Smoking is one of the most difficult addictions to eliminate. Many people try method after method to stop cravings and addiction, only to fail in their efforts, leaving feelings of guilt and self-doubt.
Long-term and/or heavy smoking can lead to deadly diseases such as stroke, hypertension, emphysema and lung and other cancers. Second-hand smoke (that which is inhaled inadvertently by the people who live or work with a smoker) has a similar lethal impact on the body. It is estimated that approximately 440,000 people die every year in the U.S. as a result of smoking and usage of tobacco products. More info on tobacco.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be very helpful in bringing the body, mind, and spirit back to homeostasis (balance & wellness). Acupuncture [hyperlink] and associated modalities are used to stimulate the body to heal itself. Rather than being temporary or palliative techniques, acupuncture & TCM attempt to access the root of the problem so that true wellness can be found.
The most important thing when entering into Acupuncture treatment to help with smoking cessation is that you be willing to quit. Because the addiction affects the body along with the mind, (social environment, physical habit), there are many layers to work through. If you don’t really want to quit, we will both have an uphill battle to fight!
If, however, you want and/or have tried to quit, we will work together to help reduce cravings, eliminate phlegm (a common side-effect of smoking which becomes more prominent during the detoxification process), and diminish anxiety. Many people who use acupuncture to quit smoking have found that within one to three treatments, there is a reduction in the amount or elimination of cravings for cigarettes.