Health & Balance

Alternatives for Giving Up Cigarettes

A Shot in the Arm

Meanwhile, the ultimate answer to smoking cessation may come not from an acupuncture needle, but from a different kind of needle - namely, one that administers a nicotine vaccination. A number of vaccines are now being developed, with at least one of them (called NicVAX) now being tested in clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of nicotine addiction.

NicVAX stimulates the body's own immune system to block nicotine molecules from reaching the brain, and thus interfering with the addictive process, including the triggering of nicotine cravings. Researchers hope that the effects of the shot, which would be administered in a doctor's office, will last for up to a year per shot.