Best Ways to Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times.- Mark Twain.

I am sure every smoker would agree with Mark Twain. What makes smoking a hard habit to break is the addictive effect that nicotine, the main component in tobacco, has on smokers. Nicotine triggers the brain's reward system in the same way that other drugs like cocaine and amphetamine do, although to a lesser extent than these drugs. This reward system is responsible for the pleasure that one feels after having taken a puff. However, the bad news is that there are a large number of diseases caused by smoking. Nicotine is harmful for all the organs of the body, and weakens the immune system. Besides nicotine there are thousands of other harmful substances that cause cancer, damage to lungs, and a number of defects in children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy. These dangers of smoking form just the tip of the iceberg. The list just goes on and on. It is perhaps due to this reason that every smoker is on the look out for the best way to stop smoking. Here are a few effective ways to do just that.

Effective Ways to Quit Smoking

Nicotine Replacement Therapy: This therapy makes use of nicotine patches, gums and sprays that provide low doses of nicotine to the blood of user. While a nicotine patch needs to be worn on a hairless patch on the body like the chest, upper arm, upper back, or hip, nicotine gum is a simpler option that one needs to just chew. Besides supplying nicotine to blood, nicotine gum keeps the mouth engaged in chewing, which reduces the instances of smoking. As the system is getting nicotine, these therapies help one to deal with withdrawal symptoms easily than when going cold turkey. These aids also cut down the supply of tar and other poisonous gases to the body. However, the fact remains that nicotine is still being supplied to the system. Although these therapies aim at aiding smoking cessation by slowly reducing the dose of nicotine, many times these aids themselves turn into an addiction.

Medicines: Wellbutrin, formerly known as Zyban, is a prescribed anti-depressant that provides about 35% success in the short term by reducing withdrawal symptoms and the urge to smoke. Another prescription medicine is Chantix, that reduces one's cravings to smoke. If one smokes while taking the medicine, it reduces the sensation of satisfaction that one gets on smoking.

Alternative Therapies: Alternative therapies like acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, and meditation are also believed to be useful in helping a smoker to give up cigarettes. However, these have not been found to be very useful on their own. These seem to be helpful to those who have decided to go 'cold turkey' by positively reinforcing their determination to quit the habit. Some even resort to laser therapy to quit smoking. This therapy works by administering laser to specific points in the body that are associated with smoking addiction.

Herbs: The list of ailments that herbs help us to fight just seems to get longer. Yes, you guessed right. Herbs like Garcinia cambogia, lobelia, and the Korean ginseng are a few of the herbs that provide us a natural way to quit smoking. These herbs help one to deal with the withdrawal symptoms and reduces the urge to smoke.

Hypnotherapy: In this method, a smoker willingly subjects himself to hypnotism. Through the hypnotherapy sessions, the therapist uses the method of auto suggestion to help the smokers build the will power to give up smoking.

Will Power: 'Where there is a will there is a way'. When it comes to how to discontinue smoking cigarettes, probably will power is the only way. One can get away with smoking without the use of any therapy or smoking aids if one decides to do so. On the other hand, lack of will power would fail the best aid or therapy. Going 'cold turkey' is the best way, yet the most difficult way to get rid of smoking. In this, one just decides to stop smoking without the help of any aid or medicines.

It is the harmful effects of smoking that has made us come up with ways to quit smoking. Ask any smoker and he/she will tell you just how difficult it is to give up this habit. In my personal opinion, the best way to quit smoking is to have the will power to do so. I know it's difficult. Nevertheless I have seen people who have given up cigarettes with their will power as the only aid. For others there are other alternatives. Mix a little bit of will power and patience. If man could reach the moon and fly like a bird in the sky, why can't one give up smoking?