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When the Ten Thousand Things are seen in their Oneness, We return to the Origin where we have always been. - Sengtan

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NEWS RELEASE

May 14, 2003

For More Information Contact: Rebecca Wilkowski, Phone: (800) 729-0941

Smokers Can Kick the Habit with Acupuncture

On July 23, 2003, New York’s strongest smoking ban will take effect, making it illegal to smoke in all places of employment. According to Dr. Thomas Frieden, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, some 1.4 million people in New York smoke and 25 people die every day in New York City as a result of tobacco use. For the estimated 70 percent of New York smokers who want to quit, acupuncture may be the answer.

Acupuncture is used in more than 100 New York City hospitals and clinics as an adjunct to substance abuse counseling. Four to five very small, disposable needles are inserted into points on the ear corresponding to the lung, kidney and nervous system. It is thought that these needles increase the flow of endorphins, morphine-like hormones that induce a deep state of relaxation. This state is prolonged and leads to a lessening of cravings for nicotine and other drugs. According to Shelly Bobbins, a registered nurse and licensed acupuncturist in California, "It [acupuncture] can help to reduce the sign and symptoms of the withdrawal process. Auricular (ear) acupuncture has sedative properties and helps calm the spirit, decreasing anxiety and restlessness."

If you’re a smoker, you’ll gain almost immediate benefits as soon as you quit, regardless of your age. Within 20 minutes, blood pressure and pulse rates drop to normal. Eight hours after quitting, the oxygen level in the blood increases to normal. One day after quitting, the odds of having a heart attack start to drop. Within 48 hours nerve endings start regrowing and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced. Within two weeks, lung function will have increased by up to 30 percent. Two weeks to 3 months after quitting, circulation improves and walking becomes easier. One year, the body’s energy level increases and the risk of coronary heart disease will be half that of a smoker.

Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the U.S., says the American Cancer Society, but each year it kills more Americans than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, suicides, murders and fires combined. According to the American Lung Association, smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 430,700 American lives each year. Cigarettes and cigarette smoke contain over 4,000 chemicals, including 60 known to cause cancer. Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, cancer, heart disease, asthma, and women’s reproductive disorders.

For more information on how acupuncture can help you quit smoking, please call (800) 729-0941. To make an appointment in Pacific College’s community clinic, please call (212) 982-4600.

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