Natural Ways to Stop Smoking

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

Do you make a quit smoking New Year resolution every year and break it the very next day or rather the next hour? Even as the health warnings for the dangers of nicotine addiction makes its rounds and the prices of tobacco products skyrocket, more people seem to pick up the habit each day. However, if you are one of those resolute people who have decided to kick the habit for good then you are on the right path. There a lot of treatments and medications which might help you get rid of the addiction faster. However if you choose to break the habit without the aid of a chemical based product thus avoiding side effects like dizziness, sleep disorders or headaches associated with pills like Chantix, then there are natural solutions to resolve the issue.

The Challenge: Why can't I quit smoking?
Nicotine, the drug found in tobacco products is highly addictive and affects many parts of your body like heart, blood vessels, hormones and metabolism. It acts as a antidepressant by interfering with the flow of information to the nerve cells and producing pleasant feelings. When a person quits smoking it produces some withdrawal symptoms which can be both physical and mental. Mentally, there needs to be a change in behavior to give up the habit while physically, a person may experience dizziness, depression, feeling of anger, anxiety, headaches, tiredness, increased appetite and other withdrawal symptoms.

Natural Stop Smoking Aids

The "Cold Turkey" Method
This method is recommended for people who have just started smoking and it involves the complete halt to the habit of the person. Although the etymology of the word remains a mystery, it is now a commonly accepted term to describe the abrupt cessation of smoking. This method does pose problems in terms of the trauma for the body with the nicotine withdrawal bringing in host of cravings. This would be accompanied by anxiety, depression, increased stress and headaches. However this can be curbed by drinking lots of water which helps release the toxins from the body, adopting alternative relaxation methods like yoga and lots of physical exercise. The first few days are the worst as the toxins remain in the body however with a strong willpower it would be possible to combat the addiction.

Gradual Reduction
The second method involves reducing the quantity of smokes each day thus giving the body the chance to deal with the decrease in the nicotine levels. This method is ideal for people who have been smoking for years and can be done by decreasing two or three cigarettes per day. Once the body adjusts to the reduction, you can proceed by further cutting down two to three smokes. By continuing this habit, it will be likely that you will give up smoking.

Hypnotherapy
Although the cold turkey or the gradual reduction method might achieve some degree of success, it does not really work that well. The reason being that these natural ways for quitting smoking does not take into consideration the strong urge that smoking creates. Hypnotherapy on the other hand provides a psychological approach for combating nicotine addiction. The process involves relaxing the hypnotherapy patient to an alternate state as the therapist tries to drill in the message to stay away from cigarettes.

Alternative Therapies: Laser and Acupuncture
The use of laser treatment is relatively new and the method involves using a "cold" laser beam to target energy points in the body to enable the body to release endorphins which have a calming effect on the body. Acupuncture is another natural remedy for smoking in which specific points are targeted to enhance healing and relaxation.

Along with these aids, there are natural quit saving programs which are offered free either through phone or face-to-face discussions. Whatever might be the path, it is up to an individual to plan and prepare himself for beating nicotine addiction to save himself from deadly diseases like cancer, lung diseases, heart attacks and strokes.