Quitting Smoking the Natural Way
Quitting smoking NOW can increase the length of your life…!!!
by Aleks Strande, N.D., Ph.D.
Worldwide, approximately 10 million cigarettes are purchased a minute, 15 billion are sold each day, and upwards of 5 trillion are produced and used on an annual basis. As of today, there are about 1.1 billion smokers in the world today, and if current trends continue, that number is expected to increase to 1.6 billion by the year 2025. Tobacco offers us a life of slavery, a host of chronic, debilitating illnesses and ultimately death. We pay big bucks for those “benefits.” Sad, but true. Take your life back!
Cigarettes contain thousands of known dangerous chemicals and poisons, such as hydrogen cyanide, one of the toxic byproducts present in cigarette smoke; which was used as a genocidal chemical agent during World War II. Although the average smoker only takes in one or two milligrams of nicotine per cigarette, there is enough nicotine in four or five cigarettes to kill an average adult if ingested whole. Radioactive lead, polonium, ambergris (also known as whale vomit), and benzene (which is known to cause acute myeloid leukemia) are all included in cigarettes. Smoking is the leading cause of cancer, heart disease, stroke and can interfere with fetal growth. It is no wonder that every 8 seconds, a life is lost to tobacco somewhere in the world. That is approximately 5 million deaths annually. Because of the addictive power of nicotine, quitting smoking is very difficult. However, by using herbal supplements, it can be quite easy with dedication.
Due to the fact that they have no side effects, many smokers favor herbal treatments to stop smoking. Herbal remedies may not give you the same punch as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) but the good thing is that they are all-natural and less likely to have horrible side effects.
The following herbal remedies may help you on the road to stop smoking:
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) – This is an herb not only known for centuries to have calming and anti-depressant properties but has a diverse use in herbal medicine, including; strengthening the immune system, digestive and respiratory tonic, and helping with anxiety and depression. The flowers of this herb contain hypercin and hyperforin, both which are vital compounds that give this herb it’s mood enhancing reputation. When used to quit smoking, it can support weary nerves. Because of it’s long and smoothing effect, it is better to take it 2-3 weeks before one starts the quitting smoking process.
Oat Straw (Avena sativa) – Oat straw is one of the best documented nerve tonic used by herbalists and a popular herbal remedy to quit smoking. It has also been shown by research to reduce nicotine cravings! The avenine glycosides in Oat Straw are of use in conditions where nervous weakness is a factor. They work as a mild stimulator for the nervous system, where avenine works to increase the peripheral blood flow in the body. Wild oat is a friendly herb, are repulsive reactions are rare.
Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) – Lobelia is thought to have a similar action on the nervous system as nicotine and generally relaxes the body. Even though it is a substitute for nicotine, Lobelia is not addictive. It is best to start using Lobelia if you have already given up smoking cigarettes but are still experiencing nicotine cravings. Do not use Lobelia if you are still smoking cigarettes because a combined use of cigarettes and Lobelia can increase nicotine side effects. It is therefore not adviseable to use Lobelia if you are still smoking.
Taking herbs alone is not enough to quit smoking. There are many alternative methods you can use in conjunction that will make your odds of quitting greater. Exercise is a great way to avoid giving into your cravings. The best thing to do in the instance that you have a craving, find another activity that is healthy to keep your mind off smoking. You may experience some weight gain when attemping to quit. This is perfectly natural and is not always an effect of eating more after quitting. Exercise and a healthier diet will help with weight gain and also help control your cravings.
When looking at cigarette withdrawal, herbs are vital for making an enormous change and committing to improving your health. By reducing your stress levels, you will also need to reduce the need to smoke, and keeping this in mind, make use of incentives that also work as stress busters. Massage, acupuncture, meditation and gentle exercise are all ways to ensure that you pamper yourself and decrease the risk of craving a cigarette. For some individuals, only one of these methods may not be enough to make them quit smoking naturally. Two or more ways can be combined to fight the habit. It is however left in the hands of the individual to decide which method to use or preferably see a consultant.
REMEMBER: To succeed with your quit smoking move, you must persist, ignoring all symptoms and effects so as to get what you want. You were not born with it. It’s only a habit and it CAN be stopped if you persist!
Alex Strande, ND, Ph.D., is a naturopath and microbiologist. His primary location is in Houston, Texas. If you have any issues concerning your health, please visit us at www.simplyhealingclinic.com or call us to set up a consultation on 713.660.1420. We do long distance phone/Skype consultations with people from all around the world.