ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

Dependence on anything becomes a habit when followed or practiced repeatedly. The habit of being dependent, at one stage, becomes impossible to break, making it an addiction. The more a person tries to break that habit, the weaker he becomes in will and the more dependent he becomes on that habit.

BAD EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL 

It corrodes the linings of the liver, intestines and stomach.
It weakens the memory, lowers the intellectual and reasoning powers.
It reduces the ability to do ordinary work and decreases muscular power, depressing the heart and circulation.
Prolonged alcohol intake also causes impotency in a few cases.

BAD EFFECTS OF SMOKING/TOBACCO

Patients who tend to smoke a lot or take a lot of tobacco are prone to:
Cardiovascular problems like Ischaemic Heart Disease.
Respiratory troubles like Chronic Bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Vascular disease like Thromboangitis Obliterans.
Dental staining and decay.
Oral and Bronchiogenic Carcinoma.
Impotency.

SOME MEASURES AND HOME REMEDIES TO BE TAKEN TO OVERCOME ALCOHOL ADDICTION 

Angelica herb -This herb is taken in the form of tea or in tincture form, thrice daily, after meals. This helps reduce craving for alcohol.

Apple - Have two to three apples a day to reduce the craving for wine and other intoxicating liquors. It is also useful to reduce any intoxicated feeling caused by alcoholic beverages.

Date (khajoor)- The person should drink half a glass of water in which four to five dates have been crushed. Do this twice daily for a few months.

Fruit juice - The best drink as a substitute for alcohol is a glass of fresh fruit juice. The patient or the alcoholic should drink lots of juices and eat a candy or other snacks whenever he has a craving for alcohol.

Grapes - Grapes contain the purest form of alcohol and are a healthy substitute for alcohol. Alcoholics should take fresh grapes or grape juice at five-hourly interval, i.e. three times a day. Eating a few raisins daily for a few months also helps in reducing the craving for alcohol.

Milk - Drink two large cups of milk daily.

Orange- Eating two to three oranges or drinking one glass of orange juice just before breakfast helps to lessen the craving for alcohol.

Water and alcohol - Add eight parts of pure water to one part of alcohol  and drink it in gulps. Do not sip it. Then drink two or more glasses of water after it. If you tend to vomit, it is excellent. This will help the alcoholic to break the habit of drinking.


WAYS TO OVERCOME THE EFFECTS OF DRUNKENNESS

To reduce the toxic effects of alcohol, a tablespoonful of honey is given to the patient thrice daily.

Drink cold water frequently.

Application of a cloth dipped in cold water around the head, abdomen and loins reduces the effects of intoxication.

Three teaspoonfuls of juice of leaves of bitter gourd (karela) should be mixed with a glass of buttermilk and taken every morning for a month. This is an effective antidote for alcoholic intoxication.

Have two to three apples to overcome the complications due to chronic alcoholism.

Half a glass of juice of raw celery leaves mixed with an equal quantity of water should be taken once daily, for a month. This acts as an effective antidote to alcohol  intoxication and helps reduce damage done  by alcohol to liver and pancreas.

In cases of vomiting and retching following alcohol intake, give hot black coffee to the person as much as he can take.