BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking is responsible for human diseases of the lung, 
heart, circulatory system and various kinds of cancers, and is a serious public 
health problem worldwide. Acupuncture has been promoted as a treatment modality 
for smoking cessation. However, its efficacy still remains controversial.
METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled trial using 
auricular acupuncture for smoking cessation in 131 adults who wanted to stop 
smoking. Thirteen subjects withdrew from the study and 118 subjects were 
included in the final analyses (mean age, 53.7 +/- 16.8 years; 100 males, 18 
females). The treatment group (n = 59) received auricular acupuncture in Shen 
Men, Sympathetic, Mouth and Lung points for 8 weeks. The control group (n = 59) 
received sham acupuncture in non-smoking-cessation-related auricular acupoints 
(Knee, Elbow, Shoulder and Eye points). The enrolled subjects were then followed 
monthly for 6 months after stopping the acupuncture treatment.
RESULTS: Between both groups before acupuncture treatment, there was no 
significant difference with regard to gender, mean age, education level, and 
mean values for the age at which smoking started, smoking duration, daily number 
of cigarettes smoked and nicotine dependent score. At the end of treatment, 
cigarette consumption had significantly decreased in both groups, but only the 
treatment group showed a significant decrease in the nicotine withdrawal symptom 
score. Smoking cessation rate showed no significant difference between the 
treatment group (27.1%) and the control group (20.3%) at the end of treatment. 
There was also no significant difference in the smoking cessation rate between 
the treatment group (16.6%) and the control group (12.1%) at the end of 
follow-up. There were no major side effects of auricular acupuncture in both 
groups.
CONCLUSION: Our results showed that auricular acupuncture did not have a better 
efficacy in smoking cessation compared to sham acupuncture. Combined acupuncture 
with behavior counseling or with nicotine replacement therapy should be used in 
further smoking cessation trials to enhance the success rate of smoking 
cessation.