Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine are effective tools to help someone to quit smoking ~ cravings are reduced ~ the nervous system is calmed ~ willpower is strengthened.  It’s important to note however, that acupuncture can only work if the person is mentally and emotionally ready to quit and willing to commit to changing some lifestyle habits.

 

How Acupuncture Works:

Acupuncture helps a person by intercepting messages sent by the brain to the body telling the body it needs more nicotine.  It disrupts the addictive process that is on an emotional and physical level.  It generally reduces cravings from 20 or more cigarettes per day to three or four.  Acupuncture releases endorphin-like substances in the brain to help the person relax.  Significantly reducing the craving mechanism enables the person to be able to make it through these few cravings so as to succeed with quitting.  This treatment works best when the person is ready to stop all smoking.

 

How Herbs Work:

Chinese herbs are formulated to reduce irritability and anxiety between treatments, while also improving sleep and reduce cravings. There are several formulas that have been designed for this purpose and if necessary, a formula can be created to fit the needs of the individual depending upon other health issues.

Usually, acupuncture treatment stretches over three weeks.  Two treatments two days apart with the first week, two treatments three days apart within the second week and one to two treatments in the last week.  Small seeds are placed on specific points in the ears with adhesive to keep some points active between treatments. The patient may also take herbal pills or granules to help with anxiety and/or sleep.  Often, follow-up treatments are considered if the patient wants to improve their overall health.  Morning appointments are best before doing any smoking during the day.  If this is not possible, it is best to refrain from smoking for a least 5 hours before the treatment.

 

Other Helpful Things To Do:

Set Boundaries: Ask other smokers to refrain from smoking in your presence.  This includes spouses.  When at all possible stay away from other smokers, or smoking environments until you feel more confident with your non-smoking health status.

Support Person: Because the decision to stop smoking can elicit some uncomfortable emotions, ask someone who is available to you in the next few weeks to act as a support person who can give you encouragement when needed.  If this is not possible, be aware when these feelings and/or cravings come up, go outside, take a walk or do something pleasurable for yourself that does not involve being around smoking so as to distract your from your irritable moods or uncomfortable feelings.

Create an Affirmation: An affirmation is a positive statement repeated often to create changes in your life. Repeating the affirmation helps not only to remind you of why you are no longer smoking but also imprints a new image of health so that the body can then produce health.  An example might be: “I am a non-smoker.   I live a healthy and happy life.”

Drink Water:
Long-term smoking causes dryness.  Consequently, dryness causes more cravings.  Drinking water helps to keep the body moist and go through difficult times more easily.

Don’t Drink Coffee:
Coffee strongly promotes urination and dehydration, causing dryness, which causes cravings.

Food Choices:
Larger amounts of slightly cooked vegetables for the next few days will help to balance the body’s metabolism. Stay away from sweets as they upset the blood sugar level, creating irritability and increased cigarette cravings.  Sugar substitutes such as NutraSweet are even sweeter than real sugar and cause further sugar cravings.

Managing Cravings:
A craving can feel like it is going to last forever, but actually will fade in two minutes or less.  Plan what you will do during a craving, for example, taking a dose of herbs, massage the ear seeds in your ear until the feeling subsides.  Take a step outside and breathe deeply and imagine how much better your lungs feel with fresh air, take a walk, call your support person and reassure them and yourself that you have quit this destructive habit.  Repeat your affirmation.  Realize that the craving will quickly subside and you will feel good not to have given into it.

Program Schedule & Rates

Three Week Plan

Wk 1:	One acupuncture treatment with Consultation/counseling.......... Two additional acupuncture treatments....................................... (sliding scale fee based upon income level) Herbal support for anxiety, insomnia, nerves...............................	$30.00 $15.00 - $20.00 each $15.00 - $20.00
Wk 2:	Three treatments.......................................................................... Herbal support for anxiety, insomnia, nerves...............................	$15.00 - $20.00 each $15.00 (approximate)
Wk 3:	Evaluation of patient (extent of cravings or not) + treatment...... Two additional acupuncture treatments.......................................  Herbal support for anxiety, insomnia, nerves (if necessary).........	$15.00 - $20.00 $15.00 - $20.00 each $15.00 (approximate)

                                   

Total:

Acupuncture Treatments Herbal Support

$150.00 - $190.00 $  45.00 (approximate) $195.00 - $235.00 (estimate)

                             

Combination Acupuncture and Hypnotherapy with Judy Higdon

This is a one treatment session, which can be done individually or coordinated with others in a group setting with up to 7 individuals.  Treatment may be repeated one more time for an additional $65.00, if not complete after the initial treatment.

            Individual Rate              $230.00
            Group of 2 - 7                $125.00 each

Check with Judy (757-679-3113) or Stillpoint Community Clinic for possible waiting list of people wanting to do a group treatment.

 

Judy Higdon, ACH
Judy has been a practicing hypnotherapist for 21 years.  In 1994, she studied with the American Board of Hypnotherapy and became an Advance Certified Hypnotherapist.  In 1998, Judy received her certification from the International Association of Counselors and Therapists (I.A.C.T.).

Judy's practice addresses Smoking Cessation, Weight Loss, Anxieties of all types, Phobias, Fears, Performance Enhancement, and Past Lives.  When working with hypnosis, one can achieve results quickly in areas that used to take years of painstaking work.  Hypnosis can be used by all ages for pretty much whatever a person needs to address.  All that is required of the client is a willingness to participate in their own healing process.  For additional information about Judy, please visit her website at www.intuition-specialist.com.

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