Acupuncture for Smoking Cessation

People who seek out acupuncture for smoking cessation are usually highly motivated to quit smoking. They may have attempted to quit previously without success, but now feel that they are ready. Their reasons for wanting to stop smoking are varied. Some may have developed health problems from smoking, such as shortness of breath, a chronic cough or an increased frequency of colds and flu; others may not be experiencing adverse health consequences, but want to prevent them from developing and improve their health. Some decide to stop smoking when a loved one develops a smoking-related illness such as emphysema or lung cancer. The diseases associated with smoking are widely known. Many no longer want the expense and dependency of tobacco or they feel a social pressure not to smoke. Ultimately, one has to want to quit smoking for him or herself and not for anyone else. It just won't work. They have to be self-motivated. Every person who chooses acupuncture to quit smoking has a strong desire to quit now, rather than putting it off indefinitely. 

How does it work?

Some of the largest stumbling blocks to becoming smoke-free are the stress, anxiety and depression associated with quitting. Fortunately, acupuncture treatment is quite successful at calming  and relaxing the mind, reducing anxiety and alleviating depressive feelings.

During  your first appointment, you will be assessed in a variety of ways. This will assist us  in identifying the behaviors, habits and triggers that lead to smoking.  Nicotine is a powerful mood-altering chemical that can be sedating or stimulating, depending on the individual. A few examples of triggers for smoking are:

Smoking when on the phone

Smoking when angry, upset, sad or lonely

Smoking when drinking coffee or alcohol

At the first appointment, your specific circumstances are reviewed and discussed, and a physical exam including blood pressure and methods from Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), such as taking the pulse and observing the tongue, are employed. The purpose of this interview is to determine the Chinese medical diagnosis for you and the individualized treatment you will receive. 

Taking into account each person's unique smoking habits and physical and emotional make-up, every patient's acupuncture treatment is tailor-made and designed for him or her. No two people are treated exactly the same. At this session, you learn to identify your particular triggers for smoking and how to avoid them. Acupuncture can reduce the cravings and lessen the withdrawal symptoms associated with your efforts to quit smoking. Since the first month of quitting is probably the most difficult, the acupuncture program can ease you through this time. 

Since smoking cessation is a form of addiction control, we have included more information on our Addiction Control page.

For more information on the specifics of addiction control, please see our page at Addiction Control. 

Please contact us at 704.968.0351 for a complete consultation.