“I wrote this article in support of the patients I work with that suffer from addiction.  Instead of this illness being seen with confusion and/or blame, a practical or more pragmatic view is to find where the imbalances exist in the person’s body, mind and spirit that causes these issues of fear, self-esteem, lack of courage and weak will-power.

We know in acupuncture and Oriental medicine these mental-emotional and physiological deficiencies are governed by the kidneys.  Therefore, a therapeutic approach to strengthening the kidneys using acupuncture, Oriental medicine, diet/nutrition, exercise and life-style changes can remedy weakened kidneys and assist in overcoming addiction.  I would like to hear your thoughts and experiences”.

 - Dr. Brendan Armm

Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Founder / Director - Lotus East-West Medical Center

2104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

www.lotusew.com   310.828.8258

 

Substance Abuse Recovery Happens with Strong Kidneys

A Chinese Medical Perspective on Addiction

 

By Brendan Armm, DAOM, LAc

 

Chinese medicine spans 4,700 years, has a research body consisting of 20% of all people, and offers vast health opportunities for treating addiction.  The wisdom of Chinese medicine’s natural approach to healing empowers patients through education with collaborative doctor/patient relationships. The typical initial visit for Chinese medicine is a comprehensive hour and a half, and in such time patients have the opportunity to answer more open-ended questions. Patients appreciate having quality healthcare discussions regarding medical strategies for building the body’s natural defenses ranging from acupuncture, acupressure, dietary/herbal consultation, lifestyle recommendations, qi-gong, tai-chi, and yoga exercises, meditation, and massage.

 

Beginning: Chinese Medicine Perspective on Addiction

 

It would not be uncommon could multiple Chinese practitioners treat the same patient at once, they might each come up with a different diagnosis because of the vastness offered within Chinese medicine. Though, given Chinese medicine’s holistic approach, meaning treating the whole person and not just treating presenting symptoms, these varied treatment plans could result in equally successful outcomes.

 

Given this, many addictions are rooted in deficient kidneys. On western lab and imaging studies, kidney function and structure may be normal, but when on intake these patients present numerous signs of depleted energy. There is an inner sense of emptiness in people with deficient kidneys. Becoming prey, people develop addictions or cravings to fill the void within.

 

This chronic deficiency stems from an inability to consolidate energy. In other words, people with addictions leak energy and are not skilled at energy building. There is no reservoir or domain in place for the kidneys to let energy reside. Just the opposite, addicts deplete life force, become weak, are prone to symptoms, and are unable to break substance abuse.

 

Basic systems affected by deficient kidneys: urinary and reproductive systems, growth and development, endocrine system, hormones, brain and nervous system, metabolism, bones, hair, and respiratory functions.

 

General etiology of deficient kidneys includes: hereditary weakness, emotions, excessive sexual activity, chronic illnesses, old age, and overwork.

 

Mental symptoms of emptiness include: mental fatigue, lethargy, sluggishness, excessive banter, cluttered minds, difficulty focusing, and poor memory.

 

More typical symptoms of deficient kidneys include:

 

dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo, deafness, night sweating, dry mouth at night, hot hands, feet, and chest, thirst, sore back, ache in bones, nocturnal emissions, constipation, dark-scanty urine, cold knees, cold back, cold limbs, weak legs, weak back, bright white complexion, weak knees, impotence, premature ejaculation, lassitude, abundant-clear urination, scanty-clear urination, night-time urination, apathy, leg swelling, infertility, poor appetite, loose stool, shortness of breath, asthma, incontinence, weak bones and/or teeth, and premature graying. [7]

 

Treating Addiction with Chinese Medicine – First, the Ear

Each organ in Chinese medicine relates to an orifice. The orifice of the kidneys is the ear. There is a protocol of acupuncture points for treating addiction located in the ear used by over 500 clinical sites in the US, Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean. The method derives from the Chinese medical theory of detoxification.

The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), founded in 1985 by Michael O. Smith, MD, DAc, promotes integration of auricular (ear) acupuncture in the treatment of addiction. Dr. Smith began using acupuncture over 25 years ago to treat heroin-addicted clients in the Lincoln Hospital substance abuse treatment program, located in the drug-infested ghetto of New York's South Bronx. Because acupuncture worked so well to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, the clinic was soon able to stop using methadone. He also found clients tended to remain in treatment, participated more regularly, and demonstrated significantly less substance use in their daily drug screens. They reported a generally improved sense of well-being and a reduction in cravings. [1]

After receiving ear acupuncture, patients report a positive experience including feeling better, calm, energized, relaxed, and lighter.

The NADA protocol involves inserting needles at ear points deemed especially valuable in the treatment of substance abuse. These points replenish depleted energy in the internal organs and calm the nerves. Once the needles are in place, patients sit quietly for 30-45 minutes. [1]

A unique attribute of acupuncture’s success is during treatment the only outside influence is the use of solid needles. Addicts feel empowered by this non-drug-induced sense of wellbeing. They are encouraged to believe in their own power to heal and thrive.

‘Nada,’ in Spanish, means ‘nothing’. It signifies a drug-free, no-nonsense approach. Acupuncture detoxification is inexpensive, drug-free and popular in most cultural circumstances. [2] In that acupuncturists spend more time with their patients then most primary care practitioners, this quality interaction engenders trust in patients. Many reports site patients’ appreciation for the collaborative approach to healing, especially when it comes to addiction.

Treatment centers that include acupuncture take a nurturing, but not enabling, approach. The goal is to build self-reliance from the inside out by encouraging even small gains while de-emphasizing punishment for missteps. Patience with the process is key to an acupuncture-based treatment program. [1]

Remarkable statistics support the Lincoln Clinic’s effective methods in benefiting 250 people every day citing:

 

Among pregnant women with a history of abusing crack cocaine, those who receive acupuncture have higher birth weight babies than those who do not receive the treatment. Mothers with more than 10 visits have babies with an average weight of 6lbs. 10oz, while those with less than 10 visits have babies weighing an average of 4lbs. 8oz.[5] A seven-day inpatient drug treatment program in Delaware using the Lincoln Clinic method reported a decline in rates of recidivism from 87% to 18% one year after the date of admission.[6]

 

Both statewide and in the prison systems, acupuncture addiction protocols are already employed. Georgia put into law the NADA protocol for the use of acupuncture in the substance abuse treatment settings. Criminal addiction again finds support from acupuncture receiving nationwide approval for its effectiveness and cost efficiency:

The criminal justice system has so far been more responsive to the benefits of acupuncture than mental health professionals. Several states have established so-called "drug courts," through which non-violent addicts are mandated into treatment rather than jail. A natural partnership is developing between the drug courts and acupuncture-based treatment programs, as addicts are forced by the courts into a setting that nurtures them into recovery. [1]

Anecdotal evidence and clinical success stories strongly suggest that acupuncture can alleviate many of the serious symptoms of withdrawal, thus facilitating detoxification and encouraging acute addicts to continue treatment. [3]

In terms of alcoholism, support of acupuncture addiction breaking success is reported in a 1989 study published in the British journal The Lancet by Milton L. Bullock:

 

80 severe recidivist alcoholics were treated, receiving either correct-point acupuncture or acupuncture at non-specific points on the ear. 21 of the 40 treatment group patients completed the two-month program, while only one of 40 in the control group did. The control group patients experienced twice as many relapses in the six months following the experiment and the number of control group patients admitted to detoxification centers was well over twice that of treatment group patients.[4]

 

Treating Addiction with Chinese Medicine – Then, the Body

It is the opinion of the author, auricular acupuncture alone may not be enough for all patients to reach relief of dependency on substances. The immediate effect of acupuncture triggers relief of withdrawal symptoms, and this palliative care begins the process of healing. In addition to points used in the ear, many teachers and practitioners use points on the body and limbs as well. This integrative approach of needling the ear and body is a more comprehensive technique for kidney deficiency.

 

Points on the body strengthen in addition to detoxification. As such, not only is acupuncture treating symptoms, but also the root and underlying cause of addiction. Treating the root takes more time and is dependent on the individual’s length of addiction, intensity of addiction, support network, quality of practitioner, and individual’s drive for healthcare. Acupuncture points used on the body can change from treatment to treatment depending on information gathered from presenting features which can include tongue diagnosis and pulse reading.

 

Research

In China, lots of research is available regarding the use and efficacy of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Riding this wave, now in America much biomedical research is underway like that performed by Dr. Herbert Kleber of Columbia University's Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. In his coordination of funding which includes grants from the Hilton Foundation and NIDA, he has focused a large-scale, multi-site study of acupuncture's efficacy in treating drug addiction.

Strong Kidneys

 

With quality healthcare, kidney energy thrives and is represented by will power, courage, and freedom from fear. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “A man can not be ridden when he stands up with his back straight. With the back straight means a man’s going somewhere”. People with strong kidneys have a deep sense of adequacy and fulfillment. Not seeking outside validation, these people feel solid within as opportunities magnetize towards them. This aligned process of living is restorative in nature. To overcome addiction, individual’s effort must be intense to generate positive change. Such efforts must be discriminating and full- filling including engaging in healthy practices like wilderness hiking, restorative yoga, cardiovascular exercise, breathing exercise (i.e. Sudarshan Kriya Yogic breathing [8]), and mindfulness eating. In essence, these lifestyle changes build internal strength to thrive and break addiction. With the guidance and support from an attentive Chinese medical practitioner and their abundant medical strategies, or from another trained professional, the path of closing up leaking kidney energy and beginning the process of vibrant recovery becomes a true health opportunity.

 

To schedule your appointment with Dr. Brendan Armm, contact the Lotus East-West Medical Center at 310.828.8258 or email info@lotusew.com.

 

 

References

 

1. Katharine C. Otto, MD, Acupuncture Today - Detoxification, Acupuncture in the Treatment of Substance Abuse, http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2001/aug/08otto.html, August, 2001, Volume 02, Issue 08.

2. What is the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association?, http://www.acudetox.com/.

3. Judd R. Spray and Sharon M. Jones, The Use of Acupuncture in Drug Addiction Treatment, http://www.ndsn.org/SEPT95/GUEST.html, September, 1995.

4. Milton L. Bullock, Patricia D. Culliton, and Robert T. Olander, Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for Severe Recidivist Alcoholism, The Lancet, June 24, 1989, p. 1435-1438.

5. Smith, Lincoln Hospital Acupuncture Drug Abuse Program, p. 2.

6. Smith and McKenna, The Integration of Acupuncture Into Existing Chemical Dependency Treatment Programs, p. 4.

7. Maciocia, Giovanni, The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, New York, 1989, p. 250-253.

8. Brown RP, Gerbarg PL, Sudarshan Kriya Yogic breathing in the treatment of stress, anxiety, and depression. Part II--clinical applications and guidelines, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, New York, NY, August 2005, 11(4): p. 711-7.