CAN ACUPUNCTURE FINALLY HELP YOU QUIT SMOKING?
With every new year comes a host of New Year’s resolutions, and quitting smoking definitely tops the list. We all know how harmful smoking is, but for the (still) many smokers, it is a highly addictive habit! Several methods exist for smokers who want to quit for good. However, these methods, such as nicotine patches and gums, or popular e-cigarettes, are associated with other addiction problems.
Acupuncture is an option that is attracting more and more followers. It is a method that does not lead to addiction or produce any side effects. On the contrary, it can yield a number of related benefits. In a recent study entitled Alternative smoking cessation aids: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials,1 scientists examined the results of 14 different trials on smoking cession aids. One series of trials, which followed 823 patients, concluded that acupuncture seems effective in helping people quit smoking. Although very few studies have been conducted to date, there is a growing interest in acupuncture.
Acupuncture helps with smoking cessation in a number of ways. It decreases levels of agitation and anxiety, curbs cravings and lessens irritability. It promotes relaxation and helps detoxify the body. Acupuncture can also restore the body’s equilibrium and help with the healing process. Certain acupuncture points have particular effects on the psychological sphere and can be very effective in helping people who are going through withdrawal.
The “Tim Mee” point is used specifically in smoking cessation. It is located above the wrist crease, on the inside of the arm, and alters the way cigarettes taste. Patients treated with the use of this point often say that they can no longer smoke because their cigarettes taste horrible. Tim Mee is used in conjunction with other points, such as those that make up the NADA protocol, a reference system for addiction treatment that was first developed in the 1970s. It involves the use of points that promote calm, and effectively reduce irritability, anger and anxiety among people going through withdrawal.
CAN ACUPUNCTURE CURE MY ADDICTION?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Cigarette addiction is one of the hardest addictions to beat. If you are ready to quit for good, acupuncture can be a very valuable tool in your arsenal. It will provide support and diminish your discomfort, but smoking cessation comes first and foremost from a genuine desire to quit. Only you can make that decision. Will 2017 finally be the year you give up smoking?
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Forcemedic takes your health to heart!
Alexandra Duclos, Ac. | Forcemedic
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22502956