Cigarette smoking is not only one of the unhealthiest, but also one of the most difficult habits to overcome. Everyone knows the health risks. The question now is “how do you stop”? It’s a fact that most smokers want to quit but have not found a therapy that works and has lasting results. If you’re feeling hopeless and you truly want to rid yourself of this nasty habit, then you’ve come to the right place. At our clinic in Boca Raton, we have had tremendous success using acupuncture to help our patients quit smoking.
Whatever the reason is that you started in the first place – peer pressure, rebellion, stress, to lose weight – we want to help you quit. Acupuncture is a form of alternative holistic medicine that has been proven to work for smoking cessation without the side effects of drugs or the cost of nicotine replacement therapies.
Conventional Methods Used to Quit Smoking
We all have heard about what happens when you try to quit smoking. It can be an extremely torturous experience. Headaches, irritability, depression, anxiety, restlessness, nausea, heartburn, insomnia, increased appetite and even hallucinations (in some cases) are just some of the side effects experiences. Because 55 million people in the USA alone are smokers, western medicine has gone to great lengths to find solutions to kick this habit. Here are a few…
1. Nicotine replacement therapies – these are methods that continue to give your body nicotine while you stop smoking so you will not get the full wrath of withdrawal. They include nicotine patch, injections and drinks.
2. Drugs – prescription drugs such as Zyban (bupropion) and Chantix (varenicline) will manipulate your nicotine receptors in the brain, reducing your urge to smoke and may even make the smell of smoke appalling to you.
3. Support groups – just like alcohol anonymous there are groups where people encourage and support each other to quit.
How Acupuncture helps to Quit Smoking
Acupuncture is a viable, painless method that has proven very helpful in smoking cessation. An acupuncturist uses small needles strategically placed at different points on the body proven to promote balance, facilitate detox of nicotine, reduce cravings for nicotine, improve mood, ease tension and promote relaxation.
The Most common points used to treat smoking cessation are Tianmei (on the wrist) along with Shenmen, Kidney point, Point Zero, Lung points, Appetite control point, and Endocrine point (all on the ear). Other points may be selected if appropriate. The needles are thin, sterile (used only one time), and virtually painless.
After the acupuncture needles are removed, metallic ear pellets or seeds are placed on these points for the patient to stimulate (rub gently) at home. Every time one gets a craving to smoke, they must press or rub the pellets to reduce the craving. Acupuncture sessions to quit smoking last about 30-40 minutes and should be done at least 2 sessions a week for two weeks to be most effective.
Backed by Scientific Research…
A recent study called “Alternative Smoking Cessation Aids” carried out a random effect meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to determine the efficacy of an acupuncture (6 studies with 832 patients from 14 countries). Researchers discovered that acupuncture helped to detox the body, reducing stress levels on the body as well as levels of nicotine with each session of acupuncture. The conclusion was that acupuncture reduced cravings, eased tension and helped the body detox at a much better rate than pharmacotherapies.
Quit Smoking – Start Today!
So, what are you waiting for? Call Boca Raton Acupuncture today and let Dr. Matthew Enright and Dr. Landon Agoado help you quit smoking. Consultations are free! Call us at 561-939-0430 and let us show you how effective acupuncture really is!
