A New Way of Life.
You have made multiple attempts to give up smoking, but time and again the irresistible desire for a nicotine fix has sabotaged your efforts. You've tried a variety of different smoking-cessation tools, including nicotine patches, gum and lozenges, as well as a prescription medicine designed to suppress your need for nicotine, but none of them managed to get you where you want to go. Maybe it's time to give acupuncture a try.
How Does It Work?
The use of acupuncture as a tool to quit smoking has grown in popularity in recent years. Some smokers have kicked the habit successfully through acupuncture alone, while others have found it useful in combination with other smoking-cessation aids. Acupuncture is the age-old Chinese medical treatment for pain, disease and even addiction in which tiny needles are strategically inserted at key points in the body. According to traditional Chinese medicine, these points are located at key intervals along the pathways or meridians through which the body's life force flows. Be warned that if you decide to try acupuncture as a way to stop smoking, the procedure almost always involves the placement and manipulation of needles in the ears. It may look painful, but those who have tried acupuncture insist that it really isn't.
The Art of Acupuncture
Underlying the practice of acupuncture is the belief that the overall well-being of the human body is dependent on a vigorous flow of energy, known by the Chinese as Qi, throughout the body. To improve overall health and address specific health complaints, acupuncturists target areas in which the flow of Qi appears to be impeded. Find a licensed acupuncturist in your area, and make sure to inquire about the acupuncturist's experience in handling smoking-related cases.
Energy Flows
Acupuncturists all have their own special techniques for addressing the challenge of smoking cessation. However, all will look for points on your ear where they determine that the flow of energy is low. To help reverse this weakened flow of energy, tiny needles will be inserted at the designated points. Typically, four or five needles will be used for each session, and you may be required to come back for multiple sessions to complete the therapy.
Target Points
Diane Joswick, a licensed acupuncturist, identifies some of the points on the ear that are most likely to be targeted to help a patient quit smoking. These include the shen men, located on the upper half of the ear, but not related to any specific organ, and other points on the ear that are tied to the proper functioning of the kidneys, lungs and appetite. Joswick points out that acupuncture treatments for smoking cessation are sometime expanded to include a couple of points elsewhere on the body.
Will It Work?
There is no scientific proof that acupuncture will successfully end your addiction to nicotine. However, many former smokers have found success in kicking the habit, some through acupuncture alone and others who used acupuncture in combination with other smoking-cessation aids. You will have to see for yourself how well it works for you.
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