Quitter's Friend - Ten Suggestions for Paulie

By Laura Lamun

Paulie is trying to quit smoking cigarettes - nicotine, the final foe. Here are my top ten herbal suggestions for his successful pursuit of the tobacco smoke-free life:

1. Use an herbal smoking blend to roll in with your tobacco at first, tapering down as you can. I make ablend called "A Better Smoke" - delicious and satisfying herbs in a fragrant, sweet smoke that are used to alleviate cravings and nourish the lungs. Slightly psychoactive, nervine, and comforting.

2. Lobelia Calamus Supreme - a stop-smoking extract by Gaia - reduces cravings, and promotes restoration of nerve cells and nerve tissues which may be damaged in long-term cigarette smoking. Use 30 drops in water 3-4 times daily, or upon cravings.

3. Licorice sticks - the actual herbal root looks like a stick, tastes like sweet wood not black licorice, and nourishes the nerves and adrenals for easier quitting, & is a better hand-to-mouth habit that heals

4. Try chewing a combo of gentian root and chamomile flowers every time you feel the need to smoke. Drink sassafras tea, or chew calamus root pieces. Replace the motion and change your patterns.

5. Two Chinese cures: grate 2 tsp.fresh radish and mix with 2 tsp. honey, drink as juice. Get tofu and put black or raw sugar into holes all over it - steam in a little water - eat a few spoonfuls, which will make you ill on exposure to the smell of tobacco.

6. Read "Addiction Free Naturally" by Brigitte Mars, published by Inner Traditions. I have the "stop smoking" chapter available for emailing - it will convince you!

7. Replace the addiction with treats - or rewards - suck on herbal lozenges, whole cloves, and gum. When craving a cigarette, get an orange, make a hole in it and suck the juice out - can help!

8. Drink more beverages for mood swings - Good Mood Tea by Traditional Medicinals, Tension Tamer by Celestial, chamomile, kava kava, passionflower, and st. Johnswort teas. Green tea for energy.

9. Drink liquids out of a straw for the oral fixation. An old folk remedy is to lick a little salt at craving.

10. There are several other natural remedies to support the new non-smoker: tyrosine, an amino acid taken 1000 mg morning and afternoon can curb cravings. Increase zinc and vitamin C intake, as smoking depletes both. Vitamin C every couple of hours, and B vitamins for stress.

Be gentle with yourself as if you were a child - this is the hardest addiction to beat. Use incense and other fragrant smoke & scents to make you feel better- mood-elevating lemon, lime, & grapefruit essential oils breathed in deeply alleviate cravings, bergamot for nerves, peppermint for deeper breathing, and eucalyptus & rosemary for energy. Stay wet - it is hard to smoke with wet hands, so soak a lot!!

Within 72 hours of quitting, breathing becomes easier. After 20 minutes without a cigarette, heart rate and blood pressure fall to normal levels. After 8 hours, carbon monoxide levels drop to normal. After 24 hours, the risk of heart attack already decreases, and within 48 hours of the last smoke, taste and smell begin to return to normal. After 2 weeks, lung function and circulation improves dramatically. Going without for one year allows the lung cilia to regrow and the risk of lung infection is reduced.

YOU DESERVE TO LIVE A LONG HAPPY LIFE - LOVE YOURSELF AND QUIT SMOKING!