Q: What is Auricular laser therapy?
A: Laser therapy is photo-biostimulation of the surface of acupuncture points.  Auricular laser therapy is photo-biostimulation of acupuncture points on the ear.  The stimulation helps to break the addiction and assist in overcoming cravings.

Q: Is it safe?
A: YES. The equipment is low level visible light technology combined with a electro- stimulation with no possible danger or risk. It will not burn, numb, cut or destroy skin or tissue in any way.

Q: Is the session guaranteed?
A: Nicotine addiction consists of two factors: the physical addiction and the mental addiction. SurWay's session is designed to relieve the physical withdrawal symptoms, but will not give you amnesia! If you have smoked a pack a day for thirty years, this means you will be making a huge change to your daily routine when you quit. Even if you experience NO physical symptoms, you will still think about smoking. Therefore, while we cannot make a guarantee, we will do everything in our power to ensure your success. SurWay's sessions + education + your commitment = a winning combination!

Q: Are there any side effects?
A: No, other than you bragging to your friends about the completely safe and harmless way that you quit smoking.

Q: Is it painful?
A: NO. There is very little sensation for most people, others feel a slight pressure on specific points.

Q: Will I gain weight?
A: Some people overeat because of the sense of loss they feel when adapting to the physical and emotional changes of becoming a nonsmoker.  If this is a problem for you, a booster session can help control the binge eating, as well as the stress and anxiety some people feel while managing an addiction. 

Q: What is required of me for this to work?
A: Come committed to quit and with our support you will be successful!

Q: Is there anything I need to do after my first session?
A: You should drink a minimum of eight 8 oz. glasses of water per day (or as appropriate to any medical condition); take the recommended chewable vitamin C tablets; eliminate caffeine, chocolate and alcohol intake for 3-5 days after the initial session.

Q: Are there any health conditions for which SurWay's Auricular therapy is not recommended?
A: Yes. SurWay is not recommended for the following: people who have seizure disorders; those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment; women in their first trimester of pregnancy; those with a pacemaker/defibrillator. 

Q: How often do I come?
A: After the initial session, many people quit smoking and never need to return.  But you may not be that person, and that is why we offer free booster sessions within the first 60 days.  Surway will work with you to determine the frequency of those visits.  We also include a follow up session at 90 days, and one at 6 months.  We want you to know that we are here to support you without additional charge, as long as you do not smoke!  If you smoke during this process, or use other tobacco/nicotine products, there will be a "RETREAT" fee.

Q: What happens if I "cheat," take a "puff," or smoke after the treatment?  What is a RETREAT Fee?
A: Surway will charge a RETREAT fee of $150, simply because we have to start over again.  Try to think of it as a $150 cheat -- and who wants to waste money like that?

Q: How long is a booster session?
A: Boosters last about 15 minutes.

Q:  Can I use "The Patch", chew nicotine gum or us tobacco/nicotine in any another form?
A: No, you can no longer use tobacco or nicotine, EVER.  The use of these products will restart your addictive cycle.  In this case, we will have to begin the treatment again, and will charge the RETREAT fee.

• Tips For Reducing Stress
• How To Avoid Relapses
• Getting Through The First Ten Days
• How To Be Around Smokers (and not smoke!)
• Will I Gain Weight?
• Get Ready For Your Smoke Free Life!

Some ex-smokers slip back into smoking because of the stress. Remember that smoking does not reduce stress - taking a break does! Develop the tools you need to manage stress smoke-free. This process shows that you value your health, and understand that reducing stress means a happier and more fulfilling life.

• Take a walk in a relaxing atmosphere.
• Get together with a friend and talk about what is bothering you.
• Enlist your family in dividing household chores to make things more manageable.
• Reduce your caffeine intake. Caffeine can make you jittery, setting off the need to sooth yourself.
• Plan to use at least 230 minutes a day to pamper yourself.
• Playing with a child or your pet will relax you.
• See a massage therapist for a relaxing massage.
• Listen to your favorite music while relaxing.
• Soak in a hot tube with bubble bath or scented oils.
• Look for humor and laugh out loud every day.
• Find an opportunity to take a 10 to 15 minute nap.
• Trade bear hugs with someone you care about.
• Have a picnic with family or friends.
• Swimming is a wonderful stress reliever.
• Breathe deeply for 10 minutes.

Decide that you are learning to handle stressful situations and boredom without smoking. It is just another step in your journey to be smoke-free!

You quit smoking. Congratulations! Now you need to work hard to avoid a relapse. Avoid being overconfident. Throw away anything that reminds you of smoking and do not "Test Yourself" by going to places where people are smoking. Here are some tips to help guard against this type of situation:

• Never be jealous of others who smoke. Remind yourself what you love about being a nonsmoker.
• Remember that there is no safe cigarette for you, not even one puff. Ask yourself if you've EVER had just one and stopped.
• Never reward yourself with a cigarette because you have "done so well." It will lead you back to DAY ONE.
• If you are thinking, "I will just quit again," what guarantee do you have that you will be able to?
• Remember that smoking does not fix the problem. When you feel upset or angry, get up and go for a walk. Fresh air will help to clear your mind and take the edge off the stressful moment.
• If you begin to tell yourself that you "don't care" anymore, smoking hurts yourself, your body, and others. It's just the addiction talking.
• If you feel as if it does not make any difference whether you smoke, remember how you felt just before you quit smoking -- and the reasons you quit.
• Consider how much you will regret later if you start smoking again.

When you think about next month, next year or "forever," you put pressure on yourself.
Relax; all you really have to handle is TODAY

Getting through the first week after you quit smoking can be rough. Urges and cravings to smoke are thoughts not facts. You do not have the act on them. Wait the urge or craving out. You will be amazed at how much better you feel, how much nicer you smell and how much better food tastes by the end of the week. Many ex-smokers are able to breathe much better by then, too. Here are some ideas you can use to ease your withdrawals -- so that you feel stronger and more capable of going through this process successfully!

• Drink lots of water to flush toxins and ease withdrawal symptoms (64 oz. min) or as appropriate to your medical condition.
• Take 500mgs of chewable Vitamin C tablets 10 times per day for 10 days, or as tolerated.
• Drink a glass of juice through a straw first thing in the morning and at bedtime to satisfy the need for puffing on a cigarette.
• Do not sit in the same chair or place at the dining table as where you use to smoke.
• Cut a straw in half to use in your hands and mouth as needed or use mint flavored toothpicks or a cinnamon stick for the same purpose.
• Chew peppermint gum (but do not overdo it - chewing gum stimulates hunger).
• Munch on healthy snacks like raisins, grapes, almonds, carrots or celery sticks.
• Eliminate your alcohol, caffeine & chocolate consumption for three to five days after the initial treatment. They can increase anxiety.
• Stay away from situations that make you want to smoke, such as being in a smoky bar or at a party.
• Practice deep breathing exercises for tough moments of cravings.
• Make a habit of distracting yourself during urges and cravings, such as doing housework, gardening, playing with children or pets, reading a book, or counting or counting backwards.
• When you get a strong urge to smoke, delay it. The urge will subside in a few minutes.
• Visit more often with friends who do not smoke, or go to nonsmoking locations such as a library or bookstore.
• Find someone who has been smoke-free for a month or more. They know what to expect.

Live just one day at a time.
Choose not to smoke today, no matter what happens!

Remember that no matter where you are, you are in control. Here are some tips to prevent relapses when socializing with smokers:

• At the beginning it may be best not to socialize with smokers until you are on firmer ground.
• Do not put yourself in a place where you'll find an excuse to smoke again.
• Make sure that you bring vitamin C chewable tabs, straws, and toothpicks to the party so you will have something to satisfy and oral compulsion.
• Before you meet up with the smokers, take time to think of how far you've come, how proud you are, and how good being an ex-smoker makes you feel.
• If someone offers you a smoke, simply say, "No thanks, I don't smoke anymore." (Just saying that will make you proud!)
• Restrict your intake of alcoholic beverages since it relaxes your inhibitions and is so closely associated with smoking.
• If the urge to smoke hits, take at least two or three slow deep breaths, and drink a glass of water all the way down -- nonstop.
• If the urge to smoke won't go away, leave. If in your own home, ask the smokers to smoke outside or leave.

Realize that life is good and life is enjoyable.
You no longer HAVE to smoke as you once did!

Minimizing Weight Gain

To keep your weight gain minimal, here are some tips:

• Stock up on healthy snacks.
• Buy carrots and celery, not chips.
• Try almonds, sunflower seeds or other nuts that are good for you.
• Replace your soft drinks with lots of water to flush the toxins out of your body.
• Instead of loading up on ice cream, try yogurt or soy based foods.
• Take bananas, oranges and apples with you when away from home.
• Limit yourself to low-cal choices when eating at a restaurant.
• Avoid fast-food restaurants as much as possible.
• Eat with your opposite hand and chew each bite 30-40 times.
• Take a walk daily to begin an exercise program, working up to a half-hour daily.
• Instead of a candy bar, try a slice of toasted whole wheat bread lightly spread with honey and sprinkled with ground cinnamon (without sugar).
• Another substitute for food cravings is a blow of whole grain cereal with 1 spoon of honey.
• Chocolate cravings can be satisfied with no-sugar chocolate pudding. Dried raisins, cherries, and other dried fruits also can satisfy your sweet tooth.
• Begin taking a complete Multivitamin supplement daily.
• Make your own healthy frozen pops in a paper cut - use applesauce, or combination of fruit juice and chopped fruit. Put a wooden stick in center after half frozen. Enjoy when frozen hard.
• For nighttime cravings drink a cup of hot water mixed with 1 tbsp of honey and ¼ tsp of cinnamon.
  

If you feel you are beginning to gain weight, come in for a booster!

There are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for your "Big Day." Remember, you need a plan:

• Make a list of the reasons WHY you want to quit smoking.
• Be sure you want to quit smoking for yourself, and not for other people.
• Schedule your appointment with SurWay
• If you struggle with anxiety, ask to speak with the acupuncturist when you call SurWay to make your appointment.
• Your family and friends should know that you are quitting smoking. Let them help you.
• Do not buy anyone cigarettes.
• Begin an exercise program, such as taking daily walks.
• Throw away your ashtrays. Make sure that there are no secret stashes of cigarettes in your house or your car.
• By quitting smoking - YOU ARE GETTING YEARS OF LIFE!!
• If you have felt that cigarettes are your friends, it is probably because you used smoking to help you calm down and relieve stress. So now, you need to use other things in their place. Schedule short breaks during the day when you normally would have smoked.
• You SHOULD NOT give up the break you took when you smoked -- just give up the cigarette part! Carry around these handy ideas for quick stress relievers, or make your own list to have available when you need it: have a favorite magazine handy; bring a novel; take deep breaths; take a 5 minute walk; do some stretches; have a tea or coffee break; knit or do a puzzle.

• Get Ready
     -Set a quit date.
     -Change your environment.
     -Get rid of ALL cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work. Don't let people smoke around you.
     -Review your past attempts to quit. Think about what worked and what did not.
     -Once you quit, don't smoke—NOT EVEN A PUFF!
  
• Get Support From Family & Friends
     -Tell your family, friends, and co-workers that you are going to quit and want their support. Ask them not to smoke around you or leave cigarettes out where you can see them.
     -Talk to your health care provider
     -Get individual, group, or telephone counseling. Counseling doubles your chances of success.
     -The more help you have, the better your chances are of quitting.
  
• Learn new skills and behaviors
     -Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, or get busy with a task.
     -When you first try to quit, change your routine. Use a different route to work. Drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in a different place.
     -Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath, exercise, or read a book.
     -Plan something enjoyable to do every day.
     -Drink a lot of water and other fluids.
  
• Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations if they occur
     -Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking lowers your chances of success.
     -Other Smokers. Being around smoking can make you want to smoke.
     -Bad Mood or Depression. There are a lot of ways to improve your mood other than smoking.
     -Call us before you take a puff and come in for a 10 minute booster.
     -2 boosters are free for 60 days as long as you do not smoke.

Top 10 Reasons to Quit Smoking

1. It will reduce my chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

2. It will reduce my chances of getting lung cancer, emphysema, and other lung diseases.

3. I will have better smelling clothes, hair, breath, home, and car.

4. I will climb stairs and walk without getting out of breath.

5. I will have fewer wrinkles.

6. I will be free of my morning cough.

7. It will reduce the number of coughs, colds, and earaches my child will have.

8. I will have more energy to pursue physical activities I enjoy.

9. I will treat myself to new hobbies with the money I save from not buying cigarettes.

10. I will have more control over my life!