Alternative Treatment for Addiction

Pioneers at the Serenity Centre, Boulder, U.S.A are using chiropractic, acupuncture and supplement programmes to help smokers, binge eaters and alcoholics overcome their addictions. The specialists are combining traditional counselling methods with hands-on therapies to combat the physiological symptoms of addiction.

The idea that addictions may be the product of our biological make-up has been growing in recent years, hence the need for an approach that addresses more than just the psychological factors of addiction.

A recent study published in Molecular Psychiatry revealed that, from 33 patients undergoing a drug program including chiropractic treatment, all 33 completed the program. Only 56% and 75% of patients managed to complete similar programs not including chiropractic treatment.

Keneen McNiven of the Serenity Centre stresses it is this combination of hands on treatment and counselling which is so effective. "The problem with addiction treatment today is that they are not addressing the nutritional and neurological components...Talk therapy is important, but if you don't address the physiology too it will undermine the whole program.

Friday, 10 August 2001