This article will broadly attempt to highlight some of the novel compounds and plant allies that are available to us for the difficult challenge of breaking addictions.
- Psychological addictions– this would encompass things such as sex, videogames, food, and any other habitual behaviour that we are compelled to do mentally
- Physiological addictions – These would encompass your classic addictive substances such as caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, amphetamines, stimulants, etc but also sugar in food
First off the simplest addiction which many will struggle with is food & sugar and it straddles both categories. One of the best herbs for breaking sugar addiction is gymnema (gymnema sylvestre).
It is well regarded in Ayurvedic tradition and but it also grows in Africa. It can aid those who are struggling with the willpower to stop addictive eating patterns. Aside from gymnema, one can get into the habit of using bitters. This stimulates digestive juices which will enable the absorption of more nutrition which breaks the vicious cycle of endless consumption. Food is also complex due to emotional eating, which comes most often from a place of heart deficiency. Wounds, trauma, and stress lead us to soothe our wounded hearts with comfort food. This is common and we all do it to a degree, but it can be very destructive when we don’t eat with the truest needs of our body in mind and with a lack of awareness. Hawthorn (crataegus monogyna) is the quintessential heart medicine and aids most people. It’s worth adding to your arsenal. If the root cause of addiction is a broken heart then hawthorn is a star player for supporting this critical organ.
Psychedelics have quite a history of being used to treat addictions. Unfortunately politics have stonewalled much of that research for decades and only now are we starting to unlock their potential.
Psilocybin and LSD have been used to treat alcoholics. (1) These studies took place mostly from 1950 until the mid-’60s and involved some 40,000 patients and ~1000 clinical papers. Nicotine addiction has also been studied using psilocybin to effect positive change. (2)
The more extreme addictions involving amphetamines and hard drugs are very challenging to deal with and perhaps the most powerful herb ally we have for these is iboga (Tabernanthe iboga) a plant from Gabon in Africa. Few people know it but some folks have set up expensive treatment centres either using the plant extracts or ibogaine extracts. The problem is illegal and unsustainable harvesting and cultural appropriation. There are risks to health from it’s use as well. More funding and scientific research in this area would be wise, given that conventional approaches to addiction have largely failed. Psychedelics can be of benefit to those with intense addictions but usually there has to be a period of abstinence to make the most of the medicinal substance.
Finally, ketamine has been studied as a treatment for alcohol, opioid and cocaine addiction. (3) It’s important to note that ketamine itself can be subject to addiction so it needs to be handled and used with respect. One study in mice though has suggested it is a low risk. (4)
The shift in thinking towards seeing psychedelics as medicine rather than recreational fun tools is long overdue. Humans will always seek to relieve pain and shift consciousness with substances. This cannot be stopped and so prohibition seems to cause more harm than good. Perhaps as we explore these long ignored tools of consciousness expansion and evolution we will find a better balance in our relationships. At the root of substance use and abuse is trauma and finding creative ways to process stored trauma is one of the most noble pursuits. Psychedelics and plants can help us evolve into a place where we are not slaves to habitual & harmful substance use. With wisdom, support from community, and diligent effort we can help ourselves and our close ones recover from whatever addictions plague us. Nutrition also plays a key role and this will be the subject of another post, but if you’d like to delve deeper into this area you can check out this article here. (5)
There are no silver bullets ultimately as healing is complex and multifaceted. Addiction recovery is often a long and checkered journey. Blessings to you on your journey and hopefully this article has been an informative introduction.
REFERENCES
- BOOK -The Use of LSD in Psychotherapy and Alcoholism- Edited by Harold A. Abramson, M. D. (1967)
- Matthew W. Johnson et al., “Pilot Study of the 5-HT2AR Agonist Psilocybin in the Treatment of Tobacco Addiction,” Journal of Psychopharmacology 28, no. 11 (2014), pp. 983–992; Michael P. Bogenschutz et al., “Psilocybin-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Dependence: A Proof of Concept Study,” Journal of Psychopharmacology 29, no. 3 (2015), pp. 289–299
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6094990/
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220804102555.htm
- https://foodforthebrain.org/how-to-recover-from-addiction-with-nutrition/