Smoking is a deadly addiction that can give you positive effects such as improved intellectual performance, but can also cause lung and throat cancer as well as pulmonary emphysema. Tobacco's active constituent, nicotine, is an alkaloid that disrupts your brain's nerve signals and memory. Nicotine also has the ability to bind to white blood cells and thereby reach all tissues in your body, according to the "New York Times." Herbs that can help you quit smoking will cleanse your lungs, curb nicotine cravings and ease any anxiety this process may generate in your body.
Hyssop Tea
Step 1
Fill a small pot with filtered water and bring to a boil.
Step 2
Add 1 tsp. of organic dry hyssop leaves. Hyssop will act as an expectorant, which means it will help expel mucus and phlegm from the base of the lungs, and will aid in the removal of toxins caused by smoking, says herbalist David Hoffmann in his book "The New Holistic Herbal." It also has anti-spasmodic effects that soothe coughs when present. The sedative properties of hyssop will help with anxiety caused by nicotine withdrawals.
Step 3
Sweeten your tea with honey to taste.
Smoking Lobelia
Step 1
Fill a pipe with organic dry lobelia leaves and seed pods. Lobelia is an herb that contains a nicotine-like ingredient called lobeline, which according to the book "The Way of Herbs" by acupuncturist Michael Tierra, helps curb nicotine cravings, but is not addictive and will help you reduce your longing to smoke tobacco.
Step 2
Light the pipe and take six to 10 inhales of the herb, filling your lungs each time.
Step 3
Repeat every time you experience nicotine cravings.
Skullcap Tincture
Step 1
Add 30 drops of skullcap tincture to a glass of filtered water before bedtime. According to herbalist Richo Cech in his book "Making Plant Medicine," skullcap is a nervine that will help ease any stress and anxiety you may experience while you are quitting smoking, and will also help you sleep well and get a full night's rest that will aid in the healing process of your respiratory system.
Step 2
Take skullcap tincture during the day if you need to relax and calm your nerves.
Step 3
Repeat each step until you have successfully quit smoking.
Things You'll Need
- Small pot
- Filtered water
- Organic hyssop
- Honey
- Organic lobelia
- Pipe
- Skullcap tincture
References
- "New York Times": Nicotine: Harder to Kick than Heroine
- "The New Holistic Herbal"; David Hoffmann; 1995
- "The Way of Herbs"; Michael Tierra C.A., N.D.; 1980
- "Making Plant Medicine"; Richo Cech; 2000
