Natural Remedies to Stop Smoking

There are many ways that people attempt to stop smoking cigarettes. Some of these methods involve harsh pharmaceuticals that can have profound side effects. Other methods involve weening the smoker off of nicotine slowly, via a gradual decreased dose. Still, there are other methods that people use successfully every day to quit this terrible habit that are 100% natural and have no side effects.

Hypnosis
That's right, hypnosis! For those who are open minded enough to allow themselves to be hypnotized, this may be something to try considering it's rate of success. However, this therapy often requires repeated visits to a licensed hypnotist which can quickly become quite costly.

Acupuncture
The idea here is to concentrate on key pressure points and other specific areas all across the body and penetrate them with special hair thin needles. Again, this kind of therapy requires multiple visits which can really rack up the bill.

Lobelia
This is a special herb derived from a certain species of flowering plant called Lobelia that helps quitters deal with the inevitable withdrawal symptoms they'll experience when giving up cigarettes. It's chemical makeup naturally eases tension and anxiety.

Books
Sounds funny, I know, but there are books out there that have successfully helped millions of people all around the world quit smoking. Many of these books are written in a specific way that actually attempts to "brainwash" the reader into giving up cigarettes as they progress through each chapter. Many people find themselves giving these books a try as a last resort and are often surprised by the results!

Quit Smoking Permanently

The one thing that all of the hundreds of people I've helped to quit smoking will all agree on is this, smoking purely and simply is a bad habit. Interestingly enough, so will almost everyone you meet who still smokes. Besides being an invitation to dire health problems down the road, it's unattractive and expensive. Over the years, cigarette companies have done their best to encourage their product's sales and keeping people in this nasty habit, despite being barred from advertising on television and in magazines.

The real issue here is that cigarette smoking is a generational problem. It wasn't until the early 1970s that cigarette smoking was revealed to be a major contributor to lung cancer, emphysema and COPD. By then, there were hundreds of millions of cigarette addicts all over the world, many looking for a way out of this life-sapping addiction.

Children learn by example and many a cigarette smoker's children have taken up the habit as a result. And the kids got hooked too. Even when their parents quit smoking their kids did not. They tell themselves, "Hey, my Mom smoked for thirty years and she's doing just fine. It can't be that bad!" Well I don't care if your mom smoked for 30 years and now wrestles grizzly bears for a living, the odds are that if you're still smoking, it will catch up to you and the result will be some very unpleasant health consequences.

If you want to quit smoking for good, and make an airtight case for your kids and grandkids to do the same, you need three things. You need to be motivated, educated and have a good support system to make it happen.

Motivation is perhaps the easiest step in your journey to quit smoking for good. Try a Google image search of 'lung cancer effects', 'emphysema' and 'COPD breathing'. Read my article "9 Reasons why you should quit smoking" or any of the many articles I've written on putting this habit behind you. This five minute exercise ought to scare you straight. If you want to spread the news, print out a few of the choicest images and share them with family members you hope to inspire to also quit smoking. It's a good idea to create a file folder, on your PC and in hard copy format. This will be good enough to turn your stomach. Share the results with your currently smoking loved ones. Hopefully it will turn their stomachs too!

If this is not sufficient motivation, use Google to collect information on the scientific facts and consequences of smoking. You can follow this link for some graphic reasons to quit.

Now that you're motivated, check out some of the quit smoking forums and discussion groups. You'll find thousands of people, who have been smoking for decades. You'll hear horror stories based on fact that will surely motivate you to quit smoking for good. You'll also discover success stories of people who managed to quit smoking before it was too late. You'll learn tricks and tips from former smokers that can help you overcome the smoking habit. Smoking forums, message groups and other smoking information venues can provide plenty of support. You'll find people just like you, still smoking, but desiring to quit smoking for good.

When you've found several forums, message boards and quit smoking informational articles, copy and paste the most relevant remarks in your PC folder. Print it all out. Tape your motivational quotes, scientific studies and pictures of smoking on the frig, or prominently displayed around your desk.

If you want to quit smoking for good, this can do it! And remember, there are many methods and resources available that can help you become smoke free for life! Quit smoking for good and take a few loved ones with you!

How Cigarette Addictions Work and Why They're So Profitable For Tobacco Companies

We all know that cigarettes are expensive. Ridiculously so. Here in Maryland, you're usually looking at about $6 per pack, and if you're really trying you can spend over $9 per. That's not all of how smokers line the pockets of tobacco companies, though.

Once you're tired of coughing up stuff that looks like it came from an oil derrick, you get to give those same companies even more money by buying nicotine replacements to give you the same nicotine high that cigarettes do. Am I the only one that finds something wrong with the idea that the same company is selling you an addiction and a cure for it?

The biggest part of cigarette addictions isn't because of the nicotine, though. It's because of how much your mind is wrapped up in the concept of smoking. Direct advertising is mostly banned, but you still see people smoking in movies. It's quite funny when you notice how much that kind of thing makes you want to smoke. I remember seeing some movie where this lady was smoking the same kind of cigarettes that I usually smoked. I paused the movie, went to the store and bought a pack just because of it.

We're also completely overlooking the fact that even the good-hearted people who want you to smoke are making it harder for you. Any time someone tells you that quitting smoking is going to be hard, it actually makes it harder for you to go through with it, because it gives you something easy to fall back on.

Psych Yourself Away From Smoking

Quitting smoking isn't easy by any means. Plenty of products are available to help, but isn't one of the reasons you want to quit the annoying expense of cigarettes? So doesn't it figure that you don't want to have to pay more to give up this nasty habit. Here are some FREE psychological methods that will support your efforts to quit.

1. Get in touch with the gross tactile aspects of the cigarette. Hold it in your fingers and roll it back and forth. Feel how cheap and light-weight it is? It's full of garbage! Look at that nasty fake filter. Smell it -- does it even smell good? Be real. It doesn't. Every time you feel like lighting up, pause and simply stare at the thing. Notice how ugly and small and useless it is.

2. Think about how small they are. Cigarettes are shorter than your finger, and even thinner. How can you allow something this small to have power over YOU, a full-grown person? You are not going to let this miniscule, evil object have power over you any longer. Imagine stomping on cartons and cartons of your favorite brand. Ripping boxes of them to shreds -- there are so many, and they are so small and easy to "kill"! It's so much fun to destroy them in your imagination, because they are trying to destroy you. Your life is SO MUCH BIGGER than this teeny, tiny cigarette. It's a wimp. A shrimp. A total loser. Laugh at how small and powerless it is.

3. Say aloud the reasons you want to quit, every time you want to smoke. Say three things, and THEN light up, IF you still want to or absolutely have to. But those thoughts will be on your mind, and you will find the cigarette to be really gross. Say: I want to live to a ripe old age and NOT suffer breathing problems. Say: I don't want my breath to smell. Say: Cigarettes dull my sense of taste. Say: I hate the way my living room smells from the smoking. Say aloud all the bad things about smoking you can think of. Repeating it to yourself will make it a mantra.

4. Smoke in front of a mirror, and watch yourself. Watch yourself smoke the whole thing. Do you look cool, or do you just look stupid and unhealthy? Honestly. It looks pretty unattractive, doesn't it? Is that the person you want to be? Watch this person (you) inhale and exhale poisonous smoke. Think, wow, that person is really harming themselves. If how you look to others is a motivator to you, this should help. You look awful when you smoke! You also have that guilty smoker face: "I know I shouldn't be doing this, but...." Look at yourself with that burning cigarette in your hand and say, No more!

5. Put a handful of butts in a plastic baggie, and carry this around in your pocket. When you feel like smoking, pull out the baggie and feel the butts through the plastic. Smell the baggie. Examine how disgusting those butts are, all bundled together and full of the poisonous residue from smoked cigarettes. Is this what you want to be putting in your wonderful living body? Use this physical tool to remind yourself of the gross byproduct of smoking, the ugly dirty butts. You don't want to be a person making the world an uglier place by contributing these nasty butts to the world, do you?

6. Pick up other people's butts from a favorite park or public area you frequent. It sounds disgusting, and it is. But, if a broader picture method works for you, put on some rubber gloves and literally pick up the butts from the ground. Think, in a broad sense, of the billions of butts floating around out there, and how you will not be contributing any more to this mess on our ground. The process of scooping them up will be a meditation, and you'll be so sick of butts after thirty minutes that you'll really, really desire, even more strongly, to kick the habit once and for all.

Never give up! The quality of the rest of your life is at stake. Shed your smoker self like a snake sheds its old skin, and look forward to a longer, healthier lifespan!

Acupuncture and Smoking Cessation - How to Quit Smoking Naturally and Effectively

What is acupuncture, briefly?

Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese form of medication which involves the placement of needles in specific areas on the body to help in various types of pains and several other ailments. It is based on the conviction that humans have an essential energy, called "qi", which circulates throughout twelve hidden energy lines known as meridians on the body. Each meridian is linked with a dissimilar organ system. An inequity in the run of qi during a meridian is how disease begins and acupuncture aims at correcting this.

In recent times, it is being extensively used as an alternate practice to help patients cope up with smoking cessation and nicotine withdrawal and therefore is a natural way to quit smoking.

What does Acupuncture change?

There are several theories about how acupuncture works and changes the internal metabolism of the body. A few common ones are that Acupuncture:

  1. excites the release of pain-relieving endorphins
  2. manipulates the release of neurotransmitters, substances that transmit nerve impulses to the brain
  3. kindles electrical currents throughout the system.
  4. sways the autonomic nervous system

Common ailments and medical problems which are treated by acupuncture are:

  • migraines and tension headaches
  • sinusitis, common cold
  • addictions, smoking cessation
  • arthritis, menstrual cramps
  • low back pain, other muscular pains
  • asthma and breathing problems
  • weight loss

Acupuncture and smoking cessation - standard procedure

Oriental Medicine mostly aims to take care of specific symptoms that are exclusive to each human being using a selection of methods such as acupuncture, Chinese herbs, bodywork, lifestyle/dietary suggestions and energetic exercises to re-establish unevenness created within. Therefore, an acupuncturist takes an interview to find out about your distinctive smoking habits and also executes a physical examination. The emotional and bodily symptoms that you are witnessing will be of assistance to produce a lucid picture of a treatment plan exclusively for you. Acupuncture treatments focus on the jitters, cravings, irritability, and the restlessness that people commonly complain about when they quit. As the profile of every individual smoker is different, the overall treatment, duration and other variables are entirely different during the process of stopping smoking.

Which points are used for acupuncture?

Generally a blend of body acupuncture points on the ear are used to help in smoking cessation as they are believed to influence the organs and energetic pathways associated with smoking.

Ear points:

Shenmen

Kidney

Sympathetic

Lung Upper and Lung Lower

Hunger or Mouth

Typical treatments last from five to 30 minutes, with the patient being treated one or two times a week. After removing the needles, ear press needles or silver pellets are often applied to stimulate the points between treatments and reduce cravings.

This basic analysis of a typical acupuncture treatment will help you know what this ancient oriental art is all about and how will it help you to quit smoking.

Michael is and expert on methods on how to quit smoking as she managed the difficult 5 years ago and has abstained from tobacco ever since.

Visit her site for articles and resources on how to quit smoking and lose weight.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Quit Smoking Plus Lose Weight

This product is a new method to help you quit smoking and lose weight. It is called shen men an old Chinese acupressure method. These magnets put a slight pressure on the upper part of the left ear for quitting smoking and on the lower part on the left ear lobe for weight loss. This method has been used for thousands of years. Cleopatra used this method.
They are a set of gold plated magnets consisting of one 4mm magnet and one 6mm magnet each having 1500 gauss, the amount of magnetic attraction in each magnet. I have been selling these for over 2 years and have had great success. Many buyers have had repeat purchases due to their success.
They gave them to family members and friends. Remember the key to success is that you truly want to quit smoking and lose weight. Make yourself and your loved ones safe from the problems of smoking and being over weight. I had been using eBay as a start now I am going to internet ads to help more people quit smoking and lose weight.
I hope you have the great success after using this product and by word of mouth spread the great news that you have stopped smoking and that your friends and family have had the same results. I am sure that you will stop smoking as I have. God bless your success in quit smoking.
You and your family and your friends will live longer. Stay healthy without withdrawals
http://www.napmags.com/Quit1.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Do Stop Smoking Programs Work?

There are millions of smokers around the world and more than half of them have tried to quit the habit and only a fraction of them made it. The rest of these hopefuls have tried and failed because quite frankly, quitting the habit is difficult and sometimes even painful.
What a person needs is to be determined to quit the habit and find ways of achieving his/her goal. Stop smoking programs work because they help smokers to talk with each other and talk with a therapist or somebody who can help them deal with their issues. There are stop smoking programs in your community and if there's none, you could start one right now. This will definitely help you kick the habit and you can help other people save their lives by quitting this habit as well.
There are different programs available that you could try and follow. Some can be downloaded over the internet while some can be given by professionals and you can follow them to see if it works for you. Every individual has different needs and some programs work for others while they fail to some. It's not bad to first consult with other people who tried these to first figure out if you think this program would indeed work for you too. Of course, no program will work for an individual who does not even have the right determination to kick the habit.
Smoking kills and kills you slowly and painfully. If you don't want to die that way and when you're still young then it's best to stop your nicotine addiction as soon as possible. Try programs or seek a doctor's help or do whatever is needed just so you could quit the habit. Do this for yourself and for the people who loves you.

Side Effects of Quitting Smoking

In your quest to fight your smoking addiction, it is important to keep the benefits of a smoke free life in mind - such as better health for yourself and for those you love, whiter teeth, no more tobacco smell on your body and clothes, plus many others. However, it is also imperative to know what you are dealing with. There are certain hurdles that you have to jump through to finally and completely kick the habit. A number of these hurdles may come from external variables, but most challenges come from within your body in the form of side effects of quitting smoking.

The first step in quitting smoking is to be aware of what will happen. Understanding what your body will go through is the most ideal way to prepare yourself for the side effects of giving up smoking. Not knowing what to expect may set you back a few steps and distract you from your goal of quitting. Although the effects of giving up cigarettes can be extremely unpleasant, bear in mind that these are often temporary and can be dealt with.

Physical and Psychological Effects of Quitting Smoking

The side effects of kicking the habit can be classified as physical and psychological. The initial 2 weeks are deemed to be the hardest, with symptoms exacerbating within 48 to 72 hours after quitting. These symptoms will completely subside only after 12 weeks, and only then will you feel at ease once more.

The initial psychological impact of quitting includes irritability, anxiety, and an intense urge to smoke. With time, you may experience some tremors in your hands and feet as well as excessive sweating. Later on, you may suffer from intense depression that accompanies withdrawal. This initial depression can manifest as grief, as if you have recently lost something very important. The best course of action is to simply endure this sensation of sadness, keeping in mind that this is just a normal part of the healing process. Allow yourself to come to terms with your "loss" and wait for the feeling to pass. In addition to depression, you may also experience confusion, insomnia, mood swings, plus a sense of neediness, helplessness, and vulnerability.

Initial depression may potentially progress to long-term depression, especially in cases where the person already has a predisposition to the condition.

The physical side effects of quitting include gastrointestinal difficulties like intestinal cramps, constipation, nausea, and headaches. You may also suffer from respiratory disturbances such as colds as your lungs are starting to clear.

Additionally, a majority of smokers have been observed to gain weight after kicking the habit, although this may not apply to everyone. If your figure is your primary concern, you are advised to compensate by doing extra exercise and/or going on a weight loss plan.

Acknowledging the side effects of quitting smoking will prepare you for these symptoms as they manifest. Remember that these symptoms will normally disappear after a few weeks. The only long-term repercussion of quitting is a positive one, that of a general improvement in your overall health.

Don't Get Smoked by a Cigarette

If you are addicted to smoking, you know that quitting is not easy. Chances are you have tried before. Some times it takes multiple attempts before you can successfully quit smoking. It is important to realize that as with any addiction, the more you refrain from smoking, the easier it will be. The most difficult time is in the first two weeks. Once you can abstain from smoking for two weeks chances of permanent success are great. You might find that speaking with your health care provider is the best way to begin quitting. Your health care provider might determine that the best course of treatment is a prescription method to help fight cravings.

The benefits for quitting smoking are vast and if you are on a diet and exercise program while smoking you are causing serious damage to your body. By quitting smoking you will increase oxygen production and derive more benefits throughout your workouts. Smoking also robs the body of vital nutrients, particularly vitamin C, and can cause premature aging. Though many are concerned that if they quit smoking they will gain additional weight, it is better to gain a few pounds that can be burned off through exercise, then to suffer from lung cancer. If you want to live a truly healthy life, you have to quit smoking. Smoking has no place in a healthy lifestyle.

Smoking is a physical addiction and your body will crave nicotine until you get passed the first several weeks. Avoiding situations where you know people will be smoking is important and can reduce the amount of temptations you are surrounded by. Preparing for temptations and craving is an important aspect of getting through the first two weeks. Keeping the hands busy can help you resist the urge to smoke. Most people do not realize this but the hand motion of smoking, bringing the cigarette to you mouth, is also a very hard habit to break.

So if you have a hobby, consider spending more time to your hobby. If you do not have one, then now is a great time to begin one. Activities such as carpentry, building projects, gardening, knitting, crocheting, sewing, playing sports, baking, scrap booking, or playing an instrument can occupy your mind and help you resist cravings. Understand, we are people of habit, if you are a smoker you probably smoke after certain enjoyable events, like eating food; many people are in the habit of smoking after a big meal. Habits can be broken with discipline and hard work, and new good habits can be made.

When you feel as though temptations are strong, try taking a brisk walk. Breathe deeply and remind yourself that you are enjoying fresh, clean air in your lungs. Since you might become more irritable or anxious, try adding several yoga workouts to your routine. Yoga can help fight cravings, reduce stress and tension, and relax your body. The breathing techniques can be performed anywhere and will help you overcome the urge to smoke.

Get Help to Stop Smoking

The battle against nicotine dependence is long and arduous and people need help to stop smoking. Many smokers have been known to try and fail. And yet, today, more and more smokers are finding it difficult to smoke freely and hence find them selves having to give up or cut down on smoking. The health implications too are monumental and have reached a stage where some smokers have no option but to give up completely. But it is not easy to quit smoking.

Nicotine dependence is something that needs sustained effort, medical supervision and determination in most cases. There are many clinics and dependence centers that are offering programs that help to stop smoking. These programs offer a combination of physician's supervision, anti-dependence drugs, counseling sessions and group therapy. Quitting is not the only issue here, but being able to stay off nicotine is the primary factor.

Over and above programs that help to stop smoking, a number of branded non-prescription remedies are also available these days. These include Nicotine Gum, Nicotine Patches, Nicotine Nasal Sprays, Nicotine Inhalers and Nicotine Lozenges. These are either chewed, fixed to the skin, sprayed into the mouth, sprayed into the nasal cavity or sucked like candy respectively. However, they all work on the basis of small doses of nicotine being released into the system in decreasing amounts. This is done in order to reduce dependence on nicotine while slowly being weaned off it.

Prescription drugs too are available such as Varenicline and Bupropion. These need to be taken under medical supervision and do not contain any nicotine. Varenicline helps to cope with nicotine withdrawal symptoms while controlling the craving itself. Bupropion is easy to consume in pill form and tends to have some side effects. You need to know what are the possible side effects you may experience.

However, it is widely acknowledged that ultimately it is your own will power that can help to stop smoking, in addition to all these remedies. Be determined to achieve this goal and you will succeed.