Institute for Healing Arts Research : Director, Andrew Kochan, M.D.
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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