If you are going to stop smoking, herbal medicine can play an important role in helping you quit. Many foods and plants have a positive affect on brain chemistry, stimulating the release of feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins that cause an improved sense of well-being. Higher endorphin levels can help decrease symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, reducing both stress and irritability. Consult with your health-care provider before combining medicinal plants with prescription medications.
Step 1
Take rhodiola rosea extract every day. Rhodiola rosea is a medicinal plant native to eastern Europe and Asia that has become more popular in western countries as a complementary treatment for depression. During a review of research published in "Alternative Medicine Review" in 2001, naturopath Gregory S. Kelly found rhodiola extract had a beneficial effect on serum levels of beta endorphins, dopamine and norepinephrine. If you are trying to stop smoking, rhodiola rosea may help reduce stress levels and increase chemicals like endorphins to balance your moods.
Step 2
Take notoginseng extract every day. Notoginseng, also known as panax notoginseng, is a member of the ginseng family native to China and Japan. Used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine for blood building and hemostatic purposes to reduce bleeding, medical research shows notoginseng also affects endorphin levels. In a study published in the "China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica" by the Medical College of Southeast University, researchers discovered notoginseng significantly increased levels of beta endorphins in animals. This shows notoginseng can be taken internally to increase endorphin levels and improve mood levels during smoking cessation.
Step 3
Take St. John's wort extract every day. St. John's wort is a medicinal plant with widespread use for wound healing, inflammation, anxiety and mild to moderate depression. When taken internally, St. John's wort supports healthy endorphin levels by inhibiting the breakdown of enkephalin in the body. According to an article published in "Psychopharmacology" in 2003, St. John's wort is a beneficial herb for people experiencing withdrawal from addictive substances such as nicotine. During the study, animals treated with St. John's wort experienced significantly fewer nicotine withdrawal symptoms than animals that went through withdrawal unaided. Do not combine St. John's wort with other prescription medications.
Step 4
Eat dark chocolate regularly. When you are beating your smoking habit, eating cocoa and chocolate will have a beneficial effect on your endorphin levels. Cocoa beans are a medicinal plant and a natural source of phenylalanine -- an amino acid known to influence mood through increasing endorphin levels and other feel-good hormones such as dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, phenylalanine has shown to be beneficial for depression in some studies, though more research is still required in this area. While you are quitting, eat chocolate that is made up of at least 70 percent cocoa to get the most of the natural phenylalanine content.
Tips and Warnings
- Herbs extracted in liquid tinctures are often more concentrated than infusions or dried herb capsules.
- Many herbal medicines and medications will interact with each other and should not be combined. Consult with a medical herbalist and doctor before taking herbal remedies.
Things You'll Need
- Rhodiola rosea
- Notoginseng
- St. John's wort
- Cocoa
References
- "Alternative Medicine Review"; Rhodiola Rosea: A Possible Plant Adaptogen; Gregory S. Kelly; 2001
- "China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica"; Effects of Panax Notoginseng Saponins on Immune-neuroendocrine Network of SD Rats in Experimental Navigation and Intensive Exercise; Wang Q., et al.; 2010
- "Arzneimittelforschung"; Biochemical Activities of Extracts from Hypericum Perforatum L. 2nd Communication: Inhibition of Metenkephaline- and Tyrosine-dimerization; Denke A., et al.; 1999
- "Psychopharmacology"; Hypericum Perforatum Attenuates Nicotine Withdrawal Signs in Mice; Catania M.A., et al.; 2003
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Phenylalanine
