Unconventional Methods

Yesterday, I came across the idea of using reflexology to help smoking cessation. I decided to put a pin in it until I could get some good complementary methods to share at the same time.

Reflexology is one of those Eastern medicines that Western science can't prove. As scientific and logical as I like to approach most things, I am still a firm believer in the power of belief: the more you believe in something, the more real it is, because you're telling the universe to create it just by thinking about it. So even though Zues, vampires, unicorns, and/or Santa Claus might not be/have been actual, physical beings, they exist because people believe in them. The more people believe in them, the more real they are, even if we never see them. That's why I try to spend more energy on positive things than negative because energy begets energy, so why attract shit you don't want? With that being said, let's explore some voodoo mumbo jumbo magic faerie dust shit that really does work for some people:

Reflexology is a type of massage therapy practiced under the notion that the feet, hands, and ears are maps of the body, and it's used to help people quit smoking by massaging the areas on these extremities corresponding with the lungs (to clear them), heart (for circulation), and brain (to help with withdrawal and stress), and so on. I'm all for it, because who doesn't love a massage? But if it can help other body parts at the same time, why not? I see no harm in it.

I found a nifty video you should check out if you believe reflexology can work. Hey, she's kinda hot and has a British accent, too. Five minutes well-spent.

Another alternative method closely related to reflexology (i.e. acupressure) is acupuncture, which also came from the East. This usually involves penetrating the skin with needles at various areas of the body and either manually or electrically stimulating them. As hokey (and scary) as acupuncture might seem, it's the oldest known medicine on the planet, so .... I can't argue its validity and still feel competent. It's even endorsed by the US National Institutes of Health, the UK and the World Health Organization.What's great about using acupuncture to quit smoking is that it seems be used (at least in the US) for mental treatment, like anxiety, depression, and insomnia just as readily as for physical ailments. What's even better is that it can be used for both at the same time, essentially.
I have eight tattoos, have given blood, and had more blood tests than seems necessary, so I can't say I'm afraid of needles. I was super extra close to getting acupuncture done once, but the logistics weren't proving too great at the time, so I missed out. I wish so badly that I could tell you about it.... maybe next time I feel like going to the clinic I'll go to the acupuncturist instead. And videotape it.

Coming soon: Naturopathy v pills