The Problem with Quitting: Withdrawal
Smoking cessation can lead to withdrawal symptoms that are extremely unpleasant. Starting within a few hours of smoking a final cigarette, the withdrawal process peaks about two to three days later, when the majority of the nicotine has left the body. The process continues for at least another few days but can last up to several weeks.
The usual withdrawal symptoms experienced while trying to quit smoking include sleep disturbances, cough and sore throat, increased appetite and weight gain, sweating, headache, digestive problems, and trouble concentrating. Emotional symptoms will also be present. Some smokers may feel depressed, anxious, and/or irritable.
Acupuncture is helpful on a number of ways. By using Acupuncture to help with quitting smoking with both the the mental and bodily distress of smoking cessation, but also speeds up the detoxification process so that the body can return to a more natural state of balance.
From the perspective of Western medicine, Acupuncture is successful in treating addiction because it prompts the release of certain naturally-occurring substances in the brain that regulate both pain and mood. For example, acupuncture stimulates the production of endorphins, which can promote relaxation while easing physical discomfort. Endorphins are the body’s natural opiates. This is particularly relevant for smokers because the act of smoking produces a similar endorphin release.
Alleviating the Symptoms of Withdrawal with Acupuncture
Withdrawal symptoms are the main reason that a number of people fail to quit smoking. It is an intuitive decision, then, to find the best possible treatment to lessen the unpleasantness of smoking cessation.
Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation offers Acupuncture treatments to quit smoking in Red Bank, NJ. Our unique Quit-Smoking treatment program includes acupuncture and has a success rate of approximately 75%. In contrast, smokers who used a combination of counseling and the drug Bupropion (Wellbutrin) had a success rate of only 30.5%. Even worse, just seven percent of people who used the nnicotine patch or gum were successful after six months.
Acupuncture helps quitters avoid the irritability, restlessness, and headaches that accompany the cessation process. It also helps the body return to a more natural balance by speeding up the detoxification process. To learn more about quitting smoking with Acupuncture visit our Quit Smoking with Acupuncture Page.
