It has been a stressful week at work and you feel like you need a booze fix. You call your friends, ask them to meet you at the nearest bar to unwind and have some drinks. Within a few hours you’re laughing with them and chugging down bottles of beer until the wee hours of morning. It’s all fun until you wake up with a hangover and regret every single ounce of alcohol that entered your body. You drink water, flush the alcohol out of your system and you’re back to being sober. You then find out that your partner has been cheating on you, you cry your eyes out and then you make your way to the nearest grocery store to buy bottles of alcohol. The pattern repeats again.
It’s okay to give in to your alcohol cravings once in a while but if it’s something that happens daily then Houston, we have a problem. Alcohol cravings are your brain’s way of telling you that there’s an imbalance in your body and the only way to fix it is by drinking alcohol. This may lead to anxiety, depression (alcohol is a downer), physical dependence, loss of control (ever noticed how drunk people slur when they talk and sway when they walk?), confusion, and tolerance. Drinking alcohol on a regular basis will only increase your alcohol tolerance and make you look cool because wow you can outdrink anybody in your group but sadly unfortunately, this will eventually destroy your liver.
Good thing nature has herbal treatments that can help you quit drinking and decrease those alcohol cravings. We listed them below:
Kudzu
Kudzu is at the top of the list when it comes to herbal treatments for alcoholics. It’s a vine that grows in the wild and contains daidzin, a chemical compound that can help reduce and eventually remove your cravings for alcohol.
The recommended dose is thirty to fifty milligrams of kudzu root to be taken thrice a day. You can boil it and then drink it as an herbal tea. A standard dose for taking kudzu root is 30 to 150 mg three times a day. If you decide to take Kudzu as an herbal solution, mix 4 oz. of lukewarm water and 25 to 50 drops of the herb and drink it three to five times a day.
Dandelion
Known for its cleansing properties, dandelions can help you deal with liquor withdrawal and remove those cravings.
Mix an ounce of dandelion in a pot of boiling water. Drink it as a tea. You also have the option to consume 3 to 5 grams of dandelion roots thrice a day.
Milk Thistle
Another herb that can help decrease the thirst for alcohol is Milk Thistle or Silybum Marianum. It also contains properties that can help cure liver problems caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. Silymarin, one of the active ingredients found in milk thistle, can help remove the poison in the liver and flush out toxins.
St. John’s Wort
If your reason for drinking is because you want a temporary escape from depression, then you should try St. John’s Wort. It is a natural antidepressant that can help cure your intense cravings for alcohol. You can mix it with water and drink it as a tea or as a capsule.
Cayenne Pepper
More than its capacity to decrease the daily need for a booze fix, Cayenne Pepper can also treat stomach issues caused by too much intake of alcohol. It also has the ability to treat depression and anxiety which are signs of withdrawal from alcohol.
Angelica
Angelica, or Dong Quai, is a natural antihistamine that can be of great help to people who are classified as driven or compulsive drinkers. It is also a detoxification agent that can change the alcohol’s taste (read: disgusting) and develop an aversion towards liquor which not only reduces your intake, but your cravings as well. Think of it as hitting two birds with one stone.
Skullcap
Skullcap is an herbal treatment that is highly recommended for people who are suffering from symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol. It has the ability to provide relief from anxiety and tension.
Ginseng
If you’re an alcoholic and you want to stop that bad habit, try Ginseng. It can remove alcohol residue in your body, flush out toxins, and reduce your cravings. It’s a vital herb in decreasing alcohol inebriation.
Passion Flower
Passion Flower is an herb that will benefit people who want to clean their system by flushing out all of the toxins in their bodies caused by excessive alcohol consumption. It can also help people who are experiencing some symptoms of liquor withdrawals such as anxiety.
Evening Primrose
Oil from Evening Primrose seeds is known for being highly effective in helping decrease the cravings for liquor.
Goldenseal
Goldenseal is a bitter herb and alcoholics should thank the high heavens that it tastes that way. This bitter tasting herb contains antifungal and antiviral properties that can help control liquor cravings.
Warning: Follow these herbal remedies after doing your own research. While it is written that these herbal treatments can help reduce the daily need for a booze fix, your body might respond differently. It is highly recommended that you consult a healthcare professional before taking any of these herbs to know which one will work for you.
