Is smoking really bad? The answer from me is yes and no. I believe there are at least two reasons for good.
The first good reason might be for obesity. Many women who smoke know that smoking is bad for them. They are afraid of stopping smoking as they gain weight as soon as they stop smoking. This is true in many cases. Many women go back to smoking after they gain weight. We don't know the exact reason why smoking helps to control obesity. Some say smoking contributes to loss of appetite making less food consumption.
From this point of view, it might be a good idea to compare the risks and benefits. It is well known about smoking risk. It is also well known about obesity risk. Which is worse between smoking and obesity? It might be hard to tell. I don't know any scientific data between them.
As one of followers in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), I can discuss this question from the viewpoint of yin and yang which are foundations of TCM. Yin means darkness and cold. Yang means brightness and warm. Smoking should be classified as yang, as smoking produces fire and warmth. Human beings can be classified by skinny and obesity person. Skinny person might belong to yang and obesity person belong to yin. Yin and yang must be balanced always in principal. Too much yin or too much yang is not good.
Therefore if a skinny person smokes, it is not good at all as smoking is yang and skinny person is yang too, making too much yang. On the other hand, smoking might be all right for obesity person as smoking is yang and obesity is yin making a balance. This doesn't mean smoking is necessary for an obesity type person. This is only for argument's sake if there is no other choice to reduce weight.
The second reason is that not one smoker was dead by SARS even though 235 people in
There is no absolute in yin and yang's theory. This theory will apply not only for smoking but also for anything and everything, (except for God, as a Christian). So we can not say smoking is absolutely bad or good. For some it could be good and for some it could be bad.
Therefore in my opinion, we, acupuncture practitioners, must give a treatment for prevention of obesity before giving stop smoking treatments. We also give support to improve the smoker's health that has deteriorated by smoking.
