Anti-Smoking & Addictions

This Anti-Smoking and Addictions Programme uses acupuncture and powerful Chinese herbal medicine to help you permanently stop addiction to tobacco, alcohol or drugs. Get help to treat the withdrawal symptoms caused by addictions and reduce the cravings.

All treatment is from a fully qualified CMIR-registered doctor with extensive Western medical training.

Our Programme includes:

• A full Chinese medical diagnosis with personalised lifestyle advice
• A session of authentic syndrome acupuncture plus auricular therapy (a type of ear acupuncture)
• An individualised herbal prescription from our doctors

How this Anti-Smoking and Addictions Programme can help you

Studies have shown that Chinese medicine can reduce the craving for cigarettes and other addictive substances while the World Health Organisation states that acupuncture has a therapeutic effect on dependence of tobacco.

Drug addiction has also been shown to benefit from acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment.

Auricular acupuncture can be especially effective for tobacco cessation. This treatment is based on the same principles as acupuncture practised as part of Chinese Medicine.

The therapy involves attaching tiny medicated herbal seeds or metal studs onto specific points on the outer ear (by using small, discreet plasters) in order for the patient to stimulate those areas everyday by pressing on the balls attached to the ear. Stimulating those areas using the auricular method can maintain the effects of acupuncture treatment in between the sessions, thus helping you to control withdrawal symptoms the moment they occur.

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+ About the Acupuncture at AcuMedic

Acupuncture treatment is available all over the world but not all acupuncturists are the same. Many acupuncturists in the West are only trained in a small modality of acupuncture such as trigger point acupuncture or perhaps 5 Element acupuncture. AcuMedicin London treats with syndrome acupuncture which is based on the complete system of theories in Chinese Medicine (including trigger point and 5 Element). This is authentic acupuncture treatment as practised in China and is based on Syndrome Differentiation diagnosis.

+ How it works

According to Chinese Medical theory acupuncture, auricular therapy and Chinese herbal medicine can help to relieve withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness, depression and restlessness caused by addictions as well as food craving, whilst giving the patient a sense of confidence to help achieve their goal.

To help stop smoking and overcome the withdrawal symptoms, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be effectively used to stimulate the body’s detoxification, promote a heightened sense of relaxation, encourage endorphin production in order to overcome addiction, help the body cope with stress, improve circulation and promote mental well-being. All these factors are vital in the success of quitting an addiction and controlling the withdrawal symptoms.

To find out more read our brief Introduction to Chinese Medicine.

+ What to expect

A fully qualified CMIR-registered Chinese Medical doctor will provide you with a full Chinese Medical diagnosis and consultation to understand the nature of your addiction, and determine its root cause. They will also identify any other health issues you might be having.

The AcuMedic doctor will explain how acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help you to stop the addiction and how the treatment will work to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms. The doctor will also explain how they will tailor the prescribed medicine according to your individual health needs so that not only the addiction but any other related health issues will be addressed by the acupuncture and herbal treatment. They will also explain how you can use auricular therapy at home after your acupuncture treatment.

+ Diagnosis and consultation

There are four main diagnostic methods in Chinese Medicine which are observing, pulse diagnosis, questioning and listening. Each method has a unique function in the process of collecting different clinical information and understanding the origins of your addiction and how it affects your overall health. Therefore all four diagnostic methods must be used to make an accurate diagnosis of your health, the influence of the addictions and individualise the treatment that will work for you as you fight the addiction.

Observing involves looking at all the outward manifestations of your addiction and how it affects your mental and physical health. This is done by observing your general vitality, complexion, figure and skin. One of the most well known parts of observing is tongue diagnosis. The tongue is like a mirror showing the state of your internal organs. The AcuMedic doctor will be able to judge the condition of your essential energy (Qi), identify the location of the affected parts inside your body, determine what is exactly is wrong and identify how this can be treated just from looking at your tongue.

There are over 50 different pulse types and the AcuMedic doctor will take your pulse on both wrists to determine which pulse type you have. Your pulse is identified in terms of depth, speed, strength, shape and rhythm. Your pulse is an indicator of how Qi and blood are moving around your body, therefore how well your internal organs are functioning. From your pulse the doctor can determine a great deal about your physical and emotional condition and the effects of the addiction on your overall vitality.

The doctor will ask you a huge variety of questions to learn about your general lifestyle in order to understand the role of the addiction in your daily life. It may seem like some of these questions are odd, but it all goes towards building a complete picture of you and your health. No matter how trivial something might seem to you, tell your doctor. No symptom that you have is unrelated or unimportant to your diagnosis.

It is also very useful for your doctor to see the results of any medical tests you have had so make sure you bring them along to your first consultation and whenever you get new results through.

Once the doctor has finished diagnosing you, they will tell you about your particular Chinese Medical syndrome at the root of your addiction. These syndromes often have funny sounding names, like Liver Qi Stagnation or Kidney Yin Deficiency, but do not let that put you off. They will accurately explain why you have the symptoms you have, how the addiction is operating and affecting your health and therefore what aspects of your body the acupuncture treatment should be focused on and which Chinese herbs you need.

+ Treatment

After consultation you will be asked to lie on the bed and remove some clothing to receive acupuncture. The doctor will provide you with a blanket to cover yourself. Micro-fine needles will be inserted and you will be left alone to relax for about 20-40 minutes.

Please be aware that this is crucial treatment time for the acupuncture to have a therapeutic effect and you have not been forgotten. Just relax and enjoy the sensation of the acupuncture treatment (many patients will fall asleep). If you need to call the Clinic reception then there is a bell to alert us to come and talk with you.

Usually, the acupuncture needles do not hurt when they are inserted, although if a lot of blocked energy has built up at one area of your body, you may feel a pricking and pulling sensation as the Qi begins to flow again in there. Most people find acupuncture incredibly relaxing.

AcuMedic doctors only use sterile disposable acupuncture needles. AcuMedic actually invented the disposable acupuncture needle.

For people who are afraid of acupuncture needles, please speak to your doctor who may recommend a different treatment based on electro-acupuncture instead of needles. Electro-acupuncture works in the same way as conventional acupuncture, but instead of using needles, an electronic pointer is used to stimulate the acupuncture points on the body.

After the acupuncture treatment the doctor will remove the acupuncture needles and might also apply the auricular balls or seeds to certain parts on your outer ears as part of the treatment to be stimulated whenever you have a craving.

+ After treatment

After treatment for smoking addiction our patients often report a dislike for the smell of tobacco. The desire to smoke will be greatly diminished and many patients feel an unpleasant taste in the mouth if they smoke.

The patients have found that generally cravings stop when they press ear points with herbal seeds on.

The length of treatment depends on the patient’s response and on the severity and duration of the addiction.

Treatment for addiction can be effective only if the patient is determined to change.

Please note that although we are confident in our treatments, we cannot guarantee a cessation of addiction as the needs and difficulties of each patient can differ greatly.