The other day I was standing in line at the local Vero Beach market and the man in front of me was purchasing cigarettes for he and his wife, one pack each. The cashier rung him up and said “that’ll be $12.73 please”. I was surprised, I had been vaguely aware that cigarette prices had been going up over time but, because I don’t smoke, I had no idea as to how expensive a habit it had become.
Setting aside the health implications for one minute we’ll do the math; twenty cigarettes a day (not an unusual amount for most smokers), for he and his wife, was costing them an average of $89.11 per week, $356.44 per month or $4,633.72 per year! Buying by the carton and switching to generic brands might drop that price by a few hundred dollars, but they are still looking at about four grand a year for the privilege of putting dangerous chemicals into their bodies that have been proven to cause diseases ranging from asthma to emphysema and cancer.
It took a great deal of personal effort to keep from accosting the man and telling him about the wonders of acupuncture and Chinese medicine for the treatment of addictions, especially nicotine. For years we have been using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to successfully help people quit smoking without side negative effects.
Conventional Medicine Agrees
A recent study published in the medical journal Preventive Medicine showed the use of acupuncture for smoking addiction. This ambitious study followed 46 participants for five years. About half of the group was given acupuncture at points that corresponded to smoking. The other half of the group also received acupuncture but they were given treatment for their skeletal and muscular systems (so called “placebo” or “sham” acupuncture).
During the course of the study several people in the test group and in the control group quit smoking. The scientists studied the blood levels of smoking-related chemicals in both groups and found that the test group had less of these chemicals in their systems even if they continued to smoke after treatment.
The First Step
“Ya gotta wanna” quit. If you are not ready to stop smoking, you won’t. But if you do want to stop, acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help by reducing the desire for nicotine, clearing the free nicotine and other chemicals from your body quickly and calming the mind to make the process less stressful. Most people we treat quit within three sessions and those that fall off the wagon usually don’t take more than a session or two to get back on track
What Your Neighbors Say
“Over a period of two years, I have tried several programs to quit smoking. I have even tried to quit cold turkey without success. After one visit with Robert and Cindy Kienitz, I lost the desire to smoke. Wanting to quit was the first step, Acupuncture, and Breath-work sealed the deal. I have not felt the need to smoke since.”
~MB
Sebastian, FL
“I went to see Dr. Robert for help with stopping smoking and was so amazed with the results that I’ve sent half the population of Orchid Island to see him. Keep up the great work Doc!”
~JR
Orchid Island, FL
Even if you don’t smoke (good for you!), you probably know someone who does. Pass this information on to them and help them save their lives while also saving money.
Yours in good health,
Robert Kienitz, DTCM