1. Hope for Substance Abuse Clients
Loretta Butehorn PhD CCH
Join Annual Homeopathic Conference 2013
April 2013

2. Goals for this Presentation
Describe research in substance abuse treatment
Identify use of Nux vomica as “protocol” treatment for early stabilization after detoxification for chemical addiction
Discuss partnering with allopathic substance abuse treatment in community.
April 2013

3. Problem
Clients who have used traditional allopathic detoxification for substance dependence most often develop PAWS (post acute withdrawal syndrome)
Paws often causes immediate withdrawal from substance abuse treatment and relapse
An acute, immediate intervention would be useful to stabilize the client before constitutional treatment can be used.
April 2013

4. Sample of NWS
TERRY 53 yr old woman’s husband murdered before her eyes- was drugging and living in an unsafe park in Boston in a tent –to which she would return if she relapsed
JOYCE 12 yr old impregnated by stepfather thought to be “whoring around” by her mother-today a 22 year old women who has supported herself through prostitution and is desperate to stop but has no real supports

5. NWS continued
LISA as a 17 year old tried to get her mom out of crack house, ended up using crack with mom-today as a 25 year old ,relapse would mean continued decline
ANDREA as a 22 year old left her terminally ill husband without saying goodbye because she couldn’t stand to watch him die- today as a 45 year old cannot hold a job and last relapse left her homeless is buried in guilt
Real people, real pain
April 2013

6. Each person in this population had a significant history of severe trauma , abuse, abandonment prior to beginning drug use with significant number of attempts at treatment and multiple treatment “failures.”
April 2013

7. Today
What is PAWS
How we developed an homeopathic intervention for this population of clients
What were the results…..
April 2013

8. PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome)
Severe cravings for any drug which causes addiction
Irritability, agitation
Nausea, diarrhea, sleep disturbance
Memory disturbance
If you have ever had a craving for chocolate multiple that physical-emotional experience by 1000 and you might get the idea of what client is experiencing
April 2013

9. Specific Research Substance Abuse Rx and Homeopathy
Specific Research Substance Abuse Rx and Homeopathy
April 2013
Teleosis Homeopathic Collaborative

10. Research in addiction and homeopathy
Research in addiction and homeopathy
Heroin addicts in India, 60 patients
35% left study from placebo group
5% from homeopathic group
Significant decrease in cravings and withdrawal symptoms
Resulted in institutionalization of homeopathy in substance abuse rx in India
-Bakski, presented on Nat Conf on Homeopathy and Drug Abuse, March 1990
April 2013
Teleosis Homeopathic Collaborative

11. Nux vomica Controlled study rats and alcohol
Nux vomica
Controlled study rats and alcohol
Choice of alcohol and non alcohol bottles
Significantly reduced alcohol intake with homeopathic treatment
Sukul NC, et al “Strychnos Nuv Vomica extract and its ultra high dilution reduce voluntary ethanol intake in rats” J Altern Com Med Apr;7(2):
April 2013
Teleosis Homeopathic Collaborative

12. Detox and Post acute withdrawal
Detox and Post acute withdrawal
1993-Detox CA 703-randomized, controled-18 months: Relapse: 32% of homeopatic, 68% of placebo rx, 72% of regular detox— S. Garcia-Swain,M.D. in Lanksy, 2003.
April 2013
Teleosis Homeopathic Collaborative

13. Genus epidemicus
Van de Zee’s* use of Hahnemann’s construct of genus epidemicus to prescribe for trauma victims as a group a model for Nux vomica protocol.
We decided to treat this as an acute condition, and use the combined symptoms of the population
Using this as a model, we began offering Nux vomica 200 c in water, succussed, as needed for 1 week to clients suffering from PAWS before constitutional treatment
*“Healing Collective Trauma” in Homeopathy and Mental Health Harry van der Zee 200
April 2013

14. Informal results
In 2 Boston 6 month treatment programs we offered “Nux Protocol”
programs- 39% and 33% completion rate non-homeopathic group, with homeopathy 64% and 66% completion rate. Butehorn et al, attached in handouts
April 2013

15. Use of Nux Protocol at Department of Public Health Hospital in Boston
April 2013

16. Boston Area Substance Abuse Treatment Center 2010-2011
Boston Area Substance Abuse Treatment Center
28 day post detox program
Nux vomica 200 c 1-2 dry doses for PAWS
Self selected population
Women between 18 and 70
Multiple drug addiction
April 2013
Teleosis Homeopathic Collaborative

17.
April 2013
Teleosis Homeopathic Collaborative

18. April 2013

19. Dec 2010-Dec 2011 Non homeopathic= 184 Homeopathic=138 Completed 42% *
Dec 2010-Dec 2011
Non homeopathic= 184
Homeopathic=138
Completed 42% *
Left program after less than 48 hrs(ACA)=11%
Left program after 48 hrs (ACA)=23% *
Dismissed compliance issues=6%
Completed 63% *
Left program after less than 48 hrs (ACA)= 7%
Left program after 48 hrs (ACA)=15% *
Dismissed compliance issues=2%
*=statistical significance
April 2013
Teleosis Homeopathic Collaborative

20. Remedy Fit
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26. Totality of all charts
April 2013

27. Logananceae NWS: Trust Betrayed SHOCK Unendurable grief
Holding in—Rigidity-<consolation
Stuck-Spasm-Claustrophobia
Self medication
Addiction
Based on work presented by Morrison and Herrick at American Medical College of Homeopathy Conference Sept 2012.
April 2013

28. Grief/Betrayal/Trauma
Grief/Betrayal/Trauma
Metabolized by…………. Sadly, often met with
Validation disbelief
Support vilification
Processing refusal to listen
Safety blatantly unsafe
So self medication becomes the default option resulting in addiction
April 2013

29. Nux Vomica Hangover drug And now I call it the “arnica of addiction”
Nux Vomica
Hangover drug
And now I call it the “arnica of addiction”
This is a terrific “protocol”for people in early stages of recovery (post detoxification from alcohol and other drugs.)
April 2013

30. To collaborate
Send me an if you are involved in a similar public service project so we can support each other
Donate to our The Sidewalk Clinic (tax deductable) mail to SOTM/The Sidewalk, 345 Neponset Ave Boston,MA 02122
This is a collaborative project of the Teleosis Homeopathic Collaborative and School, Boston,MA
Phone or Text us at: (617)
April 2013

31. One picture is worth a thousand words…..
April 2013