Tobacco smoking is a difficult habit to break, as tobacco contains an addictive substance called nicotine. Smoking causes numerous illnesses -- including cancer, heart disease and emphysema -- and it can reduce your lifespan by over 10 years in some cases. Certain herbs may help ease your withdrawal symptoms and support your attempts to quit smoking. You should always visit your doctor before using herbs to help you quit smoking.
Quitting Smoking
Many health benefits are associated with quitting smoking, both immediate and long-term. Immediate health benefits include decreased heart rate and blood pressure, reduced carbon monoxide levels in your blood, improved circulation, reduced mucus and improved sense of taste and smell. Long-term health benefits of smoking cessation include a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other conditions caused by smoking.
Herbs for Smoking Dependency
The nicotine contained in tobacco products is extremely addictive, as it increases the levels of pleasure-related brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Nutrition researcher Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," states that certain herbs may help treat the symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal, including valerian, skullcap and lobelia. Other helpful herbs for smoking dependency include dandelion root and milk thistle, which help protect your liver from the injurious toxins found in tobacco smoke.
Featured Botanical
Lobelia is a commonly used botanical medicine in the treatment of smoking dependency. Lobelia helps reduce the anxiety that is often associated with smoking withdrawal. According to Dr. William Mitchell Jr., a naturopathic physician and author of "Plant Medicine in Practice," lobelia is an effective remedy in breaking your smoking habit, as this herb contains alkaloids similar to nicotine and is often used as a nicotine substitute to help with smoking cessation. The entire lobelia plant is used in making herbal medicines.
Warning
Smoking dependency is an often difficult health condition to treat. In most cases, breaking a smoking habit requires numerous attempts. Herbs may be a helpful adjunct treatment in treating your smoking dependency, but herbs should be used with great caution, especially if you are using prescription drugs to treat the same condition. Talk with your health care provider about possible side effects associated with herbs as well as the health benefits and risks of herbal supplementation.
References
- KidsHealth.org: Smoking
- National Cancer Institute: Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
- "Plant Medicine in Practice"; William A. Mitchell Jr., N.D.; 2003
