Recently, I've had a few patients come to me for help with their addictions. Acupuncture can be used as one of the many tools that's required in sustained successful treatment of addiction.
Consequentially, I also had a fellow practitioner from The Recovery Village contact me about posting a link to their site on my own web page. I think this page does an excellent job describing some of the ways that acupuncture can be helpful when one is recovering from addictions. Have a look for yourself here!
The most direct way that acupuncture can help with addiction is stress relief. Also, acupuncture can stimulate the liver, allowing the body to expel some of the toxins and residue of the substances that get left over in the body when substance abuse is involved. Ultimately, these sorts of toxins need to leave the body so that cravings and withdraw symptoms become reduced.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Liver system is the organ in the body that is the most affected by stress and toxins. Furthermore, the Liver is responsible for keeping anger and resentment under control. These are powerful emotions that by themselves can cause damage not only inside the body, but inside one's life as well. Soothing the Liver system with acupuncture can help reduce the effects of these emotions, and ultimately, help one deal with these emotions a little better so that they don't dominate one's life as much.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact the clinic and I'll be happy to help answer them!
All the very best,
Matthew Colavecchia, R.Ac