ADDICTION RECOVERY
Clinically Grounded, Gut-Focused Path to Healing
Recovery isn’t just about abstinence; it’s about restoring balance where it’s been lost.
Emerging research shows the gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in mental health, brain function, and emotional regulation, all crucial in recovering from substance use disorders. Disruptions in this delicate ecosystem can impact everything from dopamine production to immune resilience.
Our Gut Health Recovery Program is built around this science. We start with advanced diagnostic testing to assess microbial diversity, inflammation, and nutrient absorption, then develop a personalized plan rooted in clinical insight and whole-person healing.
Because true recovery doesn’t just happen in the mind, it begins in the gut.
A Healthy Gut is Essential to Healing the Whole You
Why Does Gut Healing Matter in Recovery?
Your gut houses trillions of microorganisms that influence everything from neurotransmitter production to immune function, inflammation, and even mood regulation. Poor gut health and nutritional deficiencies can worsen withdrawal symptoms, contribute to mental health issues, and disrupt your ability to keep emotional balance.
In people with alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorders, long-term substance exposure often damages the gut lining, reduces beneficial bacteria, and alters neurotransmitter balance, most importantly dopamine and serotonin, which play a role in cravings and mood.
Balancing Brain Chemistry from the Inside Out
Your gut isn’t just for digestion; it’s a major site of neurotransmitter activity.
- Serotonin: About 90% of this mood-stabilizing neurotransmitter is produced in the gut. When gut bacteria are imbalanced (dysbiosis), serotonin levels drop, increasing the risk of depression and anxiety.
- GABA: Strains like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium help produce GABA, which calms the nervous system and supports emotional balance.
- Dopamine: The gut also influences dopamine pathways tied to motivation and reward-seeking behaviors, making it a key player in managing cravings.
Balanced gut bacteria help regulate these chemical messengers, reducing emotional volatility and mood swings during recovery.
Inflammation Fuels Emotional Instability
When the gut lining becomes compromised toxins like lipopolysaccharides enter the bloodstream and trigger systemic inflammation.
- This inflammation disrupts the brain’s stress circuits, raising cortisol and contributing to anxiety, irritability, and depression.
- Anti-inflammatory bacteria like Bifidobacterium longum and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate help restore immune balance and calm the brain.
Reducing inflammation means more emotional stability and fewer reactive stress responses that threaten sobriety.
Stress Response Regulation
The gut microbiome helps regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which governs your response to stress.
- Dysbiosis overstimulates the HPA axis, leading to elevated cortisol, poor sleep, and increased cravings.
- A resilient microbiome normalizes your bodily function, supporting better stress management during withdrawal and beyond.
By calming your internal stress system, you gain clarity and control, even in high-pressure moments.
Quiet Cravings at the Source
The gut communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve and imbalances in bacteria can alter this messaging.
- Harmful strains like Clostridium may produce metabolites that reinforce addictive behavior.
- A healthy gut ecosystem helps quiet those signals, reducing urges and stabilizing decision-making.
When your cravings lessen, long-term recovery feels more achievable.
Restore What Addiction Depletes
Substance use depletes essential nutrients like B vitamins and magnesium, key players in cognition, focus, and mood.
- Gut damage hinders absorption, leaving the brain undernourished.
- Restoring gut integrity supports optimal delivery of these nutrients, enhancing mental clarity and emotional resilience.
When your brain has what it needs, your recovery has a stronger foundation.
Functional Medicine & Addiction Recovery
KOI Wellbeing’s recovery protocol addresses the relationship between the gut and brain to help you reclaim mental clarity, emotional resilience, and whole-body vitality.
Our team uses functional lab testing to evaluate:
- Microbiome composition and balance of bacteria
- Food sensitivities and inflammatory triggers
- Nutrient absorption, including iron, amino acids, and B vitamins
- Gut-derived neurotransmitter support
We then create a personalized treatment plan using nutrition, supplementation, and gut-friendly therapies to support your unique recovery goals.
Program Overview
Phase 1: Detox & Stabilization (Weeks 1–4)
We begin by supporting your body’s natural detox pathways, restoring nutrient levels, and calming the nervous system. During this phase, you’ll undergo advanced gut testing, receive targeted IV therapy, and follow an anti-inflammatory diet designed to reduce cravings and stabilize mood.
Key Goals:
- Assess microbiome balance, inflammation, and nutrient status
- Replenish essential nutrients with IVs and supplements
- Begin repairing gut integrity and neurotransmitter pathways
Phase 2: Repair & Rebuild (Weeks 5–10)
Once stabilized, we dive deeper into gut healing. With test data in hand, we customize nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle support to target emotional triggers, improve absorption, and enhance mental clarity.
Key Goals:
- Address residual inflammation and nutrient gaps
- Promote microbiome diversity and neurotransmitter support
- Introduce digestive enzymes, SCFAs, and resilient routines
Phase 3: Maintenance & Resilience (Weeks 11–16+)
In the final stage, we focus on long-term sustainability. You’ll build routines that support brain health, blood sugar balance, and emotional stability—backed by a healthy, resilient gut.
Key Goals:
- Maintain microbial balance and nutrient sufficiency
- Support mood, sleep, and energy with tailored supplementation
- Establish habits for lifelong gut-brain health and relapse prevention
Clinically Proven Benefits
A healthy gut microbiome plays a vital role in addiction recovery, both for physical and mental well-being. With proper nutrition and carefully tailored lifestyle guidance, those in the recovery process are supporting by a range of benefits:
- Reduce systemic and intestinal inflammation
- Improve mood stability and cognitive function
- Address digestive issues, nutrient absorption, and blood sugar regulation
- Restore a balanced microbiome to reduce cravings and relapse risk
- Support production of key neurotransmitters for emotional well-being
Support Beyond Supplements
Gut healing is just the beginning. True recovery requires support that goes deeper: nourishing the mind, body, and daily habits that keep you grounded.
At KOI Wellbeing, we offer integrative tools that complement and enhance your recovery journey.
Your care plan may include:
- Probiotic-rich foods, fiber-rich foods, and targeted gut-friendly nutrition
- Lifestyle coaching for stress management and sleep hygiene
- IV nutrient therapy to correct deficiencies during early recovery
- Emotional health support rooted in the gut-brain connection
We work with individuals in all stages of recovery from substance abuse, and our program complements traditional addiction treatment or behavioral therapy.
This Is Your Next Chapter, Why Not Start Strong?
Discover the missing link in your journey to sobriety and build a stronger foundation for long-term recovery.
Schedule a consultation at KOI Wellbeing Today.