Alcoholism 187SUGGESTIONS FOR ALCOHOLISM AND CIRRHOSIS*
➤ Thyroid supplements. Normalizing energy levels improves
the liver’s ability to detoxify and rebuild its tissues (see
Chapter 5).
➤ Vitamin E (800 to 1,000 units/day). Take vitamin E to assist
the thyroid supplements in improving thyroid function.
➤ Take the niacin test and make appropriate changes in the
diet.
➤ Far infrared heating pad or magnetic mattress pad and
pillow. Use these products to reduce acidic waste in the body;
also try placing magnetic pads directly on the liver.
When symptoms have lessened, the following nutritional
supplements can be gradually added:
➤ Magnesium (400 to 800 mg/day). This helps neutralize acids.
➤ Choline (250 mg four times daily). Fat can’t pass out of the
liver into the blood without choline. Alcohol destroys choline,
which is why alcoholics have fatty livers.
➤ B complex capsule. Take a B complex three times daily.
➤ Vitamin C (1,000 mg/day).
➤ L-glutamine (one to four grains a day). L-glutamine picks up
excess ammonia and converts it into glutamic acid. It is also
used by the brain for energy.
➤ Niacin (3 to 10 g/day). Most alcoholics respond best to 6 g of
niacin/day.
➤ Acupuncture (as often as needed). A Korean woman with
cirrhosis of the liver, given only six months to live, was treated
by an acupuncturist. Ten years after her fi rst treatment she
was still in good health.*Take as many as possible of these nutrients in the form of whole-food complexes. For
dosage, follow the directions on the label.