Acupuncture and Stopping Smoking

Many people ask if acupuncture is effective for stopping smoking. It can help people who are serious about trying to quit. Acupuncture can be very effective for calming the anxity, stress and depression that are often associated with quitting. Ear points used in acupuncture can calm cravings for a short period of time.

Many people ask about using acupuncture to stop smoking and they think it will take the work out of it. This is not true. Acupuncture can calm cravings, but it doesn’t remove them. It can help with the side effects but doesn’t remove the need to detox. Stopping smoking can still be very difficult for many people. However the health benefits of success are worth it.

Typically acupuncture treatments to help stop smoking a frequent in the first two weeks and then there is a follow up visit. Working with a hypnotherapist to find out the reasons for wanting to smoke in the first place can also be helpful. Most people in my area recommend doing many different things to stop smoking. The more helpful tools to kick the habit, the more likely you are to actually succeed.

It is best to not try and do too many things at one time. I have had patients who want to stop smoking and quit caffeine. If the caffeine is causing you to smoke, it’s probably a good thing. However trying to give up all vices at once can be overwhelming. It’s easier to start with just one thing and praise yourself regularly for the steps you are taking to improve your health.

There are many studies on acupuncture and substance abuse. Many of these are dealing with drugs and alcohol. Below is one of the studies specific to acupuncture and stopping smoking.

Clavel F, Benhamou S, Company-Huertas A and Flamant R (1985) Helping people to stop smoking: randomized comparison of groups being treated with acupuncture and nicotine gum with control group, Brit Med J 291:1538-1539.

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