Body Rejuvenation Therapy In Addiction Recovery

Addiction affects more than just the brain. Both the drugs themselves and the habits formed in the throes of addiction can strip the body of important nutrients, damage vital organs, and impact almost every system in the body. 

That is why some addiction treatment centers offer a form of holistic therapy called body rejuvenation therapy. Also referred to as biochemical imbalance repair, or biochemical restoration, this is an approach that deals with addiction as a physical illness and is intended to physically empower clients to do the hard work of healing from their addiction.  

The Physical Impact of Addiction: Malnourishment

Body rejuvenation therapy is designed to mitigate the physical impact of addiction on the body. Two aspects of addiction can damage the user’s body: The drugs themselves and the habits of addiction. 

The drugs moving through the addict’s system do more than rewire the reward center of the brain, shrink the decision-making centers of the mind, and overtake the delivery of neurotransmitters to the body. They can also harm important systems and organs throughout the body.

These can include the following: 

• Gastrointestinal system
• Endocrine system
• Cardiovascular system
• Respiratory system
• Nervous system
• Kidneys
• Liver

In addition to the direct damage caused by the ingestion of drugs (or alcohol), addiction tends to consume so much of the addict’s time, attention, money, and energy that they put little effort into eating regularly or healthily. 

After years of habitually unhealthy eating habits, many addicts become severely malnourished. Not only are the drugs preventing the proper absorption of nutrients and damaging the body’s systems, but the body is also not receiving the vitamins and minerals it needs to repair that damage or remain healthy. 

The Physical Impact of Malnourishment

Malnourishment at a fundamental level like that experienced by many addicts can lead to severe deficiencies in many vitamins and minerals, along with severe physical damage caused to most of the body’s systems. 

Here are some of the vitamins and minerals most often lacking in an individual who is dependent on drugs and/or alcohol: 

• B vitamins – Important for energy, neurotransmitter creation, nervous system functioning, and more
• Calcium and magnesium – Important for bone and muscle health
• Zinc – Important in building a strong immune system, preserving vision, and metabolizing proteins and carbohydrates
• Vitamin D – Important in bone health, immune system health, calcium absorption, and neuromuscular function

In addition, the addict’s body may lack critical amino acids, collect heavy metals and toxins from the ingestion of drugs, and lack proper hormones.

These imbalances in the body can lead to many health issues, including the following: 

• Cardiovascular disease
• Stroke
• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis B and C
• Lung disease
• Mental disorders
• Heart disease
• Liver disease 
• Pancreatitis
• GI disorders
• Various cancers 
• Weakened immune system
• Dental problems
• Nasal damage
• Kidney disease
• Pneumonia
• Emphysema
• Vision problems
• Hypoglycemia
• Hormone imbalances

Health problems are not the only issues that arise when an addict is chronically malnourished and nutritionally imbalanced. These problems can also exacerbate their addiction, and the mental and physical drivers of their dependence.

Here are some of the ways in which malnourishment and imbalances can contribute to addiction: 

• Depression and other mental health issues
• Uncontrolled stress and anxiety
• Inability to produce neurotransmitters that regulate mood 
• Insomnia
• Nervous system imbalances
• Hormonal imbalances

The Impact of Body Rejuvenation Therapy 

Body rejuvenation therapy seeks to reverse the damage caused by nutritional deficiencies in the addict. This individualized approach goes deeper than simply providing the addict with well-balanced meals. Instead, the process identifies and then addresses the specific nutritional, hormonal, and amino acid deficiencies present in the client. Here is how it works:

Extensive Blood Work

The process begins with extensive blood work intended to explore the deficiencies that each client is experiencing. These biochemical imbalances can include both the absence of important nutrients such as amino acids or specific vitamins and minerals, and the presence of heavy metals and toxins which must be removed from the body. 

This process is conducted by medical professionals who can evaluate not just the bloodwork but the client’s symptoms and behaviors in order to identify the deficiencies undermining their health and their recovery. 

Individualized Treatment

Once the imbalances are identified, the client receives a tailored treatment consisting primarily of supplements designed to address their specific needs. These supplements are intended to work on a cellular level, replenishing the body’s depleted stores of essential nutrients and repairing the damage already caused by addiction and malnutrition. Because this treatment is individualized based on the client’s medical evaluation, it is intended to help them recover their physical and mental strength more quickly. 

Complementary Treatment

Biochemical imbalance repair is not intended to be the only treatment a client receives for addiction. Instead, it is intended to support the addict’s recovery in the following ways: 

Regulate Mental Health

By restoring balance to the body, body rejuvenation therapy can help to alleviate the mental health concerns that often arise from malnutrition. The right balance of amino acids, chemicals, vitamins, and minerals can stabilize mood, ease anxiety, and reduce feelings of depression. That can make it easier for clients to both resist cravings and accomplish the work of recovery that they must do through counseling, 12-step programs, and other evidence-based approaches. 

Improve Neurotransmitter Production

Addiction often limits the brain’s ability to produce “feel good” neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. As a result, the addict comes to rely almost solely on their drug of choice to feel “normal” and to experience pleasure. 

Biochemical imbalance repair can improve the body’s ability to produce these neurotransmitters. As a result, this approach can help clients have the natural resources they need to move away from dependence on drugs or alcohol and toward a healthier way of life. 

Restore Physical Strength

Body rejuvenation therapy improves a client’s overall physical health. This improved health can empower them to pursue their recovery in a number of ways. 

• They are less distracted by physical symptoms and discomfort. 
• They can think more clearly and make better decisions. 
• Balance the body’s blood sugar.
• Heal insomnia. 
• Control cravings.

Body rejuvenation therapy is a holistic approach that, when paired with evidence-based practices, can give clients the mental, emotional, and physical balance they need to more successfully break their dependence on drugs and alcohol. 

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