Three Scientifically Proven Ways to Quit Smoking

There are many smoking-cessation candies on the market that claim to “work immediately and help you quit in three days.” Unfortunately, most of these products are unreliable and may even cause high blood pressure and obesity. Some nicotine-containing quit-smoking candies do work, but they should actually be classified as medicinal nicotine gum used for smoking cessation. Some people also try to quit through “e-cigarettes.” They believe e-cigarettes do not release carcinogenic tar, nor do they produce the ash and unpleasant smoke smell of traditional cigarettes, so they seem to offer an ideal alternative for people who are forced or choose to reduce or stop smoking. In fact, e-cigarettes only reduce cigarette use and do not lessen nicotine dependence.
 
Should you go to the hospital to quit smoking? For a long time, people have generally believed that quitting smoking is simply a matter of willpower, so why go to a hospital? In fact, the success rate of quitting through willpower alone is only 3% to 5%, while smoking-cessation clinics can achieve a success rate of over 30%. At present, many hospitals in Shanghai have opened smoking-cessation clinics. However, very few patients actually visit them. In reality, quitting smoking is a scientific issue involving both physiology and psychology, and seeking help from professionals or doctors is the best choice for smokers who want to quit.

1. Medication-assisted smoking cessation

This can be divided into two main categories: nicotine replacement therapy and non-nicotine smoking-cessation medications. Nicotine replacement therapy provides nicotine to the body to replace or partially replace the nicotine absorbed from tobacco, thereby reducing withdrawal symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and irritability.

The main nicotine replacement products currently include nicotine gum, nicotine lozenges, and nicotine patches. Common non-nicotine smoking-cessation medications include sustained-release bupropion hydrochloride tablets and varenicline tartrate tablets. Using medication to quit smoking can raise the success rate to as high as 50%. For smokers with severe nicotine dependence, combination therapy can also be used to improve the success rate.

2. Acupuncture for smoking cessation

This method mainly works by regulating the nervous system to eliminate cravings and adjust and improve internal organ function. One smoking-cessation acupoint is located on the hand, midway between the Yangxi and Lieque points, where there is a small depression when pressed. Smokers usually feel obvious pain when pressing this point. If they press it frequently themselves, especially firmly when cravings strike, it can have a clear suppressive effect. Needling this point can also produce noticeable results.

Based on traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation and each patient’s condition, other acupoints may also be selected as appropriate. Commonly used points include Taichong, Hegu, Fenglong, and Shenmen, chosen for their effects of soothing the liver, reducing internal heat, clearing heat and phlegm, and calming the mind. Electroacupuncture and acupoint patches may also be used to enhance the effect.

3. Auricular seed therapy for smoking cessation

When using auricular acupressure patches to quit smoking, acupoint selection must be accurate in order to achieve better results. Points such as “Shenmen,” “Heart,” “Lung,” and “Endocrine” may be selected. The Shenmen point helps regulate excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex and can calm and soothe the mind, making it the primary point for smoking cessation. The Heart point helps calm the mind and relieve irritability. The Lung is associated with the nose, governs qi and respiration, and is related to the throat. Stimulating the Lung point, Mouth point, and Trachea point can make smokers develop an aversion to the smell of smoke and can also relieve smoking-related symptoms such as coughing and excessive phlegm.

Practical results have confirmed that auricular acupuncture for smoking cessation is closely related to taste. For most patients, the taste of smoke changes significantly before and after treatment. After auricular acupressure is applied, cigarettes may taste bitter, bland, or tasteless, which significantly reduces or eliminates the desire to smoke and ultimately leads to smoking cessation.

For individuals, although the success rate of quitting “cold turkey” through willpower alone is low, it is still impossible to quit without determination. Developing good habits can also help with smoking cessation. First, eliminate feelings of tension. Second, take part in activities that shift your attention, such as exercise or simple games. Third, avoid being “tempted” by other smokers and relapsing.

As the country with the largest number of tobacco victims in the world, China still has a clear gap compared with more advanced countries in tobacco control. One of the main reasons is that the public lacks a deep understanding of the important scientific fact that smoking harms health. Effective tobacco control still requires broad participation from all sectors of society. For your own health and that of your family, please say “no” to tobacco.