Withdrawal symptoms from opiates and drugs that have been used unmonitored and for long term can be quite a harrowing experience for the patient as well as the near and dear ones.
While the person could be suffering and medications to control the pain as well as the troubling symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, depression, mental agony and spasms could be in progress, there are several home remedies that can be adopted in order to alleviate the symptoms and prevent him/her from getting thrown back to his/her addiction out of desperation. Here are some simple measures that can be undertaken by the relatives of the suffering person.
One of the best detoxifying and healing agents when a person is suffering from symptoms of opiate withdrawal is water. Drinking plenty of water helps in dealing with muscle cramps and also the ill effects of toxins that are present in the body.
Water aids in effective removal of toxic waste and also helps the kidneys and liver to cleanse and flush out the system completely, eliminating all harmful waste from the body. At least three litres of water must be given to the person to encourage the natural cleansing action to take effect on the body.
High amounts of vitamin C that is present in lime helps in boosting the immune system and also in the detoxification process of the body. The juice of at least three to four limes must be given to the person either on its own, which is ideal, or mixed with warm water, first thing in the morning.
This leads to a flushing action in the body, leading to effective removal of excess fat, toxins and other mineral waste that needs to be removed from the system.
Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory as well as calming agent and this is of great help when you have a person with opiate withdrawal to deal with. Chamomile tea can be given to the person 4-5 times daily to keep him/her calm and free from nervous tension and anxiety throughout the entire process. Chamomile also has a calming effect on the stomach and relieves diarrhea, nausea and dysentery that are also very common symptoms associated with opiate withdrawal.
Fenugreek is a wonderful home remedy for treating nausea and diarrhea effectively. Instead of giving the patient plain water, a handful of fenugreek can be boiled in one litre of water and given to him/her for treating these symptoms.Another way to use fenugreek is to take a tablespoon of the seeds and soak in water overnight. A paste can be made in the morning and given to the person.
Green tea is rich in antioxidants and helps in reducing stress associated with opiate withdrawal. It has a stress relieving effect on the body and is also a natural detoxifying agent that helps in flushing out the unwanted toxins that are harbored in the body after opium intake and helping the liver and the kidneys go through a cleansing routine before you get back to normalcy. Green tea can be given to the patient 3-4 times daily to keep him/her away from stress and anxiety.
Most people who show opiate withdrawal symptoms have nausea as a constant symptom that troubles them quite often. Ginger is an excellent remedy for treating nausea and also pain to a certain degree. Taking ginger tea all throughout the day helps. A piece of ginger can be crushed and added to one cup of boiling water for relief.
Ginger can also be used for sucking upon. This is an effective way to change your attention from the withdrawal symptoms and concentrate on the sucking action instead. The pungent smell and taste of ginger acts on the nerves and shifts attention from the craving that the person faces.
Passionflower has a calming and sedative effect on the body and these qualities impart tremendous relief for people who suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Most often than not, the sufferer is faced with depression, agitation that can border on violence and nervousness and one needs to be careful under such circumstances to calm the person and offer him relief.
The purple variety of passionflower is known to have pain relieving, anti spasmodic, sedative and hypotensive actions on the nerve and helps the person calm down and sleep or remain in a state of sedation. A tea can be prepared by adding the fresh petals of the flower along with one cup of water and steeping for ten to fifteen minutes. Give it to the patient twice daily for best results.
Intestinal disturbances like diarrhea can be a troubling experience during opiate withdrawal. Bayberry bark can be dried and used for preparing a tea to prevent diarrhea and other associated intestinal disorders at this time.A teaspoon of the dried bark can be added to a cup of water and brought to a boil. Simmer for fifteen minutes and give this strong tea thrice a day to the sufferer.
Cayenne contains an active ingredient called capsaicin that can help in controlling muscle tension as well as pain during opiate withdrawal. Readymade creams and topical applications with this ingredient are available in herbal shops. Cayenne acts manly as an irritant that can help in steering attention of the nerves and masking the pain and muscle tension.
The extract must not be used on open wounds and cuts as it can cause ulcers or blisters on the skin due to the heat generated by capsaicin. Cayenne pepper can also be consumed internally with half a teaspoon along with a glass of warm water being the recommended dosage. Check for possible drug interaction before giving this to the sufferer.
Muscles cramps are a constant and troubling symptom of opiate withdrawal. Taking food that is high in potassium helps in such cases. Orange juice and bananas can be included in plenty to the patient’s diet to combat severe cramps and to reduce the craving as well as bananas are very filling.
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