Smoking-withdrawal Acupuncture produces a feeling of calmness and relaxation which helps control the agitation and irritability associated with nicotine-withdrawal. Patients commonly report a decrease in the desire to smoke and an alteration in the flavour of cigarettes. Some complain of a lack of flavour, “like smoking straw”, while others liken it to smoking a lower-nicotine brand of cigarettes. Nausea and giddiness have also been reported by those who smoke while having treatment.

Smokers may be broadly divided into two groups – the addicted smoker and the habitual smoker. Addicted smokers are heavy smokers who smoke even when busy, dash out for “smokos” at every opportunity or have frequent trips to the convenience room. Habitual smokers are light smokers who only light up a cigarette when not busy. Acupuncture works particularly well with addicted smokers. In the author’s experience, addicted smokers often make their decision to quit after much soul-searching and are usually committed to the process. They are more likely to benefit from acupuncture therapy than the lighter-smoking habitual smokers who have a desire to quit because of pressure from diverse sources, but are not totally committed.