| An Alternative to Addiction by Arthur Rapkin and Adam Margolis Addictive behavior is a common pitfall of human nature. Despite our attempts to achieve independence and self-sufficiency, we can altogether too easily become dependant on external substances. Even though many addictions are obviously detrimental to our health, the substances of addiction become our little friends; dependable cures for loneliness or boredom from day to day. Cigarette smoking, for example, often becomes attached to our daily rituals -- drinking coffee, talking on the phone, driving -- eventually growing to become part of our self-image and identity. I even know people who even detest smoking cigarettes...unless, of course, they are having a beer or some other alcoholic beverage; then, it seems that cigarettes so infrequently are not so bad, right? Wrong. Addiction to substances, especially cigarettes, overtakes our personalities while quietly but seriously jeopardizing our health. By the time most people become aware of how damaging their relationships with these foreign objects are, they find themselves tightly chained to them, unable to break free without causing pain and anxiety. Dependency on any substance is a form of slavery. When we are dependent on an external substance, it paralyses our ability to make choices. Our intellect may tell us to one thing, but our urges can easily overpower our resolve. Establishing one's independence is the secret to beating an addiction and gaining personal freedom. Nicotine and you Considering the fact that smoking is the number one cause of health problems in our country today, I will focus on this addiction in the hopes that those of you who are smokers will consider the dangerous control that smoking has over your body and mind. Consider the fact that one out of two smokers will die from smoking-related causes, including but not limited to these cancers: lung, mouth, esophageal, bone and brain, just to name a few. Other health concerns are: heart disease, asthma, chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and emphysema. Smoking has huge transactional costs in the workplace, as well. Frequent illnesses and absenteeism are results of smoking tobacco. Smoking lowers productivity at the workplace. Smokers typically take more breaks and are frequently thinking of having their next cigarette instead of concentrating on their work. Most obvious, perhaps, is the fact that smoking reduces the flow of much-needed oxygen throughout the system. The most recent studies related to the affect that smoking has on men have indicated that blood flow to the penis and testes during sexual activity is reduced considerably by the presence of nicotine in their bodies. Men who smoke may eventually develop problems with sexual function. Guys, is it really worth it? It may not be important to you now if you are under 40, but being able to perform sexually after age 40 or 50 will make a huge difference in your quality of life. It's not just that you will die younger as a smoker than a non-smoker - that would be an easy decision to make. The reality is that you may not be functioning on your own without assistance or aid to even go to the bathroom if you suffer a heart attack or a stroke. Freedom from smoking As has been mentioned in our previous articles, according to Oriental Medical theory, human beings are microcosms of the world around them. Among the implications of this idea is that people have a natural, ingrained ability to be whole and balanced. Just as the countless elements of the world's ecosystem are set to work in perfect harmony with each other, a human being is naturally capable of existing in harmony with him or herself without the aid of external substances. When using Oriental Medicine to recover from addiction, a person is not given a substitute for the substance upon which he or she is dependent. Instead, the practitioner uses acupuncture and herbal medicine to unlock the patient's natural potential for self-sufficiency and strength. Through the use of this empowering strategy, a person overcomes addiction while rediscovering his or her own true self. In this respect, acupuncture is extremely valuable, because it supports and nourishes a person's body to provide for their future health. Understanding this process is critical to the success of managing change. Eliminating negative influences from our lives is as important as beginning to make more positive decisions in our lives and for the sake of our overall health. Used properly, acupuncture affects both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Acupuncture works by influencing brain and organ function. It further activates the sympathetic nervous system, which stimulates the endocrine glands (responsible for the production of the hormones regulating body function), increases metabolism, affects oxygen consumption throughout the body and regulates heart rate. At the same time, by simultaneously activating the parasympathetic nervous system, it begins a process of relaxation. The pituitary gland responds by releasing a variety of hormones that immediately influence the body's defensive and restorative mechanisms, thus releasing endorphins, our bodies' natural painkillers. In other words, an acupuncture treatment (provided it is given by an experienced practitioner) is not only painless but is as close to natural euphoria as you can get. Simply put, you can treat stress with a cigarette or you can treat yourself to being stress free with acupuncture. One is a deposit into your health, and one is a withdrawal. Life's conditions are manifestations of choices and patterns we have developed. The idea to enhancing your overall health is to choose them carefully and with the best intentions. An acupuncture treatment for a smoker does not work by simply taking away nicotine cravings or by mitigating the side effects of withdrawal. Instead, the acupuncture treatment reminds the patient's body how to overcome these symptoms on its own. For this reason, a person who overcomes an addiction with the help of acupuncture often will emerge stronger than they were before becoming dependant in the first place. Through the recovery process from the abuse of a substance, a person may go through various transitions and emotional shifts. Discovering the very feelings that drive the compulsive behaviors that fuel addictive habits is the most important aspect of breaking an addiction. It is always easier to continue our old habits and behaviors than it is to change. Participating in the process of such a change requires courage and commitment even though people feel vulnerable and weak during this time in their lives. The greatest contribution that Oriental Medicine can give to a person is to nourish, cultivate and enhance good health. Exactly what we all need. Arthur Rapkin, O.M.D., and Adam Margolis, L.Ac., are licenced acupuncturists and nationally accredited diplomats of Chinese herbology. Dr. Rapkin serves on the Wisconsin Acupuncture Advisory board and the Wisconsin Association for Asian Medicine. Adam Margolis was born in New York and recently relocated to Wisconsin from Israel where he treated cancer patients with acupuncture and herbology. They are currently accepting new patients at The Kindo Center For Health, 4465 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood, Wisc. The Kindo Centers' "Freedom From Smoking" program has been featured on national television broadcasts. Call (414) 967-1704. Copyright © 2003 Arthur Rapkin and Adam Margolis |
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