Cigarette smoking is like an addiction that has affected thousands of men, women and even teenagers across the globe. After a while, some people do realize the ill effects of the habit on their health. The risks of several health problems, especially cancer and respiratory problems increase because of cigarette smoking, or even passive smoking. Fortunately, it is never to late to enjoy the benefits of quitting cigarettes, which include an improvement in health, boost in immunity, lower risks of several diseases, better memory, and so on. However, it is not very easy to quit the habit, as the absence of nicotine can lead to several withdrawal symptoms, like anxiety, nervousness, stress, irritability, mood swings and so on. This is probably why most people decide to get as much help as possible, when they realize that they need to try to kick the habit yet again. Fortunately, even medical health care providers understand how difficult it is to quit smoking and therefore, they offer professional treatment for nicotine dependence, which can make it easier for a person to quit smoking. These professional treatment options could include medicines, therapy, counseling as well as herbal and home remedies to quit smoking. Many people may find it difficult to quit the habit in spite of undergoing treatment and therefore, it is important to find the right combination. However, studies indicate that most people first prefer to try out natural ways to quit smoking, which mainly include herbal remedies. People can choose a quit smoking herbal remedy from the list given below:
- St. John's Wort
- Lobelia
- Valerian
- Oat straw
This herb acts as a powerful tonic for the nervous system as it can be used to deal with symptoms such as depression, anxiety, nervousness. At the same time, it can also work wonders on the digestive and respiratory tract and therefore, it is one of the most widely recommended herbal remedies to quit smoking. However, this herb can interfere with other medication and can also aggravate certain medical conditions.
This herb acts as a useful substitute for nicotine in those people who are going through withdrawal symptoms. However, even low quantities of this herb can be toxic and therefore, it is necessary for people to consult a doctor for appropriate doses, before they consider taking this herb in order to quit the habit of smoking.
This herb is generally used by herbalists for improving sleeping patterns, promoting the feeling of calmness and reducing sleepiness in the morning. At times, this herb is also combined with others, such as St. John's Wort and Lemon Balm to combat fear and anxiety and to act as an antidepressant.
Substances present in this herb work as a mild stimulator for the nervous system and also help increase the peripheral blood flow within the body. This is very helpful in controlling the withdrawal caused by smoking addiction. Several herbalists document oat straw as an effective herbal remedy to quit smoking, which can be taken in the form of tea or as a liquid extract.
It is absolutely essential for people to consult a doctor before they can use any quit smoking herbal remedy. Unfortunately, it is possible to experience some of the withdrawal symptoms for a while, in spite of using the remedies mentioned above. Though the smoking withdrawal symptoms timeline differs from person to person, it normally takes a person anywhere between 10 to 15 weeks, to get comfortable with this change in lifestyle. However, in some people, it could take a bit longer.
answered by G M