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Allergic Alcoholism - The debate is on again!

2/4/2016

18 Comments

 
PictureSherilyn Powers http://imnotcrazyimallergic.com
     It is my pleasure to welcome author and colleague Sherilyn Powers to this site. Her tireless efforts, to help others find health and happiness, have endeared me to her work. Today she addresses the often hidden sorrow of alcoholism. Even if this disease has not touched you personally, I suspect you might know someone who bears its burden. Sherilyn's article offers 
clarity and HOPE.   

                                           ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~

Is alcoholism just psychological or could there be a biochemical reason for it?

Dr. Abram Hoffer, PhD, MD, FRCP(C), Co-Founder Orthomolecular Medicine, wrote about alcoholism being caused by a sugar allergy, and found in his tests that alcoholics who went "on the wagon" and eliminated sugar from their diets, were able to keep from drinking alcohol more so than alcoholics who ate sugar. Unfortunately, that's about as far as that went probably because it was a theory that wasn't going to benefit the psychiatrists and wasn't going to benefit the growing pharmaceutical companies.

Now once again we have doctors arguing one side or the other with the nay-sayers trying to drown out any thought that this just might help alcoholics because there is no proof. Does eliminating sugar from the alcoholic's diet make it easier for them to quit drinking, are most of them hypoglycemic and gluten sensitive, and that's what triggers the craving for alcohol, will diet alone cure 100% of all alcoholics?

And my question is...  WHO CARES? 

Here is another tool that, although it may not help 100% of the people, may be able to help many.  Why does something natural and non-pharmaceutical have to be proven to help every single person before it is accepted as worth trying? Why is it quack medicine? Oh, because it isn't PROVEN to work. Do all pharmaceutical drugs work in all cases? What about the fact that it is PROVEN that anti-depressants only have an 18% efficacy?  Yet THEY are accepted by the medical community and handed out like candy.

It can't hurt an alcoholic who wants to recover to eat healthier, try and help their poor liver that's been so abused by alcohol toxins by removing things that stress it, and try cutting out things that might make their alcohol cravings worse. Why do some in the medical community shun treatments that might help, and certainly can't hurt? Unlike the myriad of pharmaceuticals they push on their patients that may or may not cure one thing and is proven it can cause fifty others!

Well, there is no scientific evidence it works, the nay-sayers affirm. It's more likely it's a placebo effect.  Guess what? If I was in severe, debilitating pain for no known medical reason, and a placebo made it so that I could actually get out of bed in the morning and function where I hadn't in years... I say give me the placebo and keep your mouth shut about it! I have quality of life. So who is the fool?

People have the right to know that these types of options are available for them to try, without the stigma of it being a fool's errand. Try it and it may - in addition to meetings and counselling and whatever other treatments are suggested - actually help. Unlike the 3 minute commercials for drugs, that have 2.5 minutes of side effects, it really can't hurt to try and eat healthier.

https://www.liverdoctor.com/about-dr-sandra-cabot/; http://drlwilson.com/Articles/alcoholism.htm; http://www.doctoryourself.com/hoffer_niacin.html; http://www.searpubl.ca/Remembering_Abram_Hoffer.pdf; http://divinewiz.com/tag/abram-hoffer/; http://www.thecleanslate.org/myths/addiction-as-an-allergy-loss-of-control/; https://www.liverdoctor.com/alcoholism-hypoglycaemia-gluten-intolerance/


Picture
Sherilyn and I met through the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB, a gathering of writers and readers committed to upholding all that is good in life. Her book, I'M NOT CRAZY...I'M ALLERGIC! immediately caught my attention with its very positive reviews.
Please look at this beautiful video about her book.

If you have questions or would like to know more about Sherilyn and her work, please join her at her Author Event on

Sunday, February 7th at 12pm CST by visiting: http://sherilynpowers.chatovod.com/

Sherilyn's social media contacts are linked below:

This tour sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com.

18 Comments
John W Howell link
2/4/2016 07:15:48

I have to agree that people should have a choice on treatment options. Unfortunately most folks don't do their own research and rely on organized medicine to give them the answer. This is like relying on the government to solve all issues. It doesn't work. Good post, Sherilyn. Thanks Gwen for hosting.

Reply
Sherilyn link
2/4/2016 18:51:33

Thank you again John!

Reply
Jan Hawke link
2/4/2016 08:19:11

Exactly right Sherilyn! :-) If something works, why change (or doubt) it? - It's like the other side of the coin,<i> if it ain't broke, don't fix it!</i>. If there's evidence that using a method, placebo or no, IS working beneficially for someone, then surely it makes sense <i>for them</i> to keep on with it, especially if it's doing no other harm to their health.
Everything that's good for you doesn't always need a doctor's prescription or a scientist's approval - same with things that don't do you any good, like... erm.... alcohol?
Thanks for haing us over Gwen :-)

Reply
Sherilyn link
2/4/2016 18:55:24

Thank you Jan! It's great of you to stop by. :-)

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Shirley Harris-Slaughter link
2/4/2016 09:59:09

Its really strange. My father died from the affects of alcohol and yet I was never able to handle it past one drink. It would go straight to my head and usually I got sick from it so I was never much of a drinker. My under-weight may have had something to do with my intolerance at the time but to me it was a pre-requisite to the digestive issues I would have later in life. I too am appalled at the advertisements promoting hard core drugs with dangerous side affects. It's refreshing to see that I'm not the only one having issues with these drugs. I don't take them anymore. I've had to go alternative with its own set of problems. Thank you Sherilyn for shedding more light on this problem.

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Sherilyn link
2/4/2016 18:57:38

Hey Shirley, we do have a lot in common. I am a great disappointment to the alcoholics in my family. I can't handle more than a drink or two myself! :-) Thanks for coming by!

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Rebecca Reilly link
2/4/2016 10:59:34

As you say, Sherilyn, it can't hurt! Sugar, at the very least, makes our bodies acidic which feeds cancer cells and inflammation. As far as alcoholism, It may work for some. My alcoholic mother did not have a sweet tooth, but would devour anything salty. A diet of healthy, organic, under-processed foods is a step in the right direction for everyone!

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Sherilyn link
2/4/2016 19:02:31

You are so right Rebecca. Sugar is pretty awful for us, especially in the amounts we consume a year. Between 150 and 170 lbs per person according to the USDA. Yuck! lol Thanks for coming by!

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Bette A. Stevens link
2/4/2016 16:47:10

Great post, Sherilyn. Sharing your message of hope! ENJOY THE SPOTLIGHT & have a great tour! xo

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Sherilyn link
2/4/2016 19:03:32

Thank you Bette! I've been having a great time. Everyone is awesome and so welcoming. Thank you for coming by!

Reply
John Fioravanti link
2/4/2016 17:17:09

Another fascinating article about issues we dare not ignore, Sherilyn. Natural remedies and dietary solutions should be tried before relying on the dangerous drugs we are prescribed. Thanks for hosting, Gwen!

Reply
Sherilyn link
2/4/2016 19:51:41

Thank you John! I had a great doctor once who would use pharmaceuticals as a short-term measure if absolutely necessary, but only until dietary changes and natural supplements were able to take over. Wouldn't it be nice... Thanks for coming to see us here!

Reply
Sherilyn link
2/4/2016 21:33:24

Thank you so much for your kind welcome Gwen! I loved looking around your site while I was here. :-)

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Beem Weeks link
2/4/2016 22:31:45

A fine article. As a former alcoholic, I have my own thoughts on this subject. I won't go into details here, but I'll say this: There may be some strong evidence to support the idea of recovery through a change in diet. In my case, it would not have helped. Some people drink excessively as a means of coping with life (or hiding from it, as may often be the case). I do agree that options should be left to those who suffer from addiction. With me, it took a lot of inward searching, a serious look at reality, and a realization that drinking away the darkness never works. But that's just me. God is good. He gives us options. Don't let anybody take those options away. My opinion: Pharmaceuticals have only made situations worse.

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Shirley Harris-Slaughter link
2/5/2016 11:45:59

Beem, don't get me started on the drug industry which I blame our politicians for. That is why Bernie Sanders has caught my attention. Right now I take compounding drugs and its not covered. Go figure. My dream is to testify before Congress and get the stupid law changed, if I'm lucky enough to get a hearing.

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Sherilyn link
2/5/2016 19:33:31

Nothing works for everyone, we are all unique and we need to find what works for each of us. I'm glad you found what works for you, Beem! It's great to have you here!

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Joy Nwosu Lo-Bamijoko link
2/5/2016 00:24:15

Why does something natural and non-pharmaceutical have to be proven to help every single person before it is accepted as worth trying?
Let me answer this question. If the doctors, and the pharmaceuticals accept this theory, they will all be out of business. That's why. But, some of us know better, especially with your exposition. Well done!
Thank you Gwen for hosting her.

Reply
Sherilyn link
2/5/2016 19:38:28

It is frustrating Joy, but I know excellent doctors that are equally frustrated, so I don't put all the blame there. It will take people like us who care, to help the good doctors make the changes! Thanks for stopping in!

Reply

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Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


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