Herbs to Help With Drug Detox

Ridding dependence on a harmful drug is an important step in becoming healthy. But the initial drug withdrawal symptoms can be difficult to withstand. Depending on the severity of the addiction and type of drug, the detoxification process can involve excessive sweating, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping, and depression. These symptoms can be treated naturally with a number of herbs to help you get through detoxification and continue recovery.

Detoxification

• To help eliminate drugs from the body, try herbs known for their abilities to reduce toxicity. Burdock root and red clover both remove toxins from the bloodstream. Both herbs can be found in essiac herbal formulas, which can be consumed in a tea. Milk thistle, a natural antioxidant, helps detoxify the body of harmful substances and rejuvenates damaged cells within the liver.

Nausea and Vomiting

• Nausea and vomiting are common but unpleasant effects of drug detoxification, as the body is attempting to rid itself of harmful substances by any means possible. Use herbs such as ginger, catnip, dandelion and peppermint to help alleviate queasiness.

Excessive Sweating

• Excessive sweating is another typical symptom of drug withdrawal. Help control perspiration with sage. Try adding sage to food such as pasta dishes or brewing it into a tea with lemon.

Diarrhea and Abdominal Pain

• Relieve uncomfortable bouts of diarrhea and abdominal cramps with herbs such as blackberry root bark, chamomile and raspberry leaves. Ginger and cayenne have been known to relieve abdominal cramping.

Seizures

• To prevent seizures during withdrawal, try herbs such as black cohosh, hyssop and lobelia. These herbs have sedative qualities that combat attacks to the central nervous system.

Depression

• Drug detoxification can bring about some powerful depressive feelings, as the brain's pleasure center is no longer being stimulated by the substance. Try St. John's wort, a powerful natural antidepressant, to aid in counteracting periods of detox-induced bleakness. Also, consider valerian root. Especially when combined with the amino acid Tyrosine (usually found in high-protein foods such as chicken and soy products), valerian root has tranquilizing powers that help maintain moods. Valerian root is particularly recommended for those recovering from a cocaine addiction.

Anxiety

• Feelings of intense nervousness are par for the course during drug withdrawal, but heightened anxiety can lead to other problems, including insomnia and even hallucinations. While renewing and reinvigorating the central nervous system, skullcap calms bouts of anxiety and helps sleep. Cramp bank is a natural sedative that can prevent panic attacks. Passion flower also has tranquilizing properties to work against problems with nervousness and insomnia.