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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Aifei Wang, LAc, MAc
Eastern Medicine and Smoking
NABACU Eastern Medicine Centers
. http://www.nabacu.com/

Eastern Medicine and Smoking

Smoking has severely negative effects on health; it can cause cancer, heart disease, stroke 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 on the first try. 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.

Through acupuncture and acupressure massage, 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. This approach is effective not only for quitting smoking but also for getting rid of addictions to other substances and bad habits.

Medical Research

The effects of acupuncture treatments for smoking addictions can be powerful and long lasting. A 1997 study conducted in Norway and published in Preventative Medicine 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 free of cigarettes.

Case Study

Andrew was a 36-year-old man who had been smoking for almost 20 years. He was accustomed to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day and found himself extremely anxious and jittery when he was unable to smoke.

Using aricular (ear) acupuncture, his body was relaxed, his anxiety was reduced and the symptoms of withdrawal were controlled. Very small, inconspicuous ear beads were also placed on the ear acupoints to maintain the stimulation between acupuncture treatments.

With an initial round of 10 treatments, followed by booster treatments thereafter, Andrew was able to successfully overcome his nicotine addiction.

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