Quit Smoking with the help of Acupuncture
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Another New Year is here and with that comes a fresh start to new resolutions. Every year people across the nation resolve to become non-smokers. If you have tried to quit smoking before you know how difficult it can be. Nicotine is a powerful addiction. Becoming a non-smoker takes careful preparation and a commitment to yourself to follow through.
Quitting smoking can be very challenging. Factors such as nicotine cravings, increase in anxiety, weight gain, irritability, difficulty sleeping and sickness due to detoxification can all be contributing factors for people failing to quit.
So how can acupuncture assist with such a powerful addiction? The goal of acupuncture is to guide the body back to a balanced state. Acupuncture releases endorphins the body’s “feel good” chemicals that promote feelings of positive thoughts, upbeat attitudes and a general sense of wellbeing.
Along with an acupuncture treatment geared toward the patients individual needs a specific protocol called the NADA protocol is also used.
The NADA protocol was developed in Hong Kong by a neurosurgeon to relieve symptoms of drug withdrawal cravings and was so effective it became an official protocol by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA). This protocol is found in detoxification centers in hospitals all across the nation for over 30 years. The Frontier Medical Institute found that the NADA protocol is effective for smokers because it counteracts the drop in dopamine levels, the neurotransmitters of pleasure that smokers miss when they begin to detoxify. It helps smokers get over the initial hump of quitting smoking and produces an increase in dopamine to relieve tension, anxiety and mood. It is an effective way to treat smoking cessation because it helps the patient to get over cravings, anxiety, insomnia, decrease in energy, night sweats, dryness and weight gain without the negative side effects of antidepressants, nicotine patches and gum.
If 2012 is your year to become a non-smoker call Inside Out Acupuncture to assist you with your journey to better health. We recommend a once per week full acupuncture treatment and a reinforcement treatment mid week. For more information give us a call and Happy New Year.
© Haynes Acupuncture
