Quiting Smoke?

Question

What are the natural alternatives to quit smoking

Answer 1

I dont know any "natural alternatives"    ive always heard exerciseing             i will say though, dont use chantax    i was taking that trying to quit and it had bad side effects like horrible nightmeres,  and digestional problems.

Answer 2

One natural remedy is self hypnosis.  You can get a free, stop smoking, MP3, self hypnosis, audio file, from the link below.  I have not tried this particular remedy, since I am not a smoker.  However, I have benefitted from other self hypnosis recordings from this site.

Answer 3

You.

Title your list: I am experiencing this craving not because I am being deprived of smoking; it’s that I am gaining :( Make a list.  On that list write down the reasons you want to quit.)

Every time you feel a strong craving read your title, then your list.  What I learned while doing this is by the time you have finished reading it, the craving is gone.  That is something to think about.  It means that it takes less time to get through the craving then it takes to smoke a cigarette.  

I also sucked on lollypops & jolly ranchers.  I brushed my teeth often (clean mouth feeling) and made a mental note how good it felt to have a clean mouth, good breath.  Ditto with perfume.

Do things that go along with your list.  For i.e. one of mine was to smell good, thus the teeth brushing, gum, and perfumes.  Another was to be able to breath.  I would go for walks and absolutely marveled not only at how much easier it was to breath, but the realization of how bad it had gotten.  

When I would do these things, I felt stronger; mentally.  I was winning and I knew it.  

I like to win.  I do not like to be controlled over.  So, I used these two personality traits to my advantage.

See?

Three days, that is the golden number.

I smoked 3 packs a day for 28 years.  I was a slave to it.  This is my own method.  When I realized it was more mental cravings than physical I came up with this.

Good luck ~ whatever method you try.

Answer 4

A few weeks before you plan to cut back on your nicotine intake, you might want to begin taking the herb St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum). It has been touted as the all-natural alternative to Prozac, and its calming and anti-depressant properties have been known for centuries. It just might help take the edge off while you’re trying to break the cigarette habit and your nerves are frazzled. St John’s Wort comes in capsule, tea, or tincture form, and should be used according to the package directions. (It can be found in health food stores.) It’s important to begin taking this herb 2-3 weeks before you plan to quit, as it takes that long for the soothing effects to be felt.

The next herb you might want to try is wild oat (avena sativa). It has been widely used in folk medicine to treat insomnia and nervous exhaustion. It can help calm your rattled nervous system, and studies have shown that it can also help reduce nicotine cravings. The best form to try is a liquid tincture (found in most health food stores), the suggested dosage is 10 drops dissolved in water or juice, three times per day. (A higher dose is not necessarily toxic, but can cause headaches.) Wild oat is a mild herb, and adverse reactions are uncommon.

If wild oat doesn’t do the job on your cravings, you can stop taking it and give lobelia (lobelia inflata) a try. (It is a stronger herb, and should be used with caution, as very high doses can be toxic.) Lobelia can be quite effective as a nicotine replacement, as it causes an effect in the body which is similar to nicotine, but it is not addictive. It’s best to start using lobelia if you have already given up smoking cigarettes but are still experiencing nicotine cravings. Do not use lobelia if you are still smoking – combined use of cigarettes and lobelia can intensify nicotine side effects. Try a tincture – 10 drops dissolved in water or juice, three times per day. (Or try placing a few drops under your tongue as needed, when cravings hit.) Do not use lobelia if you have high blood pressure or heart disease, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Another natural remedy for quitting smoking can be found in your kitchen or grocery store. A combination of orange juice and cream of tartar is said to help flush nicotine from your system, thereby reducing your cravings for it. Your cravings should subside more each day as more nicotine is flushed from your body. Mix one half teaspoon of cream of tartar (found in the spice section of your local grocery) in a glass of orange juice, and drink it right before bed each night.

Some natural substances can actually create a taste in your mouth which lessens your desire for a cigarette. When you find yourself wanting to smoke, try putting a drop of clove oil on your finger and applying it to the back of your tongue. (Clove oil can be found at most health food stores.)

Some natural remedies to help you quit smoking don’t involve ingesting or tasting anything at all. The “rubber band cure” is just such a method. There is actually research indicating that this simple method is quite effective: Place a medium-size thick rubber band around your wrist (not too tight, it should not make a mark or cut off circulation), and when the urge to smoke hits, pull the rubber band back and snap it on your wrist. It will sting, but it can also break the cycle of craving.

I myself quit smoking 23 days ago (yay me! :)  and I did nothing but drink a lot of green tea, and I'd also get a good snack to eat instead of smoking, too :P

I actually ate a lot of pickles and walnuts, to be honest with you. It was a gross combination, but hey, I like pickles and walnuts.  I've also heard shelled sunflower seeds help a person quit smoking too. As does deep breathing, exercising, and really wanting to quit! Good luck man!

EDIT: Kashmir2, the person above me, it might help to make a list filled will all the wonderful things that will happen after you quit smoking, but frankly, if I'd have done that, I'd be smoking again. I quit 23 days ago, and I still don't feel any d**n different. If I was looking at a list filled with wonderful things that NEVER HAPPENED due to my quiting smoking, why then I'd just go smoke right now.  What worked for me (so far of course) was to just not think about smoking and go eat a pickle--or, a walnut.