Neurotransmitter Rehabilitation Comes Mainly Through the Gut

Founded by Lyle Murphy following his personal experience with the inadequacy of mental health treatment, the Alternative To Meds Center provides licensed residential addiction treatment services in Sedona, Arizona. Following a holistic approach to treatment, the Alternative To Meds Center incorporates a diverse range of methods, including neurotransmitter rehabilitation.

The human body contains at least 150 neurotransmitters, including the well-known dopamine, serotonin, and GABA. In essence, neurotransmitters act as messengers, communicating between nerve cells, not just in the brain, but throughout the body.

Most of the body's neurotransmitters actually originate in the gastrointestinal tract. For example, the gut produces approximately 90 percent of serotonin, often referred to as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter.

Consequently, nutrition can play a crucial role in mental health because of its effect on the neurotransmitters. Those seeking to rehabilitate neurotransmitter connection can promote a healthier gut environment by following a diet free of caffeine, gluten, soy, and sugar.

Other related issues to address to ensure optimal health in the digestive system include removing heavy metals and other environmental toxins.

How Holistic Detoxification Strategies Enhance Health Recovery

Located in Sedona, Arizona, the Alternative to Meds Center is a residential behavioral holistic health treatment facility that provides a diverse array of services to help patients struggling with mental illness and substance addiction. Founded by Lyle Murphy, the Alternative to Meds Center assists clients with minimizing the use of medications and balancing neurochemicals by utilizing evidence-based natural therapies including detoxification strategies.

Detoxification is necessary to remove accumulated toxins that have originated from food, water, air, drugs, heavy metals, and building materials, among other sources, and assists nearly all healing processes in the body. The brain is particularly susceptible to carrying a toxin burden which can cause disruptions in the synthesis of neurotransmitters and subsequently manifest in health problems such as depression, anxiety, addictive behavior, psychosis, and chronic pain.

Toxins can be effectively eliminated from the body using detoxification protocols employing substances called conjugators to neutralize and render them water soluble so they can be eliminated through the sweat glands, urinary tract, or colon. Heavy metals can also be removed from the body using synthetic or natural proteins which function as chelators that bind to the toxins to assist with their elimination.

Alternative to Meds Medical Tapering Approach

Founded by holistic health specialist Lyle Murphy, Alternative To Meds Center delivers individualized, evidence-based mental health and addiction treatment programs. In addition to wellness services and inpatient treatments, Alternative To Meds Center offers medical tapering based the healthiest practices for managing medication withdrawal.

Unlike rapid detox treatments, tapering reduces a client’s medical intake slowly, which allows the body to adapt. When done under the supervision of qualified experts, tapering can reduce or eliminate the effects of withdrawal, particularly for drugs like opiates with addictive properties. 

The center examines each client’s specific circumstances to determine the best course of action for medical reduction. The most effective tapering method differs based upon a medication’s half-life (the amount of time it takes for half a dose to metabolize in the body) or the intensity of a drug’s withdrawal symptoms. Dosages may be reduced or substituted with a similar drug with a longer half-life. Tapering is often combined with counseling and other alternative therapies.

Drug Tapering and Substitution

A state-licensed residential behavioral/mental health and addiction treatment center, the Alternative To Meds Center in Sedona, Arizona, offers holistic treatment plans designed to meet each patient’s goals and needs. Particularly focused on reducing dependence on prescription medications, the Alternative To Meds Center utilizes tapering techniques such as substitution.

Abrupt medication cessation and rapid detox methods may be dangerous, rarely work as promised, and often lead to relapses. Conversely, the gradual tapering off of a medication is a sustainable method that allows the body to adjust and optimizes the chances of long-term success.

However, some medications can present challenges to tapering. In these cases, substitution may be required. Substitution involves the replacement of a drug with a similar drug that has milder withdrawal characteristics. Once a patient is stable on the new medication, he or she can gradually taper the dosage with fewer negative side effects.

For more information about tapering techniques and drug substitution, visit www.alternativetomeds.com.