There are amazing ways to quit smoking safely. Some of these ways might include unorthodox solutions. The health market is constantly coming up with ideas that are meant to ensure that people can give up smoking with minimum fuss. Of course some of the schemes are not as straightforward as would be ideal. However they do offer the opportunity for people to change their lifestyle for the better. For example there is the anti chewing tobacco that is beginning to increase its fans through publicity as well as the real results that it has been able to show.

First of all there has to be recognition that people wish to stop smoking on a permanent basis. The schemes that stop and start all the time will never be able to get the best out for the individuals. Of course this is a long and tedious process. Many people are likely to fall before they even start. Nevertheless it offers opportunities for a change in lifestyle. It also opens up the doors on the things that people can do in order to change the way that smoking affects them. In due course it might turn out that people can quit smoking at the drop of a hat.

Issues to help stop smoking

• First of all the person has to set a definite date for quitting. Without a definite timescale for quitting everything becomes haphazard in its approach.
• It is important to tell the people around that you are quitting because they will help to keep you on track if you are beginning to backslide. They will also provide you with support during the difficult times when it would appear that the whole thing is not going to work.
• You should take the time to liaise with these people so that they can help you with the smoking addiction.

It is important that the process of giving up smoking is taken very seriously. It is not a walk in the park and the individual might have to make certain sacrifices in order to get to the summit of their objectives. The temptations such as cigarettes that are lying around should be removed. This is because they will eventually overcome any resistance to the habit and the person will go back to their old ways. This might have catastrophic consequences for their general health. The local doctor might also be able to provide some bespoke support.

Three studies reported Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggest Chantix — marketed by Pfizer Inc. — will help smokers stay away from smoking months after quitting.

The drug, generically known as varenicline, is not a cure-all for people wishing to quit smoking, an accompanying editorial said.

Critics note that even though the studies were subjected to the scrutiny of other experts in the field, Pfizer had financial relationships with most of the studies` authors.

One study reported that 43.9 percent of people who smoked at least 10 cigarettes a day stayed away from smoking after 12 weeks of Chantix, the Journal reports. That compares with 29.5 percent of those who took another anti-smoking drug, bupropion (commercially known as Zyban or Wellbutrin), and 17.7 percent of those who took a placebo.

Source: Monsters & Critics

Nic Time, the company that makes Nic Lite, says its meant to tide over smokers when they can’t light up on a plane or a bar. But critics say it could be one more way for young people to get hooked.

An 8-ounce bottle contains the same amount of nicotine as two cigarettes. Nic Lite was first available at Los Angeles International Airport for smokers who get fidgety on flights. Now, some convenience stores also stock it.

The company’s Web site says it would also like to offer Nic Lite in bars, since more and more of them are smoke free.

Nicotine gum and the patch are supposed to help people quit smoking, but Nic Lite is marketed as a way to get you through until you can smoke some more.

While the FDA regulates the gum and patch as drugs, Nic Lite is classified as a dietary supplement. That means it was able to get to market without any oversight. The FDA can only take action if it’s found to be dangerous.

“Somehow the FDA has either been fooled or has made another of a long line of bad decisions over the last 10 years or so,” said Sydney Wolfe of the group Public Citizen.

Addictive Drink

Even though it worries some critics, Yale Medical School professor, Dr. David Katz said Nic Lite will probably not be as big a hit as other cigarette substitutes. He also said it is less addictive than cigarettes.

“The biggest difference is that the gum and the patch are used to help you quit smoking,” he said. “When we ingest something, most chemicals that get into the blood stream go through the liver and that sort of filters those chemicals out. So there tends to be less of an effect when you ingest something than when you smoke it or absorb it through the skin. So it’s going to be less intense and less addictive by mouth than if you smoke it or wear the patch. But don’t let that fool you — you still get the nicotine hit. That’s why the gum, which in essence is ingested, works.”

Source: ABC News

Chantix acts at sites in the brain affected by nicotine and may help those who wish to give up smoking in two ways: by providing some nicotine effects to ease the withdrawal symptoms and by blocking the effects of nicotine from cigarettes if they resume smoking.

“Tobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking, is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States and is responsible for a growing list of cancers as well as chronic diseases including those of the lung and heart,” said Scott Gottlieb, MD, Deputy Commissioner for Medical and Scientific Affairs. “The agency is committed to helping facilitate the development of products to help people quit smoking and improve their overall quality of life.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 44.5 million adults in the United States smoke cigarettes and more than 8.6 million of them have at least one serious illness caused by smoking.

“Cigarette smoking is a very difficult habit to break due in large part to nicotine dependence or addiction” said Dr. Steven Galson, Director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Chantix therapy has proven to be effective in smokers motivated to quit and will provide another tool for physicians to use for the millions of smokers who want to quit.”

The effectiveness of Chantix in smoking cessation was demonstrated in six clinical trials, which included a total of 3659 chronic cigarette smokers who were treated with varenicline. Five of the six studies were randomized, controlled clinical trials in which Chantix was shown to be superior to placebo in helping people quit smoking. These smokers had previously averaged 21 cigarettes a day for approximately 25 years. In two of the five placebo-controlled studies, Chantix-treated patients were also more successful in giving up smoking than patients treated with Qutting or Stopping smoking with Zyban (bupropion).

Source: RxPG News

We also have information about Quitting or Stopping Smoking with Wellbutrin SR XL – Bupropion Hydrochloride

The aim is to initially get smokers to quit for four weeks from May 2 to May 29, and then hopefully for good.

Quit & Win is an international anti-smoking contest for adults that has been organised since 1994.

More than 80 countries are participating in the competition, which is supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and has several partners.

At the end of the Bahrain competition on May 29, 10 winners will be selected and called to take a biochemical test to check if they have been smoking.

The first prize-winner will receive BD300, donated by the society, and the others will receive prizes donated by the International Hospital of Bahrain, Bahrain Specialist Hospital, Alba, GPIC, Al Jishi Pharmacy and other sponsors.

The first prize-winner will also be eligible to enter an international draw with prizes of $10,000 (BD3,780) and six regional prizes of $2,500 (BD945).

Source: Gulf Daily

Natives of the West Indies like to chew on licorice sticks or on sugar cane stalks. Inspired by this, one doctor recommended that his patients chew licorice sticks to break the smoking habit. The idea has apparently been very successful. Ex-smokers like having something to chew on or hold in their mouths. The licorice stick is a safe substitute for a cigarette.

Other Names of Licorice Root
Liquorice, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Fisch., Radix Glycyrrhizae, Gan Cao, Kan-Tsao.

Used Part, Taste and Property
Root and rhizome; Sweet and neutral; non-toxic.

Common Use in Chinese Herbal Formulas
Vital energy tonic, fatigue, weakness; Sore throat, cough, Addison’s disease. Used in Patent Formulas of Si Jun Zi Tang, Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang, Er Chen Tang and this herbal quitting formula.

Main Chemical Components
Triterpenoid, saponin (glycyrrhizin), flavonone (liquiritin, liquirigenin), chalcones, isoflavan, licoricone, etc.

Many people do recommend if you trying to quit smoking you should eat licorice. Black or Red makes no difference. Licorice has a ‘calming the nerves’ affect, helps lower Cholesterol and is non-fattening.

Stage 1 (7 days): You smoke at your normal rate and use the QuitKey smoke button to record every cigarette you smoke. QuitKey uses this information to form your personal quit plan.

Stage 2 (14 to 34 days): QuitKey helps you follow your quit plan by prompting you when to smoke. Each day you smoke less and gradually reduce you nicotine dependence while preparing yourself to quit for good.

Here’s why QuitKey is the best way to treat your tobacco addiction:

• Gradual Self-Help: You break your habit at your own pace.
• Personal: Your program is based on your habit.
• Flexible: Adjusts if you have a bad day.
• Scientifically Based: Combines the best nicotine withdrawal knowledge with behavior modification principles.
• Convenient: QuitKey is a hand held computer.
• Free Support Hotline: Just pick up the phone to reach our QuitKey Support Staff.
• Safe and Natural: Uses no drugs or gimmicks.
• Proven: Clinically tested by major medical research institutions.
• Pays for Itself: Costs less than two months’ worth of cigarettes for the average smoker.

Development and evaluation of the QuitKey approach was funded, in part, by Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants awarded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Here are some of the reports and published articles associated with these studies.

Buy the QuitKey now!

• People – With whom are you most likely to want to smoke?
• Places – Where are you most likely to want to smoke?
• Things – With what, e.g. alcohol, coffee, on the phone, are you most likely to want to smoke?
• Times – When are you most likely to want to smoke, e.g., after meals, when you first get up?

Important: Times when you may be most tempted to smoke may include times when you feel certain ways, e.g. stressed, angry, bored, lonely, sad.

Additionally, it may also help you to anticipate what “feelings” you may experience as you begin, and what you may possibly do to overcome them. Here are some common complaints from other people who quit, and what they did to feel better. Of course, no two people are exactly alike. Some people have some of these complaints; others don’t have any.

As for specific examples..

• Finishing a meal. Get up from the table immediately and start a pleasurable activity. Try a walk or a new hobby.
• Drinking coffee. Change the way you have coffee: the place, the coffee mug, everything that you did when you were smoking. Wait until you are at work to have your morning coffee.
• Talking on the telephone. Use a phone in a different room when you are at home. At the office, there may be little you can do to change location. Have small objects nearby to handle while you are on the phone.
• Between tasks. Instead of smoking a cigarette before moving on to your next project, try taking a short walk or reading a section of the newspaper or a chapter of a novel you’re enjoying.
• After an argument, disappointment, or negative event. If you are still feeling angry or upset, let off the steam by walking briskly around the building.
• In the car. Since smoking has been banned in so many workplaces, cars are becoming a popular place to smoke. Remove the ashtray from your car, or fill it with potpourri or tiny strips of paper on which you’ve written the reasons you don’t want to smoke anymore. Instead of smoking while you drive, play your favorite music on the stereo and sing along.

I managed to deal with all the triggers, and so can you!

If you need more information on a trigger that isn’t here, and you aren’t sure how to cope, you can always search quitspeed, or drop us a line and we’ll get back to you.

The best thing you can do with this craving is just wait out the urge. The urges tend to last only a few minutes, instead of smoking choose to do some exercise; go for a walk around the block. And you can always practice the four D’s -

• Distract yourself
• Deep breathing
• Drink water
• Do something else

Cravings for a cigarette can be confused with hunger pangs and oral craving – desire for something in the mouth. Oral fixation is a common problem with ex-smokers and those people trying to quit.

Drink water or low-calorie liquids; be prepared with low-calorie snacks. The best I found was strips of carrot or apple, tasty and healthy too, plus gives you something to munch on rather than biting your fingers.

More info is available in our article on How to Quit or Stop Smoking Cold Turkey and Will I gain weight if I quit smoking? And how much will I gain?.

It’s recommended for various things including:

• Alcohol withdrawal support
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Depression
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Menopause symptoms
• Photosensitivity
• Psoriasis
• Surgery and recovery support
• Urinary tract infection

Staphysagria is homeopathic remedy made from the seeds of the Delphinium Staphisagria, which has lovely purple-blue flowers, and in its raw form is highly poisonous, historically used to kill vermin. The homeopathic remedy, through its preparation, is no longer toxic yet remains extremely powerful. This remedy highlights ferocity in human emotion which society has tried to groom out of us. It is frowned upon when we have angry or passionate outbursts. We are supposed to ‘control ourselves’ and ‘get hold of our emotions’. What do we do when rage thunders through our bodies? If we show it, we are considered uncivilized.

One potential problem with this approach is that some smokers “compensate” for lower nicotine levels by smoking more cigarettes, taking more puffs off of each cigarette, and/or puffing more deeply and this can lessen the effectiveness of nicotine fading.

But there are things you can do to decrease the compensation problem — you can be aware of it and minimize these behaviors, and you can delay a brand switch for a few days if you notice that you’re compensating (some people’s bodies take a little longer to adjust and they will naturally stop compensating after a few extra days). Besides being inexpensive, this approach to “weaning” can also help you develop confidence in your ability to exercise some control over your smoking habit before you stop smoking altogether.

You can also achieve the same thing by simply reducing the amount of cigarettes you smoke each day, perhaps reduce by 1 cigarette every two days.

But experts don’t like this method because you still get the psychological reinforcement of nicotine when you smoke and it’s hard to control the number of cigarettes you consume.

Read More:

Nicotine fading and self-monitoring for cigarette abstinence or controlled smoking.

First let’s address the issue on lobelia. Lobelia is one of the most widely publicized herbs for nicotine replacement. Lobelia contains lobeline an ingredient in some prescription anti smoking products which administers it at a controlled dose. It has it’s place in herbal medicine under the advisement of a credible practitioner and but not for smoking cessation.

In theory, the herb has a chemical composition similar to nicotine which fools your body into thinking it is nicotine, only it is not addictive. Please see Lobelia inflata for more information and research.

Overview: Lobelia is an herb that is found in many natural anti smoking and asthma remedies. Surrounded by controversy of it’s toxicity, lobelia should be used with caution in only small amounts under the advisement of a qualified herbalist. Lobelia has an alkaloid content of .63%. The main alkaloid lobeline has effects similar to nicotine without the addictive nature.

Uses: Lobelia has traditionally been used for bronchitis, cough and upper respiratory complaints. Lobelia is also used topically for skin eruptions, poison ivy, sprains, bruises and inflammations. It can be applied by poultice, infusion or tincture.

Actions:
Respiratory stimulant
Anti-asthmatic
Anti-spasmodic
Expectorant
Emetic

Properties:

Pungent, Bitter, Warm/neutral.

More at:

Botanical.com
Gardenguides.com

The cigarettes are marketed in some European countries as an aid to stop smoking.

They contain no nicotine or tobacco, but are smoked in the usual way.

However, a team from the University of Vienna has found that the “vegetable-based” cigarettes produce a level of carbon monoxide similar to that produced by tobacco cigarettes.

The researchers, who report their findings in the medical journal The Lancet, investigated vegetable-based cigarettes after initial studies suggested that their combustion might produce toxic substances.

Source: BBC Health

The FTC also announced that herbal cigarettes are deceptive HERE.

According to Jodie Bernstein, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, “These cigarettes are marketed with a ‘natural’ aura, but they’re neither healthy nor safe. The new disclosures should make it clear that herbal cigarettes and cigarettes without additives are not safe to smoke. The fact is, there’s no such thing as a safe smoke.”

Actors do often use Herbal Cigarettes as props during filming for realism, more can be found at Straight Dope.

And it is shown that herbal cigarettes produce tar and carbon monoxide similar to that produced by tobacco. According to Dr John Moore-Gillon, chairman of the British Lung Foundation, “Nicotine is addictive, but it’s the other stuff that gives you lung cancer and emphysema.” The crack down on labeling herbal cigarettes and smoking mixtures have begun because of their false claims and misleading representations of being safer than tobacco.

Source: About.com

So just be careful if you think Herbal Ciggaretes are healthy!

There are many things that you can do. Support should of course be unconditional, but it’s also pratical to find out what is worth doing. You could achieve this by finding out what is the root cause of the smoking problem (questioning and observing) and move on from there.

For instance, if the trouble lies with the famous hand-to-mouth syndrome, try carrot or celery sticks as substitutes for cigarettes. They’re healthy and they keep both hand and mouth busy. If the recovering smokers find the vegetable sticks too bland, try seasoning them with some Italian herbs and a dash of salt. You could also make delicious low-fat dips (recipes are widely available on the Internet) for the sticks.

My partner felt that he’s more tired and sleepy when he’s quitting. So I took him to the gym. Exercise definitely made him felt more energetic and his perceived dependence on cigarettes also lessened. It’s important not to give in to the couch and tv at home during these times as at this point, the recovering smokers need strong, reliable characters around to support him. I also served him coffee to jumpstart the morning and bought him individually packed instant coffee which he kept by his side all the time. This way, he could have his coffee at anytime he felt like a puff.

Another effective way is to keep the recovering smokers busy so that they’re not pre-occupied with the idea of smoking. Do organise activities, preferably ones that take place in non-smoking area. Take this opportunity to revive activities such as picnic in the park, volunteering at a charity homes, sight-seeing in your own city and so on. Besides assisting recovering smokers to cope, it would also improve your relationship with each other!

Remember, you must be supportive not just with words but with actions as well. By helping your loved ones, you’re helping yourself too.

The Yao ethnic people who have been using opium for centuries are taking the tea from the leafs of this medicinal herb to quit smoking opium. They say it works also if you wish to stop smoking cigarettes. Whenever you feel like smoking, take a cup of tea from the herb.

Should you decide to quit smoking or taking any drugs you may try this herbal tea.

This is Argemone mexicana in it’s natural habitat:

For growing this plant you need a sunny and warm place. Mix some sand and small stones into the soil and be modest with fertilizer. The plant grows to about 50cm and flowers throughout the year in our place. If you cut the lower leafs for tea, new branches induced by the additional light sprout from the stem. Such you will have a continuous supply of tea until you will not need it any more. It is advised to dry the leafs before using them as tea.