| People who seek
out acupuncture for smoking cessation are usually highly
motivated to quit smoking. They may have attempted to quit
previously without success, but now feel that they are ready.
Their reasons for wanting to stop smoking are varied. Some may
have developed health problems from smoking, such as shortness
of breath, a chronic cough or an increased frequency of colds
and flu; others may not be experiencing adverse health
consequences, but want to prevent them from developing and
improve their health. Some decide to stop smoking when a loved
one develops a smoking-related illness such as emphysema or
lung cancer. The diseases associated with smoking are widely
known. Many no longer want the expense and dependency of
tobacco or they feel a social pressure not to smoke.
Ultimately, one has to want to quit smoking for him or herself
and not for anyone else. It just won't work. They have to be
self-motivated. Every person who chooses acupuncture to quit
smoking has a strong desire to quit now, rather than putting
it off indefinitely. |
How does it
work?
Some of the largest stumbling blocks
to becoming smoke-free are the stress, anxiety and depression
associated with quitting. Fortunately, acupuncture treatment
is quite successful at calming and relaxing the mind,
reducing anxiety and alleviating depressive feelings.
During your first appointment, you will be assessed
in a variety of ways. This will assist us in identifying
the behaviors, habits and triggers that lead to smoking.
Nicotine is a
powerful mood-altering chemical that can be sedating or
stimulating, depending on the individual. A few examples of
triggers for smoking are:
 | Smoking when on the phone |
| Smoking when angry, upset, sad or lonely
| Smoking when drinking coffee or alcohol |
|
At the first appointment, your specific circumstances are reviewed and
discussed, and a physical exam including blood pressure and methods from Traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM), such
as taking the pulse and observing the tongue, are employed. The
purpose of this interview is to determine the Chinese medical
diagnosis for you and the individualized treatment you will
receive.
|
Taking
into account each person's unique smoking habits and physical
and emotional make-up, every patient's acupuncture treatment
is tailor-made and designed for him or her. No two people are
treated exactly the same. At this session, you learn to
identify your particular triggers for smoking and how to avoid
them. Acupuncture can reduce the cravings and lessen the
withdrawal symptoms associated with your efforts to quit
smoking. Since the first month of quitting is probably the
most difficult, the acupuncture program can ease you through
this time.
Since smoking cessation is a form of addiction control, we
have included more information on our Addiction
Control page.
For more information on the specifics of addiction
control, please see our page at Addiction
Control.
Please contact us at 704.968.0351 for
a complete consultation.
GIFT
CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!
|
