Analysing the Use of Acupuncture in Smoking Cessation

Abstract

With an increasing population experiencing tobacco dependence, an enormous public health medical costhas been induced due to first-hand, second-hand, and third-hand smoking. A variety of instruments areavailable to aid in smoking cessation, including standard and adjunct therapies, for which acupunctureconstitutes a safe and economic measure. Offering an overview of this traditional Chinese medicine practice,this literature review analyses 27 clinical studies, covering 15,794 participants aged 15-84 years old fromAfrica, Asia, Europe and North America. The outcomes reveal the effectiveness of acupuncture in minimisingcigarette cravings, tobacco consumption, and nicotine dependence, through either a single employmentof this method or a combined treatment method. Suggestions for research and practical implications toimprove the usefulness of acupuncture in dealing with smoking-related health are given.