Addiction to nicotine is a serious disorder that is exceedingly challenging to overcome. Natural remedies to quit smoking can smooth the transition and increase the likelihood of success since for smokers who try to quit, the withdrawal symptoms can be intolerable.
Here are some effective, all-natural methods for quitting smoking. The best piece of advise one can provide to someone trying to stop smoking is to do anything and everything you can to break your addiction to cigarettes and stop causing cancer.
Acupuncture
According to the World Health Organization, smoking alone claims the lives of 5 million people annually worldwide (WHO). Acupuncture is a complementary medical practise that can aid in smoking cessation.
Some people associate acupuncture with tremendous pain brought on by needles being placed into numerous sensitive body sites; this is not a pleasant image for those who are easily alarmed.
Despite the distressing imagery that the name “acupuncture” evokes, you may rest assured that acupuncture needles differ significantly from syringe needles and are even painless when placed into the body.
They are painless, hair-thin needles designed to shallowly puncture the skin at specified locations on the body.
Acupuncture needles are put into various locations in the ear to assist smokers in cutting down on their smoking or possibly quitting altogether, assuming they are determined to do so. There are still needles there after 20 minutes.
Acupuncturists attach tiny metal balls, similar to those found in ballpoint pens, to the acupuncture points on the prospective quitters’ ears throughout sessions using clear tape.
Whenever the need to smoke strikes, they are told to gently press those balls. The acupuncture sites are stimulated by the balls’ little pressure.
According to a study with 141 participants, acupuncture combined with education was four times as beneficial than acupuncture alone. Acupuncture is frequently used to relieve tension and promote relaxation, both of which are obviously essential while trying to stop smoking.
Hypnotherapy
A study was carried out in 2000 by the non-profit Cochrane Collaboration to evaluate the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in helping people stop smoking.
Because hypnotherapy had no better effects on 6-month quit rates than the other treatment options or no treatment at all, the study came to the conclusion that it was not as helpful as counselling therapy.
However, two investigations published in 2006, half a decade later, showed more encouraging findings. In the first trial, some individuals were given access to hypnotherapy sessions.
For eight weeks, these volunteers underwent one hypnotherapy session once a week, while the control group was put on a waiting list.
The rate of smoking cessation for the hypnotherapy group in week 8, at the conclusion of the treatment, was 40%; it increased to 60% in week 12 after treatment, and 40% in week 26 after treatment. The quit rate for those who received hypnosis treatment was 60% even after one year.
Hypnosis is an extremely effective complementary therapy that can be used to quit smoking as well as for relaxation, motivation, and weight loss. In your efforts to stop smoking, it is absolutely worth a go.
Meditation And Relaxation
The anxiety brought on by nicotine withdrawal is one of the major barriers to quitting smoking, and meditation and relaxation techniques can be quite beneficial in this situation. Never undervalue the mind’s ability to control what the body does.
There are many different relaxation CDs that can be quite helpful, as well as visualisation and mindful meditation that can let you take your mind elsewhere, a tranquil journey that can ease anxiety and calm you as your body withdraws from smoking.
Herbs That Help To Quit Smoking
Lobelia
The primary element in lobelia, lobeline, is used in many anti-smoking medications because it produces effects on the body that are comparable to those of nicotine.
According to studies, lobeline works similarly to cigarettes in raising the levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in human brains. Pleasurable emotions are brought on by dopamine.
Since lobelia is a poisonous plant, it should only be used under the supervision of a licenced medical professional, holistic practitioner, or certified herbalist.
Depending on the amount, the herb’s toxicity can result in a number of bodily ailments, including dry mouth, convulsions, coma, and even death.
Furthermore, lobelia should never be used by anyone who have heart disease, high blood pressure, are pregnant, are breastfeeding, or who have children.
St. John’s Wort
In addition to being used to treat depression, St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) has also been shown to be effective in helping people stop smoking in certain preliminary studies.
For context, one research mandated that everyone who smoked at least one cigarette per day take 450 mg of St. John’s Wort twice daily in addition to receiving anti-smoking counselling. 9 out of 24 participants had stopped smoking after 12 weeks, an outstanding cessation rate of 37.5%.
More than 24 investigations have revealed that the herb can considerably reverse depressive moods and can aid with post-cessation emotional disorientation, while not all studies showed beneficial outcomes.
Up until this point, the amount of the active component hypericin present in all conventional St. John’s Wort extract pills was known to be 0.3 percent. An antidepressant effect of St. John’s Wort may be due to another substance found in the herb called hyperforin, according to a new study.
St. John’s Wort tends to interact negatively with various prescription and over-the-counter medications, including other antidepressants. Drugs for the treatment of HIV and AIDS, anti-rejection medications for organ transplant recipients, and contraceptives.
It is never advised for those who are expecting or nursing, children, have renal or liver illness, or have bipolar condition.
Ginseng
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that nicotine releases into the brain, giving users a pleasurable feeling that leads to addiction.
Ginseng inhibits the release of dopamine caused by nicotine, although no conclusive studies have been done to support the herb’s anti-smoking properties. However, there is proof that ginseng can be beneficial.
Both Asian (Panax ginseng) and American (P. quinquefolius) ginseng, the former more appropriately referred to as a “adaptogen,” can assist the body in coping with and adapting to the physical and psychological challenges of quitting smoking.
The benefits of ginseng for the brain are obvious. However, research has shown that taking ginseng regularly decreases reaction times to auditory and visual stimuli, boosts respiratory quotient, improves alertness and focus, and promotes visual and motor coordination.
All of which may deteriorate with nicotine withdrawal.
Picking a ginseng product that has been standardised to 4–7 percent ginsenosides is one way to choose among the different ginseng products available on the market. The next step is to adhere to the label’s directions.
The best results can be obtained from both whole ginseng root and standardised preparations.
By nibbling on the soft, easily-digested end of one root, a daily dose of 1 or 2 grammes of ginseng can be taken. You may easily store a root nearby in any location of your choice, such as in your car or in a desk drawer, and nibble on it whenever the urge strikes.
Milk Thistle
It is essential to make sure that the liver is functioning properly because it is critical in filtering out the poisons produced by smoking. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) seed extracts can be made from the plant’s seeds to help maintain healthy liver functions.
The main component of standardised milk thistle extract is silymarin, which has a 70% concentration. Studies demonstrate that standardised milk thistle extract alters the liver’s outer cells and blocks the entry of hazardous substances into the organ’s inner cells.
The extract also increases the liver’s potential for cell division, which activates the antioxidants unique to the liver. The notorious oxygen radicals that reside in the liver are then destroyed by these antioxidants.
Three doses of 420 milligrammes of silymarin per day should be possible to provide with a standardised milk-thistle supplement. The dose can be decreased to 280 mg per day after the desired outcome is attained, which should take place in 6 to 8 weeks.
The only recorded negative effect of consuming milk-thistle extract is loose stools.
Herbal Smoking Mixtures
Coltsfoot is a common herb for smoking. It serves as the foundation for numerous cigarette mixtures. Herb smoking can be used as a substitute for regular tobacco, which contains tar and hazardous chemicals.
Coltsfoot aids in easing secretions, toning the lungs, and healing irritated lung tissue.
Herbs That Ease Nerves
Mildly sedating herbs have two advantages: they calm the nerves and prevent nicotine withdrawal. On the nervous system, green oats are thought to have both sedative and tonic effects.
Anxiety and panic attacks of different intensity will undoubtedly surface throughout the post-cessation phase. Passion flower can be utilised as a treatment while in this condition.
Kava kava, a potent remedy for such mental disorientation, can treat mood swings and sadness brought on by quitting smoking.
Skullcap can help with the anxiety that comes right after quitting smoking. As a natural sleep aid, it should be taken alone during the day and with valerian at night.
The herb valerian is renowned for easing sore muscles. If insomnia is one of your quitter’s symptoms, it is very helpful in treating it and helps you get a restful night’s sleep.
Final Thoughts
It is crucial to keep in mind that the safety of vitamins and herbs in youngsters, nursing mothers, expecting women, people with medical disorders, and/or those using drugs has not yet been determined.
It is advisable to see a licenced health/holistic practitioner before using any complementary treatments to stop smoking, such as herbs or vitamins.
