Acupressure for Smoking

Treatment
(1) Auricular acupuncture treatment, i.e. Ear embedding needles.  First we find the most painful points on the ear, those usually corresponding to the heart and sympathetic system. I regularly use Sheng Meng, Heart, Lung, Endocrine and Large Intestine. I insert the needles at the auricular points.  These needles stay in  the ear for seven days and every day the patient presses the needles for 4 to 5 minutes per hour, which lessens the craving for the nicotine in a cigarette.  He also presses the needles anytime he gets the urge to smoke.  It is possible to bathe or shower with the needles imbedded in the ear, but the patient must be on the alert for any signs of inflammation or infection.
(2) Laser treatment. Laser needles can also be used on the auricular acupuncture points. aiming directly at the ear for usually 2 to 3 mm.  For each treatment, four pints are used for 15 minutes each time, with the total treatment about 25 to 30 minute.  This is done 3 times a week for 4 to 8 weeks.

1. Auricular acupuncture point injections. 0.5% sodium chloride can be injected for each day one or two points, always changing the points after each injection. Endocrine, sheng meng, stomach, liver and lung points are often used.
2. Electrical stimulation for the ear. I usually select sheng meng, lung and endocrine, and use a 1 inch needle in both ears and do six points, then employ electrical stimulation for about 30 minutes and continue this treatment every other day for a total of  four weeks.
3. Body acupuncture. Emotional burden, such as stress, anxiety, poor sleep and depression can force many people to smoke, therefore, body acupuncture can help to reduce emotional problem.

1, Type 1: Energy deficiency of the heart and lung,  auricular points are heart, sympathetic, sheng meng, body points are Zhong Fu, Ju Que, Nei Guan, Fei Shu, Xin Shu, San Yin Jiao, Chi Zhe.
Pic 5-1

2, Type 2: Yin deficiency of the liver and kidney Auricular points are Liver, Kidney, Sheng Mend, Endocrine, body points are Jing Meng, Xing Jian, Tai Xi, Gan Shu, Bai Hui, Shui Quan.

 treated with both ear and body acupuncture.  He had three treatments a week for eight weeks, and after the first week he reduced his intake to one pack of cigarettes a day and the second week he stopped smoking. After the total time of eight weeks he was completely off cigarettes.
In my experience, the first two weeks are the most crucial time for the patient, because the nicotine withdrawal syndrome is the most severe and the patient is depressed, agitated, sometimes anxious and suffering from insomnia, and any of these can cause a return to smoking.  If I treat the patient with ear acupuncture, he can constantly press the needles embedded in the ear, which will decrease his craving for a cigarette and will enforce the psychological support. If the patient knows all the consequences of smoking, and desires to quit, he usually can do so with acupuncture.  Most succeed with the right attitude toward the consequences of continuing to smoke.

Tips for acupuncturists:
Education, education! This is the most important part. If the patient is not willing to quit, there is no way to force the patient to quit.

1. Encouragement: You have to encourage the patient to stick to the program.
2. Support: you have to get support from the patient’s family and friends.

Tips for patients:

1. Be determined and stick to the program: the first 2 weeks are the most difficult time. If you can stick to it, you will win the war.
2. Think about your future and your family’s future, you do not want to set up a wrong role model for your children and family members.