The chronic alcoholic must first of all make a firm resolve to stop drinking. He should abstain from alcohol all at once for the habit cannot be got rid of in gradual stages. The most effective way to treat alcoholism is to build the body’s nutritional integrity so as to prevent the craving for stimulants like drinks.
The patient should be put on a cleansing juice fast for at least 10 days in the beginning. During this period, he should have the juice of an orange every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The juice may be diluted with warm water, if desired. Nothing else should be taken as otherwise the value of the fast would be entirely lost.
Alternatively, vegetable juices may be taken. Each day while fasting, bowels should be cleansed of poisonous matter thrown off by the self-cleansing process set up by the body. This can be achieved by a warm water enema.
During the juice fast, the patient will usually feel no craving for alcohol. This will give a good 10-days start towards breaking the drinking habit and will help remove not only the physical but also the psychological dependence. After the initial fast on juices, the optimum diet of vital nutrients is essential.
Such a diet should consist of whole grain cereals, nuts, seeds and sprouts, fresh fruits and vegetables. The breakfast may consist of fresh fruits and milk. Steamed vegetables, whole wheat chappatis and butter-milk may be taken for lunch. The dinner may comprise a good sized raw salad and sprouts.
It is advisable that in the beginning of the treatment, the patient is given a suitable substitute to relieve the craving for alcohol if and when such a craving occurs. The best substitute drink is a glass of fresh fruit juice, sweetened with honey, if desired. In the alternative, wholesome candy may be taken.
The patient should always have easily available juices, candy or other snacks to be taken between meals if he feels a craving for a stimulant. All refined foods such as sugar, white rice, macaroni products and white flour and meat should be avoided.
The patient should eat several small meals a day in preference to two or three large ones and avoid strong condiments such as pepper, mustard and chilli. He should not smoke as this will only increase his desire for alcohol.
Dr. Roger J. Williams, a world renowed researcher on alcoholism from the nutritional point of view, states that if the alcoholic is supplied with certain nutrients missing from his body, the craving can be halted and even reversed. He has worked out a specific nutritional supplement containing the nutrients necessary for an alcoholic, which is as under:
Vitamins
Vitamin A : 20,000 I.U.
Vitamin C : 200 mg.
Vitamin D : 1,000 I.U.
B vitamins
Thiamine : 4 mg.
Riboflavin : 4 mg.
Pyridoxin : 6 mg.
Niacinamide : 40 mg.
Pantothenate : 40 mg.
B – 12 : 10 mg.
Choline : 200 mg.
Insitol : 200 mg.
Vitamin E : 200 mg.
Minerals
Calcium : 300 mg
Phosphate : 250 mg.
Magnesium : 100 mg.
Copper 1 mg.
Iodine : 0.1 mg.
Iron : 10 mg.
Manganese : 1 mg.
Zinc : 5 mg.
In addition to proper nutrition, plenty of rest and outdoor exercise are necessary. The healthy condition of the appetite centre, which controls the craving for alcohol is improved by exercise.