Acupuncture to Help You Quit Smoking

by ]]>Karen Schroeder Kassel, MS, RD, MEd]]>

Image for wrist acupuncture Some studies suggest that acupuncture may help people quit smoking. Could it help you?

Acupuncture has been used to treat various addictions, including opium and ]]>cocaine]]> , and is also thought to help people who are trying to break their addiction to ]]>nicotine]]> . However, the clinical studies evaluating the effects of acupuncture are mixed. Some show this alternative therapy to be effective, while others show no effect. A study published in 2006 examined 13 studies that used acupuncture for smoking cessation; ten of the studies showed that acupuncture is effective for smoking cessation.

A meta-analysis done in 2000 and another done in 2006 did not support the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for tobacco use. The results of these reviews suggested that any effect of acupuncture may be due to other factors such as positive expectations of the treatment.

It is not clear exactly how acupuncture can help some people quit smoking. It has been suggested that the insertion of acupuncture needles causes the release of certain neurotransmitters that play a role in nicotine addiction and withdrawal.

Acupuncture may be most helpful when combined with other methods of smoking cessation. If you decide to try this therapy, ask your doctor for a referral to an acupuncturist, or contact the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture.

RESOURCES:

American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/

American Lung Association
http://www.lungusa.org

References:

A meta-analysis of acupuncture techniques for smoking cessation. Tobacco Control. Winter 1999.

Fiore MC, Jaen CR, Baker TB, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. May 2008.

White A, Moody R. The effects of auricular acupuncture on smoking cessation may not depend on the point chosen—an exploratory meta-analysis. Acupuncture Med. 2006;24:149-56.

Last reviewed May 2009 by ]]>Janet H. Greenhut, MD, MPH ]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.