Smoking is one of the most difficult habits to quit. Highly addictive, it requires a great deal of will power which most people find difficult to muster. Hence, additional help is required. Now, apart from the standard commercially produced remedies like nicotine patches and chewing gum, people have realized that natural remedies are more likely to be effective.

Acupuncture

One of the more popular remedies is acupuncture, which involves the use of hair thin needles which are inserted into different points in and around the ear. For additional support between sessions, some acupuncturists offer tiny balls, about the size of a ball-point pen tip, that are taped to the ear with invisible tape. When the smoker experiences a craving for nicotine, pressure has to be applied on the ball, which in turn stimulates the acupuncture point.

Lobelia

The herb lobelia (lobelia inflata) is used in many anti-smoking products and has been found to help smokers tackle the effects of nicotine withdrawal. Lobeline, the active ingredient in lobelia, is considered to have similar effects on the body as nicotine.

Research has shown that lobeline possibly increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain as do cigarettes. Dopamine affects mood and induces feelings of pleasure.

St. Johns Wort

Although St. John’s Wort (Hypericum Perforatum) is primarily used for depression, some research on this herb has shown that it often helps people with quitting smoking.

Ginseng

Ginseng has been known to retard the nicotine-induced release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine helps people feel good after smoking which is a big part of the addiction process.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy offers a psychological approach to fight cigarette addiction. During hypnotherapy, the patient is subjected to subliminal commands to the brain to fight the addiction to nicotine. Music is played to relax him/her, increasing susceptibility to the message.

Quitting smoking is one of the more challenging addictions to quit. Even though you see everyone doing it, it’s considered one of the most dangerous addictions. Cigarettes contain nicotine, which builds a physical dependence and makes it extremely difficult for the smoker to quit.  Nicotine also increases cholesterol levels in the body, and that can lead to a number of different heart problems. It’s important to give up smoking in order to preserve your health and reduce risks of heart attack and lung cancer. Quitting can be difficult, but understanding the entire process makes it easier to manage.

The consumption of nicotine impacts the nerve receptors in your brain that release chemicals like dopamine into your body. The introduction of these chemicals in your blood stream can give you a sense of energy and well being. When you quit smoking, the levels of these two chemicals decrease dramatically in your body. If you have been a heavy smoker, your body is used to very high levels of dopamine  in your system. A sudden decrease can cause many psychological symptoms associated with withdrawal. These symptoms include anger, irritability, anxiety and even depression.

There are a number of stop smoking aids available in the market today. One method comes in the form of a stop smoking pill. These pills not only help some of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, but they also help with curing your craving for the long term. They work by stimulating the reaction nicotine has on the brain, which leads to the release of low levels of dopamine. This really can help the body not crave nicotine (and cigarettes) so much.

Smoking is undoubtedly an addiction. The psychological cravings for nicotine can be very hard to fight. The hardcore smoker may be addicted for a number of reasons without being entirely aware of them. This can make it really difficult to give up smoking. This has led to a long search for ways to effectively stop smoking.

One of the alternative methods to stop smoking is the use of herbal remedies such as St. John’s Wort. Recent studies have shown that it can help reduce the craving for nicotine, which is half the battle sometimes.

St John’s Wort helps increase dopamine levels in the brain. Since smokers also experience decreasing levels of dopamine after they quit smoking (which can increase the craving for nicotine and cause depression), St. John’s Wort is an effective method to combat smoking that can be consumed in pill or powder form.

Another thing that can help you quit smoking is Avena sativa (oat) extract. One study has shown that when consumed at 1 milliliter four times a day, die hard tobacco smokers were able to significantly decrease the number of cigarettes they smoked.

One not-so-common remedy is the use of Indian tobacco. Cigarettes made with Indian tobacco leaves are natural, less harmful and contain no nicotine or any other poisonous by-products, making them less addictive.

Another herb called Lobelia contains a substance called Lobeline, which is very similar to Nicotine. It is not addictive and can be used as a replacement for Nicotine. By the time smokers stop using Lobelia, they have usually overcome their Nicotine addiction and have become much healthier and happier.

Of course, there are various other combinations and permutations of herbs which help to quit smoking. Among these are Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort), Scuttelaria Laterifolia, and Chromium Picolinate; Avena Sativa, Garcinia Cambogia, and Gotu Cola (Centella Asiatica); and Natrium Phosphate, Kalium Phosphate and Natrium Muriaticum.

If you’re looking for a product that’s safe, natural and can help you quit smoking, Smoke Deter is for you.

Stopping smoking is a difficult and challenging task. It’s important to know what to expect when it comes to symptoms that appear when smokers attempt to quit smoking. These symptoms barely last a week to ten days, but those can be the longest seven to ten days of your life.

It’s even more important to make an action plan to quit and follow it strictly. Acknowledging your success at every step will give you the mental boost needed to complete the plan and quit smoking for good. It’s also important to personalize your plan, keeping in mind your specific needs and requirements.

Here are some tips to include in your stop smoking action plan.

• Set a date and stick to it. Choose a date when you are not likely to be much occupied and are likely to be relatively stress free.
• Find a quitting partner. You can support each other in facing the problems of quitting smoking.
• Take your doctor’s advice in case you have any health related concerns with quitting smoking.
• Tell your family and friends and ask for their support. This support will be very useful when you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms and are angry or irritable because of it.
• Consider exercise. Quitting smoking will increase the levels of oxygen in your body and you are likely to feel fitter. Exercising will help you channel this excess energy and keep you from getting restless.
• Take up another habit.  Some people find munching small sticks of carrots or chewing gum can be an effective substitute for the physical  habit of smoking.
• Keep yourself busy. This will not only help tire you out so you can sleep, but will also keep your mind occupied and keep it from thinking about smoking.

If you want some other help to stop smoking, Smoke Deter can give you a helping hand.