Acupuncture and related interventions for smoking cessation

Area of Science:

• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Public Health
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Acupuncture and related techniques are widely promoted for smoking cessation.
• The belief is that these methods can alleviate nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture, acupressure, laser therapy, and electrostimulation for smoking cessation.
• To compare these interventions against no intervention, sham treatments, or other established methods.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
• Searched multiple databases including Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Chinese databases up to November 2010.
• Included studies comparing acupuncture-related techniques with control groups, assessing short-term and long-term smoking abstinence.

Main Results:

• Acupuncture showed a small short-term benefit over sham acupuncture (RR 1.18), but no significant long-term effect.
• Studies were not free from bias; acupuncture was less effective than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
• Insufficient evidence exists for acupressure and laser stimulation; electrostimulation was not superior to sham treatment.

Conclusions:

• There is no consistent, bias-free evidence supporting acupuncture, acupressure, laser therapy, or electrostimulation for smoking cessation.
• Methodological limitations prevent firm conclusions; further well-designed research is warranted.
• These interventions, while safe, are likely less effective than evidence-based smoking cessation treatments.