Vince Ganoe, L. Ac., Dipl. Ac., a member of Integrative Therapies, submitted the following article on acupuncture:
Please note: The following was taken from a blog article by Jamie Starkey, L.Ac., a fellow alum of mine from the American Institute of Alternative Medicine in Columbus, Ohio. Jackie is the Lead Acupuncturist at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine and contributor to the Dr. Oz Show and his related media in the area of Alternative Medicine.
Acupuncture Can Help You Kick the Habit
By now, many have tried and failed in fulfilling a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking. But it’s never too late for anyone to give up! Despite all the facts regarding the ill effects of smoking, people continue to smoke because of the addictive nature of nicotine, the primary chemical in tobacco. Within 10 to 20 seconds of inhaling cigarette smoke, nicotine will reach your brain, causing a huge surge of dopamine to be released. Dopamine is one of several “feel good” chemicals your brain produces to make you feel pleasure.
What can acupuncture do to assist in quitting smoking? Acupuncturists are trained to address addictions, especially nicotine addiction, following the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We assess the addiction from several perspectives, inclusive of the physical, mental and emotional addiction. There are many acupuncturists who utilize a technique where fine needles are inserted into a set of five acupuncture points on the ear (auricular acupuncture), as promoted by The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), a not-for-profit organization who teaches and endorses this acupuncture detoxification protocol. You will likely be sent home with small beads placed on the ear which can continue to help curb withdrawal symptoms (an application of auricular acupressure). In general, expect frequency of visits to be several times per week for the first week or two. Our goal in the treatment plan is to support patients through the acute phase of withdrawal, improving your success at kicking the nicotine habit. Commonly, patients experience a decrease in cravings, changes in sensory perception as the taste and smell of cigarettes becomes intolerable, and an increased state of calm and relaxation.
If you have ever attempted to quit, you know there are multiple withdrawal symptoms that one can experience, including insomnia, fatigue, feeling jittering, cough, tightness in the chest, dry mouth, constipation, irritability, depression, anxiousness and lack of concentration. As an acupuncturist, I routinely address these issues independently, and improvements in such symptoms are commonly experienced as side benefits by patients. In the scientific community, there have been insightful findings on acupuncture’s complex mechanism of action, offering explanation of why this ancient treatment works. Research supports acupuncture’s role in influencing the various aspects of the nervous system, thereby modulating things like your gastrointestinal system, heart rate, stress response and mood.
In 2011, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a subsidiary of the US Department of Justice, in collaboration with the American University, evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunct to substance abuse treatment. This initiative ensued as a result of many drug courts using acupuncture as an adjunct to the substance abuse treatments provided to drug court participants. In the BJA review of the literature, they determined a number of acupuncture studies demonstrated reduced cravings and symptoms of withdrawal when coupled with conventional treatment plans.
Ultimately, tobacco addiction is a personal one, as is the journey to kicking the habit. Acupuncture has been shown to help overcome the addiction. In the end, it does not matter what road is taken, but that you reach your final destination of being tobacco-free!!
Vince Ganoe, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. is part of Integrative Therapies, a newly formed network of like-minded healthcare professionals providing a wholistic approach to achieving individual wellness. As owner/operator of Acupuncture of Northwestern PA, Vince provides Acupuncture, Electro-acupuncture (Frequency Specific Microcurrent), Acupressure/Tuina, Cupping, and related modalities in the area at Wellness Health Options in Clarion and at the Cranberry Wellness Center in the Cranberry Mall. For more information or to schedule an appointment with him, please call 226-6695 or 677-9140 or visit his website at www.acupuncturenwpa.com.
