Unalaska, AK – The Iliuliuk Family Health Services will be offering patients a new alternative to quit smoking. Catherine Garcia, marriage and family therapist program was trained in June to do NADA Protocol Acupuncture on the ear to help individuals to stop smoking.

"The acupuncture works from the natural healing ability of the body. It's also done in a group setting, and there is a collective healing that comes from the group," Garcia said.

Garcia will be using 5 acupuncture needles, each the size of a strand of hair.

"The needles are inserted into acu-presser points. The first establishes emotional stability. The second establishes stability in the central nervous system, so you have a mind-body balance. And then there is three other points, one for the kidney, liver, and lung, and each of those correspond to fear, anger and depression," Garcia said.

There are three different phases that are offered the first phase is 4 times a week for one month, the second lasts two months where individuals visit twice a week, and the last is where individuals visit one time a week for three months.

"The difference between having the ear acupuncture and the other therapies is after three months, it's usually recommended that you don't use those other therapies, so you're on your own using those skills you've developed," Garcia explained. "Whereas with the acupuncture, you do have that maintenance support for three months, and you can come in for maintenance treatments thereafter."

Garcia says that the protocol helps to increase patience and concentration in individuals. For more information on the procedure, call Catherine at the Clinic at 581-1202, extension 4134
The new service will be offered starting August 18.