Addiction

« Acupuncture | Posted on 11/25/2008 07:38 am by JeanPaul

The Use of Acupuncture in Addiction and Obesity

 

A growing number of Western acupuncturists are using a variety of acupuncture techniques to successfully treat obesity, smoking and hard drug addiction. Studies show some excellent physiological and clinical evidence to support the use of acupuncture in these areas. The withdrawal symptoms experienced by people giving up smoking, or drugs, can be alleviated by raising the levels of endorphins (dopamine etc.) in the nervous system. Some people believe that the desire to eat is also mediated by the endorphin level in the brain. It is clear that endorphin levels throughout the nervous system can be raised by acupuncture. The techniques used to achieve an increase in endorphin levels largely center around the use of auriculotherapy (ear acupuncture); the ear may be electrically stimulated or a small staple or stud may be left in the ear for a week at a time. Pressing the indwelling needle seems to decrease the desire to smoke or eat, probably due to an increase in the endorphin level.
It must be stressed, however, that acupuncture cannot replace willpower. It can only help the withdrawal symptoms, or hunger pains, experienced by those already motivated and committed to solving their particular problem.