Acupuncture to stop smoking

The effectiveness of acupuncture for drug withdrawal, including smoking cessation, has been promoted by acupuncturists in the U.S. since the early 1980’s.  The reports from Michael Smith increased the work in this area as he developed policy for acupuncture in the late 1970’s.  Smith’s work dealt mostly with inner-city drug problems like heroin addiction, but the methods and principles were applied to nicotine addiction in smokers.

Looking into the nature of addictions and what would need to be present for acupuncture to help over come their addiction, Smith dealt mostly with the use of ear acupuncture.  This was following the work of Paul Nogier a surgeon-acupuncturist from France.

Explanations were proposed, such as enkephalins and endorphins being induced to reduce stress and anxiety as the drug levels in the blood were reduced.  These were to define the role of acupuncture in drug withdrawal.  There are some contradictions in the results of testing for these substances.

Acupuncture to stop smoking research involves daily treatment of volunteer patients. Those who took up smoking late and who desire to stop smoking should attain a high level of short-term effect, and the long-term effect should be reasonably good, with the volunteer patients who are involved with daily treatment of acupuncture stop smoking research.  But it has not been shown to be better than other methods that take volunteer patients of similar characteristics.  Part of the reason they have not shown to be better or worse is that the research that has been done is being mostly conducted with the absence of a control group.  Therefore, it is difficult to know if acupuncture is contributing to the success rate of those who want to stop smoking.   This is because any positive result could be attained by a placebo treatment using the same dynamics.

The currently accepted stop-smoking methods will usually involve counseling and in some cases the introduction of nicotine in doses that reduce the craving for the drug while the level is being diminished gradually. 

Nicotine patches and nicotine gum are examples of supply the drug while separating the act of smoking with nicotine.  This while gradually reducing the amount of the drug in the patients system.  Because with these methods there is the possibility of providing placebo substitutes the difference in smoking cessation rates can be observed.  This will then allow the determination of the effectiveness of the program.

The absence of any definite data to support or rebut the effectiveness of acupuncture has not made it unacceptable or disregarded.  The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), with a current membership of nearly half of all American acupuncturists was formed in 1988 to help promote this methodology.  Support continues with several state and city governments providing funds for acupuncture centers that focus on drug withdrawal from the illegal use of drugs or illegal drugs themselves.

The American Medical Association, the largest member organization of the medical profession has taken up the cause to get all smokers to quit regardless of their current health situation.  This has created a great social backing for stopping smoking.

There is now great social reinforcement for stopping smoking.  The medical profession, to the extent it is represented by the largest member organization, the American Medical Association, has taken up a campaign to encourage all smokers to quit, regardless of their current health status.

The long-term abstinence rate for persons who quit smoking is holding at about the same level of a bit more that half of all people who take up smoking quitting at some time in their life.  This is with easily gotten personal support for continued abstinence, due to a greatly increased number of public health messages in regards to the harm associated with smoking.

Quitting smoking is especially important if you're showing signs of pregrancy. If you have questions about nutrition information, acupuncture and medicine, start with an online search.

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