Smoking is very dangerous to your health. Most smokers feel that there is nothing that they haven't tried in order to quit. However, they may not be aware of the many natural means available which others have used to finally end this very destructive habit. It is possible to quit smoking, if you devise a plan, cleanse and support the body and use natural methods to curb nicotine cravings.
Most, if not all, people in the United States believe that smoking is unhealthy. Why then do people smoke? The answer lies in the addictive nature of nicotine. Over 80 percent of smokers declare that they want to quit and plan to do so at some point. Even heroin addicts admit that nicotine is truly the hardest drug habit to kick. (Haas, p.964)
Almost one-third of cases of pancreatic carcinoma can be attributed to cigarette smoking. Most lung cancers are caused by cigarette smoking. (Smokers are five to ten times more likely to suffer from lung cancer than nonsmokers). The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater the risk of lung cancer.
Children of smokers have an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory infections and lung cancer.
"Children of smokers have a much higher incidence and severity of asthma, bronchitis, colds and ear infections. They also have impaired lung development and reduced lung function tests." American Journal of Public Health, p. 209, Feb. 1989)
If you eat a balanced diet, drink a lot of clean water and take a vitamin supplement daily, you may feel that you are generally healthy. However, if you smoke, this is typically not the case. Heavy smokers do not get as much of a benefit from a healthy diet. Blood levels of Vitamin C are much lower in smokers. Zinc, Vitamin A and folic acid are often depleted in the bodies of smokers.
Now that we have covered just a few of the negative effects of smoking on the body, let's figure out how to quit - and without drugs! It may come as a surprise to you that there is a way to be free of this horrible addiction without using prescription medication for help.
Let's now cover some ideas on how to actually go about quitting.
Have you tried to quit before and failed? Did you quit for awhile and then start again? You may feel that because you tried and failed, that it proves that you can't quit. However, this is not the case. In reality, you get points each time you attempt to quit. You inevitably learned something each time you tried, which gets you that much closer to being successful in quitting. Most quitters did not do it on their first try. So just think of it as your "practice" run! (3)
A main part of your quit smoking plan, is to figure out which interventions you will use when you are hit with a craving to smoke. Try to avoid being around other smokers. Learn some deep breathing exercises that you can use to de-stress. Exercise is also a great way to limit stress and keep you busy.
Something to consider once you have decided to quit smoking, is how to get the toxins out of your body. One theory is that many dependencies originate in the liver. Cleansing and detoxifying the liver is a crucial first step toward breaking free of these addictions. Detoxifying the liver will reduce the cravings for nicotine. (ESP, p. 279)
You can use echinacea to help flush the nicotine out of the lymph system and lungs. Vitamin C is a great chelator of toxic substances in the body. (Which means it will "grab" the offenders and flush them out through the waste system). A usual dose of C is 1000 mg four times per day. N-Acetyl-cysteine 1000 mg, two doses of glutamine 1000 mg, four capsules of Evening Primrose Oils and 20 Sun Wellness Chlorella tabs are a good regimine for removing nicotine toxicity from the body. (Page p. 548)
It is important during your detox and quitting time that you "avoid junk foods and sugar that aggravate cravings" (Page p.548) Ginseng can help you to normalize sugar cravings, as can stevia, stevioside or FOS. Trace mineral and mineral deficiencies can play a part in some addictions. Magnesium, potassium, calcium and zinc should all be included in the diet when trying to quit smoking. (ESP, p.279)
The main concern when quitting tobacco are the cravings! There are many choices when it comes to this issue. Essential oils, vitamins and herbal teas are all on the list of items in the "cravings" category.
Eating a diet which promotes body alkalinity is said to show less desire for tobacco. To calm your nerves, try Magnesium 800 mg daily, stress B-complex 100 mg daily, valerian/wild lettuce drops in water. (Page, p.548) Young Living Essential Oils offers a blend called "Peace and Calming" which, some people have reported, was all they needed during their quitting time.
Oil of clove is also reported by many people to be extremely effective in their war with nicotine cravings. In Stanley Burrough's "Master Cleanser" book, he states "For those who wish to quit smoking, place a small amount (of clove oil) on your finger - place it on back of the tongue and you immediately lose your desire to smoke. This is an easy way if you really want to quit." Peppermint oil has also been reported to be effective. Just a touch of it on the tongue, in the same manner as you apply the clove oil will do it.
Single oils which may be helpful in smoking cessation in addition to clove and peppermint, are cinnamon and nutmeg. Other blends of oils recommended for reducing addictive behavior are Harmony, Thieves, Exodus II, Peace and Calming, JuvaCleanse and JuvaFlex. These can be directly inhaled or diffused, applied topically on the temples and/or back of the neck four times daily, or used as a warm compress over the liver.
Quitting smoking is not an easy task to undertake. However, if you give your body the right tools, you can repair the damage done by smoking, you can reduce your cravings and YOU CAN QUIT! Try some of these simple, natural and effective helpers. Nature is the best medicine, so believe in yourself and watch it happen!!
Some resources for people who would like more information:
Young Living Essential Oils, http://www.fragrantfamily.com/sadiesgift
Easyway by Allen Carr order at www.half.com or www.amazon.com
American Lung Association, www.alamn.org (then click "quit smoking")
Committed Quitters, www.committedquitters.com
National Cancer Institute, www.smokefree.gov
The Stop Smoking Center, www.stopsmokingcenter.net
The Master Cleanser by Stanley Burroughs, order at www.half.com or www.amazon.com
Bibliography:
1. Haas, Elson. Staying Healthy With Nutrition . Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 1992.
2. Essential Science Publishing(2004). Essential Oil Desk Reference, 3rd Ed., www.essentialscience.net
3. American Lung Association pamphlet Quitting For Life, 2003
4. Linda Page, Ph.D. Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone, 12th Edition. Healthy Healing, Inc., 2004
5. Retrieved March 4 , 2005 from http://www.getoutraged.com/facts_top_pg2.html
Renee Suchy has been a Health Unit Coordinator for seven years, and is currently working toward earning both a Bachelor of Natural Health Studies degree and a Doctor of Naturopathy degree. She has also been studying aromatherapy for over a year. You can visit her site for therapeutic grade essential oils at http://www.fragrantfamily.com/sadiesgift