BrainSpark Health, an outpatient, holistic addiction healing and wellness center, offers treatment, hope and healing for those seeking detox therapy for opioid use and beyond. They administer treatments that compassionately and effectively heal the body and brain from the damage caused by drugs and alcohol. Intravenous nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (IV NAD) is a nutraceutical consisting of amino acids and proteins that repairs neurotransmitters damaged from drug and alcohol use. Alcohol and prescription or illegal mood-altering drugs work by either mimicking the action of neurotransmitters or artificially stimulating/suppressing them.

Continued use of these substances gradually decrease the brain cells' natural ability to send or receive signals, effectively damaging the neurotransmitters. The nervous system then becomes physically dependent on the substance to maintain feelings of normalcy and avoid withdrawal. The body does not naturally have adequate quantities of protein to repair this type of damage.

Abrupt withdrawal can be a dangerous shock to the body, and gradual reduction slow and painful. Without the ability to repair these neurotransmitters, it is extremely difficult for patients to manage the long-term symptoms associated with the neurotransmitter damage that include anxiety, depression, insomnia, cravings, pain, brain fog and fatigue.

Using IV NAD therapy, the healing and repair of these neurotransmitters not only reduces withdrawal symptoms, but also restores normal neurotransmitter function. This restoration brings back a vitality and clarity that addicted patients have been missing. It is this repair of neurotransmitters that sets addicted patients up for success in the rehab process. Without it, patients heavily rely on will power alone, which often results in relapse.

The detox and healing component of IV NAD therapy, in addition to ongoing supportive rehabilitation, have anecdotally increased patients' rates of long-term sobriety. In addition to patients in immediate need of detox and rehab therapy, IV NAD treatments have also been shown to be beneficial to those patients that know they need help, but are not ready for a long-term or in-patient rehab program. This includes patients that overuse alcohol and are self-medicating for PTSD, anxiety and depression.

BrainSpark patients are treated in serene, private, spa-like rooms. Flat screen televisions and private restrooms are offered in each space. Patients also have access to a library of self-help and popular fiction books for positive reinforcement. The meals and snacks provided are organic and nutritionally sound. The spacious treatment rooms allow patients to practice gentle yoga, stretching and meditation as desired. Reiki, acupuncture and massage therapies are provided to support patient through the detox process. Each patient's treatment is individualized and thoughtfully considered to provide maximum comfort throughout their daily visits.

Typical IV NAD treatments are done as outpatient infusions for six to eight hours over 10 consecutive days. The cost is one-third the amount of conventional inpatient detox centers. Although this therapy is not covered by most health insurance plans, patients have successfully obtained reimbursement from their health savings plans.

BrainSpark Health's first location is at 649 W. Germantown Pike, in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. Additional locations are planned around the country. For more information, call 866-278-9987 or visit BrainSparkHealth.com.

Ciara Levine is the clinical director of BrainSpark. For more information, call 866-278-9987, email [email protected] or visit BrainSparkHealth.com.