Have you been trying to stop smoking but are having a hard time quitting? You know that quitting smoking will improve your overall health and longevity, but that doesn't mean it's easy to do. Tobacco contains a natural chemical called nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance. It acts upon the neurotransmitters in the brain that release dopamine: the "feel-good" chemical. When you inhale tobacco smoke, nicotine goes directly to your brain, and you get an immediate "reward" in the form of dopamine. Once your brain gets used to this reaction, it wants more of it. Even when you know, you should stop smoking and want to quit, a part of your brain signals you not to stop.
How Can Acupuncture Help You Quit Smoking?
Acupuncture relies on stimulating specific points on the body, most often with needles. There’s a particular type of acupuncture, called auricular acupuncture, involves inserting needles in the outer part of the ear to help subtle symptoms of withdrawal; this will help:
☑️ Reducing cravings: Acupuncture slows down the body’s stress response, which can help curb your cravings for nicotine, especially in the earliest stages of withdrawal when you’re also battling fatigue and irritability.
☑️ Releasing feel-good hormones: Acupuncture helps release endorphins, replacing the familiar dopamine hit with a different sense of relaxation. Endorphins promote a sense of wellbeing and relieve pain. Dopamine works on the brain’s reward center, causing a mental and emotional reaction that leads to addiction.
☑️ Enhancing overall health and wellbeing: When you start eliminating unhealthy habits, you feel physically better. And when you feel physically better, you may feel empowered to pick up other healthy habits.
If you smoke, quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do to support your health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet to help someone who smokes stop for good. But several tools can help you stop smoking, including counseling, education, nutrition, support groups, medications, and acupuncture.
