Sy36-2nutritional and alternative interventions in addiction medicine.

The burgeoning area of the application of nutritional and alternative medicine technologies in integrated medicine and psychiatry has taken root in the treatment of addictive disorders. Nutritional supplements spanning a wide range may be therapeutic in treating both deficiencies or insufficiencies as well as an adjunct to pharmacological interventions. Nutritional supplements that are commonly utilized in the treatment of addiction disorders and corresponding co-morbid psychiatric disorders or symptoms include l-methylfolate, vitamin D, inositol, l-tryptophan, omega 3 fatty acids, s-adenosyl methionine (SAM-E), N-acetylcysteine (NAC), melatonin, rhodiola rosea, valerian, chromium, creatine, and hypericum. Additionally alternative technologies such as the Cranial-electrostimulator (CES) and the Biomat which delivers infrared heat have demonstrable effectiveness in reducing anxiety and pain. This symposium will present an overview with referenced background information on the various applications of various nutritional/alteranative interventions in addiction medicine.