Quitting smoking is one of the most impactful actions you can take to enhance your health and overall well-being. While you may have tried traditional methods like gradually cutting down the number of cigarettes or going cold turkey, exploring innovative and holistic approaches can also help you break free from nicotine’s grip. Enter acupuncture — a time-honored practice with roots in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is gaining recognition for its potential in smoking cessation. By targeting specific points on the body or acupuncture points, acupuncture aims to balance energy, reduce cravings, and alleviate withdrawal symptoms.
Join us as we explore everything you need to know about acupuncture to quit smoking, including how it helps cravings, how it works with other methods, and which acupuncture points are targeted during a session. Keep reading and learn how acupuncture can help you embrace a healthier, smoke-free life.
How Acupuncture Helps with Smoking Cessation
Acupuncture can be an effective tool for smoking cessation, with many studies demonstrating its impact on participants. A 2012 literature review found that participants who received acupuncture showed substantial increases in smoking cessation over those who didn’t receive any treatment. Moreover, a 2001 study confirmed that following an adequate acupuncture treatment plan may help motivate smokers to reduce their smoking or quit altogether, with the effects of the treatment lasting at least five years.
Therefore, acupuncture shows promising results as an adjunct therapy for smoking cessation. While its effects aren’t the same for everyone, it can be valuable for going smoke-free. Let’s explore the mechanisms of how it can help you in this challenging journey.
1. Reduction in cravings
One of the most important things acupuncture can do for you is lessen the strong nicotine cravings that frequently come when you try to stop smoking. It does so by slowing down the body’s stress response, which can help suppress your cravings for nicotine, especially in the earliest stages when you’re also battling irritability and fatigue. Acupuncture also helps restore the harmonious flow of energy throughout the body, promoting relaxation and reducing cravings.
Nicotine cravings are accompanied by a range of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, such as restlessness and difficulty concentrating. By promoting relaxation, sleep quality, and emotional balance, acupuncture significantly minimizes the discomfort associated with nicotine cravings, making the quitting process more manageable.
The quitting process also requires strong willpower, mental clarity, and motivation, which acupuncture can significantly enhance. Through this effect on the nervous system, acupuncture can help you maintain focus and willpower, empowering you to resist cravings and stay motivated.
2. Stress relief
Acupuncture plays a significant role in alleviating stress, which is a common trigger for smoking and can be a catalyst for relapse if you’re trying to give up smoking. With its relaxing and stress-relieving properties, acupuncture for smoking cessation is a helpful method for controlling the emotions that can come with quitting nicotine. Acupuncture provides you with healthy coping strategies by encouraging emotional relaxation, which lessens the possibility that you give in to stress-related cravings. Auricular acupuncture, in particular, is often used to calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety. It stimulates specific points in the ear to activate the vagus nerve, which can help reduce anxiety and create a sense of calm.
3. Improved mood
Acupuncture can improve mood during the quitting process by stimulating specific points that influence the brain’s chemical balance. This stimulation can boost the release of endorphins, which is a natural mood elevator. By improving neurotransmitter function, acupuncture helps alleviate symptoms of irritability and anxiety often experienced during nicotine withdrawal. Additionally, acupuncture’s effect on the autonomic nervous system promotes relaxation. As a result, you may experience a more balanced mood, reducing the emotional strain associated with quitting smoking and supporting a more sustainable cessation effort.
4. Detoxification
Acupuncture enhances the detoxification process from nicotine and toxins by stimulating the body’s natural healing process. During an acupuncture session, the acupuncturist triggers specific points to stimulate blood circulation and lymphatic flow. In doing so, acupuncture helps flush out toxins more efficiently. This overall support helps accelerate the body’s ability to clear nicotine residues and other toxins, making the transition to a nicotine-free state more manageable and less stressful.
Key Acupuncture Points for Quitting Smoking
According to TCM principles, certain acupuncture points correspond to different organs. Therefore, when using acupuncture to quit smoking, acupuncturists typically focus on specific points that can help with nicotine addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Some of the most commonly targeted acupuncture points for smoking cessation include auricular points and body points. Auricular points include the Kidney, which is used for calming fears and healing internal organs; Shenmen, which is used to relieve stress and anxiety; Sympathetic, which helps alleviate stress and improve respiratory function; Lung, which can provide balance and cleanse the body of toxins; and Liver which helps with detoxification. On the other hand, body points, including the Tim Mee point located on the wrist, are explicitly used to help quit smoking by alternating the way cigarettes taste. Even though this acupuncture point is powerful in smoke cessation, it must be used in conjunction with other points to combat cravings, rebalance the body, and bring a sense of well-being. Other body points include the Four Gate Points located in the hands and feet, which circulate energy and calm the nervous system.
Combining Acupuncture with Other Methods for Smoking Cessation
When it comes to quitting smoking, you’ll find that combining acupuncture with other quitting methods can significantly increase your chances of success. As an alternative therapy, acupuncture can complement traditional approaches and provide additional support in the smoke-free journey. This is due to the holistic approach acupuncture offers, addressing the underlying imbalances in the body that contribute to addiction, such as anxiety and stress. This is further proved by a 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis that concluded that acupuncture combined with counseling, educational smoking cessation programs, or moxibustion was more effective than acupuncture by itself.
Among the most commonly used quitting methods for smoking is nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), which uses nicotine patches, gums, or inhalers to reduce nicotine dependence gradually. Combining NRTs with acupuncture can have a cumulative effect, as acupuncture can help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making it easier to decrease your reliance on NRT products.
A valuable quitting method that works wonderfully with acupuncture is counseling. Through counseling, you can explore the psychological and emotional aspects of your smoking habit, determine triggers, and develop coping strategies. When combined with acupuncture, it provides a comprehensive approach to tackling the physical and psychological facets of nicotine addiction.
Another method that can be integrated with acupuncture is behavioral interventions such as group counseling. These interventions can provide you with a supportive community and practical strategies to overcome temptations and cravings. When combined with acupuncture, behavioral interventions can reinforce the motivation to quit smoking and provide ongoing guidance and encouragement.
Other integrative medicine techniques that can be combined with acupuncture include hypnotherapy and Chinese herbal therapy. You can try hypnotherapy to train the subconscious mind to veer away from nicotine and acupuncture to address the physical withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, you can use Chinese herbs customized by a herbalist to decrease urges, detoxify, and help with withdrawal symptoms.
Keep in mind that the effectiveness of combining acupuncture with other quitting methods varies from person to person, as each individual’s journey to quit smoking is unique. Therefore, consult with a licensed acupuncturist or healthcare provider to find the most suitable combination of methods based on your needs and preferences.
The Bottom Line
Smoking is a complicated addiction; therefore, the road to quitting smoking isn’t always a straight path. However, if you’re looking for a holistic approach that can help you curb your cravings and work toward a healthier you, consider acupuncture. Acupuncture promotes balance and overall well-being with several benefits, from stress relief to detoxification. It’s important to note that acupuncture works best when combined with other quitting methods, such as counseling, NRT, hypnotherapy, etc. This multi-faceted approach can increase the chances of successfully quitting smoking.
Are you ready to quit smoking? Accept the challenge today and take the first step toward a healthier future by booking an appointment with a licensed professional at our Holistic Wellness Center. Let us become your trusted partner in your journey to smoke-free life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sessions of acupuncture to stop smoking?
The number of acupuncture sessions needed to stop smoking varies widely from person to person. However, many acupuncturists recommend getting two sessions a week until you notice a reduction in your nicotine cravings, followed occasionally by monthly treatments if you need them.
Does acupuncture really work to stop smoking?
While acupuncture isn’t a panacea in the treatment of any addiction, including smoking, a growing base of scientific studies backs the use of acupuncture as a complementary treatment to help people quit smoking.
What is the best age to quit smoking?
There isn’t a perfect age to quit smoking. However, the earlier you quit, the more health benefits you can enjoy. According to a 2013 study, quitting before the age of 40 can reduce your chance of dying prematurely from smoking-related diseases by 90%.