Amino Acids Therapy as a Treatment Option for Addictive Disorders

What is Amino Acid Therapy?

Researchers started investigating the effectiveness of using amino acids to fight addiction and improve mental health during the 1970s.  Since that time, Amino Acid Therapy has continued to evolve and improve its effectiveness.  Amino Acid Therapy is a holistic approach to addiction treatment that uses specific free-form amino acids to provide the brain with key precursors that affect the brains four major mood mediating neurotransmitter systems .In other words, Amino Acid Therapy focuses on restoring the  chemical balance of the brain using amino acids and other neuro-chemicals to repair the damage done by substance abuse.

Amino acids pass through the blood-brain barrier quickly and can create mood changes within 20 minutes.   Imagine amino acids working like a reset button in the brain that allows damaged receptors to return to a normal setting before substance abuse disrupted their processes with toxins and poisons. Amino Acid Therapy consists of amino acids, co-factor enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.  Amino Acid Therapy is given intravenously, which increases the speed of its effectiveness and allows it to bypass the overworked digestive system.

How does Amino Acid Therapy help with addiction?

Unfortunately, simply removing a substance from your life or someone else’s life doesn’t always lead to recovery from an addiction.  The good news is that these unsung heroes, combinations of amino acids are readily available to help. These simple organic compounds work naturally to heal the body and the brain from the damage done by drugs and or alcohol.  Tryptophan, one of the essential amino acids, is linked to the production of serotonin, a neural transmitter that carries messages to the brain and other parts of the body.

Serotonin is directly affected by substance abuse.  Either the levels of this brain chemical fluctuate wildly or due to addictive substance abuse, the serotonin is unable to be transmitted or absorbed in the proper way.  This causes a loss of pleasure and a deepening depression which encourages an individual to look more and more for pleasure through drugs or alcohol.  In early therapy, it is important to make sure the body is receiving the nutrients that it needs to function properly.

Medical practitioners work with patients to ensure that they have healthy diets and access to supplements needed to replenish any depleted nutrients.   Amino Acid Therapy is designed to boost specific nutrients that fight addiction.  In early therapy, it is important to not rely only on good nutrition.   Due to the nature of relapse, it is important to actively replace and balance the body’s amino acids.  As the body gets the nutrients it needs for its many vital functions, mood and energy levels become more stable which also helps fight addiction.

Amino Acid Therapy neutralizes the brain and helps neutralize the toxins left from substance abuse.  This allows the brain functions to be restored.   As brain function begins to normalize, cravings and the physical pain caused by withdrawal begin to disappear.  The absence of cravings and withdrawal symptoms reduces the potential for future relapses.

What are the types of Amino Acid Therapy?

Addiction is treated with multiple types of amino acids.

GABA or Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is one of the most commonly used amino acids.  It helps reduce anxiety and stress while promoting a sense of well-being.

Taurine is an amino acid that is important to the regulation of dopamine in the brain.  It helps reduce cravings and improves rational thinking and decision making.

L-Tryptophan is an amino acid that boosts serotonin levels in the brain which helps promote mood and a sense of well-being while also reducing cravings

L-Glutamine is an amino acid that improves mood and reduces anxiety, cravings, and stress.

DLPA D-Phenylalanine is an amino acid that blocks receptors in the brain that cause cravings and helps to improve mood.

Is Amino Acid Therapy Addictive?

Unlike many of the treatments prescribed for addiction, Amino Acid Therapy is not addictive,  Amino Acid Therapy helps rebuild the key transmitter systems instead of down-regulating them the way mood-altering substances do.  Substance abuse and addiction cause the depletion of chemicals in the brain which then increases anxiety, depression, insomnia,  cravings, and withdrawal symptoms.  Ironically, the substance users who took those pills or had those drinks to feel less lonely, sad, or depressed end up in a worse state of mind because the brain and body have now stopped producing those hormones and substances that could make them feel better.

With the use of Amino Acid Therapy, neurotransmitter systems rebuild themselves, symptoms caused by their becoming depleted tend to quickly diminish and frequently disappear altogether.  Since amino acids are natural substances found in the proteins we eat, they rarely cause adverse reactions when taken properly.

How Can Androgenix help?

If you want to live your best life, the medical practitioners at Androgenix are here to help. If you have any questions about amino acids or are worried about any possible deficiencies due to diet, stress, or life situations, please contact us with your questions.   If you are concerned about how to ensure you are giving your body what it needs to be at its best or have any other concerns about any areas of your health, please contact our office and make an appointment with our staff to get complete blood work-up done, and a complete physical examination.

Our staff of caring healthcare practitioners are here to answer your questions and develop an appropriate treatment plan for you.  You will be monitored by our team for treatment effectiveness and side effects of any recommended treatment on a regular basis.   Our team at Androgenix is always here to support your journey to a better, healthier, and happier you.

 

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*Unless otherwise stated, individual results may vary depending on many factors not all patients “feel” or achieve the same results.