Smoking is a very dangerous habit that can lead to lung cancer, emphysema and even death. It creates aesthetic problems as well, such as yellowed teeth, hair loss and premature aging of the skin. The smell of smoke becomes a permanent fixture in the smoker’s clothing and hair, and the smoke in turn dulls his or her sense of smell. At nearly $9 a pack in some states, cigarettes can place a real burden on a tight budget. These are only a few of the many good reasons to quit smoking, but the addiction is often so strong that many smokers find themselves unable to quit permanently despite all of the risks of smoking.
There are many products on the market aimed at helping addicts quit smoking, but lots of people are wary of spending a lot of money on treatments that may not be effective. They are not eager to put even more chemicals into their bodies. Natural techniques for quitting smoking are a good compromise for people who want to quit smoking but who would like to avoid clinical medications while doing so.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a very popular drug-free way of attempting to weaken an addiction to nicotine. Thin needles are inserted into the ear during sessions, and clients are instructed to push on these pressure points in between appointments when they feel strong cravings for cigarettes. There is no conclusive scientific evidence proving that acupuncture is effective in helping people quit smoking, but acupuncture in conjunction with anti-smoking education seems to make a positive difference in the strength and frequency of cravings.
Lobelia
Lobelia is an herb that, like acupuncture, unfortunately has not shown clinical results. In spite of minimal scientific proof, it is used in many anti-smoking products. It is thought to work by triggering the production of dopamine in the brain. Cigarettes also do this, which is why taking lobelia is a good way to treat the addiction. Lobelia can cause some serious side effects and should not be taken without a doctor’s supervision. Some of these side effects are nausea, tremors, rapid heartbeat, coma, sweating, dry mouth and even death. It is very dangerous for pregnant women and people with heart problems and other pre-existing conditions to take lobelia. The decision to treat an addiction in this manner must not be made lightly.
St. John’s Wort
St. John’s wort is an herbal supplement that is generally used to treat depression, but some research suggests that it is effective in treating addiction. It is usually only a temporary solution, though, with no test subjects remaining smoke-free after a year of taking it, and it can interfere with other medications, most notably birth control and HIV medications.
Ginseng
Ginseng another herbal supplement thought to prevent the brain from producing dopamine, which means that the smoker will no longer feel incredibly strong cravings or find pleasure in smoking. No clinical studies have been done to verify this claim, but ginseng is generally safe enough to try at one’s leisure.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is also physically safe and provides a small window for success. After more than two years of being hypnotized once a week, 4% of trial subjects managed to not start smoking again. Hypnotherapy is slightly more effective on men then on women.
Conclusion
Smoking is said to be the hardest addiction to quell, and the lack of reliably effective treatments is a testament to how powerful a nicotine addiction can be. The most important tool an addict must possess is willpower, and once that is in place, these natural remedies may be sampled in order to alleviate the sharper pangs of addiction recovery.If natural remedies are not cutting it for you, then you may want to try a stop smoking product.
