BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking is a major cause of preventable disease and 
premature death. Physicians should play an active role in the control of smoking 
by encouraging cessation and helping the smoker to choose the most suitable aid 
to cessation.
AIM: To evaluate a simple, ear acupuncture treatment for the cessation of 
smoking.
METHOD: Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 78 currently 
smoking volunteers from the general public. Volunteers attended an acupuncture 
clinic in a general practice setting and were given a single treatment of 
electroacupuncture using two needles at either an active or a placebo site plus 
self-retained ear seeds for two weeks. The major outcome measure was 
biochemically validated total cessation of smoking at six months.
RESULTS: A total of 12.5% of the active treatment group compared with 0% of the 
placebo group ceased smoking at six months (P = 0.055, 95% confidence interval 
-0.033 to 0.323).
CONCLUSION: This simple ear electroacupuncture treatment was significantly more 
effective in helping volunteers to quit smoking than placebo treatment.