“With acupuncture, we can increase the body’s natural production of endorphins and dopamine, relieving you of the need to turn to cigarettes for that ‘high’ feeling.”

QUIT SMOKING

Smoking has severely negative effects on health; it can cause cancer, heart disease, strokes, and even death. Despite these risks being widely known, people still find it very difficult to quit smoking.

Two-thirds of all smokers consider quitting each year, but only 7% are successful in doing so alone.

On the physical level, nicotine triggers chemical reactions in the body to release dopamine and endorphins, which heighten awareness and cause a feeling of pleasure. This sensation is what creates the nicotine addiction. With acupuncture, we can increase the body’s natural production of endorphins and dopamine, relieving you of the need to turn to cigarettes for that “high” feeling.

We can also reduce the stress, anxiety, cravings, and depression that often arise during the process of quitting. These withdrawal symptoms can be one of the most difficult parts of successfully overcoming an addiction, and reducing them can make it significantly easier for you to stay the course. We’ll also teach you techniques to enhance your self-control throughout this program.

TREATMENT PLAN

Week 1: Prepare
We’ll help you recognize your triggers and seek support from those around you. The first week, you will receive two acupuncture treatments and learn to control your cravings. Your cigarette use will begin to diminish.

Week 2: Control
The second week, you will exercise the control you learned last week with the help of two acupuncture treatments. The goal this week is to cut your cigarette use in half.

Week 3: Detox
Three more acupuncture treatments in week three treat the physiological aspects of withdrawal symptoms. This is the toughest week, as you reduce your cigarette consumption to zero and officially become a non-smoker.

Weeks 4, 5, 6: Maintain
In weeks four through six, one acupuncture treatment each week supports you as become a non-smoker and develop new, healthier habits.

MEDICAL RESEARCH

The effects of acupuncture treatments can be effective and long-lasting. One study conducted in Norway followed 46 smokers, both men and women, over a treatment period of eight months and a follow-up period of five years. During the treatment period, twice as many people receiving acupuncture successfully reduced their smoking, compared to those in the control group. The control group also showed a tendency to relapse over the next five years, whereas those who had been treated with acupuncture were able to stay off smoking.

Research Links:
Effects of Acupuncture on Smoking Cessation, Preventative Medicine

Nabacu Eastern Medicine > Services > Quit Smoking