Traditional Chinese Medicine Offers Effective Ways to Quit Alcohol and Avoid Its

Traditional Chinese Medicine Offers Effective Ways to Quit Alcohol and Avoid Its Damage.

With social development, public relations personnel who frequently socialize with alcohol are constantly "soaked" in it, leading to an increasing trend of alcohol dependency cases in recent years. Alcohol addiction is a chronic brain disorder caused by structural brain abnormalities or disruptions in neurotransmitter pathways. Therefore, quitting alcohol requires more than willpower alone.

For those severely addicted to alcohol, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help restore the body’s yin-yang balance and achieve sobriety. Below are four TCM-based methods to quit alcohol:

​Trichosanthes Root (Guā Dì) for Alcohol Cessation
Trichosanthes root induces vomiting and alleviates jaundice. Usage: Soak 0.3–0.5g of trichosanthes root in 500ml of liquor for 7–15 days, then consume. If alcohol intake remains unchanged, increase the dosage to 0.5–0.7g.

​Auricular Acupoint Pressing
Ear acupoints: Mouth, Stomach, Subcortex, Endocrine, Shenmen, Throat, Liver. Body acupoints: Spleen Yu (BL20), Liver Yu (BL18), Kidney Yu (BL23), Neiguan (PC6), Lieque (LU7), Shenmen (HT7), Zusanli (ST36). Steps:

Disinfect the ear with alcohol swabs.

Locate sensitive points on the acupoints.

Attach vaccaria seeds to adhesive tape and press firmly on the acupoints with thumb and forefinger until a sore, swollen, or painful sensation arises.

Select 4–5 acupoints per session, apply pressure for 3–5 seconds each, and repeat 3–5 times daily.

​Electroacupuncture Therapy
Target acupoints: Spleen Yu (BL20), Liver Yu (BL18), or Kidney Yu (BL23). Insert filiform needles quickly and stop once deqi (needle sensation) is achieved. Connect to an electroacupuncture device, adjusting current intensity to the patient’s tolerance. Retain needles for 30 seconds, once daily. Five sessions constitute one course, repeated every 2–3 days.

​Herbal Decoction
Formula:

Pueraria root (葛根, 20g)

Dragon Bone (龙骨, 40g)

Oyster Shell (牡蛎, 40g)

Red Peony (赤芍, 20g)

White Peony (白芍, 20g)

Astragalus (黄芪, 40g)

Scorpion (全蝎, 5g)

Gastrodia (天麻, 5g)

Achyranthes root (牛膝, 15g)

Cinnamon Twig (桂枝, 15g)

Uncaria (钩藤, 5g)

Notopterygium root (羌活, 15g)

Earthworm (地龙, 10g)

Atractylodes (白术, 15g)

Alisma (泽泻, 15g)

Polyporus (猪苓, 15g)

Poria (茯苓, 15g)
Preparation: Decoct daily into 200ml of liquid and take orally in two divided doses.

（Translated with precise medical terminology and standardized TCM nomenclature.）