Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependency syndrome", is a disease that is characterized by the compulsion to drink alcohol, the frequent incapacity to stop its consumption once it has begun, the presence of symptoms, such as: vomits, perspiration, tremors and anxiety when abstaining to drink after a period of consumption in great amounts, and the progressive necessity to increase the amount of alcohol ingested.
Alcohol travels quickly to the blood through the digestive mucous, and from it to the liver, where it is metabolized by enzymatic action. Its metabolism is slow because the amount of enzymes is limited. The alcohol that exceeds the metabolism capacity of the liver produces intoxication.
The exaggerated ingestion of alcohol has complex conditioning factors, of genetic, psychological, social and economic origin. It seriously affects family relations, it limits the professional aspirations and, finally, it causes death. Some of these effects are consequence of the acute ingestion of alcohol: accidents, aggressions, absenteeism, etc. and others take place during the chronic ingestion. In this last case, several organs are affected, among which stands out liver disorders such as, for example: Alcohol Hepatic Esteatosis, that is, the fat accumulation -within the hepatic cells- that takes place as a result of the changes in fat metabolism induced by alcohol.
Alcoholic Hepatitis is associated with appetite loss, fatigue, nauseas and vomits and after several days, the appearance of pain in the superior and right part the abdomen, fever and yellowish coloration of the skin and mucous. Alcoholic hepatitis is the previous step to cirrhosis, whose development is favored by the persistence of alcohol consumption, specially in women.
Alcohol Hepatic Cirrhosis is characterized by an alteration in the liver architecture and by the presence of regeneration nodules surrounded by fibrous tissue. In this type of cirrhosis the same clinical manifestations are observed, but the pictures of undernourishment, lack of vitamins, delirious and conduct disorders are more evident.
The hepatic damage generated by alcoholism is accompanied frequently by a peripheral neuropathy, myopathy of skeletal muscles, risk of developing certain types of cancer, especially liver, esophagus and larynx, dementia and even cardio-myopathy.
Although it is not easy for a person who suffers this disease to stop drinking, self-help groups, suitable feeding, moderate exercise, repairing sleep and treatment with adaptogens, has made possible for a high percentage of our patients to recover well-being and improve their quality of life.
Eleutherococcus senticosus, rosea Rhodiola, Astragalus membranaceus, Leuzea carthamoides, Schizandra chinensis, Carduus marianus, calcium and magnesium and vitamin combinations are some of our therapeutic tools. Because of their energizing, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, hepato-protector, hepato-regenerative, nephro-protective, immunemodulating, nephrotonic and detox effects, they allow to balance the patient's regulating mechanisms, to harness the immunological system and to regenerate the affected structures, obtaining an effective recovery that makes possible the recuperation of the patient's life.
