NAD+ Treatment for Addiction & Biohacking
NAD+ Treatment for Addiction & Biohacking
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, universally referred to as NAD+, is an essential pyridine nucleotide (a naturally occurring coenzyme of niacin) that serves a number of essential functions in the body. As a vital coenzyme to Vitamin B3, NAD+ takes part in more reactions than any other vitamin-derived molecule in the body.
NAD+ molecule is available in every cell in your body, making it crucial to life. This especially true because it aids in the transfer of energy you obtain from food to the rest of the body. This molecule is also fundamental in maintaining healthy internal organs as well as neurological systems.
It is vital for these specialized molecules to receive constant replenishment in the body. Unfortunately, aging and lifestyle behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse are shown to cause critical depletion of these neurotransmitters through a process referred to as neuroadaptation.
The depletion of NAD+ molecules is also said to be directly responsible for substance addiction and addiction-related brain damage.
What is NAD+ Therapy?
NAD+ therapy is the administration of lab-produced NAD+ coenzymes to boost its concentration in someone’s body, often after depletion of the molecule. Since these coenzymes are powerful molecules in the body, a high dose of NAD+ IV therapy can be helpful for numerous physical and mental syndromes.
NAD+ IV therapy is shown to help in replenishing the drained enzymes, and subsequently, aid in brain restoration. Patients who receive NAD+ IV therapy report decreased pain and withdrawal symptoms, better hearing and eyesight, improved focus and concentration, enhance mental clarity, as well as increased energy.
Recent studies have shown that NAD+ can profoundly reduce oxidative cell damage in the catabolic tissues, including the brain. This not only indicates that this coenzyme is not only vital in aiding brain repair but can also help in DNA repair as well as repair signals between molecules for cellular communications.
Advancement in research in this area also indicates that NAD+ IV therapy has the ability to protect aging and aging-related illnesses. This is because of aging results from a variety of cellular damage over time, which often leads to decreased physical and mental capacity, leading to growing risks of illnesses.
Infusion of NAD+ directly into the bloodstream is shown to curb mental and physical issues associated with aging. By delivering the molecules directly into the bloodstream, and thus, bypassing the gut for full absorption, NAD+ IV infusion can help speed up the repair of brain cells and reset the body’s natural internal clock and circadian rhythms.
What is the Process of IV Therapy?
Usually, NAD+ IV therapy requires one infusion per day for a period of 10 days, but this will often vary from person to person depending on age and severity of reduction. Your physician will develop an individualized treatment plan that will include a precise NAD+ mixture. In most cases, a combination of NAD+, regular therapies, and support will offer the best results for those needing treatment.
At the start of each day, a trained physician will insert an IV and carefully infuse the NAD+ solution. Withdrawal symptoms may be experienced immediately or within minutes after the first infusion. However, you will be able to relax and feel comfortable after the infusion is delivered over a period of several hours.
Between the 4th and 8th day, most patients report feeling better and enhanced mental clarity. But, it is vital that you complete each therapy process to eliminate or minimize withdrawal symptoms. For addiction patients, it is vital that after NAD+ IV therapy that you receive psychological rehabilitation to avoid instances of relapse.
Why is NAD+ Therapy Important for Treating Addiction?
It is evidenced in research studies that a person who abuses alcohol and drugs tend to have their natural NAD+ depleted. As such, it is more difficult for such individuals to convert energy that is broken down from food and take a positive effect on the metabolic and neurologic systems.
Other studies also indicate that people who have reduced NAD+ in their systems are more likely to develop addition and potentially co-occurring disorders. Given this, NAD+ IV therapy may have a number of positive impacts on treating substance addiction.
- Restores Neurological Function and Cognitive Clarity
As mentioned previously, substance abuse typically plays an integral part in the depletion of NAD+ and brain cells. This damage doesn’t go away overnight, and depending on the severity of the damage, pone may require therapy for restoration purposes.
Even after one stops the abuse of substances, and they are in the recovery road, their brain will require time to fully recover. In such instances, NAD+ can help by boosting a person’s energy levels while detoxifying their body. By repairing the brain and restoring optimal functioning, the patient can be able to enjoy renewed mental clarity.
- Detoxifies Your Body
Apart from replenishing brain cells, NAD+ IV therapy can detoxify your body and restore it into an optimal state. Substance abuse and addiction can not only damage your neurological system; it also takes a heavy toll on your other body part by producing free radicals in abundance.
Free radicals are unpaired molecules that normally cause cellular damage in our bodies. NAD+ IV infusion can flush out these free radicals and other toxins caused by substance abuse and ultimately repair cellular damage. You can think of this as something of a system power-wash that allows you to start afresh. By getting rid of toxins and free radicals, you’ll be giving your body the best opportunity for recovery.
- Minimizes the Withdrawal Symptoms
In the road to recovery, getting past withdrawals and cravings are often the hardest part. Resisting chances of relapses and constantly experiencing withdrawal symptoms can be extremely taxing. In fact, a big percentage never make it past this stage, and eventually, end up relapsing.
NAD+ IV injections can reduce or eliminate these cravings along with withdrawal symptoms to ease your road to recovery. This is possible because NAD+ therapy can bid to the opiate receptors stimulated by abused substances and, in the process, counteract with cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
When NAD+ binds to these receptors, the patient will feel less of cravings or the ‘feel-good’ sensation that drugs and alcohol create, which will, in turn, reduce withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, the patients report zero cravings after NAD+ IV therapy.
- Enhances Energy Production
As mentioned prior, addiction depletes NAD+ levels in the body, and as a result, causes decreased energy. NAD+ IV therapy allows the patient’s body to produce energy more naturally, without jitters or a crash like sugar or caffeine, or the negative outcomes that may come with other substances.
NAD+ Therapy and Additional Support
Although NAD+ therapy has numerous benefits for people with substance addiction, it is not a miracle cure. Some patients may require additional psychological support to make the recovery process more efficient and enduring.
Some patients may even require supplementary medication or other rehabilitation programs for additional support. Regardless, the kind of support one needs and the length of NAD+ therapy sessions will depend on the severity of the addiction.
