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Q: I have a very unusual patient.

Originally, the patient weighed about 500 pounds. He was able to lose a great deal of weight through dieting and near starvation, but even on a controlled 2000 calorie diet, he would gain weight rapidly.

As he felt there was no other alternative, he succumbed to gastric bypass surgery, as he told me that he could continually starve himself and do aerobics for three hours a day, which seemed to be the only way he could control his weight.

He is now a normal weight, about 200 pounds, 6’2” tall, and looks fine, however he has become an alcoholic, and is always craving alcohol.

During his visit he indicated that he cannot tolerate most types of “vitamin pills” as the very short section of his small intestine that is remaining, and his smaller stomach, do not allow tablets to properly dissolve.

I’m thinking that a liquid diet, with a high percentage of “live” enzyme rich foods, including freshly made vegetable juices would be important. I have also recommended a new raw vegan sprouted rice protein that I’ve seen good results. Other products that I think would help him would be Master Amino Acid Pattern, a special, concentrated protein tablet that has 99% net nitrogen utilization. I think a investment in a Vitamix would be a good idea for this person, as it would allow him to liquefy his food, as his small stomach and duodenum will probably not be able to break down larger food or other particles.

Other factors:

Due to what is most likely a loss of IF, I have recommended sublingual oral liquid B12 (methyl), and also a Biotics B12/B6/Folic lozenge with which I’ve seen great results, comparable to B12 IM.

Liquid, or powdered mineral supplements would probably be a good idea, with meal replacement drinks, such as Douglas Ultra Protein Plus.

I’m guessing that there are some basic deficiencies that are prompting his craving for alcohol (hard liquor).

If anyone has any ideas that might be helpful, please let me know.

Yours in health,

Nathan M. Zassman,
Orthomolecular Nutritional Therapist

Aviva Natural Health Solutions
52 Adelaide Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3A 0V7
website: http://www.aviva.ca

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A1: Nathan,

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are complex problems. Nutritional support is a necessary but not sufficient treatment to insure recovery. I was taught by a wise professor that alcoholism is a chronic, progressive and ultimately fatal condition. I have seen in my many years a lot of deaths due to alcohol abuse, and I would encourage you to consider that you are dealing with a problem that could be fatal if not handled properly. Continue to offer the support that you can to insure a healthy diet and healthy metabolism, but please make sure that there is adequate psychological and peer group support for this person.

Damon P. Miller II, MD,ND
The Center at 435
435 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94301
http://www.organicmd.com
http://www.bettereyehealth.com
http://www.acupunctureworks.com

A2: people who are grossly obese have psychological problems. the fact that they can lose weight after their caloric intake is restricted suggests that his starvation diet was probably in his mind only (strangely many of my patients who didn't eat also lost weight when their caloric intake was reduced by surgery). since his adaptive mechanism to cope with his psychological pain (which may not be different than physical pain) is now gone, he had to turn to alcohol to help numb it (the pain). from my standpoint talk therapy is useless, he needs a good hypnotist who can regress to the cause and take care of it. i have heard that there are other equally good ways to address this kind of problem but have not had any experience with the other approaches. i have used hypnosis in my practice and it works. as to nutrition, jonathan wright uses amino acid and vitamin drips (check out his website and newsletters) to reestablish proper nutrition which should work especially well in this type of person.

Interesting article about baclofen in high doses for alcoholism. If this is correct, does GABA by itself or with a nutrition cocktail able to bring about such remission (although the cure would be to correct his perception with hypnosis or maybe EFT). http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=alcoholic-cardiologist-prescribed-experimental-drug&sc=rss

Jeff Baird DO

A3: Life Extension http://www.lef.org makes a great multiVit/Mineral Pwd.
Fresh photosynthesizing green leaf juice using a twin health juicer
What ever specific hard liquor he craves, what ever that is made from totally eliminate the source of the alcohol from his diet and related food allgery group foods. Do this for 1 or 2 weeks and rechallange. 30% of alchoholics self remit from alcholism by simply avoiding the food allergy that is the source of the alchol eg Beer grains, wine yeast, corn wishey corn, etc.

Dr Berney

A4: Did the weight loss achieved prior to surgery involve a high protein diet or maybe more accurately stated, involve a low carbohydrate diet, and if so, is your patient continuing with this type of diet?
Just a hunch, but perhaps the alcohol craving may be the body's attempt to lower elevated histamine levels,and in turn, the alcohol may be providing a "release" from increased nervous stimulation, i.e." racing brain", which could result from elevated histamine levels. If elevated histamine is a factor in this individual's biochemistry,a proportionately high protein diet could be an aggravating factor as histidine, as found in most proteins,is converted into more histamine. Alcohol has a histamine releasing effect to a certain extent, and may be the lesser of two evils vs. increased carbohydrate consumption ,as far as avoiding weight gain is concerned, to get this calming action. Avoiding a high protein diet, and eating one high in vegetables and fruits seems prudent presuming that above is a factor.

Best Regards,
Paul

A5: Get book "7 weeks to Sobriety" by Joan Larson Ph.D. Optimally, he should go to her clinic, but as a nutritionist, you should be able to proctor his regimen. Treating his hypothyroidism and yeast overgrowth are key along with nutrient replacement.

Roby D. Mitchell M.D.(Dr. Fitt)
<http://www.drfitt.com>
<http://www.dspharmacy.com>
<http://www.tahomaclinic.com>

A6: See book The Mood Cure and others by Joan Larson, Ph.D. related to this problem and hypoglycemia.

Charles

A7: Consider oxytocin (nasal) spray whenever he gets the craving for alcohol. I heard this works very well for this but have not had a chance to try it on any of my patients yet.
B Robert Mozayeni, MD

A8: It is very important to find a good homeopath as there are specific remedies for his symptoms. Dr. Jan Head

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