Addiction

Why Integrated Care Matters

1:6 people in Scotland have some form of addiction, so you are definitely not alone.

• Smoking: As of the most recent data (2023), 15% of adults (around 800,000 people) in Scotland are smokers, with a higher concentration in deprived communities.

• Gambling: Around 1% of adults (approximately 50,000 people) in Scotland are considered to have a gambling addiction. This number has been rising with the increase in online gambling platforms.

• Drugs: An estimated 8.5% of the Scottish population (around 800,000 people) reported using illicit drugs in the past year, with opioid use (e.g., heroin) being a significant contributor to addiction problems.

• Alcohol: Approximately 1 in 5 adults in Scotland is thought to experience some form of harmful alcohol use. This means around 1.2 million people struggle with alcohol-related problems. (NHS Scotland, 2023)

Our Therapuetic Approach

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that uses focused attention and guided relaxation to access the subconscious mind — the part of the brain where habits and automatic behaviours are deeply rooted. When applied to addictions, hypnotherapy helps individuals break the psychological dependency by reshaping thought patterns and emotional associations.

Benefits of Hypnotherapy

• Addresses Emotional Triggers: Hypnotherapy can help identify and manage the emotional causes of smoking, alcohol mis-use, drug mis-use and other addictions such as anxiety, boredom, or social pressure.

• Strengthens Motivation: It reinforces the client’s personal reasons for quitting, helping them stay committed to change.

• Reduces Withdrawal Cravings: While not a replacement for medical treatment, hypnotherapy may reduce the intensity of cravings and improve psychological resilience.

• Supports Long-Term Change: By targeting subconscious patterns, hypnotherapy aims to produce lasting behavioural shifts, not just temporary avoidance.

Acupuncture

When used for addiction recovery, acupuncture aims to reduce withdrawal symptoms, manage cravings, and support the emotional and physical challenges associated with quitting any addiction.

How It Works for Smoking

Smoking is believed to disrupt the body’s energy (or Qi) and create imbalances in organs such as the lungs and liver.

Acupuncture helps to:

• Regulate cravings by stimulating points associated detoxification.

• Calm the nervous system, reducing irritability, anxiety, and restlessness.

• Helping the body eliminate nicotine and other chemicals more efficiently.

• Improve sleep and mood, which can be disrupted during cessation.

Medically, acupuncture is thought to stimulate the release of endorphins and neurotransmitters, which can reduce stress and promote well-being, aiding behaviour change.

Benefits

• Reduces nicotine and substance cravings and withdrawal symptoms

• Alleviates stress and anxiety

• Improves emotional regulation

• Enhances detoxification

• Supports long-term behaviour change

This therapy uses aromatic plant extracts, known as essential oils, to support physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

It can help to manage symptoms such as reducing stress, cravings, and withdrawal-related discomfort.

How It Works

When essential oils are inhaled or applied topically, their aromatic molecules stimulate the olfactory system and influence the brain's limbic system — the area involved in emotion, memory, and behaviour.

This makes aromatherapy a useful tool for:

• Managing emotional triggers such as stress, anxiety, or irritability that can lead to negative habits.

• Distracts from cravings by replacing habitual acts with a soothing ritual.

• Improving mood and focus during withdrawal.

Benefits of Aromatherapy

• Supports stress and mood regulation

• Reduces the intensity of cravings

• Helps break the hand-to-mouth smoking or alcohol habit with a healthy sensory replacement

• Promotes relaxation and sleep

• Easy to integrate into a daily routine

Essential Oil Therapy

Our Therapies

Our Client Experience

Quitting Smoking

Name: John
Age: 47
Smoking History: 25+ years, approx .20 cigarettes per day
Previous Quit Attempts: Multiple (nicotine patches/willpower)
Reason for Quitting: Concerns about long-term health, persistent cough, and to set a better example for his children

Therapeutic Approach

John approached our clinic after several unsuccessful attempts to quit smoking. He reported strong psychological dependence, high stress levels, and a tendency to smoke out of habit during work breaks and while driving. After an initial consultation, we designed a three-pronged integrative plan that included hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and aromatherapy.

1. Hypnotherapy

John attended five weekly hypnotherapy sessions. During these sessions, he was guided into a relaxed, focused state where we addressed subconscious beliefs linked to smoking — such as its perceived role in stress relief. Targeted suggestions reinforced his desire to be smoke-free, strengthened his motivation, and helped reframe smoking as a behavior he no longer needed or wanted.

By the third session, John reported a significant reduction in cravings and no longer associated smoking with stress relief. He described a shift in mindset: “It’s like I no longer see myself as a smoker.”

2. Acupuncture

Concurrent with hypnotherapy, John received acupuncture twice weekly for the first month, then weekly for two more weeks. Treatment focused on auricular (ear) points and body points linked to detoxification, lung health, and anxiety reduction.

Within the first two weeks, John noticed improvements in sleep, reduced irritability, and a calmer response to withdrawal symptoms. He also reported his breathing felt clearer and more comfortable.

3. Aromatherapy

To support him between sessions, John was given a custom essential oil blend in a personal inhaler. He used it during high-craving moments, especially while driving. The ritual of reaching for the inhaler replaced the hand-to-mouth habit, and the oils helped reduce both physical cravings and mental restlessness. He said, “The scent gives me something to focus on, especially when I feel the urge to light up.”

Outcome

After six weeks of integrative support, John was completely smoke-free. At a three-month follow-up, he remained off cigarettes, reported improved energy levels, and felt more in control of his health. He continued to use aromatherapy occasionally for stress management and scheduled occasional acupuncture sessions for general well-being.

Summary

John’s case highlights the effectiveness of a holistic, person-centered approach to smoking cessation. By addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction, the combination of hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and essential oil therapy provided the support he needed to finally quit, and stay smoke-free.

Overcoming Social Media Addiction

Name: Sarah
Age: 24
Presenting Issue: Social media overuse (5–7 hrs daily), leading to anxiety, low self-esteem, poor sleep, and difficulty focusing
Background: Recent graduate in her first professional role, experiencing stress, comparison anxiety, and emotional dependency on digital validation
Goal: Reduce compulsive social media use, regain focus, and improve emotional well-being

Therapeutic Strategy

After an in-depth consultation, Sarah shared that she often felt "trapped" in a cycle of scrolling, checking notifications, and comparing herself to others online. These habits had begun interfering with her work, relationships, and sleep. She expressed a desire to regain control without judgment and to explore non-medical, supportive methods.

We developed a 4-pronged integrative therapy plan incorporating hypnotherapy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, and massage therapy, aiming to address the psychological, emotional, and physical aspects of her addiction.

1. Hypnotherapy

Over the course of six weekly sessions, hypnotherapy targeted Sarah’s subconscious beliefs and emotional attachments to social media. Using relaxation techniques and guided imagery, the therapist helped her reframe her relationship with technology — shifting her mindset from “I need it to feel connected” to “I choose when and how to connect.”

She also visualized alternative, healthier behaviors (like journaling, walking, or calling a friend) to replace impulsive scrolling. By the fourth session, she reported: "It’s like I’ve unplugged the emotional cord — I still have social media, but I’m not drawn to it the same way anymore."

2. Acupuncture

Sarah received acupuncture once per week for eight weeks. Treatments focused on points related to stress reduction (e.g., Shen Men, Heart 7) and mental clarity (e.g., Yintang, GV20), helping to regulate her nervous system and reduce restlessness.

She described feeling calmer and more grounded after each session, stating: "I don’t feel that twitchy urge to check my phone anymore — I can sit in silence without panicking."

3. Aromatherapy

A personalised aromatherapy blend was created for Sarah using frankincense (calming and grounding), bergamot (uplifting and mood-balancing), and lavender (stress relief). She used the blend in a rollerball and applied it to her wrists during high-stress moments. This became a self-soothing ritual that helped her transition away from screen time, particularly before bed. "The scent helps me breathe, reset, and let go of that digital pull."

4. Massage Therapy

To address physical symptoms of anxiety and screen-related tension, Sarah had a weekly therapeutic massage focusing on the neck, shoulders, and upper back — common areas affected by extended phone use and emotional stress.

Massage not only eased physical discomfort but also encouraged nervous system regulation and emotional release, supporting her broader healing process.

Outcome

After 8 weeks of integrative care:

• Sarah reduced her social media use by over 70%

• She implemented screen-free mornings and 2 digital detox days per week

• Sleep improved significantly, and anxiety levels decreased

• She reported a stronger sense of self-worth and mental clarity

At her 3-month follow-up, Sarah continued to maintain a healthy relationship with social media, using it consciously and with boundaries. She still uses aromatherapy at home and schedules monthly massage and acupuncture sessions for stress maintenance.

Summary

Sarah’s case demonstrates the power of a holistic, mind-body approach to behavioral addiction. By integrating hypnotherapy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, and massage, she was able to reconnect with herself, regulate her emotions, and reclaim control over her digital habits — creating space for balance and well-being in her life.

References

• Scottish Government. (2023). Scottish Health Survey 2023: Summary report. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-health-survey/

• Public Health Scotland. (2024). Alcohol-related hospital statistics Scotland 2023/24. Retrieved from https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/

• National Records of Scotland. (2023). Drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2022. Retrieved from https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland

• Alcohol Focus Scotland. (2023). Alcohol facts and statistics. Retrieved from https://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/

• Wikipedia contributors. (2023). Smoking in the United Kingdom. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_in_the_United_Kingdom

• Elkins, G. R., Rajab, M. H., & Marcus, J. (2014). Complementary and alternative medicine use by psychiatric inpatients. Psychiatric Services, 65(4), 481–486. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201300151

• Barnes, J., Dong, C., & McRobbie, H. (2018). Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (6). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001008.pub3

• Brooks, A., & Erez, A. (2025). The role of clinical hypnosis in behavioral addiction recovery: A review of gambling and internet addiction outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 14(2), 91–102. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2025.00012

• Ghaffari, M., Naseri, M., Shams-Ardakani, M., et al. (2019). Acupuncture and aromatherapy in smoking cessation: A systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 42, 243–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.11.019

• VeryWell Mind. (2004). Can acupuncture help you quit smoking? Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/acupuncture-for-quitting-smoking-88305