower. The herb passionflower is thought to have mild sedative properties and has been suggested as an aid to drug withdrawal. A fourteen-day double-blind trial enrolled sixty-five men addicted to opiate drugs and compared the effectiveness of a blend of passionflower and the drug clonidine to clonidine alone. Clonidine is used widely to assist in narcotic withdrawal. It effectively reduces physical symptoms, such as increased blood pressure. However, it does not help emotional symptoms, such as drug-craving, anxiety, irritability, agitation, and depression. These symptoms can be quite severe, and they often cause enrollees in drug treatment programs to end participation.
In this fourteen-day study, the use of passionflower with clonidine significantly eased the emotional aspects of withdrawal compared to the use of clonidine alone. However, more research is necessary to prove this treatment effective.
Acupuncture. Although some animal studies suggest that various forms of acupuncture may have some benefits for chemical dependency, study results in humans have been mixed at best, with the largest studies reporting no benefits. For example, while benefits were seen in a much smaller single-blind trial, a large placebo-controlled trial that evaluated 620 cocaine-dependent adults found acupuncture no more effective than sham acupuncture or relaxation training. Similarly, a single-blind, placebo-controlled study of 236 persons found no benefit from ear acupuncture for cocaine addiction. In a similar study involving individuals addicted to heroin, a high dropout rate made the results difficult to interpret. Finally, in a placebo-controlled trial involving eighty-three people addicted to drugs attending a methadone detoxification clinic, the addition of ear acupuncture did not improve withdrawal symptoms or cravings. Methadone, a relatively weak narcotic, is commonly used to treat narcotic addiction over the long term.
Other natural approaches. One study provides weak evidence that the substance N-acetylcysteine might be helpful for treating cocaine dependence. Similarly weak evidence hints at potential benefits for opiate addiction with the herbs Brahmi (Bacopa monniera), rosemary, and velvet antler.
Weak evidence hints that the substance lobeline from the herb lobelia might offer benefit for methamphetamine addiction. Also, a ten-week double-blind trial failed to find ginkgo helpful for cocaine dependence. Another study failed to find hatha yoga helpful for enhancing the effectiveness of a methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction.
Kratom, an herbal extract from the leaves of an evergreen tree that grows in Southeast Asia, has shown great promise in relieving the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. It has been shown to reduce fatigue, anxiety, and depression. However, kratom carries its own risks of addiction and should be used with caution.
In a review of twenty-one studies involving almost three thousand persons, researchers concluded that Chinese herbal medicine was as effective as commonly prescribed medications for drug withdrawal symptoms in heroin addicts. However, they could not draw any conclusions regarding what specific herbs were most beneficial, though it appeared Tai-Kang-Ning, ginseng, and U’finer played specific roles. Another review of Chinese herbal medicine identified several herbs that showed promise for treating specific drug addictions. Rhizoma Corydalis (Yanhusuo) showed promise for general drug dependence. Ginsing and sinomenine emerged as beneficial for opioid addiction, and Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gouteng) had positive impacts on addictions to methamphetamine and ketamine.
Bibliography
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Bearn, J., et al. “Auricular Acupuncture as an Adjunct to Opiate Detoxification Treatment: Effects on Withdrawal Symptoms.” Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, vol. 36, 2009, pp. 345-49.
Kampman, K., et al. “A Pilot Trial of Piracetam and Ginkgo biloba for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence.” Addictive Behaviors, vol. 28, 2003, pp. 437-48.
“Kratom for Opioid Withdrawal: Does it Work?” Mayo Clinic, 25 Apr. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/in-depth/kratom-opioid-withdrawal/art-20402170. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Larowe, S. D., et al. “Is Cocaine Desire Reduced by N-acetylcysteine?” American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 164, 2007, pp. 1115-17.
Liu, T. T., et al. “A Meta-analysis of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Treatment of Managed Withdrawal from Heroin.” Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, vol. 29, 2009, pp. 17-25.
Margolin, A., et al. “Acupuncture for the Treatment of Cocaine Addiction.” Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 287, 2002, pp. 55-57.
Rogers, Graham. “Home Remedies for Opiate Withdrawal.” Healthline, 9 Mar. 2019, www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-opiate-withdrawal. Accessed 23 Aug. 2023.
Zhu, Weili, et al. “Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Drug Addiction.” International Review of Neurobiology, vol. 135, 2017, pp. 279-95. doi:10.1016/bs.irn.2017.02.013. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.