Little Known Tips For Using Acupuncture to Stop Smoking

Every year, the number of people who make the decision to quit smoking increases. Some choose to quit because smoking costs them too much money. Others quit due to concern over their health. Regardless of their initial motivation, many of these would be quitters soon realize that quitting smoking is not as easy as they thought. Smoking is an addiction, and like giving up any other addiction, quitting is a difficult task. Even popular methods like a medication or the patch may fail or become too expensive. A viable alternative treatment for the smoker trying hard to quit is acupuncture to stop smoking.



Acupuncture which has been practiced successfully for centuries is now commonly used for a number of ailments, including nicotine addiction. Acupuncture to stop smoking can help smokers to conquer their addiction to nicotine and relieve withdrawal symptoms. Acupuncture assists people to quit smoking by treating symptoms specific to each individual, which creates balance within the body. A physical exam is often done to learn each person's needs and to develop an individualized treatment plan.



Acupuncturists can help people who want to stop smoking but the number of treatments and frequency of the treatments will depend on the individual diagnosis. Most smoking cessation treatments last between fifteen minutes to a half an hour and a majority of patients visit an acupuncturist once or twice each week. Patients who seek the help of an acupuncturist to stop smoking will receive about four to six 30-minute treatments during the first few weeks. The number of treatments varies, but one or two per week are generally recommended. As symptoms of nicotine withdrawal decrease, patients need only attend one session per month.



A patient's unique symptoms will determine the exact treatment that he or she gets. For those who are trying to quit smoking, however, certain spots on the body will usually be the focus for the acupuncturist. Many acupuncturists work with the body's shen men point to relieve tension, the kidney to improve self-control, the master point zero to stimulate homeostasis, and also the lungs to alleviate nicotine withdrawal symptoms. To help patients quit smoking they may also turn their attention to a point in the wrist referred to as the tim mee along with the four gate points to relax the nervous system.



Acupuncturists have also been known to prescribe herbs and supplements along with their treatments in order to control symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. For example, many acupuncturists prescribe green tea during the detoxification period so that the body is discouraged from experiencing nicotine cravings.



Other acupuncturists recommend tonics to moisten the lungs and mouth, thus preventing cravings, as well as herbal preparations in order to relieve anxiety and irritability.



While on the road to quitting smoking, smokers are urged to eat plenty of fresh fruit, citrus fruits, leafy greens and vegetables and to exercise to flush out the toxins from their system. Foods such as sugar, chocolate, coffee and junk foods are to be avoided.



Smokers should drink a lot of water, practice breathing properly, do daily exercises. Developing a strong support system to help them quit smoking is a good idea as well as having a plan in place to help them fight cravings. For example, when they crave a cigarette, smokers should instead call a friend or take a walk to shift their focus.

How to Quit Smoking - Stop With a Well Known Prescription Drug

Chantix (generic name Varenicline) was hailed as a quit smoking wonder drug when it was launched a few years ago. This powerful mind altering drug blocks the pleasure receptors in your brain so that lighting-up that craved-for cigarette no longer gives you a buzz. It blocks the effect of the nicotine so that you stop getting your fix. Since you're no longer enjoying smoking you lose your craving, and your desire to smoke fades away. That's the theory, anyway! But even the manufacturers suggest you'll need 'behaviour modification' and 'counselling support.' You may need to take a course of treatment for up to twelve weeks, and you might need a second round of treatment if you're still craving cigarettes.



So it's not quite a wonder drug. And there are some well known side-effects which can be very serious. The less serious side-effects can include stomach upset, rashes and skin eruptions, drowsiness and vivid dreams. But remember that this drug works on your mind and some people have had to stop taking Chantix because of its effect on their mood.



Although doctors have issued millions of prescriptions for Chantix, enthusiasm for the drug was tempered by reports of aggressive behaviour and suicidal feelings in those people taking it. In 2008 reports about the adverse psychological effects prompted the US Food and Drug Administration to issue a Chantix safety warning.



Dr. Nancy Rigotti conducted Chantix research studies at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where she was director of the Tobacco Research and Treatment Unit.



"Those trials mostly enrolled people who were pretty healthy," she said. "They did not include people with depression or much of a history of depression."



Dr. Rigotti thought it was possible that Chantix, "might have more psychiatric side effects in certain groups of people."



Should you try it? There is no doubt that for many people it can be a significant factor in their quit smoking program. For some people it works where other, less drastic, methods have failed. You will need a good sympathetic doctor who has experience of prescribing Chantix and who can monitor you for the first signs of any dangerous side effects. You will also need counselling if you are to become a permanent non-smoker.



Taking Chantix is a serious step which can have dangerous repercussions if you are someone who is in the least susceptible to psychiatric disturbance. There are other less extreme methods you can use to quit smoking which may be more effective in the long term.