Herbal and English Medications for Quitting Smoking

Smoking is one of the leading causes of lung and mouth cancer as well as respiratory and breathing problems, however, this does not stop people from lighting up. This is because smoking is highly addictive and when fighting alone, it is almost impossible to quit for most people. There are things that can be done to help with the process of quitting.

Natural Remedies
Licorice - Part of the habit of smoking is having to put something in your mouth. Licorice makes a good substitute for smoking because the smoker can chew on a stick of licorice to feed this habit. Chocolate is another good substitute because it reduces smoking cravings.

Exercise - Exercise has been proven to help smokers quit. It helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms giving smokers half a chance in battling the smoking war. It helps them reduce the amount of times a smoker lights a cigarette. A 10 minute walk or stepping on the treadmill can help.

Diet - Reduce the amount of acidic foods and increase alkaline foods. This helps with taste buds and aids in cutting out the addiction to smoking. Eat food such as beets, lima beans, raisins and dandelion to help give up smoking. Increase the amount of Vitamin C which increases hormones to strengthen the body. Sweet foods are good to help the urge to smoke and salty foods are good to help reduce cravings.

Herbal Remedies

Many people turn to herbal remedies to help with quitting smoking. Herbs are a safer alternative to medicine. Some herbs that have been shown to help are:

Passion Flower - This herb is used for anxiety that tends to come with nicotine withdrawal.

Turmeric - This is an Indian spice which helps remove the carcinogens from the body that smoking produces.

Lobelia inflata - This is an Indian herb that helps to reduce nicotine from the body. It cleans out the lungs and makes it easier to breath. It gives the same feeling as nicotine but actually fights it. Also, it creates a bad taste in the smoker's mouth each time they light up a cigarette which forces the smoker to quit.

Other herbs that have been shown to help with quitting smoking are valerian, hops, skullcap, chamomile and peppermint.

Medication
Three of the most widely used prescription medications are Champix (varenicline), Chantix (varenicline) and Wellbutrin (bupropion). Although these medications are very effective in helping people quit smoking, they do come with side effects. Be sure to discuss all the risks with your doctor before starting any medication therapy. You do not have to feel helpless with smoking as there are many different remedies available to help you quit. Talk with your doctor to figure out which remedy is best for you.