Acupuncture for Stop Smoking
April 20th, 2009
One of the most common addiction-related uses for acupuncture is to help people quit smoking. Smoking causes diseases in nearly every organ of the body. A recent report by the U.S. Surgeon General concludes that cigarette smoking is linked to diseases such as leukemia, cataracts, pneumonia, bronchitis, cardiovascular diseases, and various cancers.
The toxins from cigarette smoke go everywhere the blood flows. On average, men who smoke cut their lives short by 13.2 years and female smokers lose 14.5 years. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease.
Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits, reducing risks for diseases caused by smoking and improving health in general. Within minutes and hours after smokers inhale that last cigarette, their bodies begin a series of changes that continue for years.
Among these health improvements are a drop in heart rate, improved circulation and reduced risk of heart attack, lung cancer and stroke.
Acupuncture can assure a healthier tomorrow by helping smokers to quit smoking today. It is never too late to stop smoking. Quitting smoking at age 65 or older reduces by nearly 50 percent a person’s risk of dying of a smoking-related disease.
Acupuncture for smoking cessation consists of on average five to eight visits. Prior to your first acupuncture treatment, your acupuncture physician will interview you to gather information about your smoking history and health background. This interview pinpoints behaviors, triggers and habits that lead to smoking.
During your first acupuncture treatment, your acupuncture physician will take a physical exam, assessing blood pressure and condition of the lungs. Traditional Chinese medicine methods of diagnosis will also be included, such as pulse and tongue observation, to determine your individualized treatment.
Acupuncture for smoking cessation utilizes selected acupoints which clear the lungs and produce a calming effect, replacing the short-term calming effect of tobacco smoke. Often, a combination of body acupuncture points and points on the ear are selected which influence the organs and energetic pathways associated with smoking.
After beginning an acupuncture smoking cessation program, individuals experience easier breathing, improved circulation and normalized blood pressure. Benefits of acupuncture for smoking cessation include reduced cold and flu illnesses, improved health and decreased rates of pneumonia and bronchitis. In addition to acupuncture, your acupuncture physician may recommend Chinese herbal formulas to detoxify the body and increase energy.
For more information about acupuncture for smoking cessation call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500. .
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