The liver performs several vital bodily functions including detoxifying the body and filtering blood. The liver filters 1.4 L of blood per minute. Alcohol can damage the liver and prevent it from being able to properly detoxify the body. Detoxifying the body of drugs and alcohol can last for a period of 24 to 36 hours. During this time, a patient may exhibit many symptoms of alcohol withdraws. These withdraws can be treated in several ways to relieve symptoms and aid in the detoxifying process.
Diet
Diet can aid in the detoxification process. Many alcoholics are deficient in essential vitamins and minerals that promote a healthy liver, such as vitamin B complex, zinc, selenium, vitamin E and vitamin B-12. Other vitals nutrients that help with detox are CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid, lecithin, choline and SAMe. Drinking six to eight glasses of water per day is also vital to detox in order to flush the body and prevent dehydration.
Herbal Treatments
Several herbal treatments can be used for treatment of alcohol withdraw and detox. Burdock root, tumeric, milk thistle and dandelion are supplements that cleanse the liver and boost its function.
Medications
More than 150 prescription medications are available for the treatment of detox and its symptoms. Several different types of medications can be tested to provide relief of severe symptoms. The four types of detox medications are benzodiazepines (sedatives like Valium or diazepam), adrenergic medications, anti-seizure medications (such as carbamazepine or divalproex sodium) and anti-psychotic medications. Beta-blockers can also be used to relieve alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Other Helpful Hints for Detox
Maintaining a healthy, natural diet is important for detoxing the body. Be sure to get plenty of rest, fresh air and moderate exercise. The longer the drug or alcohol stays in your system, the more the body produces cravings for that toxin. Drinking lemon juice and water can also help to detoxify the body.
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