Holistic Addiction Treatment | Footprints to Recovery

“Holistic” is a big buzzword these days, but you may be wondering what it actually means. In treatment for substance abuse, “holistic” describes an approach that considers patients’ physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Holistic drug rehabs offer traditional addiction treatment, such as one-on-one therapy and group therapy, but they also offer holistic approaches. Learn more about holistic treatment centers and if they’re right for you.

What Is Holistic Addiction Treatment?

Traditional addiction treatment is typically a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, and medication when appropriate. Holistic treatment centers offer these therapies as well as alternative approaches to treatment.

In the last few decades, complementary and alternative therapies have become more prevalent in treatment settings. These types of therapies complement traditional approaches by addressing the “whole self.” That is why treatment centers with these options are sometimes referred to as holistic.

Holistic drug rehabs help you process emotions in different ways. They also teach you healthy practices that can prevent relapse. Attention to nutrition, exercise, sleep patterns, and stress management are all important in recovery.

Holistic therapies support these staples of a healthy life by teaching you new coping skills.

Types of Holistic Therapies

Types of treatments vary by holistic addiction treatment program, but some common holistic therapies include:

Yoga and breathwork
Mindfulness meditation
Aromatherapy
Reiki
Acupuncture
Chiropractic Care
Massage therapy
Fitness and exercise
Nutrition Counseling
Biochemical restoration
Biosound Therapy
Neurofeedback

Yoga and Breathwork

Yoga helps you learn to be kinder to your body. It may also reduce anxiety and help you navigate difficult emotions. Finding new ways to manage these experiences may reduce the risk of relapse.

Yoga stretches and strengthens the body. The three core components of modern yoga are:

Movements through different postures
Breathing in specific sequences
Meditation

Yoga also incorporates breathwork, which can have numerous benefits for the mind and body. Breathwork in yoga involves various techniques such as deep belly breathing, alternate nostril breathing, and breath retention. These techniques can help increase lung capacity and oxygen intake, leading to improved physical health. Additionally, by focusing on the breath during a yoga practice, individuals may experience an increased sense of mindfulness and present-moment awareness.

Due to yoga’s ability to center the mind and body in the present moment, some addiction treatment programs offer yoga as a complementary holistic method.

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness comes in many forms. The practice is about being fully present in the moment without feeling overwhelmed by emotions and distractions. There are seated, walking, moving, or even standing methods of practicing mindfulness.

Meditation is the most well-known mindfulness practice. Meditation encourages you to focus on your breath, notice thoughts when they arise, and then bring your focus back to the breath. The practice encourages curiosity about thoughts, without judgment.

Meditation has been shown to reduce stress and improve reactive behaviors. In addiction treatment, meditation can help manage cravings, intense emotions, and other triggers. Sometimes this is a guided process where you recognize difficult emotions and urges, then talk about healthy coping skills.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses essential oils to improve a person’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being. These oils are extracted from various plants and have been used for centuries in different cultures for their healing properties.

The use of aromatherapy has become increasingly popular in recent years as people search for natural ways to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and alleviate symptoms of various ailments. It is believed that the scents from the essential oils can impact the limbic system of the brain, which is responsible for emotions and memory.

Reiki

Reiki is an ancient Japanese form of energy healing that focuses on restoring balance within the mind, body, and spirit. It works by channeling positive energy into the body through gentle touch or non-touch techniques. This helps to remove blockages and promote relaxation, ultimately bringing about a sense of inner peace and well-being.

Acupuncture

Withdrawal symptoms from drugs and alcohol can linger for a while. It takes time for your body to restore balance. Acupuncture can help ease a number of symptoms like body pain, nausea, headaches, and irritability.

Some rehab centers use NADA Ear Acupuncture, which has been shown to improve energy, increase positive feelings, and decrease alcohol and tobacco use. The procedure is simple and comfortable. An acupuncturist places 1-5 small needles on specific points in each ear. Sessions are about 30 minutes.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is a natural and holistic approach to treating common musculoskeletal conditions and promoting overall wellness. It focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of pain and discomfort, rather than just treating symptoms.

Oftentimes, pain and discomfort are just symptoms of a larger problem. Chiropractors take the time to thoroughly assess each patient’s medical history and lifestyle habits to identify any underlying issues. This allows us to not only provide immediate relief but also work towards long-term solutions by addressing the root cause of the problem.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is a form of alternative medicine that has been used for thousands of years to help relieve pain, promote relaxation, and improve overall health. It involves the manipulation of soft tissues in the body, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints.

Massage therapy can be traced back to ancient civilizations like China, Egypt, and India where it was used to treat various ailments. In modern times, massage therapy has become increasingly popular as a way to alleviate stress and tension in our fast-paced society.

There are many different types of massage techniques that use varying amounts of pressure and movements to target specific areas of the body. Some popular forms include Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, and trigger point therapy.

Fitness and Exercise

Exercise may ease depression and anxiety symptoms, which sometimes fuel substance abuse. Exercise can also serve as a relapse prevention tool by boosting feel-good chemicals in your brain. These chemicals can become depleted when you abuse drugs or alcohol. Exercise also adds structure and routine to your daily schedule, which is especially important in the early days of recovery.

Nutrition Counseling

Nutrition counseling can be an effective tool for those looking to make positive changes in their diet and overall health. By working with health professionals, individuals can gain valuable knowledge and support to help them reach their health goals.

Registered dietitians and nutritionists are trained professionals who specialize in nutrition counseling and education. They have extensive knowledge and experience in the field of nutrition, allowing them to provide evidence-based recommendations tailored to each individual’s unique needs.

Biochemical Restoration

Struggling with drugs or alcohol can impact the reward center of the brain. Substance abuse can also lead to an imbalance in other physiological systems, such as:

Hormones
Blood sugar
Adrenaline
Amino acids
Nutrition

Toxic substances from drugs may build up in the body. These require time to flush out while keeping your glands, digestive system, and circulatory system healthy. Some holistic drug detox and alcohol rehab programs offer laboratory tests to determine if you need nutritional support. This may include vitamin and mineral supplements to reverse any imbalances.

When the body has fewer nutritional deficiencies and fewer hormonal or blood sugar imbalances, cravings may become less frequent and intense. This can help you avoid relapse.

Biosound Therapy

Biosound therapy is an alternative healing method that uses sound and vibrations to promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It is based on the principle that everything in the universe is made up of energy, including our bodies. When this energy becomes imbalanced or blocked, it can lead to various physical and psychological ailments.

Biosound therapy aims to restore balance by using specific frequencies and vibrations to resonate with the body’s natural energy field. This can be achieved through a variety of techniques such as using tuning forks, singing bowls, or other instruments directly on the body or through sound waves played through speakers.

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback can help ease addiction, trauma, and mental health symptoms. It’s a non-invasive procedure that allows a computer to read your active brainwaves through EEG. With a little explanation, these signals can help you recognize areas of irregularity or distress.

Typical neurofeedback sessions occur once a week over 20 weeks, though some holistic therapy programs offer fewer or more frequent sessions. Some people may find they need more than 20 sessions.

Neurofeedback works well for many people since they get a visual representation of their brain’s activity that they can see change as they practice relaxation or other techniques. This holistic practice is one of several holistic therapy tools that complements cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or other forms of traditional therapy.

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Why Is Holistic Drug Rehab Effective?

Addiction impacts your physical, mental, and spiritual health. Holistic programs are effective because they come from a whole-person perspective that addresses all the ways addiction has impacted you. With a blend of traditional, complementary, and alternative therapies, you’re better able to find what combination of approaches best support your recovery.

Holistic Treatment or Traditional Treatment: What’s Right for You?

Both holistic drug rehabs and traditional programs use individual or group therapy in the treatment of addiction. Therapy helps you understand the underlying issues that led to substance abuse, which is key to long-term recovery. For instance, therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have long been recognized to help change negative thought patterns and behaviors. You’ll find research-based therapies like CBT in both traditional and holistic drug rehabs.

The main difference is that holistic recovery approaches also weave in alternative treatments. These can help you address your substance misuse from other angles. You can begin to heal some of the physical and spiritual effects of addiction as well. Holistic recovery approaches can be a nice complement to the work you’re doing in individual and group therapy.

Ready to Get Help?

Footprints to Recovery takes a personalized approach to substance abuse treatment. We consider co-occurring mental health disorders, life experiences, and individual preferences when creating your treatment plan. Our highly skilled and credentialed clinicians draw on a combination of traditional, experiential, and alternative therapies to find what works best for you. Contact us to learn how we can help you or a loved one.

References

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Our admissions team is available 24/7 to listen to your story and help you get started with the next steps.

Medically Reviewed by Laurie Woodard, MA, LAC, LPC

Is a Holistic Addiction Treatment Right for You?

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