Quitting with Acupuncture - Chiropractic & Acupuncture

Quitting with Acupuncture
November 15, 2007
Jenna Gordon
KTTC TV

ROCHESTER, MN -- As a lot of smokers know kicking the habit is easier said than done.

But as NewsCenter's Jenna Gordon shows us, there's a viable some would consider radical way of putting out the puff.

After 35 years of smoking anywhere from one to two packs of cigarettes a day Dan Kelley is ready to quit.

"I have a grandson on the way, and I actually, I do have asthma for about 10 years now, so it's time to quit," says Kelley.

So, on the day where smokers are urged to give up their sticks he's trying acupuncture.

"I think I'd rather try the acupuncture than, you try the patches and inhalers, but yet you are still getting the nicotine and this way there's no nicotine," says Kelley, "Hopefully it will help me. I'll be a healthier person and be able to do a lot more."

Deah Kinion is performing free acupuncture on the Great American Smokeout hoping to give people a chance to quit for good.

"Patients that come in here to get acupuncture they leave feeling pretty relaxed, which is a big reason why it works for quitting smoking because they don't have that urge to smoke," says Kinion.

It's these needles, about the size of a hair, when pricked in your ear, Kinion says it can help reduce your cravings.

Kinion says acupuncture in the ear helps create emotional balances and lowers stress and nicotine cravings, which she says can last anywhere from one to two minutes.

But if they can get through that time and remember why they are trying to quit in the first place, Kinion says the treatments should work.

"I'm basically doing this for myself. I can help my family," says Kelley, "I hope it works."

And, hope it makes him smoke free for the rest of his life.

Along with acupuncture, Kinion says drinking water and deep breathing can help get rid of cravings.

And, those trying to quit can also de-stress by writing in a journal, calling a friend or going over the reason why they want to quit in the first place.

Content Copyright KTTC TV 2006 ©