Congratulations! If you’re reading this, you are on your way to kicking the habit and becoming smoke free and healthier. Every year, more than 3 million Americans try to quit smoking, but only half of them succeed. But with the help of acupuncture you have a greater chance of success!
Why Should I Stop Smoking?
Smoking is poisonous. Nicotine, a major component of tobacco, is a highly toxic substance that acts with a rapidity comparable to cyanide. The lethal dose of nicotine for an adult is about 40my. A cigarette contains between 20-30 mg of nicotine. When it is smoked, a person absorbs about 7mg. A cigar smoker who inhales may get close to 40mg. By slowly building up the body’s tolerance, more nicotine can be taken with obvious adverse effects. The first time someone smokes, he/she experiences dizziness and possibly headaches, nausea and even vomiting. This should be an indication of the toxic nature of smoking. You are slowly poisoning yourself!
Nicotine has many antagonistic physiological actions. It is physically addictive, It affects the nervous system and can act both as stimulant and as a depressant. It generally causes an increased heart rate followed by a slowing of heart, increased blood pressure and reduction 0~ the functioning of lung tissue. In addition, Vitamin C, which is important to maintaining the body’s immunity to disease and pollution, is removed by cigarette smoking. It is estimated that each cigarette “steals” 25 mg of vitamin C form your body. Therefore, smoking also helps reduce your general level of immunity to disease.
Smoking is also related to many other disease conditions such as cancer of the oral cavity, lip, larynx, esophagus and lungs, bladder and urinary organs in addition to emphysema, arteriosclerosis, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoporosis and hearing loss.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of healing known to main. Various historical sources have provided information that indicates acupuncture is at least 4,500 years old. The fact that it is still being practiced today speaks for the efficacy of this treatment and for the laws and principles upon which it is based.
By insertion of fine needles at specific acupuncture points along channels of energy, call Qi, the body’s harmony and equilibrium is tuned, maintained or restored, The ancient Chinese philosopher/physicians were concerned only with the harmony of this Qi. Modern research has shown that acupuncture treatment can accomplish a great deal related to modern western knowledge of the biological system. It has been shown to cause the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain control agents, so much so, that numerous operations are performed in China and the United States without any other anesthesia besides acupuncture needles. Further research has shown that many of the body’s functions related to the immune system are stimulate, enhanced and even restored after long periods of non-functioning . It has further been shown that acupuncture can control many bodily functions, including stimulation or inhibiting the activity of the lungs, stomach and intestines, heart, etc. It is not surprising therefore that acupuncture should easily and permanently overcome the spasmodic vaso/constriction that follows the temporary vaso/dilation accompanying the actual time of smoking a cigarette. This vaso/constriction, which occurs within 20-30 minutes after the completion of smoking a cigarette, is the cause of all the physical discomfort that is the basic experience of nicotine addiction. One treatment with fine disposable needles is all that is necessary to terminate the physical withdrawal symptoms experienced in quitting “Cold Turkey” or by any of the many supportive psychological techniques employed today.
Dietary Recommendations
- Drink plenty of filtered water during the process.
- Increase Alkaline Foods: such as fruits, vegetables, greens, lima beans, millet, figs, raisins, carrots, celery, almonds.
- Reduce Acid foods: such as meats, sugar, wheat, bread, baked goods, beef, chicken, eggs, milk, cheese.
- Take some nutrients, mainly the B vitamins and vitamin C. Beta-carotene, Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin E.
More Suggestions for Smoking Cessation
- Cut down on other addictive substances, such as caffeine, sugar, and alcohol, all of which can increase the desire to smoke.
- Get a partner, another smoker, to stop with you or, even better, get an ex-smoker to support you while you stop.
- Tell friends or family and ask for their support-that is, go public with your plan to stop. Also let them know you may wish to use them during your transition.
- Change daily patterns to avoid stimulating old smoking conditioning. This may include staying away from bars and alcohol or coffee, avoiding friends who smoke, not receiving or making phone calls at specific locations in which you usually smoked, and getting up and doing something right after a meal.
- Stay busy to prevent boredom and to keep your mind off smoking.
- Exercise regularly to decrease withdrawal, increase motivation, and increase relaxation.
- Learn relaxation and breathing techniques and do them.
- Practice visualizations.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Manage your cravings. They will actually fade within a few minutes. When cravings arise, distract yourself. Examples could include short relaxation exercise, taking a break, a walk, a shower, drinking tea, or doing things with your hands, such as rubbing a stone or crystal, or bending a paperclip. Before you know it, the caring will have passed.
- Find temporary oral substitutes to deal with psychological ties to smoking—be careful not to overeat or choke on any of the following nonedibles. Oral fixation substitutes could include munchies such as vegetables sticks (carrot, celery, zucchini), apples, nuts, popcorn, sunflower seeds (unsalted) in shells, sugarless hard candies or gum; or chewing or sucking on ice cubes, toothpicks, licorice sticks, or drinking straws.
- Take daily baths or showers, and scrub your skin with a dry brush or loofa to facilitate the cleansing process and help blood circulation.
- Take a walk outside and take deep breaths into your lungs. Upon exhale, gently place your teeth together and exhale with the sound of “ssssssssss”. This sound stimulates the lungs.
- Create a reward or goal for being successful, such as betting with a friend (bet on yourself, of course), or save cigarette money for a new outfit or trip; this money you will collect only after a certain time of nonsmoking.
