STOP SMOKING

Deciding to stop is the easy bit! It’s the withdrawal effects of removing nicotine from the body which make giving up smoking difficult. These withdrawal effects include cravings, increased appetite, restlessness, agitation, irritability, sweating, breathlessness, palpitations and lack of concentration. No wonder it’s difficult!

This is where we can help.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

The buzz is electroacupuncture (EAP).This is a modern technique in acupuncture, developed in an addiction clinc in Liverpool. It uses no needles at all and we sometimes call it nNEAP (no needle electroacupuncture).

nNEAP

Electroacupuncture and auriculotherapy (treatment of acupuncture points on the ear) have been shown to have some of the highest success rates in helping people to stop smoking. Heidary showed that 87% of smokers stopped with just 1 treatment, another 14% with a second treatment, and one more session meant that another 11% gave up. ONLY 13% DID NOT STOP. This study was in smokers using 20-60 a day. (Heidary G, Electroacupuncture in the treatment of smoking. Acupuncture and Electrotherapeutics Research. 1989: 14 (3-4): 328).

We learnt this technique in a drug addiction clinic in Liverpool and have been using it successfully since 1987. My own feeling (having used both) is that EAP works better than needles. It needs fewer treatments and works for more people.

CBT AND SNIFFSTIM

We have now started to combine EAP with some psychological techniques taken from CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and have added in our unique SNIFFSTIM technique to reinforce the effects of both, and to reduce the number of treatments required. We harness the power of smell to help you stop, because smell signals trigger some of the strongest responses in the brain (why do women wear perfume?).

Put all three together and you have an impressively effective approach to quitting smoking because this combination addresses the physical withdrawal effects and the psychological or habit part of smoking.

The majority of people (even heavy smokers) will stop with a single treatment. Some people need a second treatment and a few will need a third treatment.

WHAT TO EXPECT

We will make an appointment for you and send you a questionnaire to fill in and return to us before your appointment. This will give us a lot of useful information about your health and smoking habits.

We also send you an information pack with guidance on what to do before Q day and on the day. This will help to prepare you mentally for stopping and becoming a non-smoker.

On the day….

The session lasts about 45 minutes. If there are any issues from the questionnaire that you returned we will deal with those first then treatment starts…

Using a small hand held probe tiny electrical impulses are applied to a sequence of acupuncture points on the ear. You will feel a slight tingling or buzzing sensation, which is not painful, on these points. After that we attach some leads to a couple of ear points and to some points on the legs and stimulate these points for 20 minutes. Again you will feel a slight buzzing or tingling and often a sense of deep relaxation. There are no worrying side effects and it is safe to drive afterwards.

IMPRESSIVE RESULTS

When we asked people for their views on this treatment for smoking, this is what they said;

"I have not smoked since the treatment" 40-60 a day, 9 months later.

"I think its amazing. I was slightly sceptical but I can't believe how easy its been. The treatment itself is relaxing and stress free and I haven't touched a cigarette since. Hooray!" 10 a day, 6 months later.

"Have not smoked since receiving treatment. Have previously had hypnosis(twice), acupuncture (with needles), patches and gum, but nothing previously worked. Still not smoking after 6 months" 20 a day.

"It has been 100% successful. I have not had a cigarette since". 40+, 4 months later.

"After 40 years of smoking I never believed I could stop. Having tried all other remedies yours was the only one which worked - fabulous. Still not smoking" 20 a day, 2 years later.

Please note that we do not treat major addictions, such as heroin and cocaine, because these require intensive treatment and psychological support.