Smoking Cessation

Are you interested in quitting smoking, but it seems daunting? Here is The Pin Cushion's smoking cessation protocol. Remember, quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health!

Acupuncture is an effective tool to enable one to quit smoking by minimizing cravings, calming the nervous system and strengthening will power. However, acupuncture can only work if you are ready to quit and willing to commit to the process.

Acupuncture works by intercepting messages sent by the brain to the body that demand more nicotine, thereby disrupting the addictive process. Treatment will help eliminate most cravings, but not the habit. Generally treatment can help reduce cravings from 20+ cigarettes to only 3-5 a day.

Some behavior modification in the weeks before quitting helps to set the right course.

THE PLAN:

Today is the start date, and you will quit smoking 10 days from now. In the next 10 days you may smoke as often and as much as you want BUT, you may not do anything else while smoking. No driving, no tv, no email, no phone, no conversation. Your attention must be 100% toward the act of smoking. Smoke the strongest cigarettes you can handle for the first 5 days at your regular rate, and then move to ultralights for next 5 days while reducing your intake to half what it normally would be. All the while keeping your attention fixed exclusively on the act of smoking. Come in for acupuncture at least once during this time period.

Once the 10 days are up- that's it, you're done. Come in for acupuncture treatment 2-3 times the first and second week of quitting, followed by one acupuncture treatment in the third and fourth week of quitting.

Support person - The decision to stop smoking can elicit uncomfortable emotions. Ask someone who is available to you in the next few weeks to act as a sounding board and provide encouragement when needed.

Affirmation - An affirmation is a positive statement repeated often to create desired changes in your life. Repeating the affirmation helps not only to remind you why you are no longer smoking but imprints a new image of health so that the body can then produce health. Examples: "I am a non-smoker. I breathe fresh, clean air deeply into my lungs. I make healthy choices in my life."

Drink water - Research shows that dryness causes cravings. Drink water at room temperature frequently throughout the day.

Refrain from drinking coffee - Research shows that coffee causes cravings and dehydrates the body.

Food choices - Eat a lot of carrots, celery, and other vegetables throughout the next few days. Candies upset blood sugar level, which can aggravate smoking withdrawal symptoms. Sugar subsitutes such as Nutrasweet are sweeter than sugar and cause further cravings.

Managing cravings - Cravings feel like they will last forever but actually fade in two minutes. Plan what you will do during a craving. Examples: Repeat your affirmation, breathe deeply, walk to another place, use visualization, call your support person.