Smoking
Cessation
Injection Therapy:
This treatment originated
in China. It involves injecting five acupuncture points with a combination
of vitamin B12 and B6. In most cases one treatment is enough to eliminate
the craving for cigarettes permanently. This treatment works best for heavy
smokers that want to quit but are physically addicted to smoking. The treatment
does not help psychological addiction; casual social smokers or those that
use smoking as a major form of stress release generally do not succeed
using this method alone. The injection therapy is uncomfortable for a moment
as the injections do sting. The cost is $75 for a treatment. Consecutive
treatments are rarely needed but provided at $15 if requested. Herbal medicine,
acupuncture and nutritional therapies can be added to enhance effects of
treatment.
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture therapy has a
long history for smoking cessation as well as drug and alcohol detoxification.
Five standard ear points are used in addition to other body points determined
on an individual basis. Generally it is advisable to have a series of ten
treatments. These treatments can help with emotional as well as physical
smoking addiction as well as easing the effects of detoxification of the
many chemicals involved in smoking addiction. This service is offered at
the discounted price of $200 for ten sessions, paid in advance. Other therapies
such as nutritional supplements, herbal remedies and homeopathy can be
added to help the patient through the process. The outcome of this treatment
is excellent for those patients that are truly committed to quit smoking.
Lifestyle modification:
For patients that do not feel
ready to quit I recommend the following lifestyle modifications.
1. Switch your smoking to
a natural tobacco product, free of chemical additives. I recommend Nat
Sherman or American Spirit brand cigarettes or rolling your own with Drum
tobacco.
2. Smoke consciously. Do not
do anything else when you smoke, no smoking in the car, while on the phone
or over coffee. Select a space, preferably outside, sit and smoke. Feel
the smoke enter your body and concentrate on how you feel.
3. Eat healthy foods including
green vegetables, if possible fresh juices especially juiced vegetables
should be included.
4. Take a good vitamin supplement.
5. Be sure to address stress
in your life, eliminate the stress that you can, use therapies such as
meditation, deep breathing, yoga, qi gong, tai chi, massage, exercise,
play or whatever you can to help "de-stress." Take appropriate adaptogenic
herbs to help your body deal with stress.
I find that as people get
more healthy, they no longer feel comfortable including unhealthy habits
in their life. The natural cigarettes and conscience smoking usually help
people reduce cigarette intake to about four cigarettes per day. At this
point they are no longer physically addicted and can give up easily when
ready. Many of my patients find that they "just quit" without trying as
a natural response to treating the body holistically.
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