Home remedies do not have a good basis of evidence to support their usage, and even though they might be well-meaning, they can do more harm than good.

Home remedies are methods that people may try at home to stop drinking alcohol. Some turn to home remedies because they do not want to enter medical treatment. People may be resistant to treatment because they are embarrassed to speak about the problem with their doctor. They may distrust medicine in general or they may have a negative view of what treatment means.

Alcoholism is a complex disease and medicine is just beginning to understand it. Addiction does not have a simple cure, and home remedies, while well-intentioned, do not have good evidence to support their usage.

Article at a Glance:  

Some people try home remedies to stop drinking alcohol because they don’t want medical treatment.  

Non-medical environments are often not safe for the alcohol detox process.  

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms that can be treated professionally include anxiety, depression, nausea, and trouble sleeping. 

Diet and psychotherapy can help aid medical detox from alcohol.  

Medical treatment programs help prevent relapse better than at-home treatment. 

Understanding Alcoholism

To understand the complexities of alcoholism, one should understand the different terms used in addiction treatment. Alcohol abuse is when a person drinks more alcohol than is healthy. Alcohol abuse can lead to short-term consequences like alcohol poisoning, or long-term consequences like high blood pressure and stroke. Alcohol dependence is when the cells of the body have adjusted to the presence of alcohol, and a person experiences symptoms of withdrawal when they stop drinking. Alcohol addiction, also called Alcohol Use Disorder, is a pattern of behavior where a person continues to drink alcohol even when they no longer receive pleasure from it, and even if it damages their health, relationships, work or finances.

Certain home remedies may lower cravings and treat short-term symptoms of a “hangover,” but this does not address the underlying addiction. Additionally, when a home remedy fails, the person may be tempted to return to drinking.

Are Home Remedies for Alcohol Detox Safe?

People often attempt home remedies with no professional supervision and sometimes to avoid healthcare professionals. However, non-medical environments may not be safe for the detox process. Alcohol may be on hand and friends and family trying to help may provide harmful medical advice.

Alcohol addiction is unpredictable, and it takes years of medical experience and training to understand what is helpful and what may lead to further harm. Some “home research” may give an idea of what to expect during alcohol detox, but there are subtle variations in how addiction manifests in different people.

Differences in genetics, lifestyle, length of addiction, mental health and other factors can make the detox experience unique to each individual. How one person’s body and mind react to the deprivation of alcohol might play out differently than how another person reacts. Those looking to detox at home should know alcohol detox can involve serious, sometimes fatal complications like Delerium Tremens.

People with no medical training cannot control for these differences and may not even know that such differences exist. When something happens that is beyond their understanding (for example, the patient’s withdrawal does not go according to plan), they may not have any idea how to react; at worst, they do something that actively endangers the patient’s life.

What Should Treatment be Like?

For the safest and most successful outcomes, alcoholism treatment should take place in a safe, controlled environment away from the distractions and temptations of life. During medical detox, a person has a team of experienced medical professionals to identify and manage issues that arise during withdrawal and treatment.

When detoxing from alcohol at home, alcohol may be on hand or quickly obtainable, making the process more challenging and likely to fail. The home may also have several addiction triggers that sabotage the process.

Addiction professionals can prescribe medications to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can be uncomfortable and sometimes life-threatening. Some examples of alcohol withdrawal symptoms may include:

  • Anxiety and nervousness
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Headache
  • Irritability
  • Loss of appetite
  • Mood swings
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Nightmares
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Shakiness
  • Sweating
  • Tiredness
  • Tremor of the hands or other body parts
  • Trouble sleeping

Prescription medications have the advantage of evidence to support their usage. Home remedies often are promoted by word-of-mouth or weak evidence.

In treatment, the right environment is vital. People may not realize that something as simple as sitting in the same chair they used to drink in may sabotage their detox. The brain is designed to create associations and the things a person used to do while drinking will remind them of the positive feelings they had at the time.

Detox in a controlled environment can improve the chances of treatment success because there are no learned habits (or access to alcohol) in a treatment setting.

Treatment and Diet

One of the advantages of medical detox is a healthy and regular diet. Distracting withdrawal symptoms may make it challenging to focus on proper nutrition during a home detox. People with alcohol use disorder are more likely to have nutrition deficits, especially B vitamins like thiamin. Eating right will drastically improve the chances of successful alcohol detox.

Common complications of withdrawal are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which increase the likelihood that someone may dehydrate. Dehydration during withdrawal will worsen other symptoms like tremors and seizures. Proper nutrition and hydration are critical during this stage.

Clinicians in substance abuse treatment centers are trained to consider proper nutrition during the recovery process. During home detox, a person may not have the energy or capacity to focus on every level of their care. Withdrawal symptoms make it challenging to prepare healthy and nutritious meals.

Treatment and Wellness

Alcohol treatment can be supported by wellness interventions that focus on maintaining optimal health during treatment. Wellness interventions can include a variety of health-supporting activities, such as meditation, exercise, massage, and even acupuncture. A focus on wellness not only supports your rehab experience, but also helps shift your focus from overcoming an alcohol addiction to developing and improving overall well-being.

Recovering from an alcohol use disorder isn’t just about stopping drinking, but should include a holistic approach that helps you become the healthiest version of yourself. Effective treatment facilities offer wellness-focused interventions that support you as a person instead of focusing only on the condition being treated.

Psychotherapy

A critical component of the recovery process is psychotherapy and counseling. An example of psychotherapy used for this process is called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT addresses a person’s emotional reactions to different events that happen to them and helps them evaluate whether those reactions are reasonable or not. CBT can help people understand their own reactions to the stressors of life and choose more healthy reactions.

CBT cannot be performed on oneself, and therefore cannot be included in a home remedy program. Even if a person achieves initial alcohol detox, the underlying addictive behavior will remain unless it is addressed and treated by a trained professional.

Habit-forming Activities

While drinking alcohol can become an addiction, alcohol use can also become a habit in smaller ways. By focusing on breaking the habits that can accompany alcoholism, like having a drink before bed, you’ll be better equipped to overcome alcohol addiction.

Forming or breaking a habit can take just over two months, but harmful habits can be replaced with healthier habits. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habits, suggests that forming a new habit involves making it obvious, attractive, easy and satisfying. Habits that replace alcohol can be easy to substitute, such as replacing a bedtime glass of wine with a cup of calming tea. Ideal replacement habits vary for everyone, but they should be rewarding and distract from the bad habit you’re trying to replace.

Relapse Prevention

Medically assisted alcohol rehab programs are structured to include medical detox, addiction treatment and finally, aftercare and relapse prevention. Home remedies often attempt to address the detox stage of alcoholism treatment, but fail to address treatment for addiction in a long-term fashion.

Appropriate relapse support must be in place to achieve a lasting and sustained recovery from alcohol use disorder. Rehab programs incorporate these types of teachings for patients, empowering them to anticipate and prevent future relapses. Relapse planning often includes anticipating and managing stressful scenarios before they trigger a relapse. It may also involve recruiting a sponsor from Alcoholics Anonymous or entering a sober living program.

Taking your recovery into your own hands may be tempting, but it’s not worth putting yourself through an incredibly dangerous process for an uncertain reward. Instead, call The Recovery Village. They have experienced health care and mental health professionals standing by to answer your questions about proper alcohol treatment and why home remedies for alcohol withdrawal don’t work. All it takes is one phone call, and your health and recovery will be in the hands of people who know how to help you.

a man sitting on a bed with his head in his hands.
Can I Detox From Alcohol At Home?

Alcohol detox isn’t easy and not everyone can do it on their own. That is why alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal treatment is administered by medical professionals.

a person holding a glass of beer on a couch.
Am I An Alcoholic?

Alcoholism takes many forms, and the stereotype doesn’t always hold true. So when do a few drinks with friends become a full-blown alcohol addiction? How do you know if you are an alcoholic?

a woman holding her stomach in front of her stomach.
Repairing Liver Damage From Alcohol Use

While cirrhosis scars from excessive drinking are irreversible, quitting alcohol and leading a healthier lifestyle can help your liver heal from alcohol-related liver disease.

a table topped with fruits and vegetables next to juice.
Foods to Eat When Detoxing From Alcohol

When detoxing, hydration is key. However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification.

a white alarm clock sitting on top of a wooden table.
How Long Does Alcohol Detox & Withdrawal Take?

Detox from alcohol can begin within hours. Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen for heavier drinkers. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session.

a group of people holding glasses of beer.
What Are the Effects of Daily Drinking?

Daily drinking can have serious consequences for a person’s health, both in the short- and long-term. Many of the effects of drinking every day can be reversed through early intervention.

a woman wearing glasses and a blazer.
Editor – Melissa Carmona
Melissa Carmona puts years of writing and editing experience to work helping people understand substance abuse, addiction and mental health disorders. Read more
a male in a white lab coat and tie.
Medically Reviewed By – Dr. Conor Sheehy, PharmD, BCPS, CACP
Dr. Sheehy completed his BS in Molecular Biology at the University of Idaho and went on to complete his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the University of Washington in Seattle. Read more
Sources

Medline Plus. “Alcohol Withdrawal.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, April 9, 2020. Accessed May 14, 2020.

Clapp, Peter; Bhave, Sanjiv; Hoffman, Paula. “How Adaptation of the Brain to Alcohol L[…]ological Perspective.” National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Accessed May 14, 2020.

Clear, J. “How Long Does it Actually Take to Form a[…] (Backed by Science).” Accessed March 9, 2022.

Clear, J. “How To Start New Habits That Actually Stick.” Accessed March 9, 2022.

Medical Disclaimer

The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.