The Effects of Manual Acupuncture on Superoxide Dismutase Enzyme Activity and Questionnaire of Smoking Urges-Brief Scores in Active Smokers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this randomized, double-blind clinical trial is to evaluate the effects of a single session of manual acupuncture on superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity and smoking cravings in active smokers aged 21-40 years. The study will also examine the correlation between changes in SOD enzyme activity and changes in smoking cravings, as measured by the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges-Brief (QSU-Brief). The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does a single session of manual acupuncture increase SOD enzyme activity, an indicator of antioxidant defense, 90 minutes after the intervention? 2. Does a single session of manual acupuncture reduce smoking cravings as measured by the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges-Brief (QSU-Brief)? 3. Is there a correlation between changes in SOD enzyme activity and changes in QSU-Brief scores? Researchers will compare a manual acupuncture group with a sham acupuncture group to determine whether manual acupuncture produces greater changes in SOD enzyme activity and smoking cravings. Participants will: 1. Be randomly assigned to receive either one 30-minute session of manual acupuncture or sham acupuncture. 2. Refrain from smoking for two hours before the intervention until the final blood sample is collected. 3. Undergo venous blood sampling before the intervention and 90 minutes after the intervention to measure SOD enzyme activity. 4. Complete the QSU-Brief questionnaire before and immediately after the intervention to assess changes in smoking cravings.