Acupuncture treatment of drug addiction was accidentally
discovered by Dr. H.L. Wen, a Hong Kong neurosurgeon in 1972. He was treating a
patient for a concussion. The patient was also known as an opium addict and Dr.
Wen proposed a cingulutomy as treatment for the addiction. A cingulutomy is a
prefrontal lobotomy that severs certain functions between the two frontal
hemispheres. The patient was anaesthetised using acupuncture. Even before the
operation began, the withdrawal symptoms were decreased and even disappeared
altogether. The operation was cancelled. Every time the withdrawal symptoms reoccurred,
the patient was treated with acupuncture until they stopped occurring at all.
In 1985, Dr. Smith, in New York, finalized a protocol, using only ear points
without electrical stimulation for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Recently, Professor Han from Beijing University, China, characterized a protocol, using
electrical stimulation of identified frequencies on body points to ameliorate heroin
withdrawal signs and reduce relapse of heroin use.
Auricular acupuncture for addictions is effective in
relieving the symptoms of withdrawal, including decreasing the severity of
cravings, body aches, headaches, nausea, sweating and muscle cramping. People
also report that they sleep better, feel less depressed and more relaxed. During
an auricular acupuncture session participants often have small sterile needles
inserted into five points on the outer ear. Some needles are used to relax and
calm the person, while the others are used to help detoxify different areas of
the body (liver, kidneys and lungs etc).
Auricular Acupuncture is helpful in treating a range of
addictions including alcohol, nicotine, other drugs and addictive behaviours
like gambling, even internet addiction disorder.
References:
Lua PL., Altern Ther Health Med. 2013
Jul-Aug;19(4):28-42. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23981370
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