Holistic therapies have been used in luxury rehab centers for a number of years and are now increasingly available in many standard addiction treatment programs. The main benefit of holistic recovery centers is that they address the mind, body, and spirit of the individual which are likely to have been damaged by substance abuse. People are required to make significant lifestyle changes when on a rehab program and holistic therapy can provide them with better self-awareness to enable them to make those changes successfully.

While complementary therapies such as acupuncture, massage therapy, Reiki, adventure therapy and holistic medicine are not accepted by every member within the addiction community, they are undeniably effective. This is primarily because they introduce entirely natural treatments and therapies in a holistic drug rehab center enabling patients to overcome substance abuse without taking equally potent and potentially addictive medications. In essence, the holistic approach to addiction treatment ensures individuals don’t replace one type of dependence with another.

Many people misunderstand what holistic therapy involves, preferring to believe it’s a little on the “wacky” side. Others think that because it involves completely natural components that it lacks the efficacy of traditional medical treatments for addiction. Although it’s true that most holistic therapy is based on simplistic natural principles, it is a much more complex and effective addiction treatment than many believe.

In fact, it is because many holistic therapies are 100% natural that they are quickly becoming some of the most popular approaches to addiction treatment. Holistic therapies are also extremely accessible to everyone and don’t require any degree of spirituality in order to get the benefits, with wide-ranging activities and treatments to choose from.

Holistic recovery centers have been shown to be very effective when used in combination with traditional therapies in a holistic drug rehab center. Where the medical approach focuses on the effects of illness, holistic medicine seeks out the root causes. Information gleaned during holistic treatment sessions can then be used by behavioral therapists to build a better picture of the thoughts and feelings driving an individual’s addictive behavior. By combining evidence-based therapies such as CBT with holistic addiction treatments, patients can make the lifestyle changes needed to allow them to heal in recovery.

Although the majority of rehab and recovery programs may have medical treatment components, many centers offer alternative approaches to incorporate into personalized programs. Most of the holistic or complementary addiction therapies used have been used to treat people for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. For the past few decades, the efficacy of holistic treatment has been studied within an addiction treatment context and the following are among the most popular:

Acupuncture – This is an ancient treatment that involves needles being inserted in certain areas of the body by a qualified practitioner in order to help patients manage cravings.

Meditation and Prayer – Both traditional 12 Step recovery programs and its alternatives encourage some form of meditation or prayer as therapy in holistic drug rehab centers. This allows people to shift focus on themselves and achieve a higher state of understanding so that they can focus on recovery.

Nutritional Therapy – Many people who have struggled with addiction have neglected themselves and are likely to have existed on a poor diet for a prolonged period of time. This can have a significant effect on a person’s health over and above any adverse effects caused by substance abuse itself. Nutritional therapy educates patients on restoring balance in their diet to build physical and mental strength in recovery.

Yoga – This ancient practice involves deep breathing, stretching and meditation and can help improve flexibility, reduce stress levels and lower blood pressure. Although yoga doesn’t appear to be an overly physical activity, it is much more strenuous than it looks, with each session finishing with a short meditation for a great sense of wellbeing.

Massage Therapy – This is a treatment that's particularly effective for people undergoing detox as it helps considerably with soothing muscle aches and pains. Hands-on healing like massage therapy boosts an individual's "feel-good" factor, making it a popular therapy for people in recovery.

Holistic treatment used in an addiction setting offer an extremely engaging form of recovery because it takes care of the person as a whole. The altruistic nature of holistic practices also provides a powerful method for patients to connect with themselves and the world around them in healthy ways for more positive lifestyle choices.

Although holistic addiction treatment is not a standalone rehab option, it nevertheless forms a vital component of some of the most effective programs available. The damage done by addiction is extensive on the sufferer’s mind, body and spirit and holistic therapies serve to treat each of those elements to significantly improve overall wellbeing.