What does an acupuncture treatment to support smoking cessation entail?

So you’re ready—enough—to quit smoking. Congratulations—that's the first step! Stopping a behavior that has served a purpose in your life isn’t easy, but thanks to the five needle protocol developed during the heroin epidemic of the 1970s, it can be easier.

Common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include irritability, anxiety, and nicotine cravings. They usually peak after about three days without smoking a cigarette. The five needle protocol consists of five acupuncture points in each ear and can help reduce these symptoms. The acupuncture points on the ear are particularly potent, especially those on a particular part of the ear called the concha. Four of the five acupuncture points in the five needle protocol are located on this part of the ear. To learn more, see our post about the mechanism behind ear acupuncture.

The five needle protocol works best when it is received frequently in the early days of smoking cessation. We recommend getting five treatments as close together as possible, on as many days in a row as you can. After this series of treatments you can evaluate your symptoms and seek further treatment if needed. We can even help you stimulate the points on your own by applying ear seeds. Each ear seed contains an actual seed, a Chinese herb whose properties enable it to stimulate acupuncture points. The seed is mounted on an adhesive surface so that it sticks to the ear. If you get a nicotine craving, press on the ear seeds to stimulate the points even more. Good luck!