How to Curb Alcohol Cravings: Advice From the Ria Health Team

Deficiency in vitamin B3, or niacin, is also common in heavy drinkers. There’s no way around it—when you drink heavily for a long period, your body takes a hit. Overcoming alcohol use disorder can be a long and difficult process, and different people have different needs. But one often-overlooked aspect of beating addiction is nutrition in recovery. True to the adage “prevention is better than a cure”, the same holds true for alcohol addiction.

Further, kudzu does not affect sleep cycles and may start working after a single dose. B-vitamin deficiencies are common in those who struggle with alcohol. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Although many different B vitamins can be impacted by drinking, one of the most dangerous B-vitamin deficiencies is thiamine or vitamin B1.

Herbs to Help Resist Alcohol Cravings

One animal study showed that ashwagandha helps control mood changes, anxiety and seizures from alcohol withdrawal, but this effect has not yet been studied in humans. Dr. Rebeca Eriksen, PhD MSc BSc (Hons) RD, is the Co-Founder at BioRebalance. Despite their name, blood thinners (also called anticoagulants) don’t actually thin your blood. They work by keeping your blood from sticking together in a clump (clotting). Blood thinners keep a clot where it is and from getting bigger and prevent new clots from forming. They can also allow your body to absorb the clot through the walls of your veins over time.

Vitamins are essential for aiding the liver after alcohol misuse by helping with detoxification, regeneration, and metabolism. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. Our articles are evidence-based and contain scientific references, fact-checked by experts. We source information from studies, clinical trial findings, and meta-analyses published in peer-reviewed journals.

More don’ts if you take a blood thinner

That means contact sports like hockey, soccer or football, or ones that pose a serious risk of injury if you fall (like skiing, gymnastics or ice skating) are best put on the sidelines. For more details on beating alcohol and other addictions or simply, cravings or habits, you can see my book, The Addicted Brain and How to Break Free. As for the duration of a single craving episode, research indicates that most cravings usually peak and subside within 15 to 30 minutes. This might sound like a long time when you’re in the throes of a craving, but knowing that there’s an end in sight can be a powerful tool to help you resist. If you attend an event, know that it is okay to leave early if you are experiencing cravings—your goal of abstinence or moderate drinking is the priority.

External triggers refer to the environmental cues you link to alcohol, including places, times, people, and situations. If you’re currently dealing with AUD, it’s recommended that you talk with a healthcare professional about getting herbs to curb alcohol cravings help. They can provide the necessary support and guidance throughout your recovery. In a 2011 study, 20 participants recovering from AUD took a dietary supplement with D-phenylalanine, L-glutamine, and 5-HTP during detox.

Medication to Help with Alcohol Cravings

Below are my current go-to supplements for a healthy dose of Magnesium. Magnesium also reduces the stimulus of dopamine synthesis, which governs the intensity of our cravings. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) does not recommend using antidepressants, which includes SSRIs, in the treatment of AUD unless there is another disorder present that they can help treat.

• You will generally experience cravings due to triggers, and the way you react to those triggers will help you in decreasing future cravings.
• The following approaches can also be used, with or without medication.
• The primary danger of these supplements in those with alcohol dependency is not necessarily knowing the drug—drug interaction potential or side effects.
• When you are exposed to a memory or stimulus that triggers memories, the brain starts begging you for more chemicals, and cravings are born.