Our Approach
At Abundant Health Recovery and Wellness Center we recognize that achieving
sustained recovery from chemical dependence and alcoholism is very difficult.
Our website discusses the neurological reasons why recovery is often fraught
with failure or characterized as “a revolving door.” We invite you to read
about the simple, alternative
treatments we offer that help restore and normalize brain chemistry
so a person in recovery can regain mental clarity and engage more actively
and therefore, more successfully in traditional “talk” therapy and 12-step
programs.
Kenneth Blum, Ph.D., Judith Miller, Ph.D., and Steve Sewell, CACIII |
“It is our opinion, that recovery from chemical dependency requires
more than the "just say no" philosophy…. The psychological training for
rehab counselors focuses on helping the patient develop refusal skills,
utilize grief and loss, and build a stronger self-image. The support
of a solid social network, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and the
Secular Organization for Sobriety (SOS), also makes the recovery process
easier and reduces the chance of relapse.
But we caution, even if we succeed in improving the psychological and
social components, if the patient's brain chemistry is out of balance
due to genetic antecedents and/or environmental factors, such as chronic
substance abuse / dependence –as well as prolonged stress– recovery is
difficult and relapse is a greater threat.
We suggest, therefore, a closer look at the "biogenetic" component of
the bio-psycho-social condition we know as chemical dependency. Our approach
of enhancing "reward" and well-being via neurotransmitter healing enables
the brain to manufacture substances that are deficient. This novel approach
may be the key to more successful treatment and recovery programs.” |
Source: Kenneth Blum, Ph.D., Judith Miller, Ph.D.,
and Steve Sewell, CACIII from the article, “Rebalancing the Meso-Limbic
Reward Center”
Note: At Abundant Health Recovery and Wellness, our
systematic protocols, customized for each individual patient, consistently
- Detoxify, normalize, and assist in rebalancing neurotransmitters.
- Release tension on the central nervous system.
- Build a true, long-term maintenance program to ensure ongoing health
with nutritional, yogic, and meditational instruction.
The Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) cautions health
professionals to treat drug as a true disease. NIDA, an institute of the
National Institutes of Health, is the world's leading source of science-based
knowledge on preventing and treating drug addiction, a chronic, relapsing
disease affecting the brain and behavior.
| “Recognizing drug addiction as a chronic, relapsing disease
characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use is critical to being able
to identify and help those who have it. Drugs of abuse affect the brain
by mimicking neurotransmitters (e.g., heroin or marijuana) or by altering
their regulation and release (e.g., cocaine and amphetamine). In this way,
they disrupt normal brain communication. Repeated disruptions in the brain's
normal signaling processes can eventually lead to addiction - affecting
the very circuits needed to exert good judgment and inhibitory control
over actions. With these abilities "seized," the drug-addicted person will
compulsively choose drugs, even in the face of devastating life consequences.”
(Nora D. Volkow, M.D., Director, The National Institute on Drug Abuse:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/) |
Dr. Groman’s holistic treatments assist a drug-dependent or addicted patient
who’s expressed willingness to break their cycle of drug use. Over a period
of weeks, her drug-free treatments help improve a patient’s mood so he
or she becomes positive, experiences feelings of well-being, loses drug
cravings, and moves toward fully engaging in the therapeutic process necessary
to achieve long term sobriety. The Doctor uses three complementary medical
strategies to normalize the brain’s chemistry, rebalance what’s know as
the BRAIN REWARD CASCADE, and release the body’s own “feel good” chemicals.
As noted by the Director of NIDA: Drugs of abuse disrupt normal brain communication
because they disturb brain chemistry: either by mimicking neurotransmitters
(the chemicals that carry messages between brain cells) or by altering
their regulation and release. The objective of Dr. Groman’s treatments
is to restore normal balance in the brain circuits and thereby supplant
negative behaviors with positive behaviors. It’s scientifically proven
that the BRAIN REWARD CASCADE of neurotransmitters, when operating properly,
results in feelings of well-being. If an imbalance impedes the normal flow
of the cascade, then feelings of well-being are supplanted by anxiety,
anger, or by craving substances that alleviate the negative emotions.
BRAIN
REWARD CASCADE
The Reward Site (the nucleus accumbens) in the brain is the master of simple but powerful drives. When all of the neurotransmitters, working in harmony and in conjunction with one another, stimulate the production, transportation, and reception of dopamine at the reward site, a person is calm, at ease and satisfied. Researcher, Kenneth Blum called this condition the BRAIN REWARD CASCADE. |
Co-occurring conditions of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behavior,
ADHD, as well as smoking, gambling or sex addictions respond well to the
treatments offered for substance abuse and alcoholism because all these
conditions /addictions have the same basic fingerprint in
terms of brain chemistry. The goal of treatment is to assist in alleviating
addict’s anxiety, depression, and physical cravings.
Our alternative treatment
gives the addict a better chance to get clean
and stay clean.
- Auriculotherapy
- Amino Acid Therapy
- Neurological Stress Release
These evidence-based procedures, proven through
randomized clinical trials, have increased success
rates dramatically.
Brain Reward Deficiency Syndrome
What research has discovered is that there is something we all have as
part of our brain function called the Brain Reward
Cascade. The Brain Reward
Cascade describes how brain chemicals called neurotransmitters like endorphins,
are essential for a person to express happiness, calmness, and an overall
state of well being. A deficiency in these brain chemicals can lead to
depression, the five addictions which include alcohol, drugs, gambling,
sex, and work, as well as, ADD/ADHD, overeating, smoking and/or obsessive-compulsive
thoughts and behaviors. This deficiency is called the Brain
Reward Deficiency Syndrome.
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The conditions that we treat in this office are as follows:
- Smoking Cessation
- Substance abuse or dependency (alcohol, drugs, prescription medication)
- Drug Court Mandates
- Gambling/ Risk taking behavior
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
- Depression
- ADD and ADHD (children and adults)
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