| Clinical
Programs: Stop
Smoking Now
 A Safe and Effective Pharmacological Approach
to Tobacco Cessation
Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of
heart disease and lung cancer in America today.
It also causes emphysema and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease which are a major cause of
disability, illness and death. Smoking has been
linked to a variety of different cancers as well
as inflammatory diseases and premature aging
and wrinkling of the skin.
Every year millions of people try to stop smoking,
but only a small minority succeeds. The treatment
program we at the Institute for Healing Arts
Research are offering may be the solution for
anyone who is tired of being a slave to his/her
tobacco cravings, who is embarrassed by a habit
that today is tolerated by the general public,
or who is seeking a healthier or more wholesome
lifestyle.
Our approach requires only a small amount of
medication to help the body quickly and gently
kick the tobacco habit. A few years ago researchers
unexpectedly found that patients receiving injections
of anticholinergic medications, which are commonly
used in respiratory therapy, lost their desire
for tobacco. This observation led to the very
promising anti-smoking intervention offered by
The Institute for Healing Arts Research.
In addition to pharmacological therapy, Dr.
Kochan’s stop smoking program includes
nutritional supplements and access to support
services depending on each patient’s needs.
Anticholinergic therapy is so effective that
most patients require only one treatment and
then wear an unobtrusive patch behind one ear
for 12 days afterwards to lose their need to
smoke- forever. No substitute source of nicotine
is needed. No nicotine withdrawal symptoms are
experienced.
In October 2004 a pulmonary clinic in Sarasota,
Florida, using a treatment protocol similar to
ours, reported an 80% success quit rate at one
week and 65% success at two months at a meeting
of the American College of Chest Physicians.
In 1986 a study of 500 patients reported an 85%
quit rate at two months and 40% at one year.
Neither of these programs included the detoxification
and nutritional support included in our program.
Pregnant women, persons with cardiac disease
or glaucoma, or men with prostate enlargement
may not be candidates for this treatment. Common
side effects included dry mouth, blurred vision,
fatigue and drowsiness for up to 24 hours. We,
therefore, only do this treatment in the evenings
or on weekends. Someone must be available to
drive the ex-smoker home after a short period
of observation following the treatment.
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