According to the center, this pro- prietary blend of specifically formulated amino acids helps repair areas of the nervous system damaged by addictive substances and restores the brain to its pre-addictive state. The treatment has also been known to improve mental clarity and memory.
Dr. Daniela Colon (left) and Dr. Jorge Vazquez
one: Instead of thinking, ‘I can’t be so- cial without drinking or using,’ substi- tute this thought: ‘If I can talk about the weather, sports, food, movies or any other simple topic, I can be social.’”
Hitt Wellness Center At the Hitt Wellness Center, in Tijuana, Mexico, the minute, but powerful brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine, as well as their receptor sites, are of great in- terest in the pursuit of addiction recovery. A healthy brain relies primarily upon a complicated mix of neurotrans- mitters and receptor sites, as well as the electrical processes that take place within it. Serotonin and dopamine, part of a group of compounds called bio- genic amines, are produced from basic amino acids such as tyrosine, trypto- phan and choline.
These amines are integral to addic- tion recovery because mood-altering and addictive drugs show a straight- forward affinity for their receptor sites. Serotonin is a central nervous system neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, sleep, appetite and sexuality. Dopamine, another neurotransmit- ter that provides feelings of enjoyment, is associated with the motivation and reward centers of the brain, behavioral reinforcement, coordination of body movement and addiction. Like sero- tonin, it appears to be strongly involved in mediating cravings—drug hunger, as well as real hunger.
William Hitt, the center’s founder, was ahead of his time with his research to restore neurotransmitter recep- tor sites, and he received a lifetime achievement award in 2008 from the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Educators for the nutraceutical formula he developed.
At the center, this natural, nutri- tional therapy for the brain is referred to as the “addiction prescription,” because it provides the brain with prolonged exposure to optimized nutrients. “Bath- ing” brain cells in this manner allows them to repair the damage caused by drugs, alcohol abuse and stress. The five- to 10-day healing process supports the immune system, restores the neurotransmitters, stops cravings and detoxes the body. Administered intravenously on an outpatient basis, the therapy has been known to help with addictions, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic syndrome. A pioneer in the addiction field, the Hitt Wellness Center began helping substance abusers more than 15 years ago. Since then, many scientific studies have been published confirming that the brain can grow new neurons via a process known as neurogenesis. The addiction prescription facilitates this process and gives hope to thousands of individuals searching for an answer to addiction.
Essel emphasizes that there is no single “silver bullet” that ensures healing from addiction. Like Urschel and Hitt, he emphasizes a holistic approach. “You can’t get hung up on any one aspect of the program, be- cause they are all essential to recov- ery,” he says.
Harold C. Urschel, III, M.D., Enter- health, Van Alstyne, TX 75495 (an hour from the Dallas/Fort Worth Internation- al Airport). Call 800-388-4601 or visit
Enterhealth.com.
David Essel, Life Coach Universe, 13010 Metro Pkwy., Fort Myers, FL 33966. Call 941-266-7676 or visit
DavidEssel.com. See ad, page 6.
Hitt Wellness Center, 1572 Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, Tijuana, Mexico. Call 888-671- 9849 or visit
WilliamHittCenter.com.
natural awakenings June 2011 31
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