Quitting smoking can be a challenge. But it is one of the best things someone can do for their health. Hence, the Australian health department is advocating its Smoke Free Workplace policy and in this regard, the department is offering cash reimbursements to their employees who utilize therapeutic measures to help them quit smoking. They are encouraging their staff members to opt for hypnotherapy and acupuncture to help them lose the desire to smoke and make it easier for them to quit.
With the policy being practiced in the department, some employees have already used this benefit. In fact, this year, two of the employees were given reimbursement for their hypnotherapy sessions. However, it seems that staff members have not yet tried acupuncture.
Hypnotherapy has now been dubbed as a new means to help smokers to quit easier. It is defined as an altered state of awareness wherein a person seemed to appear asleep or in trance. It is used to treat psychological problems and can be used to help people with addiction problems. It is thought to aid in making a person have a weakened desire to smoke.
On the other hand, acupuncture is used to reduce withdrawal symptoms. It has been used to curb cigarette cravings for a long time. In fact, studies can support this claim. In a recent study, Alternative Smoking Cessation Aids: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials, the researchers have concluded that both hypnotherapy and acupuncture are effective in helping people quit cigarette smoking.
However, other studies have dubbed these two alternative methods to be 'unproven' therapies and health experts are not in favor of the department's support for these types of therapies.
Simon Chapman, professor of public health at the University of Sydney, "Those two procedures are not what you'd call evidence-based. It's really just throwing money away, and those procedures are often quite expensive."
He added that many people who wanted to quit smoking were able to do so successfully without any medical help. The department spokesperson said that they are routinely evaluating the results of these therapies on their employees. They are assessing the efficacy of these activities and based on criticisms, they will reassess their policy if they can continue with it or not.