Focus on Acupuncture

“You are going to put a needle where?” In this edition of “Focus on…” we’ll be looking at the well known and often misunderstood therapy of acupuncture as it relates to helping you stop smoking.

Seemingly to most of the western world this procedure is looked upon as a torture rather than a therapy. Those who have tried it though often describe the process as “relaxing.” Specific trigger points, including the outer ear, are stimulated with tiny diameter hair like needles in order to stave off cravings and lessen withdrawal symptoms including jitters and irritability.

The basis of this therapy is that by activating these trigger points you are releasing bound up energy. When you consider that many of the body’s systems are regulated by electronic like waves, for instance your heartbeat, this “energy” theory starts to make sense. If your car’s wiring had a short somewhere, you’d find it and solder the connection. Acupuncture is simply repairing your body’s wiring. Another way to look at it is that the nicotine has trained your brain connections to run a certain way, similar to the way a baby learns to walk and talk. Acupuncture is simply replacing these faulty connections.

While it’s great to have a chemical free way to address withdrawal symptoms and nicotine cravings, make your stop smoking plan a multi-faceted one. Talk to your doctor, counselor and your homeopath and develop a plan to address the physical, social and emotional reasons you smoke and you’ll be well on your way to quitting for good.

For more information on the subject click our acupuncture link on the left sidebar.