New Therapy Helps Residents Stop Smoking

By: Kathy Kuhn
Staff Writer
Excerpts retyped from Marshall Advocate

Several people in Marshall have gotten serious about kicking their smoking habits.

One such person is Judy Meibach. Judy had smoked for over 50 years and had tried to quit many times. She tried hypnosis twice, patches, and gum, but all to no avail.

Judy heard about a stop smoking method one day when she was at the American Legion. “I overheard a conversation about a place that could help you stop smoking, so I asked them about it,” said Mrs. Meibach.

That conversation led her to Leslie-Cam® Smoking Cessation Center, Inc. in Chesterfield, MO.

Leslie-Cam® has helped thousands of people stop smoking by using a treatment called auriculotherapy, which was developed by scientists at UCLA in the 1950’s. Because smoking was so popular in the 50s, auriculotherapy received little notice and the research was discontinued. However, the method was re-introduced in the 1980’s as society and the medical community began realizing the negative effects of smoking.

Auriculotherapy works by using a small and precise amount of stimulus to the nerve endings on the ear. This causes smokers to lose their desire to smoke with few, if any, withdrawal symptoms. This method of treatment, unlike any other smoking cessation techniques, directly treats the nicotine addiction.

Miebach, who used to smoke a couple packs a day, described the treatments as painless.

Judy works at the Frontier Tavern and is around smoke during her time at work. Her husband also smokes.

“Being around the smoke has not bothered me. If I feel that I’m having a problem, I just take a deep breath and work through it,” said Judy. She had her treatment on Saturday, November 11, 2005. Almost a year later, Judy is still smoke-free, doesn’t have the nagging cough that she had before quitting, and is a big supporter of anyone who wants to quit.

Judy has been responsible for others who have gone to Chesterfield and has even taken some by herself. Bill Adams wanted to quit smoking after 48 years. Judy Meibach shared her story with Bill, and he decided to give it a try this past January.

“I smoked on the way over there and stopped in Vandalia for lunch. I smoked three cigarettes at lunch. As we left the restaurant, I gave my cigarettes and lighter to a worker there,” said Mr. Adams. Being around smoke doesn’t bother Bill. “I have no desire to smoke, but I take it day to day.” Bill said that things taste better to him now, but that wasn’t always the case.

He’s a big Mt. Dew drinker and for a week or so the Mt. Dew tasted nasty to him. He experienced that with a few other things, but now he says everything is back to normal. Health-wise, Mr. Adams feels better. With the money he has saved since January, Bill was able to buy a tool box with tools. “I can put back the money to buy something that I need.”

Doit Harlow had smoked for 61 years. He had smoked 1 ½ to 2 packs of cigarettes a day.

Judy (Meiback) is the one who told me about it,” said Mr. Harlow. He made the trip in October of 2005 and has been smoke-free for a little over a year. Harlow’s daughter quit smoking and his grandson quit chewing tobacco. “I would recommend it to anyone who wants to quit smoking,” said Doit.

Steve Nash’s wife Julie heard about Leslie-Cam® from Mr. Harlow’s daughter and suggested it to Steve. Steve had been a smoker for 34 years. He gave up cigarettes on January 20, 2006. Not yet 50 years old, Steve was motivated to quit smoking after a visit to see Dr. David Davis. He was told that he had the starting signs of emphysema. Emphysema is described as a “smoker’s disease”. Very seldom is it ever found in anyone other than smokers. His decision was made after receiving that disturbing information.

Steve had actually quit 10 years ago for five months. “I was miserable and grumpy. I have had no withdrawals with this treatment,” Steve shared. Steve put on a little weight after he quit smoking. However, he has taken up walking and has not only lost that weight, but additional weight as well.

Smoking about 1 ¼ packs a day made smoking an expensive habit for Steve. In addition to saving money, he reports that his senses of taste and smell have improved. The Mexican food that he always enjoys tastes even better now. His sense of smell has improved, which isn’t always a good thing.

Even before going to Chesterfield, Steve was actively making changes to help with his success. “I have already changed my routine. I changed when I usually smoked. My morning routine was to smoke first, then shower. I changed that around and smoked after I showered. I also made up my mind that if I wanted to smoke that I would wait five minutes before smoking.”

He adds that there are a lot of social ties to smoking. He misses going out to smoke with his friends at work. He also pointed out that it doesn’t hurt to harp on someone to quit smoking. The more someone pressures a smoker to quit, the more enticing it is to continue smoking.