Acupuncture: Quit Smoking and Stop Harming Your Health

Acupuncture is not for everybody. It falls into the category of alternative medicine, and as such, many skeptics might not consider it. It also involves needles (!) which may sound painful.

Those who turn to acupuncture as a way to quit smoking have often tried other, more traditional methods without success. They are seriously motivated to stop smoking. There are many reasons for people to get to this point regarding a longstanding habit that they have enjoyed: maybe they know that their health is not what it should be, or they are tired of always feeling out of breath. Maybe they want to take up a new form of exercise or begin a healthier diet, and smoking doesn’t fit in with their new lifestyle. Whatever the reasons, a person must choose to quit smoking because they want to, not because someone else is nagging them into it. Those who choose acupuncture as a way to quit smoking and stop a destructive habit know what they want and are ready for a change.

Additionally, many people find that they cannot tolerate some of the other nicotine-based stop smoking aids, like the patch, gum, or nasal spray. Others may have tried prescription drugs like Zyban and discovered unpleasant side effects that didn’t allow them to continue.

Using very thin, bendable needles, an acupuncturist applies them to specific target areas in your body. Acupuncture has been used for centuries in China as part of its regular medical practice. Acupuncture is used today for a variety of maladies – from allergies to headaches, sinus problems, and other chronic diseases. It has a calming effect and you can expect the sessions to be very relaxing.

When you use acupuncture as a quit smoking treatment, your first step is to find a reputable clinic. There are many available – a good place to start is to ask you family physician for referrals.

You’ll work with the acupuncturist to develop a personalized stop smoking plan for you. Just like going to a regular doctor, you’ll fill out information about your medical history and answer questions about how long you’ve smoked and how much you smoke. These questions are designed to pinpoint what kind of a smoker you are. Do you smoke for pleasure or just socially? Or is smoking a habitual way for you to relieve stress?

At your first visit to quit smoking using acupuncture, you should expect to be given a full physical exam. An individualized treatment will be put together for you. Aside from the actual treatment, you’ll be taught how to identify the specific triggers that make you smoke, and learn some positive techniques for how to avoid them. Usually this first appointment is primarily for you to begin developing the mindset of a nonsmoker; your first acupuncture treatment will usually occur at your next session.

Some people find that one acupuncture treatment is all they need to stop smoking, while others need several sessions. Down the road, you might feel the need for a “booster” session, to keep the positive reinforcement going. If acupuncture works for you to stop smoking, it will lessen your desire for cigarettes and greatly reduce the stress you feel during the process of quitting.