Stop Smoking With EASE

Every year, more and more people decide to quit smoking. Some find that smoking takes up too much time and money. Others decide that they rather not risk their health. Whatever their reasons, many smokers decide to quit only to find that quitting is not as easy as it sounds. In fact, quitting smoking, like quitting any addiction, can be very difficult. Acupuncture to stop smoking is a treatment that can be highly effective when sometimes even methods like the patch or the pill just don’t work.

Acupuncture which has been practiced successfully for centuries is now commonly used for a number of ailments, including nicotine addiction. Acupuncture to stop smoking can help smokers to conquer their addiction to nicotine and relieve withdrawal symptoms. Acupuncture assists people to quit smoking by treating symptoms specific to each individual, which creates balance within the body. A physical exam is often done to learn each person’s needs and to develop an individualized treatment plan.

Acupuncturists can help people who want to stop smoking but the number of treatments and frequency of the treatments will depend on the individual diagnosis. Most smoking cessation treatments last between fifteen minutes to a half an hour and a majority of patients visit an acupuncturist once or twice each week. Patients who seek the help of an acupuncturist to stop smoking will receive about four to six 30-minute treatments during the first few weeks. The number of treatments varies, but one or two per week are generally recommended. As symptoms of nicotine withdrawal decrease, patients need only attend one session per month.

Acupuncturists usually focus on several points on the body when dealing with people who want to quit smoking. Many acupuncturists deal with the shen men point to alleviate tension, the kidney to increase willpower, the master point zero to induce homeostasis, and the lungs to relieve symptoms of withdrawal. They may also focus on the tim mee, which is a point on the wrist, in order to help smokers quit, as well as the four gate points in order to calm the nervous system.

Acupuncturists sometimes recommend herbal preparations and supplements together with their acupuncture treatments to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. For example, it’s quite common for acupuncturists to have their patients drink green tea during the detox period to prevent the body from craving cigarettes. Some acupuncturists feel that certain tonics are helpful in lubricating the lungs and mouth to decrease craving.

Other acupuncturists recommend tonics to moisten the lungs and mouth, thus preventing cravings, as well as herbal preparations in order to relieve anxiety and irritability.

During withdrawal, smokers are encouraged to exercise and rid their body of toxins by eating fresh fruit, vegetable juices, and clear soups. Patients are also recommended to eat carrots, celery, oranges and other citrus fruits, as well as leafy greens. It is important to avoid sugar, including chocolate, coffee, and other junk foods.

Quitting smoking takes a lot of courage and will power. Drinking lots of water, exercising regularly with proper breathing, and getting help from friends and loved ones is a must. Whenever the urge for a cigarette comes on, either go for a long walk, talk to a friend or do whatever can take the mind of the cravings.

Tags: Smoking