Quit Smoking
How Many Treatments?
The length, number and frequency of treatments will vary. Typical treatments last from 15 to 30 minutes, with the patient being treated one or two times a week. Some symptoms are relieved after the first treatment, while more severe or chronic ailments often require multiple treatments. A stop smoking program will often consist of 4-6 initial treatments scheduled in the first few weeks followed by monthly treatments for four to six months.
How Does Acupuncture Help Break the Cigarette Habit?
Acupuncture is successful with smoking cessation and has turned a growing number of cigarette smokers into permanent ex-smokers. Treatments take all of your symptoms into account and aim at balancing the energy within the body to optimize health. Acupuncture as an alternative approach to smoking cessation has a growing number of converts. The acupuncture treatments focus on jitters, cravings, irritability and restlessness; all symptoms that people commonly complain about when they quit. It also aids in relaxation and detoxification. The acupuncture needles used are hair-thin. They are superficially inserted into various points in the body to assist with smoking cessation. In between treatments, small pellets are often taped to the acupuncture points on the ear. When a cigarette craving hits, gently pressing on the pellets stimulates the acupuncture points to calm the mind and eliminate the craving. These "ear-tags" serve to exert a constant mini-stimulus to special points found helpful in reducing withdrawal symptoms. Weight gain is less of a problem when acupuncture is used because the acupuncture points that reduce the craving for tobacco also help to control the craving for food. Acupuncture is not a panacea or a magic cure in the treatment of any addiction, including smoking. But, acupuncture is effective in making it easier to quit and remain smoke-free for good.