Acupuncture and herbal therapy are great tools to use when trying to give up addictive habits especially when it comes to smoking. It is common for those receiving treatment to report fewer cravings, decreased irritability, improved mood, improved bowel movements and improved sleep.
“Tobacco is pungent and drying, it burns Jing (Kidneys) and the Fluids, damages the throat, the Stomach and the Lungs. It enters the Heart orifice causing mental confusion as if one were drunk. It makes the tongue coating dark-yellow or black, food and drink have no taste". – Qu Ci Shan of Qing dynasty.
Acupuncture uses ear points to decrease the urge to smoke. Ear points allow access to the cranial nerves, which stimulate the nervous system to suppress the urge for cigarettes. Often patients will even get ear seeds, which are small patches placed on certain points on the ear. These stick on the targeted areas to be stimulated by the patient at home if a craving arises.
Acupuncture helps to:
Stimulate 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.
In TICM, tobacco dries up the essential fluids and essence of the body and weakens the Lung’s function of commanding the overall movement of Qi along the meridians. This is the result of accumulation of heat in the Lungs and Stomach, which causes fire in the Heart and/or stagnation of Liver Qi. This explains the withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, palpitations, mood swings and restlessness.
Western medicine focuses on the effects it has on the Lungs. The TICM viewpoint would explain the toxicity of tobacco in pregnancy because the Kidney Jing houses the reproductive system.