by Mike Durand
Holistic medicine draws on a comprehensive mind/body approach to healing which is particularly relevant to stopping
smoking.
Smoking is a habit that
involves your thought processes, beliefs, emotions, and daily behaviors
in addition to the physical component of nicotine
addiction. It therefore makes sense to utilize quitting strategies that
incorporate these different aspects of your habit, in
order to successfully overcome it once and for all.
Herbal formulas to help stop smoking have been
found useful by many people and are gaining popularity as an alternative
to quitting “cold turkey” or using nicotine replacement therapies
(NRT’s) that can prolong the amount of time your body requires the
drug. Herbs can function in a variety of ways
to help overcome your addiction, including:
- mimicking the effects of nicotine, so you are
not aware of its absence
- making cigarettes taste bad, so you no longer
want to smoke
- calming your nerves, so you do not feel the
need to smoke
- cleansing and detoxifying your system, often
visibly, so you no longer want to put poisons into your body
Stop smoking remedies using herbs are also
available in a variety of forms, including teas, capsules, and patches
similar to the more commonly known nicotine
patch. Patches are especially convenient due to their consistent
delivery of smoking cessation ingredients,
protecting you against cravings and helping you resist temptation
throughout the day.
It is important to remember that although herbal
treatments are “natural” this does not guarantee their safety, so
these products should be used under the
direction of a qualified practitioner. Herbs can also interfere with
other medications so if you are combining
approaches, do so with caution and the advice of a medical professional.
Other holistic strategies that can help you stop
smoking include acupressure, meditation and yoga, or the use of any deep
relaxation technique. Addressing your
underlying reasons for smoking such as stress and boredom will make your
quitting process easier and more effective, so
investigate your smoking habit and come up with a plan for quitting that
approaches it from all angles.
Finding your way to better health using holistic
medicine will help you overcome unhealthy habits and addictions such as
smoking, and teach you strategies for creating
a better quality of life in general. Explore your options in holistic
health to help you stop smoking as part of
your personalized quitting plan. There are many books and websites
devoted to the subject, so do a little research
to discover the products and services that might be the most beneficial
for you and start taking steps towards an addiction-free
future today.
