In November, the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout falls on Thursday, November 21st. If you’ve been thinking of kicking the habit, consider using acupuncture to help you with your goal. When a patient comes in seeking help for smoking cessation, we use the NADA Protocol. The NADA protocol consists of 5 points located in the ear and is used mainly to treat addictions, emotional imbalances and stress.
This protocol was developed in the 1970s and has been used ever since in a variety of treatment settings such as hospitals, acupuncture clinics, mental health centers, detox clinics, prisons and rehabilitation facilities. It is also widely recognized by many federal programs including the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the US Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs.
We typically use the protocol at SSCA for any kind of addiction – drug and alcohol, nicotine, food, etc. Using this protocol has been shown to reduce cravings, calm the mind and promote the “rest and digest” function of the parasympathetic nervous system. The calming sensation that people experience when this protocol is used is also very helpful in treating stress, anxiety, sleep issues and feelings of depression.
More information on the NADA protocol can be found at http://www.acudetox.com/nada-resources/15-online-resources/193-new-resource-nada-research-summary.