One of the biggest problems facing modern societies today is addiction. There are actually several types of addictions. Addiction can be as mild as addiction to chocolates to as serious as heroin or street drug addiction. Addiction always negatively impacts the health of the addict as well as his/her internal balance.
The Definition of Addiction
Inordinate and long-term indulgence to activities or substances considered pleasurable to a person can usually make the person addicted to that activity or substance. This often affects his day-to-day life in a huge way. Addiction, as defined by a medical dictionary refers to the psychological or physiological dependence of a person on specific substances or practices that a person cannot control. Some would argue that addiction happens when the individual is controlled by the activity or substance and not the person losing control of his urges.
There are two classifications of addiction: substance and behavioral addiction. Substance addiction generally refers to dependence to certain chemicals and street drugs such as alcohol, cocaine and nicotine, behavioral addiction, on the other hand, often denotes addiction to internet browsing, gambling, sex, and intense exercising.
There comes a point in time when the addict may be unaware that his behavior is getting out of hand and already causing issues with other individuals. Addicts become very dependent on substances or activities in order to cope with their everyday life aside from being unable to control their urge to indulge in substances or activities . They will keep on taking these substances even if its starts affecting their health and relationships and adversely affect the people around them, as well.
Based on research, the regular undertaking of activities or use of certain substances brings pleasure to a user’s brain. The user eventually sees over time, that as he/she increases his dosage, the more pleasure he derives from it. This also means that his tolerance to the substance goes up. Experts say that as one’s level of tolerance goes up, the risk for addiction increases. There will come a point when the person stops getting any pleasure from the substance and merely take it to avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms. They feel alright when they take those substances.
The addict must first come to terms with his/her own addiction in order to begin treatment for it. Some of the modes of addiction therapy include participating in psychotherapy, self-help groups, behavioral therapy, counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy. Throughout the years, acupuncture has been determined to be a really good alternative treatment for addiction.
Addiction from the Perspective of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
Acupuncture is a very old form of Chinese medical therapy involving the insertion of acupuncture needles into a person’s acupuncture points that are scattered all over the surface of a person’s skin. Underneath these acupuncture points lie vessels where life energy known as qi (or chi) flows. The needles are inserted into important acupuncture points to normalize the flow of qi helping improve the mental and physical functions of the body. Acupuncture therapy can help improve the state of health of a person who is suffering from addiction. It aids in the natural course of action of detoxification from both substance and behavioral addiction.
Practitioners and adherents of TCM and acupuncture do have certain explanations regarding the development of addiction. They all are mainly based on the idea of the balance of yin and yang. With regards to addiction, addicts suffer from a condition known as yin deficiency. This energy imbalance causes emptiness and desperation that forces addicts to use, consume and abuse. These acts, in turn, only leads to more depletion of yin resulting in even more desperation.
Get Treatment with Acupuncture
For addiction, TCM usually utilizes acupuncture therapy alongside specific Chinese herbs. These modalities help lower cravings and promote relaxation and calmness. Studies reveal that acupuncture does aid in quelling anxiety and decreases the number and severity of withdrawal symptoms. It provides a natural and effective way of detoxifying your body from harmful substances regardless if you’re addiction is to coffee or an inability to stop your cocaine addiction.
Other studies show that the best form of acupuncture for chemical addiction is auricular acupuncture. This procedure can help treat addictions to vicodin, hydrocodone, oxycotin, tea, coffee, caffeine, methadone, crack, cocaine, morphine, heroin, nicotine and alcohol.
The NADA Protocol
The NADA Protocol states that in order to address addiction, five acupuncture points need to be treated. These are the shenmen point, sympathetic point, lung point, kidney point , and the liver point.
When the sympathetic points are stimulated, the body experiences a painkilling effect. The stimulation of these points also brings back balance to both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. The shenmen points, on the other hand, result in a calming and relaxing sensation that helps allay the anxiety and nervousness that are often experienced during withdrawal symptoms.
Anger and aggression disappear when the liver point is stimulated. This point also heals the liver from the damaging effects of drug and alcohol abuse. When the lung point is stimulated it strengthens the immune system which is much needed when dealing bouts of withdrawal symptoms. It also speeds up the course of detoxification. The stimulation of the kidney point helps in regaining the source and essence of energy often impaired during substance abuse. Kidney point stimulation also fortifies willpower to help address fear and overcome addiction.
Most health experts dealing with acupuncture mostly prefer to use acupuncture since it is a very safe procedure that does not come with side effects. It is usually used until the person becomes clean from their addiction. You can lessen your acupuncture treatments once you stop taking substances although acupuncturists advise it is much better to continue receiving acupuncture treatments once a month but experts suggest that you continue taking acupuncture treatments at least once a month to guaranty long-term healing . The truth is a lot ex-addicts who have benefited greatly from acupuncture know that it helps them keep off bad substances and gives them a sense of well-being and balance.
Acupuncture Health Center
1303 Astor St #101
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 715-1824
https://www.bellinghamacupuncturecenter.com/