Drug or alcohol abuse are both severe addictions that can affect your life negatively. After being addicted to a substance for so long, detoxification can be a challenge. On top of that, you may fear becoming addicted to a new drug or treatment in your recovery program.

Holistic therapies can work in combination with modern medicine to help you overcome addiction more easily without the use of traditional medications in some cases. Detoxification can be a complicated process, both mentally and physically. But, with the right combination of treatments, you can work through withdrawal without the severe symptoms you may fear.

Professionals can also pair holistic therapies with traditional treatments, which is why they are sometimes called complementary therapies. This combination of treatments can benefit each other, helping you work through minor withdrawal symptoms or medicate for severe symptoms as needed.

What is Holistic Treatment?

Holistic treatment is a method of care in which people aim to recover their minds, bodies, and souls. In contrast, traditional treatment options tend to focus its efforts toward’s one aspect of an individual’s health. The bottom line is that holistic treatment takes a person as a whole rather than just treating the physical aspect of their health.

At Coastal, our aim is to understand our patients through every aspect of their being. This enables us to offer our clients treatment in a way that optimizes success. Holistic treatment allows us to do this.

Holistic Therapies: Combating Depression and Anxiety

Those who suffer from both depression and anxiety can receive treatment from psychotherapists at our facility. Our ultimate desire is for individuals to know that we care for and understand them. We believe this will help them accept themselves for who they are, both internally and externally. This will give them a better understanding of themselves, encouraging self-awareness. This, in turn, allows individuals to be mindful of their overall wellbeing.

Being Mindful of Your Overall Wellbeing

Mindfulness means reflecting on one’s emotions, thoughts, and actions. Mindfulness is of the utmost significance when it comes to treating substance use disorder with holistic care. It is such an essential part of the substance abuse treatment journey. Once individuals are more mindful of themselves, they can be more honest with themselves, allowing them to practice acceptance.

Accepting Where You Are

When it comes to recovering from substance use disorder, acceptance is one of the most critical stages of the treatment journey. Often, individuals fear what the truth will expose concerning their integrity or even their past. But when someone accepts the truth for what it is, they can take their circumstances for what they are.

Acceptance encourages individuals to grow. As they grow, they’ll become more vulnerable, which can be scary but will allow them to excel towards a stable life. When someone suffers from addiction, guilt often piles up in no time flat. There are so many decisions patients wish they could take back, but they just can’t.

However, what they can do is learn from their mistakes and make the right decisions going forward. Holistic treatment encourages individuals to do this by utilizing relaxation, self-reflection, physical activity, and other activities that help patients do well on their road to recovery.

The Principles of Holistic Care

When it comes to helping those who suffer from addiction, holistic care is quite successful. Those who participate are able to connect with every ounce of their being. In order for it to be successful, it’s imperative to believe in the process. For some, this means they must understand how holistic care works. There are some principles surrounding holistic treatment that we uphold at Coastal. These principles include the following:

  • Quality care
  • Preventative measures are highly valued
  • Opportunities to improve are highly valued
  • Fixating on the cause instead of the symptoms
  • Seeking to empathize and understand patients
  • Love and understanding are imperative to progress
  • Addiction is a disease and should be treated as such
  • Healthy and meaningful spirituality encourages self-care
  • The needs of the patient are more important than anything else
  • Good, well-founded relationships between patients and health care professionals

The Danger of Substance Use Disorder

As it relates to substance abuse, there are many dangers that individuals should be aware of, including the following:

  • Risk of overdose
  • Poor time management
  • Neglecting family and loved ones
  • Not following through with professional responsibilities

A lack of control is dangerous, especially when it comes to drug use. When someone begins using and abusing a substance, the chemicals in their brain trigger the pleasure center, conjuring an intense feeling of euphoria. This happens regardless of whether or not it’s a person’s first time or hundredth time using a particular substance.

The pleasure center is the brain region that tells your body that it’s enjoying something. This particular part of the brain is responsible for when food tastes good, or we become emotional because of a movie.

Once someone uses drugs, there is an intense rush of dopamine that stimulates the pleasure center like nothing ever has before. Everything else that people enjoy in their lives becomes overshadowed. What’s worse about this is that no high will ever be stronger than the first. This is the reason that most individuals develop an addiction; they’re chasing after a high that they’ll never feel again.

The Main Benefits of Holistic Therapies and Treatment

There are a few major benefits of holistic treatments. These include things like:

  • The quick relief of pain
  • Improvement of health in general
  • Assistance with a well-balanced lifestyle
  • The use of natural herbs and medicines
  • Awareness of environmental safety and health
  • The application of natural methods of treatment including nutrition, exercise, and non-invasive treatments

For instance, those who receive these treatments may benefit from a reduction of stress or anxiety. This is due to human touch during a massage or the increased circulation in the body following an acupuncture session. The quick relief of pain can sometimes be attributed to increased circulation and the release of tension with massage.

Natural herbal treatments, like the use of aromatherapy, can help lower stress and stimulate the body. For example, peppermint or spearmint can help open the airways and increase circulation to the skin. Exercises like yoga or stretching can help reduce tension and anxiety as well, benefitting patients who may not want to take medications or who want to learn to work through side effects or withdrawal symptoms.

holistic drug detoxHow Do Holistic Therapies Help During Drug Rehabilitation?

Holistic treatments help patients focus on proper nutrition, good physical health, and intense mental and spiritual health. Spiritual counseling can help people feel more connected to themselves and others, while exercises help reduce physical stress.

Proper nutrition can give patients the energy needed to overcome some symptoms of detoxification while ensuring they get the nutrients they need. Complementary therapies can provide many benefits, including:

  • Improving circulation
  • Providing time to relax
  • Boosting your immune system
  • Reducing pain or relieving pain
  • Improving your emotions or moods
  • Providing relief from stress, anxiety, or stress
  • Improving the speed at which the body removes toxins

What Are Some Holistic Therapies Available?

Some commonly used holistic therapies include:

  • Acupuncture
  • Aromatherapy
  • Holistic Massage
  • Manual lymphatic drainage

The holistic massage focuses on the patient’s needs. The patient may want a light touch or firm pressure. Certain parts of the body, like the shoulders or neck, may be massaged to release tension in that specific area. Holistic therapy aims to reduce pressure and stress and put the body at ease with human touch and compassion.

Aromatherapy uses scents to address stress, tension, and anxiety. Essential oils come from many natural plants, seeds, bark, roots, etc. The oils can be blended into a scent that the individual likes or mixed into massage creams. Therapists can fragrance the room with essential oils or dilute the oils to rub on the skin.

Manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle method of massage that helps improve the flow of the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes contain white blood cells, so massaging them can help drain them from any toxins that may be present. The parasympathetic nervous system is activated during the massage, helping promote recovery and growth. The muscles relax, the immune system strengthens, and lymphatic flow improves.

Acupuncture, another holistic therapy, stimulates the circulation of skin, muscles, and body. Small needles are inserted around the body to stimulate the nerves and release tension and anxiety.

How Can I Begin a Drug or Alcohol Treatment Program That Involves Holistic Therapies?

You can begin with a holistic drug or alcohol addiction treatment program quickly! Whether you’re ready to move away for treatment or want to look at outpatient programs near you, our helpful specialists can help you locate a program that will benefit you.

Contact us today to speak with someone, or visit us online. We can help you find the kind of holistic program you want, whether you want to focus on one without traditional medications or one with combination therapies.

FAQs About Holistic Detox

Holistic detox is an approach to detoxification that focuses on treating the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—using natural and alternative therapies in combination with traditional medical care. It aims to address all aspects of well-being during the detox process.

While traditional detox primarily focuses on the physical removal of substances from the body, holistic detox incorporates complementary therapies like yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and nutritional support to promote overall wellness and recovery.

Holistic detox may include therapies such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy, nutritional counseling, and mindfulness practices. These therapies are designed to reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and support the body’s natural healing process.

Yes, holistic detox can be highly effective when combined with traditional medical treatment. It helps individuals manage withdrawal symptoms while promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, leading to a more comprehensive recovery process.

Holistic detox is suitable for individuals who are looking for a more natural, well-rounded approach to detoxification. It is ideal for those who want to focus not only on overcoming addiction but also on improving their overall well-being.

Yes, holistic detox is often used alongside traditional medical treatments, such as medications for managing withdrawal symptoms, to provide a balanced and comprehensive approach to detoxification and recovery.

Some aspects of holistic detox may be covered by insurance, depending on the provider and plan. It’s best to check with your insurance company or the treatment facility to understand what is covered.

Holistic detox promotes overall health and wellness, reduces stress, and helps manage withdrawal symptoms in a natural and supportive way. It focuses on long-term recovery by addressing not only the physical but also the emotional and spiritual aspects of addiction.