Sunday, June 2, 2013

HAVOC OF ALCOHOLISM

“LIQUOR RUINS THE COUNTRY, FAMILY & LIFE”

“Alcohol is a kicker, But it is a killer”

The term alcoholism is a confusing one and this is replaced by the current nomenclature “alcohol dependence”. Drinking habit is gradually increasing in our society.
An alcohol addiction can be defined as one who has lost control over his drinking and has a compulsion to keep on drinking with deterioration of emotional, social and work activities.
Alcohol dependence is usually believed that drinking up to 20 units of alcohol for men and 13 units for women per week is not associated with health hazard. Definite health hazard occurs when consumption of alcohol is more than 50 units for men and 35 units for women in a week.           

CAUSES FOR ADDICTION

·        Alcohol environment – members of a society where most of the people are alcoholics are prone to alcohol addiction.
·        Anxiety and depression.
·        Psychopathic persons.

SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOLISM
·        Early symptoms – euphoria, Talkativeness
·        Later on – concentration is impaired and the subject becomes forgetful, gradually power of thinking, judgement and memory fail.

BAD EFFECTS OF CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM:

Psychological Problem :
Ø  Loss of concentration
Ø  Recent loss of memory
Ø  Delirium tremens
Ø  Dipsomania
Ø  Wernicke korsakoffs psychosis   
                                     
Cardiovascular system
Ø  Alcohol is generally a peripheral vasodilatator
Ø  Daily taking one oz of French wine prevents ischemic heart disease.
Ø  Bad effects – alcoholic cardiomyopathy.  

Respiratory system:

Ø  Due to chronic alcohol- in sufficient in take of food ,it produces decreased immune power ,leads for recurrent respiratory infection.
Ø  After large quantity of alcohol and heavy meal with unconsciousness cause aspiration pneumonia .

Central nervous system:

Ø  Alcoholic peripheral neuropathy
Ø  Alcoholic hallucinosis
Ø  Cerebellar degeneration
Ø  Alcoholic myopathy
Ø  Hypertropic Polyneuritis

Hepatobiliary system : 

Ø  Chronic alcohol produced low immunity – amebic liver abscess
Ø  Cirrhosis
Ø  Acute and chronic gastritis
Ø  Pancreatitis
Connective tissue disorder :
           
Ø  Gout

Sexual:

Ø  Impotence

Management:

Ø  Admission in hospital with full with drawl of alcohol
Ø  Adequate diet supplemented with vitamin B complex.
Ø  If withdrawal leads to marked tremulousness and restlessness, large dose of Vit.B complex I /V
Ø  Drug for withdrawal systems (chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine)
Ø  Psychotherapy.


Homoeopathic management:

Homeopathic remedies to help recover from alcohol addiction include Nux vomica and especially Avena sativa used for detoxication and nervous system support. Other supportive remedies to consider are Opium and Quercus. Use daily in a low potency such as a 6c with a liver support remedy in mother tincture such as Chelidonium, Carduus marianus, Taraxacum or Hydrastis. Deeply suppressed emotions will probably need to be addressed as well. Think of Carcinosin, Aurum, Staphysagria, the Natrums, Lycopodium, Lachesis and Sepia. If there is a family tendency towards alcoholism look at the nosodes, especially Syphilinum.

Nux vomica:
Ø  For anti doting bad effects of liquor such as gastric trouble,restlessness,
Ø  Bad effects of alcohol
Ø  Dipsomania

Petroleum:
Ø  Drunkard with out energy ,with out strength of will, unable to refuse wine,vomiting after the least excess in drinks , dipsomania,

Sulphuric acid :

Ø  One part with 3 parts of alcohol , 10 to 15 drops ,3 times daily for 3 or 4 weeks,has been subdue the craving for liquor ( dr. hering)

Sterculia:

Ø  The remedy for the drinking habit. It promotes the appetite and digestion, and lessens the craving for liquor.

Hyoscyamus [Hyos] 

Ø  When delirium tremens occurs this is usually one of the first remedies indicated. The delirium is constant and loquacious, rarely inflammatory enough for Belladonna or maniacal enough for Stramonium; the pulse is small and quick and compressible, the skin is cold and clammy, the patient is tremulous and picks constantly at objects in the air.
Ø  Marked sexual excitement, desire to expose person and fear of poison.
Ø  Dr. Butler says that for the production of sleep no remedy compares with Hyoscyamus in the tincture, five or ten drops in a half glass of water, and teaspoonful doses given half-hourly.
Cannabis Indica [Cann.i] 
Ø  A very reliable remedy in acute alcoholism. Some violence, talkativeness and active mind; subjects crowd upon it, delusions and hallucination relate to exaggerated subjects time,space, etc.; face flushed, pupils dilated, perspires easily. Surprise is constantly expressed on the countenance.

Capsicum:

Ø  Prostration and feeble digestion of alcoholics.

Syphilinum:

Ø  Craving alcohol, in any form. Hereditary tendency to alcoholism.

Ø  Loss of memory, cannot remember names of books, persons or places.

Ø  Sensation as if going insane, as if about to be paralyzed, of apathy and indifference.        

Zincum. Met:

Ø            Persons suffering from cerebral and nervous exhaustion.
Ø            Defective vitality, brain or nerve power wanting too weak to develop
Ø            exanthemata.    

Quercus:

Ø  Used first by Rademacher for chronic spleen affections, spleen dropsy. 
Ø  Antidotes effects of alcohol.
Ø  Takes away craving for alcoholics, give dose as below for several months.
Ø  Dropsy and lever affections.

Alcoholism, General Dipsomania:

Ø  Agar, Crot.H, Lach, Chin, Nux.Vom, Ran.B, Sulph. Acid, Sulph., Verat, Syph., Zinc, Ledum.     

Ailments from Beer:
Ø  Kali. Bich, Rhus. Tox, Thuja.

Ailments form Brandy:
Ø  Carbo. Veg, Nux. Vom, Opium, Sulph.

Ailments from Wine:
Ø  Carbo .Veg, Coff, Lyco, Nat. Mur., Zinc.   


References
1.      Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine
3.      Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine,
4.      http://www.homoeotimes.com
5.      Lilienthal S., Homoeopathic Therapeutics
6.      http://www.the-alcoholism-guide.org
7.      Homeopathic Materia Medica by Boericke
8.      http://health.hpathy.com
9.      Dewey W. A., Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics


                                
Dr. S. R. AMEERKHAN BABU., M.D. (Hom) (Pract. of Med), MBA.                 Reader, Dept. of Practice of Medicine                                                                 
Vinayaka Mission’s Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Salem,. Tamilnadu.


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