Do You Want to QUIT SMOKING?
Have you ever wondered what makes educated, health conscious people who want to quit smoking continue to smoke? Whether you are a smoker who wants to quit, or a non-smoker, I'll bet you have asked that question.
The answer is addiction. And you will never understand what an addiction is until you try to stop doing something that your body and mind craves.
It is quite possible to stop smoking with the help of herbs and support of a program like Nicotine Anonymous. The Nicotine Anonymous organization exists in 34 countries in the world.
Smokers who are addicted usually go through several strategies before they succeed in quitting for good. The first one is usually will power. If that doesn't work, the smoker feels like a failure and often doesn't try again for years. It is humiliating to accept that she does not have the will power to stop an action that she wants to stop. The second scenario may be medical props such as nicotine gum, the patch or acupuncture. If that doesn't work, the smoker may try hypnosis.
During one of my stages, I came across a product called Bantron - smoking deterrent tablets that contained lobeline sulphate. They worked for me, but they were taken off the market in the mid-1980s. When I investigated, I discovered a tobacco company - Belvedere International - produced these tablets. Obviously, the company took the product off the market because it worked too well.
Upon studying the herb lobelia, I discovered that it is of the same plant genus as tobacco. Although it is one of the most beneficial herbs for cleaning out the lungs, it also helps, because of its relation to the tobacco plant, with the irritability that usually accompanies withdrawal.
More than 25% of the world population smokes and half of them say they want to quit smoking. If you are one of them, you might find success with the method I used.
Last Time Lucky
A smoker has always dealt with frustration, anger, anxiety and insecurity by lighting up. So you have to wean yourself, and drop your automatic reaching for a smoke. Cut down your daily intake and when you do smoke, concentrate only on your smoking. And during that concentrated smoking time, visualize yourself as being free from nicotine's control of your life.
All the aids I used (from nicotine gum to hypnosis) during 30 years of trying to quit smoking had no lasting effect. What I needed was my own personal reason. You do too.
When you are ready - if you are over 35 which I was then - you may want to start taking a herbal formula that acts as a human growth hormone that made me physically younger, stronger and gave me more will power. And you can lay in a supply of lobelia capsules (to clean your lungs and help with the irritability), passionflower (despite the name, this herb has a calming effect), and homeopathic lobelia drops to deal with the urgent cravings.
Then find a Nicotine Anonymous group, or start one yourself. Nicotine Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women helping each other to live lives free of nicotine. It is a spiritual program based on the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Attend a group meeting (there are more than 700 meetings in 34 countries in the world). When you are ready, throw the cigarettes or pipe tobacco or chewing tobacco away, surrender your craving to a Higher Power, and, if you like, start using the lobelia and passionflower capsules regularly. Try homeopathic lobelia drops under your tongue help when you have an irresistible urge to smoke. The addiction may never go away completely (protect yourself!), but soon I needed no more aid than that from my Higher Power.
Freedom
When I quit smoking for good, after 30 years of trying to quit, I had been on the herbal growth hormone for six days. I attended a Nicotine Anonymous meeting one evening, went home and smoked a few cigarettes. Without pre-planning, I started a big bonfire in the backyard and threw in all my cigarette packages, matches and other smoking paraphernalia. The ashtrays went in the trash and I set an ashtray stand outside my front door, so people would know where they were welcome to smoke when they visited me. (I had dropped my smoking friends two years previous in anticipation of the day I would quit for good and not want any temptations around. I wanted FREEDOM so much I was even willing to give up friends whose smoking might tempt me.)
It worked. After 30 years of quitting and repeatedly going back to my crutch, I finally beat the habit in 1998 with the help of the fellowship and my Higher Power. You can too, but you may need the support of people who understand what you are going through, who will remember to keep supporting you month in, month out, when everyone else has forgotten that you ever smoked and that you will still be tempted at times.
One tip is to draw oxygen into your lungs and hold it there for up to a minute to give you an oxygen high similar to a nicotine fix. You may need all the tips you can get, especially if you don't want to just switch to a different addiction.
When you get serious about quitting, visit one of the four Nicotine Anonymous groups in Alberta, or contact Nicotine Anonymous World Services Inc., 419 Main Street, PMB # 370, Huntington Beach, California, USA, or check out the web site at http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org for meetings around the world.
The only requirement for attendance is a desire to quit smoking.
Almost all smokers started in their teens. More than 70% of those who flirt with smoking become hooked. But rarely does anyone start smoking in their 20s. Once it has you in its clutches, giving up nicotine is more difficult than beating heroin addiction.
I have been 100% nicotine-free for ten years and I'm extremely grateful. I don't wish to be anonymous despite the fact that the organization suggests it and requires it at the public media level. I suppose that includes the Internet. I act as an online mentor for any addict who wants support to be free of nicotine's control. That can be you. So attend a meeting, get the support of fellow addicts and your Higher Power, and contact Nicotine Anonymous for information and help. We are all volunteers at this non-profit organization.
I have found that service to others is important to staying nicotine-free.
References:
- Nicotine Anonymous - The Book, 1992
- The Little Herb Encyclopedia by Jack Ritchason, 1994
- Grow Young with hGH by Ronald Klatz, MD, 1998