According to the U.S. Surgeon General, smoking accounts for 5 million deaths a year. Anyone who's tried to quit knows how difficult it can be. Medications, gum, patches and hypnosis are among the most common methods used to try and curb the addiction. Then there's acupuncture. Acupuncture has been practiced in China for thousands of years. By placing thin needles in vital points throughout the body, acupuncture is said to release energy in the form of Qi (pronounced chee). The release of Qi is thought to help strengthen the body's ability to fight off sickness, disease and addiction.
Step 1
See your doctor. Many studies have been done that find no significant effect from acupuncture when it comes to quitting smoking. Your doctor may suggest other methods or, if not, she may be able to suggest a good acupuncturist.
Step 2
Position the acupuncture needles strategically around your body. Acupuncture to quit smoking is mostly focused around the ear; the shenmen, kidney, sympathetic, lung upper and lung lower, and hunger or mouth are all locations on the ear. There are also two points in the body: the tim mee located around the wrist and the four gate points, which are points on the body used to transmit energy and calm the nervous system. The needles are removed after 5 to 30 minutes.
Step 3
Insert the ear press needles. Ear press needles are smaller versions of the regular acupuncture needle. They are inserted into spots around the ear, taped down and left for several days at a time. When cravings hit, the smoker is supposed to squeeze these needles as a way of coping.
Step 4
Take some herbs. As part of an acupuncture treatment for smoking, certain herbs should be taken. The herbs are used to moisten the lungs and mouth (thought to prevent cravings and heal tissue damage), relieve irritability and calm nerves. Green tea is also recommended to keep the tissues hydrated with essential nutrients and reduce urges.
