Many thousands of people today are heavy smokers, not by choice, but due to the circumstances for which they have found no way of escape. They are caught in the grip of a habit developed during their teen-age years when so many young people think it is ‘smart ‘ to smoke.
The strange thing is that most of these people never wanted to smoke in the first place. There was only doing what they thought everyone else was doing at the time. Yet there is another odd thing. Smoking in not a normal habit. A person has to learn to smoke.
Smoking is by and large, an acquired habit. People start smoking because they think it is fashionable to do so or because their friends and companions are able to persuade them to start smoking. Some smokers feel that they look more attractive to the opposite sex when they are smoking. Others hold that a social gathering becomes more intimate if people are smoking. In reality all this is a product of smokers imagination. Because he wants to justify his habit, he invents enough reasons for it.
According to the U.S. Health Authorities smoking is “the largest preventable cause of death in America.” Millions of deaths are caused every year around the world by the smoking of cigarettes, pipes and cigars. Smoking causes coronary heart disease, lung cancer and skin cancer.
Every cigarette a person smoke leaves him a little weaker and less able to carry on. Then why don’t they stop? Because they are addicted to nicotine, a powerful drug that is present in the tobacco leaves. Some people seem to have little difficulty in giving up the habit, but most people have a real struggle. The majority continues to smoke because they get a temporary lift from the tobacco. However, this is always followed by a letdown, which then calls for another smoke.
Those who smoke pipes and cigars run the risk of developing lip and mouth cancer. The social impact of smoking is no less evil than its effect on the heart and the lungs. By way of personal hygiene, the smoker is at a disadvantage. His fingers turn yellow. His teeth and gums are stained. No mouthwash is enough to freshen his mouth.
- Stay awayfrom other smokers as much as possible, particularly the next few weeks. This will reduce temptation and strengthen to resolve not to start again.
- Take two hot baths every dayand follow them with stimulating cold showers. This will help you physically and strengthen your will to succeed.
- For smoking treatment, take plenty of exerciseincluding deep breathing and long walks in the open air several times each day. This will clean out the lungs and improve your sense of well-being.
- Watch your diet.Be sure to take large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables. These are an excellent antidote against the poisons of tobacco. Infact, if you were to eat little except fruit and vegetables for the next few weeks you would soon lose your desire to smoke. If necessary take small meals more frequently to stabilize your blood sugar. This will also help to calm your nerves during this time of stress.
- Don’t go hungry for long. Eat regularly and do not attempt to lose weight while you are trying to break the tobacco habit. You may gain a few pounds, but don’t worry about this just now. You can lose it later if need be.
- Avoid highly seasoned foods, alcohol, tea and coffee. These have probably encouraged your craving for tobacco. They have spoiled your appetite for normal foods that build the body. Omit such things as pepper, mustard, spices, and all hot condiments from your diet. For the present you should even be careful about taking excessive amounts of salt.
- Drink at least ten glasses of water a day the first week. Taking a drink helps to reduce the craving for tobacco. This is an effective home remedy for smoking. If you will follow these instructions you will soon be surprised at the new flavors you are discovering in your foods.
- Get rid of all your cigarettes and every vestige of tobacco you possess. It is not safe to keep any smoking materials handy just now. The temptation to start using the stuff may prove too great.
- Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that protects the lungs, the heart and increases oxygen to the brain. Take 200 mg. twice a day. This is one of the useful home remedies to quit smoking.
- Take grape seed extract to repair lung damage. This is an effective home remedy for smoking.
- Smoking breaks down vitamin C therefore it is very important to take 5,000-20,000 mg. of vitamin C a day.
- Vitamin E is a very important antioxidant needed to repair cell damage cause by smoking.
- Vitamin A helps to repair the mucus membranes, which are damaged by smoking.
- Ginger and lobelia prevent nausea and helps to get rid of anxiety. Ginger produces perspiration, which helps to shed toxins generated from smoking. Lobelia Relieves withdrawal, including irritability, hunger, poor concentration. It contains alkaloids similar to those in nicotine, occupies same brain receptor sites and exerts nicotine like effects without the damage that nicotine causes; this reduces cravings, and creates aversion. This is one of the best home remedies to quit smoking.
- Oats decreases or eliminate tobacco cravings; also, they reduce number of cigarettes desired even in those people who do not want to quit.
- Include fenugreek tea to support your lymphatics. Take 2 teaspoons of the seeds into a cup of boiling water steep, strain, and drink. This is one of the useful home remedies for smoking.
- Reduce your alcohol, caffeine intake & include plenty of fresh air, fresh unprocessed food & exercise.
- Commit yourself to God every day and every hour, asking Divine help whenever you feel the craving to smoke. Power from above is always available to those in need.
- Do not falter in your resolveto conquer this habit, for it is well worth all the effort you will be forced to make.
REFERENCE:
Chae Y, Yang CH, Kwon YK, Kim MR, Pyun KH, Hahm DH, Lee HJ, Shim I. Acupuncture attenuates repeated nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization and c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens and striatum of the rat. Neurosci Lett. 2004 Mar 25;358(2):87-90.
Kim SE, Shim I, Chung JK, Lee MC. Effect of Ginseng Saponins on Enhanced Dopaminergic Transmission and Locomotor Hyperactivity Induced by Nicotine. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2005 Oct 26.
Warner C, Shoaib M. How does bupropion work as a smoking cessation aid? Addict Biol. 2005 Sep 10(3):219-31.