Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese system of healing that views health as the balance within an individual’s healing energy, or chi. Acupuncturists in san diego ca help chi move along pathways, known as meridians that connect various organs and systems within the body. The uninterrupted and balanced flow of energy along these meridians contributes to one’s overall health. Nevertheless, imbalances and blockages result in pain and illness. The acupuncturist inserts very fine, sterile needles at specific acupuncture points along the meridians to redirect and reposition the flow of energy. Instead of or in addition to needles, small rolled-up cones of moxa, the dried leaves of the mugwort plant, are often placed on the point and burned until heat is felt.

A technique similar to acupressure, except that fine needles are inserted at specific points along the meridians just under the skin to stimulate, disperse and balance the flow or energy, relieve pain, and treat a variety of chronic, acute and degenerative conditions. Penetrates and stimulates specific points in the body to restore normal energetic balance. Acupuncture is also believed to control smoking addiction and it is the treatment of choice of many individuals who wish to quit smoking.

Smoking addiction can be treated through different methods such as nicotine patches, telephone therapy, antidepressants, and cognitive behavioral therapy. But which one works? Which have no effect and which are dangerous? Don’t be confused since there are over 40 Cochrane reviews that analyzed the evidence.

For example, one systematic review shows how nicotine patches can double the odds of successful quitting. Another concludes that the antidepressants bupropion and nortriptyline aid long-term smoking cessation, but selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors do not.

Yet another revealed that varenicline recently approved in the UK by NICE, increased the odds of successful long-term smoking cessation more than threefold compared with pharmacologically unassisted quit attempts.

Ever since Sir Richard Doll and others used careful analysis to show that smoking was a key cause of cancer, there has been pressure to find ways of reducing dependency on tobacco. Richard Doll’s work also showed the importance of putting critical analysis and high quality research at the heart of good decision making.

With changes in the law providing fresh impetus for smokers to quit, the catalogue of reviews in The Cochrane Library is a great source of the knowledge needed by people wanting to make well informed decisions. The reviews provide reliable evidence on the strengths and weaknesses of many different types of therapy. They should help guide policy-makers who are looking for ways to increase the chances that people who want to stop smoking succeed in putting their cigarettes down for good, says Director of the UK Cochrane Centre, Professor Mike Clarke from the University of Oxford.