CAM Helps People Quit Smoking

People who are actively working to end their smoking habit may be prime candidates for body-mind activities. The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, conducted a survey among 1,175 patients at a Midwestern outpatient tobacco treatment clinic about past use, perceived effectiveness and interest in future use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The aim was to gather more information about CAM’s potential to help smokers quit.

Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported interest in using CAM methods to achieve their goal. People were most interested in trying hypnosis, herbal products, acupuncture, relaxation and massage therapy. Twenty-seven percent of those surveyed had prior experience with CAM; the therapies they most commonly perceived to be effective were yoga, relaxation, meditation and massage.