Every year, more and more people decide to quit smoking. Some find that smoking takes up too much time and money. Others decide that they rather not risk their health. Whatever their reasons, many smokers decide to quit only to find that quitting is not as easy as it sounds. In fact, quitting smoking, like quitting any addiction, can be very difficult. Acupuncture to stop smoking is a treatment that can be highly effective when sometimes even methods like the patch or the pill just don’t work.

Many people have heard of acupuncture but they have not considered it as an effective way to quit smoking. It takes more than a few sessions, but regular acupuncture treatments aid people seeking to quit smoking by helping them get rid of cigarette cravings and ease the symptoms of withdrawal. After treating smokers’ symptoms and talking with them, acupuncturists can help by starting to get their bodies in balance. Acupuncturists usually examine their patients physically to get a better working knowledge and help plan a course of action in order for them to quit smoking.

Treatment to quit smoking varies from person to person. Be aware that each acupuncturist has individual treatment styles and the frequency and number of treatments each smoker has to go through when trying to quit smoking based on their personal diagnosis. If you visit an acupuncturist to quit smoking, expect appointments a few times a week that last anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes. Although acupuncture treatments to stop smoking vary, most patients are treated with 30 minute sessions once or twice per week. Initially, there are between four to six treatments for a few weeks. As symptoms abate, treatments are also decreased to once per month.

Acupuncturists normally concentrate on different points of the patients’ body. The shen men point is a key focus for acupuncturists because it reduces stress. They also concentrate on the kidney to increase self-discipline and the master point zero to encourage homeostasis. Focusing on the lungs relieves nicotine withdrawal symptoms. An acupuncture point on the wrist called the tim mee and the four gate points may be instrumental in helping smokers quit by relaxing the nerves.

Acupuncturists have also been known to prescribe herbs and supplements along with their treatments in order to control symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. For example, many acupuncturists prescribe green tea during the detoxification period so that the body is discouraged from experiencing nicotine cravings. Other acupuncturists recommend tonics to moisten the lungs and mouth, thus preventing cravings, as well as herbal preparations in order to relieve anxiety and irritability.

While on the road to quitting smoking, smokers are urged to eat plenty of fresh fruit, citrus fruits, leafy greens and vegetables and to exercise to flush out the toxins from their system. Foods such as sugar, chocolate, coffee and junk foods are to be avoided.

Those who are trying to quit smoking need to exercise and perform breathing exercises regularly, as well as drink plenty of water. In order to quit smoking, they need a lot of support. It’s not easy to fight the cravings but anything that can distract you and take the focus away from the craving such as taking a long walk, or talking to a friend on the phone is recommended.