How Acupuncture Helps to Treat Addiction

You may have heard that acupuncture can be used to help when you are trying to kick an addiction or habit like smoking or overeating. Some of the most common questions we get about acupuncture for addiction are: Where do you typically put the acupuncture needles when you giving a treatment? Does acupuncture for addiction hurt? How many times do I need to come in for acupuncture if I am trying to break an addiction? We will answer those questions in this post and much more.

NADA Protocol

When treating someone with an ingrained habit or self described addiction, we very often use a technique call the NADA protocol. The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocol is a simple yet effective form of acupuncture that was developed at Lincoln Hospital in New York in response to the opiate crisis in the 1970s.  Since then, it has been integrated into more than 500 state addiction programs and over 1,500 programs worldwide.  When used in conjunction with a comprehensive substance abuse program, the NADA protocol is associated with increased program completion, reductions in cravings and anxiety, fewer episodes of sleep disturbances and reduced need for pharmaceuticals. The NADA protocol for addiction involves the insertion of 5 acupuncture needles into the outer ear that have been shown to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with addictive substance abuse. The functions of these 5 points are as follows: 

Sympathetic

Balances the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems (fight or flight) which causes a relaxant and analgesic effect.

Shen Men

Regulates the cerebral cortex and helps produce relaxation/sedation.

Kidney

Strengthens the body to help relieve mental weariness, fatigue, headaches & fears.

Liver

Helps decrease liver inflammation, detoxifies the body and controls anger. 

Lung

Associated with pain relief, sweating, lung conditions and grief. 

Effectiveness

The NADA Protocol has been shown to be effective for smoking cessation, drug addictions of all types including opioids, PTSD & trauma recovery, anxiety, depression, and irritability associated with changing habits.

Why do we use the Ear?

In Chinese medicine, we use auricular (ear) therapy to treat the body as a whole. The ear is a mirror of the entire body. Imagine an upside-down fetus with the head being at the earlobe.  We call this system a microcosm. We use microcosms in the ear, hand, face, feet, and different regions of the body to balance the whole body. 

Is the treatment plan the same for everyone?

We treat different areas of the body to help support the person and help with addiction. The ear in this treatment protocol is the primary focus, but we support the overall person with other points on the body to bring balance. Research says, that most treatment plans are a series of treatments that range in number between 6-12 visits.

We recommend coming in whenever you are quitting an addiction, having thoughts of addiction, any stressful events in life, any changes in routine or schedule that might elicit a trigger. 

If you would like to speak directly to a practitioner about your specific issue to find out out if you are a good candidate, feel free to give us a call anytime. And if you have been thinking about breaking up with a habit, consider this your sign.