Most people will look into acupuncture in Bellingham as an alternative treatment to stop smoking only when all other approaches to smoking cessation have failed. Some smokers still fail even after more than three attempts, using other programs despite the great desire to quit.
Acupuncture
An age-old Chinese method of healing, acupuncture is still being used to treat a wide range of conditions. It is known in the West to help alleviate pain. Research works have been done and are still being conducted to test the effectiveness of acupuncture in helping a person stop smoking.
Traditional acupuncture which has been the sole acupuncture procedure used for thousands of years, involves the sticking of extremely thin needles into acupuncture points (acupoints) in the body. Practitioners believe that the acupoints are found along meridians (energy channels) that are invisible to the naked eye. Each meridian connects to a certain organ of the body. The meridian is the vessel in which a person’s life force or energy flows. A blockage to one of these meridians would spell illness. Acupuncture is performed in order to open the blocked meridians to enable energy to pass.
Acupuncture and Smoking
Acupuncture to halt smoking is not deemed a cure that will help a person automatically stop smoking. It is a procedure that can make it easier for a person to quit. It is known to control irritability and the person’s cravings during the process of quitting.
This treatment is basically the same as traditional acupuncture in which needles are stuck in points usually located in the ear. These acupoints are associated with the meridians and organs that are responsible for the smoking addiction. The targeted organs include the throat and lungs. After a session, the acupuncturist may tape pellets on the ears to help continue open up the meridians.
Studies
Studies that have observed the effectiveness of acupuncture in helping a person stop smoking reveal mixed results. Some studies indicate that acupuncture works for smoking; other studies, however, suggest that real acupuncture and sham acupuncture treatments produce the same effects on smokers. The treatment can fail if the person has a weak commitment to stop smoking or if the treatment isn’t really that effective on the person.
Acupuncturists
Most acupuncturists believe that the treatment sessions should be customized based on the person’s smoking details and history. This will mean that the duration of length of the session may differ from person to person. A program that works would involve the practitioner taking the time to prepare you, setting realistic expectations and thoroughly studying your smoking history.
An Alternative to Needles
Needles are not the only tools an acupuncturist can use to unblock the meridians. A method known as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) produces the same as effects minus the needles. The circulation of energy is released by simply tapping the various acupoints on the body helping eliminate the cravings and stopping the addiction helping one to quit smoking.
Acupuncture Risks
If you want to have the possible treatment outcome, you need to make sure that your acupuncturist is a qualified and licensed practitioner. When inserted, acupuncture needles should not cause pain. When there is pain upon needle insertion or if you bleed, catch an infection, or get physically injured during treatment, this means that you are not being handled properly.
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