Drug Abstinence Program Report:
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) and studies conducted at the University of Hawaii, methamphetamine abuse has reached epidemic proportions. Drug addiction, per capita, is a critical public health issue in Hawaii. Scientists, medical providers, counselors, law enforcement personnel and the public are interested in evidence-based models that effectively address this equal opportunity disease. Hong Liu and his Natural Healing Research Foundation (NHRF) recently developed and implemented an innovative drug recovery program based on a logical, rational system rooted in Eastern medicine and natural healing philosophy. This clinically effective system of thought and practice views Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) and its related symptoms from the entire body-mind-spirit perspective. The modalities utilized in the pilot Natural Healing Drug Abstinence Program (NHDAP) included, but were not limited to:
The program is divergent from conventional programs in its methods used to cause detoxification. Another remarkable difference is that it does not use pharmaceutical agents in the weaning off process or any medicines to achieve detoxification. The significance of this clinically proven approach lies in the quantative results: only minor, transient withdrawal symptoms were experienced by those who participated.
The program focused on balancing internal organ energy with the following goals:
1. Improve the physical state
2. Strengthen the physical and psychological states to address withdrawal
3. Reduce physical and psychological cravings
4. Minimize and manage discomfort and/or suffering.
The natural healing modalities were applied systematically and in phases. Additionally, a scientific approach, incorporating objective, quantitative laboratory testing was utilized in data collection to conduct program efficacy research.
The pilot program’s treatment population consisted of seven males and one female; 19-50 years of age. The reported history of illicit drug use ranged from 2 to 23 years in duration. Based on the reported physical and psychological symptoms as well as other consequences of drug use, the students appeared to meet the criteria for classification as drug dependent with chronic use history. The students’ poly-drug use ranged from two to eight different types of drugs. Some students have suffered consequences of their methamphetamine (ice) abuse such as incarceration. All but one of the participants report multiple (four – five) past treatment histories in conventional drug rehabilitation programs.
Detailed review of conventional programs and student history self-reports showed that such programs use either a social and/or medical approach, using pharmaceuticals to achieve detoxification. Additionally, the addiction treatment approach taken is through psychoeducation and psychotherapy models. The personnel involved in running the programs are primarily counselors and psychologists.
Both the conventional and the complementary/integrative systems of medicine concur that drug abuse damages the internal organs and aim to achieve prolonged abstinence. However, we would contend that the keys to overcoming addiction are the internal organs. Rather than focusing just in the psychosocial realm we address how the energies or vitality of the internal organ functions are affected in drug abuse, as well as the energetic manifestations that almost inevitably lead to relapse.
The following explanation elucidates, in brief, how this unique comprehensive system’s approach is successful in revitalizing the individual who is chemically dependent.
The interaction of internal organs plays a crucial role in promoting optimal wellness. Chemical dependency affects a number of vital internal organs that work in tandem. All of these organs have a predominant physiological function. For example when the lung energy is pulled downward it can result in adrenal exhaustion. By regulating the intensity of the energy activity during the daytime hours, and/or balancing the energy inactivity of rest, the sleep can be improved. Musculoskeletal energy can be regulated to reduce suffering from withdrawal symptoms. The maintenance of the bones and the teeth (which is compromised in chronic drug use) is a complex process which engages many aspects of the endocrine system that in turn involves complex interaction with the kidney meridians and adrenals.
Another comparison of conventional physiology with Chinese medicine energetics is in the understanding of the central anterior and posterior regions of the brain. For example, the effects of methamphetamines on the palladium can cause Parkinson’s- like weakness and trembling that can be clearly discerned and managed by certain protocols that help regulate kidney and bladder meridian insufficiency. Similarly, the gallbladder meridian protocols can address drug dependency-related findings that affect the cerebellum and posterior frontal lobes.
Per traditional Chinese medicine and natural healing, the following factors are at play:
Drug addiction has a marked impact on the liver, kidneys, brain, heart, and lungs. The consequent complications related primarily to these internal organs can prove fatal. Therefore, withdrawal, detoxification, and rehabilitation from addiction should begin with these internal organs.
Western medical science recognizes that there are specific neurochemical changes in specific areas of the brain from drug abuse that explain psychological sequelae of addiction. These changes, according to natural healing philosophy and healing principles, are related mainly to kidney and liver energy because kidney energy governs bone marrow and brain function.
The symptoms associated by the West with drug use and withdrawal (such as insomnia, body pain, cold sweats, tremors, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, etc.) are related to kidney, liver, spleen, and large intestine energy. Chinese medicine would also say that the emotional symptoms of drug use and withdrawal are related to the imbalanced energies of those same organs. For example, depression, stress, lack of discipline and lack of restraint are all related to kidney energy. Anger or mood swings are related to liver imbalance. The biochemical (physical/chemical) function of the liver is bile formation, glycogen formation, detoxification action, and iron metabolism. The ascribed energetic role of the liver is formation of specific vitamins, and reducing certain hormones to their less toxic form to be more bioavailable; e.g., transformation of testosterone into androsterone, estradone into estrone. In Chinese medicine, great emphasis is placed on the role of liver in maintaining mental vitality and relieving anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and psychosomatic pain.
Therefore, for both physical and psychological functioning, balancing the internal organ energy is the key to cessation of drug use, physical withdrawal symptoms and psychological addiction.
1. One of the main natural healing modalities used in the program was Medical Qi Gong exercise. This system has a 5000-year history and prescribes specific practices for each internal organ. This approach works with endogenous and exogenous manifestations of internal organ energy imbalances. The techniques involve breathing, intent, and movement to achieve detoxification. The effect is to remarkably minimize symptoms and rejuvenate and balance internal organ energy in addiction rehabilitation. In an abstract view, the physical balance leads to psychological balance.
2. The pilot program had many adjunctive medical components, including nutrition. Malnutrition, secondary to AODA, is a well-accepted concept in main stream medicine. Drug abuse leads to deficiencies in specific vitamins, nutrients, amino acids, and trace elements. Eastern medicine conceptualizes rather in terms of a food as supporting the energy of a certain internal organ, yet modern research is increasingly showing that the foods that are therefore recommended for certain organs in fact contain amino acids and/or trace elements of benefit to those organs.
3. The pilot program provided support of the mechanisms of energy and homeostasis, given that the nutrients needed are difficult for the students’ bodies to assimilate and that a common vitamin supplement was not sufficient. In this program we used food with specific energetic properties to support specific internal organ energies and fortify the physical body. Foods are classified by their energetic properties in natural healing, meaning which internal organs they nourish and which associated meridians or energetic channels are supported. The foods were provided as appropriate for each stage of the program.
4. The herbal supplements also played an important role in the program. Their purpose was not only to help balance specific internal organ energy, but also to enhance the overall immune system. The herbal supplements had different applications in the time sequence of Phase I of the program. There were no reported side effects.
5. Ofuro baths with specific herbs assisted in detoxification at a much deeper level. The high heat in the ofuro also stimulated metabolism to expedite detoxification.
6. In the later stages, , integrated western physical exercise was prescribed in addition to Medical Qi Gong exercises to improve overall physical functioning.
7. Another important component was energetic psychology, which is rooted in traditional Chinese philosophy. This approach analyzes the students’ hereditary factors, their basic energy (strengths and weaknesses), and gives them insight as to why they relapsed in the past. More importantly, through this process they were given practical methods and techniques to plan out a drug-free future. All the students complained that the various “triggers” covered in conventional programs did not address their personal concerns nor did they feel empowered with tools for success. The students confidently reported that the tools they learned in this program will help them to face the challenges of life in the real world.
Conclusion
This was a pilot program. The results throughout the initial, residential stage of the program were encouraging. The quantitative clinical measures used to obtain baseline measurements of the pathophysiological effects of drug abuse (including methamphetamine and its derivatives) consisted of bundled laboratory blood tests that were tracked at the beginning, at mid-point, and at the end. Random sampling was implemented. However, due to budgetary restraints, the more sophisticated tests; i.e., SPECT, etc. could not be utilized. The ultimate success or failure of the program will require 6 months to 12 months of follow-up and maintenance to be objectively determined. Additionally, it is critical that the scientific and academic communities look at the results and continue this research. The students are involved in the maintenance/follow-up stage of the program. They will be tracked over the next year.
