Tiberius (Oklahoma) on 02/06/2024
Let me preface by saying, I was not some special case that somehow was not "as addicted as you".. For a long time, on some level I had fooled myself into believing I couldn't quit cold turkey and assumed people that did, were just not as addicted as I was. Nonsense.
I smoked for about 10 years. About a pack and a half per day. I was as addicted as anyone else. I'd smoke as soon as I woke up, a meal wasnt complete until I had a cigarette after, a car ride didnt begin til I had a cigarette in hand. And I'd move heaven and earth to get a pack of cigarettes if I was out, I'd get stressed and feel panicked and anxious if I didnt have cigarettes or money to get them. Cigarettes were seemingly as essential as food, water, and air for me at one point. And if I had to choose between a good meal and a pack of cigarettes, I probably would have taken the cigarettes because food is a lot easier to come by.
So how did I do it? The key things, for me, were 1 keeping cigarettes on hand.. I had almost a whole pack of cigarettes in the glove box of my car. They were a security blanket for me. If I didnt have them and the option to go grab one, then I would have been stressed and panicked that I couldnt get one if I "needed" one. So It was always my choice in the moment not to smoke. That was a HUGE one for me. As before when I would try to quit, first thing I'd do is try to remove the option of smoking from myself by tossing them out.
Next, keeping my hands and mind busy. The day after I decided to quit, I just happened to have gotten a new grill. I was nearly done putting the thing together when I realized, I didnt have a single thought or craving for a cigarette for the entire time I was working on the grill, which altogether took about an hour. Considering I hadnt had a cigarette since the day before, that was significant. And so, I found ways to keep my mind and hands busy. I did a lot of drawing, painting, model kits, studying, etc.
After a few days, it gets easier. After a couple of weeks, it gets a lot easier. After that, you're pretty well in the clear. I think cold turkey is probably the best method, as others such as nicotine patches or gum, just prolong the process by keeping you dependent on nicotine... not to mention the extra money.
Hamish (Brisbane) on 07/31/2021
Kal (west midlands uk) on 03/05/2019
Non-smoker! (Bristol) on 02/11/2018
But....7 years later, 2012, and I'm working with a lot of smokers and for some reason started smoking shisha - using molasses rather than tobacco but it gave me a bit of a hit, so I got back into smoking through the back door, as it were. Two years of a daily shisha and then I'm on holiday with smokers, 2015, and just started joining in with the odd cigarette - this is what pulled me right back in. It's a funny thing that after that holiday I could go for a week without but I knew I'd be meeting a smoking friend every Friday for a while and would 'blag' a fag off them. I'd spend the rest of the week 'waiting' for the next hit. So I ended up buying my own tobacco and you can guess I got back into it. However, it wasn't as full-blown as formerly - so I'd have up to 5 fags a day, and even fewer on other days. Still, I tried stopping after a year of this and couldn't so I realised that it was a thing for me. Another year passed and I just decided that the smokers cough was untenable and I had to stop.
So this was how I did it. I had a couple of tiny cigars, a few cigarettes and about 1/4 bag of rolling tobacco. I decided that I would eke these out but buy no more afterwards. I set a date and a protocol - to delay the first smoke of the day for an hour every day - beginning at 9.0 am on day 1,10 on day 2,11 on day 3 etc. I had an electronic cigarette for 'emergencies', and I was 'allowed' to use this whenever I wanted, although, as it turned out, I didn't use it very much, it was just good to have it there 'in case'. I was also allowed to smoke as much as I liked after the start time, although I was mindful that I only had so much tobacco so couldn't go crazy.
Well the cravings were quite mad - especially when I'd be waiting til 11,12,1 or 2 to smoke - those were the hard days of really doing battle with the addiction - mental madness (! ) and I just had to fill my time - I got SO much done! Cleaning, cooking, walking, all the work that had been waiting for me to get around to it...anyway by the 8 pm start I was suddenly 'off' the flavour of cigarettes - yuk, the last couple of cigarettes were SO DISGUSTING it was as much as I could do to finish them - I did finish them just to teach myself how awful they were. I kept the last one in a jar (a la Alan Carr) and then had a little funeral of my smoking paraphernalia.
Smoking is a mental thing as well as physical, and it acts as a kind of 'friend' - so my 'funeral' was to acknowledge all the good things about it - a little obituary for the friendships I'd made through chatting with smokers, blagging lights, the support it had given me when I'd reached for it when things weren't going well etc etc. I think it is important to acknowledge that smoking is a multi-dimensional thing, it has associations and 'meanings' - like we probably all started smoking to be cool with our peers, or to rebel a bit, and with hindsight we wish we had chosen another route, but in my funeral I was just tipping my hat to the past, the fun I had and the trouble it got me into.
So now I can happily say that I have completed my smoking journey - I haven't had many cravings since the 'funeral' - I use the e-cig if I'm with other smokers (and as they are a dying breed, this isn't very often). However, maybe its because I'm getting older now, this time I had an unexpected side effect of constipation. Apparently, when we stop smoking we stop swallowing so much mucus and the bowel dries out a bit. This has taken me on another healing journey, and I am so grateful to Earth Clinic for all the information about this, that has helped me get onto a healthy path again.
Waltz (Bangalore) on 01/27/2018
Bob (Murphy, Nc) on 02/08/2017
First, nicotine is in no way addicting, contrary to the patch and gum commercials. I've taken the nicotine lozenges, and had no problem quitting them immediately. In my opinion, there are at least two reasons for smoking. One is when you start in High School, or whenever young. That one is easier to quit, because you started to imitate others, or someone started you, not for your own reasons. The second kind is when you are older usually. This cause of smoking is for self treatment because you have some kind of pain, anguish or other psychological problem. With that kind, you won't quit until your problem goes away. But some relief can come by using licorice root extract, without the drug being taken out, as in de-glycerized, DGL, products. The drug in it removes the desire to smoke, from the very first day. So plan on using it when you are ready to quit smoking. The only side effect can be blurry vision. Don't take it before bedtime as it can keep you awake.
Deb Elkins (Oregon) on 09/30/2016
Mel (Sydney, Australia) on 12/09/2014
I have smoked for 25 years and have tried every quit method you know, more than once, some worked and some didn't, but none have worked quite like Lobelia.
I started taking the tincture 4 days or so prior to my stop date (3 drops x 5 times daily) and today - day 8, I've used the drops once. I actually feel like I was never a smoker, perhaps it's the right time for me this time but it certainly has been far easier than I imagined. No cravings whatsoever and I really feel that I am thru the worst and its smooth sailing from here ? without any fears!
The herbs are easy to obtain from a naturopath. If you've wanted to quit but fear has held you back I highly recommend this herb.
Jennifer (Northumberland, England) on 12/02/2014
Unfortunately, Mr Carr did die of lung cancer but he stayed alive a lot longer than he would have done if he had carried on smoking.
Good luck to all who try this method.
Jon (Australia) on 10/28/2014
If you smoke or used to smoke and want to clean out your lungs try NAC, this is an indispensable product.
Aside from increasing your body's production of glutathione, essential for liver protection, NAC is particularly effective in clearing your lungs of damaging carcinogens or any other detrimental pollutants.
In fact, if your dog is silly enough to go after a skunk and gets sprayed, and you take it to the vet, the first thing the vet will do is give it a 1K mg shot of NAC to clear its lungs of the spray, which can be toxic due to its preventing your dog's ability to breathe with that oil covering the oxygen intake cells. So, for liver or lung protection/healing, NAC is essential and well worth the relatively minor expense, considering the benefits of taking it in contrast to the damage done if you don't use it regularly while smoking.
This worked very well for us and its effects were immediately noticeable. It should be taken between meals with a B-6 tablet and 50mg of vitamin C in order to get the greatest benefit. I would recommend 2x 600mg capsules per day taken separately between meals for anyone needing the benefits of NAC. (If you smoke, you will cough more because your lungs are being cleared of tar and toxins.)
Maria (Miami, FL) on 09/24/2014
Misty (Indiana) on 07/29/2014
There are two forms of Vitamin B3, niacin and niacinamide - you want just the regular niacin. Do not buy flush-free or time-release niacin, as that is hard on the liver, and you will not know when you are taking enough. Do not be alarmed by the flush - it is supposed to happen, and it lets you know that you are receiving enough niacin. The flush should subside in about 10 minutes. If you get a severe flush that lasts longer than 30 minutes, simply reduce your dosage.
To find the right dose of niacin for you, start out by taking around 100 mg of niacin in the morning, afternoon, and night. If you receive no flush at all, then increase niacin intake by 100 mg one meal at time, I.e. 200 mg in the morning, 100 in the afternoon, 100 at night. If you still receive no flush, then take 200 mg, 200 mg, 100 mg and so on. Do not be alarmed if you find you need several grams of niacin a day; people generally take 1000-9000 mg of niacin a day (it is uncommon to need more or less but it does occur so always start slow). You may need to empty the contents of gelatin capsules or cut tablets in half or quarters (you can find a pill splitter in the elderly care section of your pharmacy near the pill organizers) to take your proper dose. When you feel a proper flush, then stay at this dose. Niacin is best taken during or after a meal.
The flush will feel like a hot flash and give your skin a pink glow or the appearance of hives. Don't worry; you are not allergic to niacin. This is normal and simply indicates capillary dilation. For me, the niacin flush is also accompanied by a runny nose, but not everyone gets that. If you flush severely and for more than 30 minutes, reduce your dosage.
As for the protocol, simply take niacin with one silica tablet (or 1-2 tsp of diatomaceous earth) 3 times a day. You may also want to add a B-complex and Vitamin C to your daily regimen to ease nutrient absorption. You may need to increase your water intake. If you get constipated, reduce the silica and/or drink more water. Nutrient absorption is also increased with exercise and a clean diet.
Try to reduce your nicotine usage before starting the protocol. Quitting cold turkey when you start will reduce the time you need to be on the protocol, so this is highly recommended if you really hate the flush or otherwise hate the protocol. Your cravings will probably not stop completely, but they will reduce so much that you will hardly notice them. If you have trouble, just try to distract yourself and remember that it only takes about 5 days to immensely reduce the intensity of the cravings. I recommend you stay on the protocol for about 1-2 weeks, but it won't hurt if you decide to stay on it longer as long as your liver function is normal.
Note that I still have cravings from time to time particularly when stressed, but the urge will pass if ignored. Don't make the mistake of treating a temporary increase of stress with a pack of cigarettes because addiction doesn't work that way; you will most likely fall off the wagon and have to quit all over again (I did this once).
Niacin therapy is also useful for depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders, even when the patient has not responded well to alternative treatments. It may also lower cholesterol, ease insomnia, or provide other benefits. For this reason, many people take high doses of niacin long-term with no ill-effects. Physicians often caution against it, but there are currently no recorded instances of niacin overdose in humans (in dogs, the limit is about 5000 mg per kg body weight).
I do not recommend niacin therapy if you have diabetes, alcoholism, any liver disorder, or are pregnant.
Rosie Q. (Santa Cruz Ca) on 12/30/2013
I had success with hypnotherapy, it gets to the root cause of why we smoke. then- keeping track of the money saved. (14$ a day, 98$ a week) and taking some of that and treating myself to something nice ( a pedicure, movie ) at the end of the week if I didn't smoke. the amount of money saved each week was extremely motivating!
Good luck to all! Quitting smoking is so hard and you all deserve good health!
Candy (Ontario,canada) on 12/20/2013
Scott (Pen Argyl, Pa) on 08/26/2013
Among those benefits was a massive decrease in the urge to smoke. It turns out that ginger contains niacin which flushes nicotine out of the body. Nicotine is the addictive ingredient in tobacco. Obtaining the niacin with fresh ginger seems to be more effective than supplments but that's just my own opinion.
The only problem is that ginger is also a stimulant and will keep you up nights so don't take it if you're planning on going to sleep in 4 hours or so.
Skaye (Eatonton, Ga) on 02/01/2013
Nnm0989 (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) on 09/23/2012
Dixiedebva (Roanoke, Va, USA) on 07/03/2012
1) Natural Tobacco= First I started rolling my own cigs 3-4 months before my desired "quit" time. STOP USING store bought cigs ASAP! Jan 2012 the papers, filters & tobacco averaged $1. 50 a pack. Use "smooth" or "ribbon" cut pipe tobacco (not cigarette tobacco) and select a "mild" mix. Now you are rid of the 2, 000 additives cigs have AND only dealing with the "natural" leaf nicotine! Also my dislike of the "rolling" hassle made me "think" with each cig.. Do I really need it? or just smoke half?
2) Vinegar= then BEST OF ALL, I stumbled onto the "hidden" patent info about adding a drop or 2 of plain white vinegar to the cigarette filter neutralizes the nicotine. You cant smell or taste the vinegar once dry. I did this to every cig for the last 4-6 weeks before I quit. Couple weeks with 1 drop.. Then next couple with 2. (this seems to be the other poster's nicotine blocker).
3) Diet changes= I got serious about taking a good all around vitamin plus a super B complex.. Also doubled my water & fresh fruit intake. I ate more healthy foods and stopped skipping meals (nic kills your appetite & taste). I can tell the super B's really do help with nic cravings. Yeah Ted!
4) Mental Facts= With every thought of "I want a cig", I remind myself that I REALLY DON'T.. Its just the top used insecticide poison thats talking. Being already SUPER addictive and unbelieveably chemically multiplied & enhanced in cigs to addict me even further, its no wonder that it screams at me. Nicotine only provides me illness and death. Am I that easy a target? No, I truly DON"T WANT a cig.. I WANT the NICOTINE.. Or DO I??
5) E-cig backup= I bought an e-cig with both "light nicotine" & "zero nicotine/water" cartridges. I used the "light nic" when I was cutting down and ran out of self rolled cigs. After my quitting, there have been just a couple times I wanted to "smoke" (when smoking friend visits) so I just puffed my water vapor ecig and laughed at myself.
6) A New Dance= I felt ready and just stopped smoking one day after all the above.. But I needed one last step. I've had almost zero "physical" craves, but mental triggers were in everything I do daily. To deal with triggers, as soon as I think cig, I quickly step away from that situation.. Then I return, performing it differently and repeat to make a new habit of that situation without a cig. I am quickly remembering doing it the new way & forgetting the old. (like holding phone in other hand).
I have only been quit a month but already cigs seem like a faint memory.. I go all day without thinking of one unless I cross an old trigger I havent "un-done".. And even then its not a fever wish, but just a thought that its "time" for a cig.. Well, I know its not and so I dance a new step into that situation and now enjoy "breathing" past it.. Combining all these helps made the cravings sooo weak that I easily walked away. I hope you do too! ;)
Cozette (Pasadena, TX) on 12/04/2006
Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Cozette: Any supplements that will calm the nerves and anxiety would do. While stopping addiction might seen to be difficult, reducing anxiety would be a more practical approach.Certain aromatherapy that calms the nerves or deadens anxiety are lavender oils and narcissus oils. Narcissus oils are power stuff and they do reduce anxiety but should be used sparingly, if too much it does cause sleepiness. For me it helps a lot with both depression and anxiety. I just smell the aroma and it just goes right through the brain since the nose and the brain are quite close to each other. The emotion centers and the smell center are very closely related and this is why it had such a powerful effect. For most people I think, lavender oil should be more than enough. Of course if it doesn't work that well, a more powerful narcissus oil would have a better chance.
The addiction to cigarettes is due to the nicotine, but what is interesting is the chemical similarity with only one oxygen molecule less, which is nicotinic acid or also goes by another name called niacinamide, which is vitamin B3. Therefore taking some vitamin B complex plus maybe 100 mg of niacinamide supplements more may displace the nicotine due to chemical similarities. The vitamin B3 if taken at larger than average dose do have the tendency to reduce anxiety and hence, possible addiction to nicotine.
To test whether it works for you is to take them when you have this addiction. It only takes three days to stop the habit. If you get over this hump period, by taking plenty of niacinamide and vitamin B3 for at least 5 days, that should be enough to know it works for you or not. If that is not enough, then try to freshen the room with lavender and narcissus oil during the cigarette deprivation period of about 3 days.
In fact, if there was a 3 day stop smoking clinic, I think this would stop a lot of people from addiction. The issue is simple, once it is over the hump period, the addiction no longer exists. Basically the 3 day stop smoking clinic works like this: a group of people without cigarettes sit in a room and do anything they like, but there is no cigarettes handy. By putting a lease between you and the cigarettes for at least 3 days, the addiction in theory would stop. Of course, it would mean a solitary confinement from the cigarettes for three days would be worth it!"
Lobelia and Cigarette Filter to Quit SmokingJennifer (Podunk, Missouri, Us) on 08/23/2011
First of all I didnt think Lobelia was going to actually work there was too many "to good to be true" reviews on it. But at $5 a bottle and 100 pills in that bottle I couldnt pass up at least giving it a go. When I first started to take it I was surprised to find that it does reduce cravings and makes your cigarettes taste a bit funky. Honestly its wasn't so much of a funky taste to me that I would of put out and wasted a cigarette. OH and it did help me breathe better. I started smoking at 18 and after 10 years of it I cant remember the last time I could take such a deep breath. Anywho I had a cigarette filter from a previous quit smoking attempt-the last step in the filters I never got to. BTW this filter supposedly it cuts out 90% of the nicotine. So I started using it along with taking the lobelia and my cravings reduce even more. Now let us not forget the obvious that commitment and willpower is also involved. I promised myself that A) I wouldn't buy anymore packs during this period and B) THE last cigarette would be my last.ALL IN ALL: I started taking the lobelia on Aug 4th probably started using the filter two or three days later and on Aug 9th I had my last cigarette. I went from smoking about a pack that first day (smoked over a pack a day before this) to only having 5 smokes the last day. Today is Aug 23rd and its my second week of being free of my angry hungry big little nicotine monster. I have my moments of "I need an effing smoke" especially after eating or just sitting there being bored. Its a mental want and not a physical want I just take a few deep breaths (now that I can) and it passes by quickly.
and I know its really early to get too excited about but... Im very happy to be smoke free and dont ever again want to give in to the monster.
