About "Staying
Stopped"
Staying Stopped is a unique program, using
auricular acupuncture, to not only help you to stop smoking
and/or withdraw from other addictive substances but assist
you in staying stopped.
Background Information
The use of auricular acupuncture in this context was
pioneered by Dr Michael Smith at the Lincoln Memorial
Hospital in the Bronx, New York – an inner city facility
where hundreds of patients are treated daily. It has
been used in this context in many treatment settings
all over the USA and Europe.
There are references in ancient Chinese texts to the use
of auricular (ear) acupuncture as early as 300 BC where
it was noted ‘Inspect the auricle to diagnose the Kidneys’.
Using auricular acupuncture as a means of treatment in
addiction was also applied around the same time but was
not recorded until the Tsin Dynasty.
Auricular acupuncture is based on the theory that the ear
can be likened to an inverted fetus in the uterus i.e.
with its head pointing downwards. All parts of the entire
body are therefore represented somewhere on the ear.
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It is interesting
to note that the classic Chinese Acupuncture points
on the ears are in a similar position to the various
anatomical areas of the fetus. Altogether, there
are over 200 points on the ear, 70 of which are in
common usage. However, you will be relieved to hear
that in the Staying Stopped program, only 5 points
on each ear are used!
Ear acupuncture is used with great success when treating
the problems of substance mis-use, both in crisis and
long term rehabilitation.
Points used:
• Sympathetic – this point acts on the autonomic
nervous system, regulating the muscles of the
internal organs
• Shen Men – alleviates anxiety and controls nervousness
• Kidney – helps with detoxification and strengthens
the will
• Liver – alleviates toxicity in the blood and
stabilizes impulsive behavior and mood swings
• Lungs – strengthens the immune system and promotes
physical balance |
"Staying Stopped" is
a specific program devised by a group of acupuncturists
in the UK to assist people to stop smoking or to manage
their withdrawal from other addictive substances such as
marijuana and alcohol. These programs have been running
for the past ten years in many parts of the UK with great
success. The program runs over a period of 5 days during
which participants attend the clinic for approximately
one and a half hours per day. There, in addition to receiving
an acupuncture treatment, they are able to discuss issues
which may arise and they will be given a herbal infusion
which will accelerate the detoxification process. The acupuncturist
will suggest ways to ease the transition from dependency
to non-dependency and provide useful guidelines to enable
each individual to own and sustain the choice they are
making. After the initial 5 day period, there is a follow
up session one week later.
The program has three main aims:
Detoxification
• the needles address the body by supporting it through the
actual withdrawal from dependence on nicotine
• the needles help to clear the mind and support your choice
to stay stopped
Support
• the acupuncturist will offer advice on how to deal with
cravings and the triggers that set off the desire to smoke
in the first place
• group support offered by the program is beneficial in helping
sustain your decision to quit
Maintenance
• top up treatments are available following the program should
you feel the need
• should you have any other health issues, the practitioner
is a qualified and experienced acupuncturist who will be
only too willing to discuss other matters that may concern
you |
