Stopping Smoking Treatment Plan
Getting to the point…Why should I stop?
There are overwhelming health reasons for wanting to stop smoking. Smoking increases the risk/development of:
- stroke or heart attack;
- lung disease
- chronic bronchitis
- emphysema
- lung cancer (and many other cancers)
- hypertension
- atherosclerosis
- back pain
- osteoporosis
In addition, if you’re pregnant, smoking is bad for the unborn child; it is associated with low birth weight and increases the risks of cot death.
Also, children living in smoking households are move likely to suffer from respiratory infections than those in non-smoking houses, and much has already been made of the increased risks of most of the above conditions for passive smokers.
Finally, smoking is becoming more and more socially unacceptable as the smoker is now considered a threat to the health of non-smokers.
So how does our treatment work?
Acupuncture works by decreasing the physical cravings for tobacco. It also lessens the symptoms of withdrawal and has a generally sedative effect on the nervous system. Beta-endorphin, the natural hormone which causes physical relaxation and reduces sensitivity to pain, is released by the acupuncture treatment. This production of beta-endorphin is part of the physical mechanism which makes it possible to quit smoking.
Acupuncture is administered to special points on the ear, hand, wrist and sometimes feet. Each treatment lasts about 30 minutes. Thereafter, minute sterile retainer needles or press pellets are inserted into the ear and remain in place for a few days. These “ear-tags” serve to exert a constant mini-stimulus to special points found helpful in reducing withdrawal symptoms.
Generally only 3 treatments are required along with a some Chinese herbs.
Please Note:
Acupuncture, will not help you to reduce the habitual associations you have with smoking, eg activities such as driving, drinking coffee/alcohol etc. However, it can assist by preventing you gaining weight during this time.