Free program offered for participants in `Great American Smoke Out'

By Journal Times staff

Wednesday, November 9, 2005 2:04 AM CST

RACINE - Three local alternative practitioners will join together to offer a free program when they participate in the annual "Great American Smoke Out" during the third week in November.

This annual national event strives to support tobacco-using individuals, both teen-agers and adults, the opportunity to give up their smoking habit for the day and help them in quitting the habit. The focus of the free local program is to provide alternative and complementary treatment to assist smokers in stopping this highly addictive behavior.

Studies show that holistically oriented treatments - those that use a variety of modalities - are more likely to succeed than a treatment using only one modality.

Karen Carnabucci, a clinical social worker and psychodramatist and owner of Companions In Healing, will begin the mini-program with a two-hour group from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lake House Health & Learning Center, 932 Lake Ave. The interactive group will make use of experiential methods to help smokers explore their relationship with tobacco and prepare them to say good-bye to their addiction.

Carnabucci will offer a free optional 30-minute private session to the smokers on Nov. 16 during daytime hours at Lake House.

On Nov. 17, Arthur Shattuck, physician of Chinese medicine, will offer free acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbal tea during the day at his clinic and store at Roots and Legends, 3209 Washington Ave.

Janet Shaw, a massage therapist and bodyworker associated with the Roots and Legends, will provide relaxing chair massage to assist with the stress of quitting their addiction.

In addition, Linda Messerschmidt, a certified and registered yoga instructor and owner of Your Yoga Lifestyle, will make reduced-fee coupons available at Lake House Health & Learning Center to anyone who wishes to sample yoga as a healthy means of stress reduction and growth.

Carnabucci and Shattuck will give "caring kits" to help participants easily make it through their first weekend without cigarettes. A number of simple remedies and strategies are included in this kit.

Brochures and other educational information from the American Cancer Society and Nicotine Anonymous also will be available.

People interested in participating are requested to call (262) 633-2645 to reserve space for the Tuesday evening group at Lake House Health & Learning Center. To make an appointment for the acupuncture and massage therapy sessions on Nov. 17, call (262) 619-1590.

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