by Denzil De Vries
Every year, the number of people who make the decision to quit smoking increases. Some choose to quit because smoking costs them too much money. Others quit due to concern over their health. Regardless of their initial motivation, many of these would be quitters soon realize that quitting smoking is not as easy as they thought. Smoking is an addiction, and like giving up any other addiction, quitting is a difficult task. Even popular methods like a medication or the patch may fail or become too expensive. A viable alternative treatment for the smoker trying hard to quit is acupuncture to stop smoking.
Many people have heard of acupuncture but they have not considered it as an effective way to quit smoking. It takes more than a few sessions, but regular acupuncture treatments aid people seeking to quit smoking by helping them get rid of cigarette cravings and ease the symptoms of withdrawal. After treating smokers’ symptoms and talking with them, acupuncturists can help by starting to get their bodies in balance. Acupuncturists usually examine their patients physically to get a better working knowledge and help plan a course of action in order for them to quit smoking.
Treatment to quit smoking varies from person to person. Be aware that each acupuncturist has individual treatment styles and the frequency and number of treatments each smoker has to go through when trying to quit smoking based on their personal diagnosis. If you visit an acupuncturist to quit smoking, expect appointments a few times a week that last anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes. Although acupuncture treatments to stop smoking vary, most patients are treated with 30 minute sessions once or twice per week. Initially, there are between four to six treatments for a few weeks. As symptoms abate, treatments are also decreased to once per month.
Acupuncturists normally concentrate on different points of the patients’ body. The shen men point is a key focus for acupuncturists because it reduces stress. They also concentrate on the kidney to increase self-discipline and the master point zero to encourage homeostasis. Focusing on the lungs relieves nicotine withdrawal symptoms. An acupuncture point on the wrist called the tim mee and the four gate points may be instrumental in helping smokers quit by relaxing the nerves.
Acupuncturists sometimes recommend herbal preparations and supplements together with their acupuncture treatments to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. For example, it’s quite common for acupuncturists to have their patients drink green tea during the detox period to prevent the body from craving cigarettes. Some acupuncturists feel that certain tonics are helpful in lubricating the lungs and mouth to decrease craving. Occasionally, the acupuncturist will prescribe herbal teas that can calm fragile nerves and irritability while quitting smoking.
During withdrawal, smokers are encouraged to exercise and rid their body of toxins by eating fresh fruit, vegetable juices, and clear soups. Patients are also recommended to eat carrots, celery, oranges and other citrus fruits, as well as leafy greens. It is important to avoid sugar, including chocolate, coffee, and other junk foods.
Smokers should drink a lot of water, practice breathing properly, do daily exercises. Developing a strong support system to help them quit smoking is a good idea as well as having a plan in place to help them fight cravings. For example, when they crave a cigarette, smokers should instead call a friend or take a walk to shift their focus.
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