Question by Liza Shevchuk: Natural Remedies For Brain Damage After Drug Abuse?
My older brother has done many drugs from about 16-21. Its been a year since his last use, and he’s been having some serious problems. He has high anxiety and he’s been having frequent episodes of “weird” (as he calls it) feelings. He doesn’t label it as feeling sick. During these episodes he feels jittery, emotional (even cry’s sometimes) out of control, his heart rate goes up. This also causes him to have insomnia. Maybe they’re panic attacks, but the thing is, what triggers it? This occurs randomly on a normal day. We believe its typical withdrawal symptoms, because he abused quite a few drugs. (Marijuana, cigarettes, ecstasy, crystal meth, shrooms, hookah, cocaine, inhalants, “uppers” (as he calls them))
He has gone to see his doctor several times to get treatment, and his doctor said he has migraines.
-____-
He prescribed him anti depressants and that didn’t help my brother AT ALL.
He does this herbal drop treatment (echinacea, other oils, etc) That help him sleep.
Now we’re trying to find him herbal remedies that would help repair his brain damage from all of the abuse he has done to it.
Thank you very much.

Best answer:

Answer by jannsody
I’m not sure that there will be repairing of the brain damage (presuming that he has that as I’m not a medical doctor :), but researchers believe that the brain is very “plastic” and may form new nerve pathways to *help* compensate for the injured areas.

With regard to inhalant use, my friend actually has a severe Brain Injury from huffing at the age of 12, now in her 30s. The chemicals in products used for huffing are actual *poisons* that were never meant to go through the bloodstream.

Please be *very* careful with herbal supplements or “remedies” (e.g., echinacea, ginkgo biloba, chamomile) as they can result in side effects and/or drug (medication) interactions. It’s best to check with a licensed pharmacist before taking any of them. Not everything that is “natural” is safe 😉

Regarding the panic attacks, some people have generalized anxiety (to know specific event) or other types of anxiety. The antidepressants may help to lessen the intensity and/or frequency of the anxiety symptoms. Such medications tend to take about 6-8 weeks before possibly noticing results. A caveat (warning) is that some antidepressants may cause insomnia (trouble getting to and/or staying asleep). However, there are medications that one may take to help counteract the insomnia.

Even though benzo’s (e.g., ativan, valium, xanax, klonopin) may be prescribed to help with sleep, they’re not always recommended as a medication due to their physical addictiveness. (Some withdrawal symptoms from benzo’s may include seizures, psychosis/mental break from reality, or even death.) Some psychiatrists (it’s best to get medication for mental health issues from a board-certified psychiatrist as opposed to “just” a family doctor) prescribe seroquel (or other medications), which is classified as an antipsychotic but in smaller dosages may help with sleep.

You’d mentioned that he’s gone to the doctor several times, and I’m wondering if he’s gone to a neurologist which is medical dr who can help rule out disorders of the nervous system – brain, spinal cord, nerves. I’m just thinking that to help “cover all the bases” (not trying to give false hope though, know what I mean).

I’m not sure that he’d still be going through withdrawal symptoms a year after stopping the drugs, but it’s a good idea to ask a doctor about that as well.

Pertaining to the anxiety, please show him this government site which may have some local counseling agencies: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and can click the second link. Then one can click “near you” on the left-hand side of the page under “find facilities” and can type one’s city and state of residence into search. Their toll-free 24/7 referral helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Just an fyi that the first link is for those looking for substance abuse counseling/treatment, and that may be an option if he’s still “using” or having cravings for substances.

A 12-step program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), may have some local support groups. The only requirement is having a desire to get sober. One may attend an “open” AA meeting if there is no drinking problem: http://www.aa.org

This site has some common mottos pertaining to those 12-step programs, including “One day at a time”, “First things first” and “People, places and things”: http://www.royy.com/toolsofrecovery.html

Al-Anon is a 12-step program for the *friends and family* of the problem drinker, but one may attend an “open” Al-Anon meeting if the loved one doesn’t have a drinking problem: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org

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Question by Beatby: liver cancer – has anyone successfully used a treatment called enhanced zeolite?
I have read so much about alternative treatments and really need to know if anyone has tried successfully to reduce large tumours?
What a poor first answer, no need for the thick sarcasm or ‘smart’ remarks,..I don’t need a biology lesson, I simply asked for anyone who had used this treatment, fortunately you don’t need to ask such questions.

Best answer:

Answer by IplayadoconTV
Do you even know what zeolite is? It’s CLAY! So you
think you can defeat LIVER CANCER by eating DIRT!
Go ahead, it can’t hurt. Make sure all your affairs are
in order.

Answer by Animal girl
I hesitate to even answer this, because this is a detox, and not a cure for cancer or tumors.

Liver cancer is a bad one, and rarely a cure, but it certainly would not hurt in conjunction with conventional treatment to also use alternative treatment – what could hurt?

Good luck!

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Question by Helpinglife: Drug use help for my daughter?
My oldest daughter (17) has been trying to experiment with drugs for the past few months. I’ve noticed when she is home alone certain inhalant objects seem to disappear into her room (hair spray- nail polish- white out- sharpies) what should I do?

Best answer:

Answer by Jim
i am in recovery and i can tell u that stuff burns out brain cells quick do something fast.star with taking away everthing

Answer by jannsody
You’re right to be concerned. Not to cause a panic, but my friend actually has a severe Brain Injury from inhalant use at the age of 12, now in her 30s.

Your daughter may not realize just how dangerous and destructive inhalant use really is. The chemicals in products used for huffing are actual POISONS that were never meant to go through the bloodstream.

It’s also important to point out that with “huffing” (fumes or chemical vapors), a person can actually die or get permanent neurological (brain, spinal cord, nerves) damage even after the very FIRST time of use.

You may be familiar with the concept of a family intervention. An intervention is to try to break through the denial of the addict that he/she needs outside professional help. The goal of an intervention is to try to persuade the addict to agree that he/she needs treatment. If the addict refuses to enter treatment, those participating in the intervention usually tell the addict of consequences that will be put into place such as not giving the addict money, not calling in sick to his/her boss, removing his/her pet animals (though legally via law enforcement/”humane society”/shelter), or not having any contact with the addict until he/she gets sober. (I realize that some of those consequences may not pertain to your daughter who is a minor, but they are examples.)

Just an fyi that the addict usually does NOT know of the intervention beforehand, or he/she may not actually show up. It’s also best done with a certified intervention specialist or at least a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) to help facilitate the planned meeting. There are no guarantees as to the outcome of an intervention, but perhaps it can help to “plant the seed” for future sobriety (being sober).

Since your daughter is under the age of 18, you may be able to have her mandated to drug treatment. How about calling your local municipal (township) building on the next business day (most likely Monday) to inquire about the process.

Here is a page by ehow.com that provides some info and tips on “how to (possibly) commit a minor to drug treatment” (though the site is *not* for school or professional research and it’s recommended that one try to first get the minor to agree to enter treatment on his/her own volition/willingness): http://www.ehow.com/how_6880472_do-commit-minor-drug-treatment_.html

To search for counseling and treatment programs for those with a substance abuse problem(s), and some may have state and/or county funding for those without health insurance: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and can click the first link.

Please get yourself to an Al-Anon meeting. It is a 12-step (self-help) program for those whose friends or family have a drinking problem, but one may attend an “open” Al-Anon meeting if the loved one doesn’t have a drinking problem. (It’s based on the twelve steps and principles of Alcoholics Anonymous but is separate.) Dr. Drew Pinsky (addictions specialist/doctor) has said that loved ones should attend Al-Anon to be a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem. To put it more bluntly, you’re not going to “love your daughter to death”.

For Al-Anon meetings: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org

This site has more info re: “getting your child to (possibly) accept treatment for an alcohol or drug addiction”: http://intervene.drugfree.org/2010/01/getting-your-child-to-accept-treatment-for-an-alcohol-or-drug-addiction/

The tv show on A & E (arts and entertainment) “Intervention” has a site with more info re: the intervention process: http://www.aetv.com/intervention/learn-more/

Please do get your daughter professional help ASAP (as soon as possible). No one knows when his/her last time of huffing will be of having a quality of life or life at all.