The most common question regarding acupuncture for smoking cessation is "Does it work?" The answer is, yes, in about 90% of the cases, cravings are reduced significantly – by about 50-80%. However, acupuncture will not completely eliminate the urge to smoke ever again. To quit for good, you must prepare yourself for what will be a considerable challenge, and know that the acupuncture should help to make the process easier. Before we begin treatment, the doctor will discuss with you the issues listed below. When you have decided that you are ready to quit, the doctor will help you to plan your individual smoking cessation strategy, and treatment will begin.
- Deciding versus trying to quit.
- Identify and remove/replace obstacles and triggers:
- Time of day
- Activities
- Environments & Situations
- Friends & Co-workers
- Friends & Co-workers
- Deep breathing & relaxation techniques.
- Short-term herbal and/or homeopathic support:
- Nico-End to reduce craving.
- Kava-Kava to reduce stress & anxiety.
- Exercise
- Acupuncture point stimulation: 2-4 times per week, for 2-4 weeks, while continuing to monitor symptoms and progress.
Copyright ©2007-2010 - Progressive Chiropractic
All rights reserved.
PROGRESSIVE HEALTH & WELLNESS BLOG: HOW ACCUPUNCTURE WORKS : Acupuncture and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine have been in existence for over 4,000 years. Yet the explanation for how acupuncture works has been largely based on theory. The basic theory is outlined in a text from 200 B.C. It acknowledges in people and nature a vital energy or life force known as Qi (pronounced "chee"). Qi flows through the body via channels called meridians. If the Qi flow is altered, the resulting deficiency, excess, or stagnation of qi causes bodily malfunction, illness, and inability to heal properly. Acupuncture, in which needles are inserted into specific points along these meridians, restores the proper Qi flow, thereby returning the body to a state of improved health and decreased pain.Chiropractic doctors and other licensed practitioners administer about 10 million acupuncture treatments each year in the US, most commonly for pain control, sports injuries, and smoking cessation. As the popularity of acupuncture increases, researchers have become more interested into proving exactly how acupuncture works. To date, researchers have been able to measure an increased flow of acupuncture-induced endorphins. This explains the pain-relieving effect of acupuncture. Also, functional MRI's have measured changes in the activity of key centers of the brain, where pain is interpreted, when certain acupuncture points are treated. There are other beneficial effects of acupuncture also being researched, including the treatment of: nausea, asthma, sinus conditions, colds and the immune system, and other internal disorders. Furthermore, acupuncture has been observed clinically to enhance healing, and provide long-lasting pain relief. Read More |