Smoking is a hard habit of quitting, despite how it can negatively impact your health and increase your risk of developing heart problems and cancer. We’re not here to list the negative benefits to scare you into quitting, though. Instead, we prefer to list the benefits of quitting and help you find natural ways to curb your cravings.
When you quit, your blood circulation will improve. It can also lower the risk of heart attacks. Apart from improving breathing, it will enhance the oxygen level in your body and provide more energy.
Additionally, quitting can improve your sense of smell and taste, improve your circulation (no more cold hands and feet!), reduce inflammation, and boost your immune system. Quitting will help improve your health in every way. It will detox all of the dangerous inhalants from your body and help return your health to what it was before starting smoking.
While the risks are great incentives to quit smoking, it can be difficult for some people to leave due to the withdrawal symptoms. Because of this, we wanted to provide some natural ways to help you get your mind off your cravings.
Here are a few natural ways that will help you to quit smoking.
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1. Try Acupuncture
In acupuncture, thin needles are inserted into a certain point in your body to facilitate and enhance energy flow to specific areas of the body. It’s less intimidating than it sounds, and many acupuncturists know what points are gentle and what will cause slight discomfort at first. If you want a pain-free experience, let them know!
Here’s how it works: an acupuncturist inserts a needle into a particular point in your body to stimulate your endocrine and neurologic systems. These are called acupuncture points. Specific points help stimulate the production of hormones and chemicals in your brain.[
The theory is that the needles can produce stress-reduction hormones and release endorphins and peptides, which all reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Studies from the American Journal of Medicine have shown that smokers benefit from acupuncture, and it helps reduce some of their withdrawal symptoms.
2. Sipping Green Tea Can Do Wonders!
You can also try out herbal medicines to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. For instance, green tea can help repair damaged tissues and help reduce cravings during the detoxification period.
According to a National Library of Medicine study, green tea keeps the system flooded with amino acids and micronutrients, diminishing the urge to smoke. According to the survey conducted by Sci China Life Sci, “In one trial, it was found that after using the tea filters for two months, the volunteer smokers decreased their cigarette consumption by 56.5%, and 31.7% of them stopped smoking.”
You can also use other herbal remedies such as St. John’s wort and Lobelia. But more studies are required to prove that they are effective.
3. Lifestyle Changes
We all know how hard it is to break our routine. However, when you want to quit a habit, this is a must. Lifestyle changes will also help you quit smoking, naturally, by providing your body with healthy alternatives and nutrients it needs, practicing mindfulness and self-care, and getting your mind off smoking. Here’s what we suggest:
- Include more vegetable and fresh fruits in your diet
- Practice meditation and deep breathing
- Avoid caffeine and sugar
- Exercise
- Stay hydrated
- Identify the environmental triggers and avoid them as much as you can
- Get a good night’s sleep.
Be warned, though! Sometimes people tend to substitute one addiction for another. For example, if you choose to start working out more, don’t overdo it. Set your limits and boundaries, and be careful not to create a new addiction in the process.
4. If All Else Fails, Traditional Methods Are There For You
If you decide to go for the traditional treatments, your first choice needs to be prescription medication varenicline, as per the 2020 guidelines laid down by the American Thoracic Society. The medicine is recommended for people dependent on tobacco and who would prefer to quit smoking. You can also try nicotine patches and gum and bupropion, though many do like varenicline.
Some rehab clinics and Suboxone clinics also offer nicotine addiction services. These clinics are usually outpatient and combined medication and therapy to give you the best chance at quitting. While these clinics often have a terrible connotation, we assure you that there is no shame in seeking professional help. Addiction is no joke and is hard to quit alone.
At the very least, they help provide you with a support system, so you don’t have to fight it alone.
That’s it! We hoped these tips helped provide you with a good starting point and some guidance. If you do decide to quit, we believe and stand with you!
