Effect of acupuncture treatment on smoking cessation in smokers from Hong Kong

A total of 2051 smokers were included in this clinical pilot research project Subjects were treated with acupuncture at Baihui DU-20, Yintang (M-HN-3), Lieque LU-7, Hegu L.I.-4, Neiguan P-6, Sanyinjiao SP-6, Taichong LIV-3 and Zusanli ST-36, with the needles retained for 20 minutes. Subjects received acupuncture at least six times per month, and were treated for two months. In addition to acupuncture treatment, subjects also received ‘psychological treatment’ (no details given) for at least 15 minutes at each session. Abstinence rates at the 8th week, 26th week and 52nd week were taken as outcome measures. The authors found that acupuncture for smoking cessation was most popular in female smokers, especially those aged 31 to 40 years and that the effectiveness of acupuncture-smoking cessation was most significant in smokers over 60. Whether smokers could successfully quit or not was found to depend on factors such as age, gender and educational background. [Oct 16]