How Acupuncture Can Help You Stop Smoking

Why you should quit smoking today?

The major cause of death of men in us is lung cancer and next prostate cancer.

About twice of men died from cancer than women, since the number of female smokers increases so much, the lung cancer death rate of women is also rapidly growing.

Researches: 25-40 % of people dying from cancer are the smokers. Although 80-90% of the smoking related cancers are lung cancer, the cancers in the region of mouth, throat, esophageal, stomach, intestines, pancreas, urinary bladder, cervix of uterus is related to smoking to a certain extent.

If you stop smoking now, it will affect your health immediately and lower the chance of cancer significantly.

The longer you quit smoking, the less chance of cancer you will have.

The cancer causing factor:

• How many tobaccos do you smoke?
• How long have you been smoking?
• When did you start smoking?

The recent research reveals that a long period of light smoking gives more damage on the health than several years of heavy smoking.

Therefore to avoid lung cancer or any other cancers, you should quit smoking completely, you should not decrease the number of tobaccos for a day and think it will help your health.

And if you smoke and drink, you will have more chance of oral cancer.

More researches show that lung cancer, bronchitis, emphysema, laryngeal cancer, oral cancer, esophageal cancer, urinary bladder cancer, coronary artery disorder, kidney cancer occur to the smokers more frequently and lead to the death than non-smokers.

Smoking

• Decreases life expectancy
• Increases the risk of coronary heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atherosclerotic aortic aneurysms, peptic ulcer and so on
• is the main risk factor of myocardiac infarction.

Smoking and Women

Cause the earlier menopause by disturbed estrogen metabolism.

Smoking during the conception might increase the risk of fetal tobacco syndrome:

Infant is 200g lighter than the normal.(retardation of fetal growth)

Increase the prenatal motality. (uteroplacental system between 5-8months): (ex) abruptic placenta, placenta previa, premature rupture of membrane

Smoking also affects the physical, cognitive, emotional development of the infants even after delivery.(mental retardation)

How does acupuncture helps stop smoking?

Acupuncture as an alternative approach to smoking cessation has a growing number of converts. In fact, acupuncture is often a court mandated treatment for drug addicts because of its ability to curb withdrawal symptoms and manage cravings.

Acupuncture is not a panacea or a magic cure in the treatment of any addiction, including smoking. But, acupuncture is effective in making it easier to quit and remain smoke-free. If you are highly motivated and ready to quit, acupuncture can empower you to take control and begin a healthy and smoke-free life!

It can, however, reduce the cravings and lessen the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting.

Oriental Medicine aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual using a variety of techniques such as acupuncture, Chinese herbs, bodywork, lifestyle/dietary recommendations and energetic exercises to restore imbalances found in the body.

Your acupuncturist may do an interview to learn about your unique smoking habits and perform a physical examination including blood pressure, taking the pulse and observing the tongue. The emotional and physical symptoms that you are experiencing will help create a clear picture on which your practitioners can create a treatment plan specifically for you.

The acupuncture treatments will focus on the jitters, the cravings, the irritability, and the restlessness that people commonly complain about when they quit. It will also aid in relaxation and detoxification.

What Points Are Used?

Each patient is custom-treated according to his or her specific and unique diagnosis. Usually a combination of body acupuncture points and points on the ear are used that are believed to influence the organs and energetic pathways associated with smoking.

Commonly Used Points for Smoking Cessation include:

Ear points: Shenmen, Kidney, Sympathetic, Lung Upper and Lung LowerHunger or Mouth

Body points: After the initial consultation and exam, the Eastern differentiation will be made for the treatment plan customized to each different person and the body acupuncture points will be decided according to the imbalance of the body’s energetic system.

Typical treatments last from 15 to 30 minutes, with the patient being treated one or two times a week. After removing the needles, ear press needles are often applied to stimulate the points between treatments and reduce cravings.

Herbs To Help Me Quit Smoking

Times New Roman;”>Often you are prescribed herbs or supplements to control cravings or withdrawal symptoms. There are three areas to address for herbal support; dryness and tissue repair, irritability and cravings.

A Lung Yin Tonic such as Ophiopogonis Combination (Mai Men Dong Tang) is often used to moisten the lungs and mouth which can prevent cravings and repair tissue damage caused by smoking.

A Chinese herbal formula to calm the spirit may be used for irritability. Bupleurum plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell (Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang) can help relieve irritability and anxiety associated with detox. Many people use this formula to help them through stressful situations and prevent relapses.

Lobelia Tea (Ban Bian Lian) or Green Tea can be sipped daily during the detox period to keep tissues flooded with elements that discourage nicotine cravings. (Lobelia is traditionally used to rid the body of a strong toxin such as a snake bite.)

NOTE: The improper use of Chinese Herbs can be dangerous. Please consult with a licensed acupuncturist and herbologist before taking any herbal products.

What Lifestyle and Dietary Changes Should I Make?

Exercise is encouraged and dietary and support systems are recommended to rid the body of toxins and avoid relapses:

Get plenty of fresh fruit and vegetable juices and miso soup to neutralize and clear the blood of nicotinic acid and to fortify blood sugar.

Carrots, Carrot juice, celery, leafy green salads and citrus fruits promote body alkalinity and decrease cravings.

Avoid junk food, sugar, chocolate, coffee and cooked spinach. They can upset blood sugar levels and increase blood acidity which can aggravate smoking-withdrawal symptoms.

Lobelia Tea (Ban Bian Lian) or Green Tea can be sipped daily during the detox period to keep tissues flooded with elements that discourage nicotine cravings. (Lobelia is traditionally used to rid the body of a strong toxin such as a snake bite.

• Drink water – Research shows that dryness causes cravings. Sip water frequently throughout the day.
• Learn about Deep Breathing Exercises – to increase body oxygen

How Many Treatments Will I Need and How Long Do they Take?

The length, number and frequency of treatments will vary. Typical treatments last from 15 to 30 minutes, with the patient being treated one or two times a week. Some symptoms are relieved after the first treatment, while more severe or chronic ailments often require multiple treatments.

Most Recommended Smoking Cessation Plan in Tao of Medicine, Acupuncture and Wellness

• 8 Acupuncture Sessions: $ 250.00 with ear needles (Initial Consultation and Eastern Medical Examination included)
• 12 Acupuncture Sessions-$ 360.00 with ear needles (Initial Consultation and Eastern Medical Examination included)

The whole body acupuncture with ear acupuncture and after each session you will have tiny ear needles stuck in the ear, which will stay 3-4 days for continuous stimulation between two visits.

If you want to start stop-smoking or having difficult time for stop-smoking, call 310-401-3347