7/31/2013

You've heard of laser vision treatment; you've heard of laser unwanted hair removal treatment; you've even heard of laser hair re-growth treatment. But have you heard of laser stop smoking treatment?



Maybe not. But if you've heard of acupuncture being used to help people quit smoking, you will have an idea of what a treatment is. Acupuncture is an ancient medicinal art and has been used to assist those trying to kick their nicotine addictions for nearly thirty years; laser smoking medication first appeared in 1989.



Acupuncturists pinpoint the lower earlobe as the pressure point which curbs the craving to smoke, and low level, or "cool", this treatment also targets the lower ear lobe with a laser pulse. The theory behind both treatments is that they stimulate the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killers, leaving the patient in a state of deeply relaxed well-being.



Advantages Of The Laser Stop Smoking Treatment



One advantage of this medication is that, for those who are needle-shy, sharp instruments are nowhere to be seen. It rarely has side effects, although a few users have reported warmth or tingling in their earlobes.
Because the power of the laser treatment is the equivalent of that generated by a 60-watt light bulb, there is no chance of the patient's being burned.



For those who are uncomfortable with the disrobing involved in acupuncture smoking cessation therapy, low level treatment offers a comfortable alternative. The laser, however, must be used by a trained technician.



Some providers of the it claim that it not only stimulates the body to release craving-eliminating endorphins; it also enhances the body's detoxification, hastening the removal of nicotine from the blood and tissues, and speeding the withdrawal process.



Precautions About The Treatment



Because the laser stop smoking is not a recognized medical treatment, health insurance will not cover its cost. And the laser medication isn't cheap; the best-known of the companies offering it charge $349 for a smoking cessation "program" including a half-hour treatment, some vitamins, and a stop-smoking video.



While the centers providing laser stop smoking have claimed a success rate in excess of 85%, those figures are under scrutiny by the Public Citizen's Health Research Group. They have petitioned the FDA to stop the companies from promoting their lasers as tools for smoking cessation medication, because they have not been given FDA approval for such a use.



In other words, the effectiveness of the laser stop smoking treatment has not been officially established, so there is no guarantee it will work for you. But if you don't mind spending the money, and have tried everything else to quit, you can always take the chance that you will be one of the lucky ones for whom it really works.
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California has often been termed the land of fruits and nuts, but I think they may have stumbled across a good idea that may revolutionize the way the rest of the country views the left coast. An article in the Sacramento Bee discusses the idea of requiring insurance companies to cover 100% of the cost of any stop smoking medication approved by the FDA. This would include Zyban, Chantix and any of the nicotine replacement therapies that require a prescription.



Well, what does this do. It would force the insurance companies to pick up the copayment and/or deductible for countless smokers who may be hesitating to quit due to the cost. And because they live in California, I can see where they'd want to potentially spend that extra money on things like food or rent. Now, common sense, tells everyone that if they are really worried about pinching pennies, then they shouldn't be smoking in the first place. After all, a pack of cigarettes can cost on average $5 per day or more, depending on the addiction. Putting that aside though, I wonder if that many people will really decide to stop smoking as a result of the legislation? Will saving some money, really cause the smoker extra motivation to stop smoking? I really don't know the answer to that question.



But, I believe the senators are on the right track. Please don't quote me on that, because I can't believe I just said it myself. Regardless, it is true. Smoking currently costs the US over $190 Billion. About 20% of all US citizens smoke and just under 500,000 people die because of smoking related illnesses. Those are sobering statistics and represent a significant cost to Medicare (our tax dollars), private insurance (our premiums), and local communities resources (our local taxes).



Imagine what impact we could have if smoking decreased by 10% across the nation? What would that do for our premiums and medicare taxes? Think of it, 10% reduction in lung cancer, COPD (emphysema), cardiovascular disease - the Big 3 related to smoking. That would actually reduce the risk and thus, reduce the cost associated with the risk.



By my math, that would more than pay for the intensive care unit admissions, chemotherapy and other related healthcare expenses associated with smoking that insurers currently have to dole out each day across the country.



But again, will the California smokers take advantage of this prospect if it gets signed into law? That is the big question. However, insurers should not balk at this idea as it really is a win-win for them. For those who take advantage of the law, they'll have a greater chance of quitting smoking. For those that don't, well, the insurer isn't out any extra money.



So, it seems like a no brainer. This also should satisfy liberals and conservatives, because the liberal should like the government telling big pharma what to do, and the conservative should like the government giving the little guy a chance to overcome his challenging situations.
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You started smoking on a beautiful note. At that time you never imagined in your wildest dreams that to stop smoking would be such a deadly effort. You have tried several methods, rather many quit smoking methods have used you to make fun of you.



You are where you are and now the suggested method is stop smoking through injection.



Will this alternative really help you, so that you can live the rest of your life smoke-free? Half of your life is already wasted in searching and experimenting with the various methods to stop smoking.



Researches claim that this stop smoking injection makes you forget about smoking once and for all. It has a success rate of about 80%. Hope you are not among the remaining 20%. I am aware you have tried many other therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medications and nicotine replacement therapy, all in vain.



Nicotine and your brain are comrades in arms. The brain can never forget the obliging nicotine sensation and demands more and more of it. Therefore, you smoke more and more. Something has to be done to break this link. The stop smoking injection contains substances that confront the nicotine receptors in your brain. When the brain fails to establish contacts with nicotine, and refuses to recognize it, your desire for the nicotine-containing cigarette is decreased. Well, you no more need it at all!



Normally, one injection does the job. The second one would be necessary, in some cases. The treatment is given to you in ideal conditions in a clinic, under the supervision of your own doctor. He will make a careful note about your stop-smoking condition.



Why, then in some cases, you don't get satisfactory results in the first instance? It is because many of the smokers do have other problems, apart from the nicotine addiction. Your doctor will therefore examine your total health, after you are injected with the first shot.



The injection therapy is very affordable. High from the normal standards, but low from the actual standards! Also calculate what an astronomical amount you will spend on your nicotine products- the cigarette packets! Another favorable point is that such treatment related expenses, including the injection charges are covered by health insurance policy.



So far, this stop smoking injection therapy does not lead to side effects, it is reported. This probably is the reason for its growing popularity. Second aspect of the popularity is the quickness with which you can have this treatment.



You are in a hurry. You started smoking in a hurry, and if now you have come across a method to give up smoking in a hurry, why not avail it?
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7/30/2013

If you are looking into the myriad of methods available to get off the evil cancer sticks, it is no surprise that some time might be spent deciding whether acupuncture to stop smoking is worth a try. Let me explain why I think it probably isn't a very good idea.



Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese approach to medicine. It is from a time where scientific method was not recognised. It was from a time when science itself didn't exist and if it did it would be considered evil. It is from a time when people believed dragons roamed the plains and mountains of China.



The evidence for using acupuncture to stop smoking has so far drawn a blank and it demonstrates no more effectiveness than placebo procedures. And why should you not be surprised at this?



Well, as a treatment it has no biological or anatomical or histological basis. Because of the time in which it was devised was a dark age, there was no way of verifying the approach or devising it with the stringency that could be said of modern treatments and drug therapies.



Medical approaches that are used today are subjected to stringent evidence based testing including blind and double blind tests. This means that the approaches for most modern medical treatments are successful and we don't spend our lives drinking bats blood and eating horse hair to cure our ailments.



Another reason why I think it would be foolish to consider acupuncture to quit smoking is precisely because it is an ancient approach. Smoking came about with the native American Indians some five or six thousand years ago. It was only in the 16th century that it reached Europe and the Far East.



The Cochrane Review studied the effectiveness of acupuncture to stop smoking (including related therapies such as laser treatment) and found that there was no evidence to suggest it had any effect greater than the placebo effect.



It is common for people to need some form of crutch to help them quit smoking. I believe that acupuncture to stop smoking is just such a crutch.
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The effects of smoking can be detrimental to a person's lifestyle. It can significantly change a person's appearance by discoloring the teeth, hastening tooth decay, and causing premature aging. Worse, it can also cause a great deal of suffering for people who end up with emphysema or lung cancer because of cigarette smoking. Non-smokers are also not very fond of the odor of cigarette smoke that can stick to a person's mouth, hair, and clothes. With the threats of cigarette smoking to one's health, physical appearance, and social life, many smokers aim to kick the habit.



A Habit that's Hard to Break



Sometimes, a person's willingness to quit is not enough to combat nicotine addiction. Nicotine, a substance that is found in cigarettes, tends to give smokers a pleasurable feeling that people who are trying to quit tend to crave for when they are stressed out. This craving makes them resort to returning to their old habit. This is the reason why different forms of nicotine replacement theory like nicotine patches and gums are quite common for people who are trying to quit. Unfortunately, the use of these aids is not always effective. Some people tend to look for other options in order to quit smoking.



Stop Smoking With Prozac and Other Anti-Depressants



In some cases, anti-depressants are used to stop smoking. A lot of research has been done on people who have tried to stop smoking with Prozac, Manerix, Seroxat, Lustral and Efexor. Unfortunately, these substances didn't help people stop smoking. So far, the only anti-depressant that has been approved by the FDA for smokers who want to quit is bupropion which in known under the brand name Zyban. Another substance that is used for the cessation of cigarette smoking is nortriptyline. Although this is proven to be as ineffective as a placebo, many doctors recommend this option to people who cannot quit smoking using nicotine replacement therapy.



Some Side Effects to Consider



Most of the people who tried to stop smoking with Prozac ended up smoking again because it didn't reduce their withdrawal cravings. Worse, 30% of the people who tried to stop smoking with Prozac ended up experiencing depression. Not only are most anti-depressants unsuccessful in inhibiting nicotine cravings, they have been known to affect the smoker's appetite and mental health. Most of the time, the taking in of the medication is followed by nausea and mood swings. Even worse, these people end up becoming suicidal. In fact, doctors are advised by the FDA to put people taking anti-depressants under constant supervision just in case their depression becomes worse. It has been found that the tendency for them to harm themselves becomes higher during the first few months of treatment or when the dosage of the medication is changed.



Because of the severe side effects caused by anti-depressants, people who plan on kicking the habit should consider this is a last resort. Perhaps they should try forms of nicotine replacement therapy like nicotine patches and gums first. Smoking cessation is a slow process and should be taken one step at a time.
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Smoking cessation drugs cause side effects; some are severe while some are little less severe. Doctors educate people on these effects even while prescribing them.



Smoking cessation drugs work by changing the chemical constituents of your brain albeit artificially. When you smoke, nicotine causes a change in brain chemicals and you feel elated, happy, and feel a sense of well being. These drugs create similar situation. You get the same feeling without smoking cigarettes.



However, your health deteriorates due to change in body chemicals. These translate into side effects. You suffer side effects during the prescribed pill therapy period of eight to twelve weeks. Even thereafter, you can suffer from similar side effects for a very long period.



Sometime, side effects prove very difficult to bear and you feel whether it was better to smoke than try to quit smoking. Many a time, you start different addictions like drinking soda or other sugary beverages, munching on snacks, and others. These cause excessive weight gain. You adopt another unhealthy lifestyle.



Smoking cessation drugs can be harmful and cause long-term pain and suffering. Some perpetuate other health disorders and you suffer major health setbacks. You develop kidney ailments, heart problems, stomach and liver disorders, breathlessness, and suffer from mental problems like depression or anxiety.



Instead of a pill you may want to try an all natural method to stop smoking to avoid the costs and side effects related to medications. The most successful natural stop smoking method is NLP.



NLP stands for Neuro Linguistic Programming and it is a branch of psychotherapy that has proven to be extremely successful as a stop smoking method. It works so well because it targets and eliminates the cravings to smoke. In a recent test of 5,000 smokers that participated in an NLP session to quit smoking 97.2% of them were still smoke free six months later. That success rate far exceeds the success rate of any smoking cessation drugs.
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7/29/2013

When most people try to quit smoking, they usually try all the popular products which include Nicorette patches and gum. For many people these type of products work perfectly. However many times it's not enough. Sometimes people need help coping with the withdrawal symptoms of smoking. Recently people have turned to antidepressants for help. Prozac is one such medication that has been used to help people quit smoking.



Prozac can either be used in conjunction with nicotine patches or gum. However many people choose to use it when trying to quit "cold turkey". This is because the withdrawal symptoms tend to be worse when you stop all at once.



Like all antidepressants, Prozac works by tricking your brain into being "happy". This is done by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin helps control messages that the brain sends to the rest of the body, like the feelings of being tired, hungry or depressed.



Like all medications there are some severe side effects that should be taken into account.



*Although it seems odd, 30% of all people who use it report an increase of their depression. It usually occurs in the first few weeks of taking the drug or when the dose is dramatically changed.



*People report having a decreased appetite. While this may seem like a good way to lose weight, rapid weight loss is not healthy.



*In many cases it simply doesn't work.



All things considered, while Prozac can be an effective way to help people quit smoking, it should be used as a last resort, after the more traditional methods have been tried. It's also important to talk to your doctor before taking any antidepressant. He'll be able to best advise you if Prozac is right for you.
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Drug that boosts smoking cessation



Most smokers wish to stop smoking but are unable to do so due to strong nicotine addiction. The main ingredient in cigarettes is nicotine that affects some receptors in the brain which produces pleasant feelings for a short while.



It may look a difficult task for smokers to stop smoking all of a sudden if they have been living with this habit for a long period of time, but it is certainly not an impossible task. The road to smoking cessation can be traversed easily if you take a look at the endless adverse smoking effects. This can prove helpful to firm up the resolve to stop smoking.



What are smoking effects?



The World Health Organization has declared that smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths and diseases among people worldwide. It can lead to serious conditions like lung cancer, heart problems, heart attack and even stroke.



Smoking can affect the taste buds of a regular smoker and eventually that adult loses taste of food. It can also lead to problems in hair, skin, and even affect neurological processes.



It is not only active smoking that causes health risks but also passive smoking that is just as dangerous for health. A regular smoker can cause health problems for other family members by smoking indoors. Some children also try to imitate this habit from their elders at home. So there are endless ways in which a smoker affects his or her health as well as that of others. Women smokers who smoke during pregnancy can create great health risks for their unborn babies.



Quit smoking help for smokers



Although there are many smoking cessation aids, smokers should only opt for effective ones. Chantix is among the latest smoking cessation drugs that can show some positive results. It is manufactured by Pfizer and has been approved by the FDA for use in the US. In European countries and the UK, Chantix is known by the brand name, Champix.



How Chantix works?



This drug works on the brain receptors to reduce nicotine cravings as well as withdrawal effects that are most common among smokers after they stop smoking. The best thing about this drug is that it satisfies nicotine receptors in the brain without supplying any nicotine. This is unlike other stop smoking drugs that reduce cravings and withdrawal effects by supplying small doses of nicotine in the brain. The main ingredient in Chantix is varenicline tartrate.



What are doses of Chantix?



This stop smoking drug is available in two strengths that include 0.5mg and 1mg tablets. The treatment starts with the lower dose for about one week and dosage is increased in subsequent weeks as per the recommendations of the doctor. The treatment with Chantix is generally recommended for a period of 12 weeks. In some cases, the desired results may be slow, so the doctor can continue the treatment for another 12 weeks.



Are there any side effects?



Side effects are common with every prescription drug, so Chantix is no exception. The most common side effects of Chantix are nausea, constipation, gas, unusual dreams, and vomiting. In some cases, it can give rise to adverse reactions like suicidal thoughts, changes in mood and behavior. But these side effects are rare and this drug has proved helpful in most cases. This drug has helped conversion of many smokers into successful non-smokers.
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There are several withdrawal symptoms people who quit smoking experience. These symptoms are basically identical to those of depression, which is why some forms of antidepressant medications can be used in treatments for smoking cessation.



Researchers have found that depressed people essentially have the same altered levels of neurotransmitters in their bodies, and too little activity among neurotransmitters in the areas of the brain that control mood and emotion will certainly result in the same indicators.



There are different types of antidepressants, and they interact with your neurotransmitters in different ways. They can change the rate at which the neurotransmitters are either created or broken down by the body, or block the process by which neurotransmitters are recycled and reused. They can block the re-absorption of neurotransmitters into the nerve cells and thereby leave some available to trigger activity among nerve cells, or they can interfere with the binding of a neurotransmitter to neighboring nerve cells, thus leaving the neurotransmitter available for other bodily functions.



Specifically to help smokers trying to quit the habit, MAO inhibitors are ideal because they decrease the rate at which neurotransmitters are broken down by the body so they are more available to interact with nerve cells, or neurons.



In the United States, you can get prescriptions for such MAO inhibitors as phenelzine and tranylcypromine from most mental health professionals, especially when they are convinced that your condition is sufficiently critical. To regulate the levels of serotonin, you may have to take serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as venlafaxine or the more common bupropion, sold as Wellbutrin.



Stop smoking antidepressant medications are ideal because they help you bide the rough tide and stay focused while you are trying to quit smoking. Once you are way past the withdrawal phase, you should discontinue the treatment.
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7/28/2013

The effects of smoking have given rise to many dreadful and fatal diseases like cancer and heart attacks. Smoking has thus, become a major issue for most medical research centers that crave to develop anti smoking therapies and treatments. There are majority of smokers, who want to stop, but find it very difficult to do so. This is mainly because of the strong effect of nicotine induced into the body due to smoking.



A Few Tips to Help Quit Smoking:



Will Power: You must create a strong will power before you actually decide to stop.



Mindset: You must have adequate knowledge of the consequences and ill effects of smoking on your mind and body.



Think to Quit: This is the foremost step to quit smoking. It involves strong determination on your part to quit smoking.



Effects of Smoking: After knowing the bad effects on your health, you need to think number of times before you actually smoke.



Prepare To Quit: Prepare your body and mind to quit. You need to find strong reasons for quitting the habit. You must also know what instigates you to smoke and thus, get rid of those temptations. This is entirely a stage of psychological recovery to help you quit.



Smoking Cessation Aids: Once you have developed a strong mind frame to quit, you can actually consider stop smoking aids. These aids help in managing the ill effects of nicotine withdrawal symptoms and in reducing the cravings for smoking cigarettes.



Smoking is one of the major causes of many serious health diseases. Thus, it is up to you to decide whether you should stop smoking. Thus, you have many options at your hand to help you stop.
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Smoking is one of the most harmful and dangerous habits one can possess. They are not only harmful to those who smoke but are also very harmful to those around the smokers. Smoking causes lung cancer and mouth ulcer which can be very hard to treat and in many cases result in death. Second hand smoke is also very dangerous as these fumes are rich in carbon monoxide and are thus very harmful for anyone who inhales these toxic fumes.



Even the tobacco manufacturing companies these days have started to print a warning on their products to make the buyers aware that these products are injurious to health. The nicotine in the cigarettes is also very dangerous as it affects the brain and can damage brain cells or cause temporary illusions. Although the quantity used is insignificant; the harmful effects of the drug cannot be ignored.



Many people cannot get rid of this nasty habit because of nicotine addiction. They try to leave the cigarettes but cannot as they lack of nicotine to with the body had become so used to causes feelings of anxiety, restlessness, sleeplessness and in some cases fever. Therefore most people are afraid of these feelings and thus do not have the courage to quit smoking.



Well first things first, nothing in this world can be done without determination. One needs the determination and dedication to purpose to accomplish the goals and without dedication it would be almost impossible to attain any result what so ever. There are different aids which can help the smoker get rid of the habit but they are either expensive or not suitable for some smokers.



Still one should try to avail these facilities which include hypnosis therapy, laser therapy and rehabilitation centers as they are designed specifically to help smokers get rid of their addiction. But if one is unable to avail such facilities then one must rely on sheer determination to get rid of this nasty habit. Ask help from your friends and family as they will be able to help you distract yourself and maintain focus on the task at hand. The journey is indeed very difficult but the end result is worth the hardships.
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Would you like to quit smoking in an easy and safe way? In the effort to quit this addiction, people employ many different techniques most of which fail in the long run. Stop smoking hypnosis technique has however been used by many individuals to great levels of success. The success rate of the technique depends entirely on how discipline and motivation are handled by the individual. The technique is found as effective and beneficial due to many reasons, some of which are discussed in this article.



There are two types of hypnosis used which are self directed where an individual manages it himself by use relevant resource materials such as tapes and DVDs. The other model entails attending sessions facilitated with a trained and skilled hypnotherapist. All these methods command a great deal of commitment and motivation with the later effectively provided by the hypnotherapist and other individuals who have succeeded in the same quest by the use of this technique.



The use of CDs and DVDs is definitely cheaper than the model of attending sessions with trained hypnotherapist professionals. Watching these recorded materials is also convenient for they can be used at any time. The choice of method to be used by an individual is subject to the considerations of factors like convenience and cost. One needs to consult with a doctor first before deciding on the method to be used.



The technique works by achieving a state of relaxation whereby the mind of an individual is open to receive suggestions into the plane of the subconscious. People have however associated this method of quitting being a smoker with turning the individual into a slave with no control over their own mind. This is not true since you cannot be forced to do something against your consciousness when in a hypnotic state.



The subconscious mind is able to receive suggestions but it is not accessible in the normal consciousness. Smoking has been associated with pleasure in the subconscious mind hence medication alone will not be effective since it will only be dealing with the conscious mind. It is hence true that a combination of this technique and pharmaceutical drugs effectively helps in quitting the addiction. Apart from just stopping smoking, hypnotherapy is also associated with impacting improved lifestyles to the individuals.



In order to quit the addiction, the technique involves altering the condition of the subconscious mind by adjusting it to realize the necessity of quitting being a smoker. This is not possible without willpower for it is needed in every step and action. The power bestowed in our inner mind is effectively unlocked and considering the fact that our imagination is stronger than the willpower the person can easily change from the behavior.



All models of hypnosis whether employing the CDs and tapes or attending sessions with a professional hypnotherapist involves listening to positive ideas; suggestions along with guided visualizations which make a person see the need of quitting. The desire of quitting is gained slowly and finally takes effect.



It is always advisable to do a research before attaining the services of a hypnotherapist. It is only through effective application of the technique with a qualified therapist who will apply a good level of knowledge and skill making the process ethical and safe that an individual will get quality service.
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7/27/2013

We all know about traditional methods used to stop smoking. There are nicotine patches, gum; prescription tablets such as Wellbutrin, Zyrtex and the recently released Chantix; support groups and the dreaded cold turkey. Whether or not the methods listed above work is really dependent upon the individual trying to quit. Each of the above has helped different people I know permanently quit smoking. My husband quit cold turkey after using patches and gum failed him; a friend quit with help from nicotine patches, and my brother quit with the aid of Wellbutrin. Each of these can be effective stop smoking aids, but there are also successful alternative methods, including hypnosis aromatherapy, acupuncture and herbal remedies that may help you quit smoking.



Herbal remedies have been used throughout time to cure nearly every kind of malady and many modern prescription medicines contain either real herbal properties or synthesized versions of them. Most herbal stop smoking alternative remedies contain valerian, as well as Yarrow and chamomile to help you stay calm and ease the craving for a cigarette during stressful situations. Lobelia can help ease nicotine withdrawal symptoms and is nearly always found in herbal stop smoking alternative products. Although potentially toxic, lobelia is safe when used correctly. Because of the possibility of harmful or fatal drug interaction, always consult your doctor before initiating any herbal stop smoking alternative remedy programs.



Acupuncture is a popular method in treating many ailments, and can be a successful stop smoking alternative. The key to stopping smoking by using acupuncture is in finding a highly skilled practitioner of this ancient Chinese treatment. Hair thin acupuncture needles are inserted at various points on the ear, where they remain for 20 minutes. No studies conducted on acupuncture as an effective stop smoking alternative have proven true, but there have been enough positive results to warrant further study.



Aromatherapy is more an aid to stop smoking alternative remedies than an actual remedy. Certain oils and essences added to a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil, can be inhaled through a tissue, rubbed on the pulse points or used in a pottery diffuser to surround you with calming aromas, some of which are believed to curb nicotine cravings.



Hypnosis is one of the most widely used methods of stop smoking alternatives. Its efficacy lies in the fact that it treats your subconscious mind, where your cigarette addiction resides, and is believed to strengthen your determination to quit smoking, while changing both your behavior and your mental image of yourself from smoker to non-smoker. Experts agree that more than one hypnosis session is necessary to complete the job, and this can be quite expensive.
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Nowadays, besides nicotine patches, there are also many new quit smoking drugs that are developed. Some of these include Chantex and Zyban. These are cessation drugs that increase the success rate of smokers planning to quit by reducing their cravings or withdrawals.



Chantex is a new quit smoking drug that has been approved by FDA in May 2006. It contains the drug varenicline which blocks the effects of nicotine while providing a nicotine-like 'buzz'. It is available only through prescription and has to be taken a week before quitting smoking.



Usually, a low dosage is taken at start and which will then have to be increased after a period of 3 or 4 days. Recent studies showed that Chantex has been more effective than nicotine patches. However, some of its side effects include nausea, flatulence and constipation, headache and difficulty in sleeping, alongside with the development of nightmares.



Similarly, Zyban is also a tablet that can be made available only through the prescription of a doctor. It contains the drug called buprroprion, which has been originally used to treat depression. While its effectiveness may be lower than varenicline, it is still higher than placebo. The common side effects from Zyban include anxiety, headache, insomnia, irritability and in the worst case, seizures.



Besides using drugs or medications, there are also numerous ways to help you to quit smoking. For instance, after seeking medical attention, it would be wise to engage in other recreational activities which divert your attention away from smoking. This may include jogging, walking, meditating, gardening, sewing and knitting.



Do keep in mind that you are the one who can decide if you want to stop smoking. No amount of quit smoking drugs can help if your mind is not ready for it.
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If you've been looking to quit smoking, you've probably heard of the quit smoking medication known as Chantix. Exactly how does it work to help you quit smoking, and what do you need to know before you start taking this stop smoking prescription medication?



How Chantix Works



Normally when you smoke, the nicotine contained in the cigarette goes to your brain and attaches to receptors located there. This triggers a release of dopamine from your brain, a chemical which is responsible for making you feel happy. What Chantix does is it blocks these receptors in your brain and prevents nicotine from interacting with them. Simply put, this drug makes it so that you no longer get as much pleasure from smoking cigarettes. Once you no longer that that 'smoker's high', you'll naturally no longer want to smoke anymore.



Dangers of Chantix



Although it sounds like a great idea, this drug also comes with side effects.



Because this drug interferes with your brain's 'pleasure delivery system', it may have the unpleasant side effect of interfering with your normal mood patterns. So while you no longer enjoy cigarettes after using these pills, it is possible that you may find you no longer enjoy other things in life as well.



Some who have used this prescription drug have reported uncharacteristically suicidal thoughts and tendencies, and some have even actually committed suicide.



If you're thinking of taking Chantix, make sure you get all the facts before you start. Since it is a stop smoking prescription medication, you'll have to talk to a doctor before you're able to buy it. Make sure that when you're getting this prescription from your doctor, you ask them to properly explain the side effects of this medication.
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7/26/2013

It feels almost silly, and it's not as if you're a heroin junky or anything, shouldn't you just be able to quit marijuana when you want to? Marijuana is addictive. It's not as addictive as narcotics or cocaine, but since the potency of the drug has increased so much over the last decades so to has marijuana become an addictive substance; and when you try to stop, as with an addiction to any drug, there is a syndrome of detox.



Marijuana detox pains include insomnia, irritability, headaches, nausea and others, and all are combined with an incredible carving to use. Detox is real, and it's tough enough that a lot of people just can't get past the first week of abstinence, and in a moment of weakness just light up that joint that they know is going to make all the pain go away.



You can beat an addiction to marijuana, here's how.



1) Get off the couch



Seriously, it's the last thing that you'll feel like doing, but a day of play station in a darkened room does not bode well for your quest at sobriety. Don't spend the day brooding and moping, force yourself to get off the couch, and get out and do something active.



Do something that you don't associate with marijuana, do something active, do it with sober friends and choose something that's going to last all day and hopefully tire you out. You only need to make it through 3 or 4 days to get through the worst of it, so you only need 3 or 4 good day long activities and you're done.



2) Exercise



It's the depression, the anxiety and the insomnia that get most of us when we try to quit, and there aren't any medications that really work to better these symptoms of detox. Thankfully, simple vigorous exercise can help a lot.



You'll feel lethargic and you won't want to get out and get active, but once you do, you'll get your heart rate up, start the endorphins pumping and you'll start to feel a lot better, a lot less depressed, and if you exercise for long enough, you might just tire yourself out enough to get to sleep at night!



3) Go to a meeting



This last one seems extreme, and most of us who get addicted to marijuana still don't consider ourselves addicts like those people that need NA. Bu we've got to face the facts here, and if you are addicted, you are an addict, and that's exactly the kind of people that benefit from NA meetings.



You may not have to go forever, but meetings are free and there is little harm in giving it a try; and who knows, it might help a lot. It might make the difference. Marijuana addiction is real, it's tough to get past it, and there aren't really any medications or therapies that can ease the pains of detox. You just need determination, you need to get active and you need to get a little support to see you through.



You can do it, it will be worth it, and you'll feel much better, much more energetic and far sharper once you no longer need to smoke pot at all hours of the day. You only live once, and once marijuana becomes more harmful than enjoyable, you've got to face facts and get sober.
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With any prescription drug there are side affects and Chantix is not exempt from this problem. Chantix is a quit smoking drug that has become very popular and has a high rating of efficacy among medical professionals. Chantix side affects can be serious, but are they serious enough to outweigh the benefits that the majority of patients have received by being able to quit smoking?



The medical scientists at the Chantix labs have proven that this medication is an affective treatment for adults who are looking to quit smoking. During their clinical trials, they worked with 2000 smokers who smoked over 21 cigarettes a day for 25 years. During the studies, Chantix proved its efficacy. It is said to be 4 times more effective than any other drug in the quit smoking category. There are no other quit smoking drugs out there that can compete with Chantix at this time, although Chantix side affects are unique.



Chantix side affects exist, as with all prescription drugs, so each patient must be aware since each patient is different. In up to one-third of patients, there are minor side affects such as nausea, sleep disorder, gas, sleeplessness, constipation, headache, loss of taste, mood alterations, vivid dreams or an allergic rash.



Since all drugs have side affects, there is no way around it. Doctors and their patients who are looking to begin on a quit smoking path should be aware of the potential risk of Chantix side affects. When you see side affects you should remember that the seriousness must be weighed against the benefits of continuing the drug. The patient and the doctor will decide whether to lower the dosage or start a new drug.



If a patient is feeling depressed, they should switch from Chantix to an alternative. Zyban is a low dose of an antidepressant (bupropion) which could be more affective than Chantix in such a case. If a person notices an itchy rash or any other side affects while taking Chantix, they should discontinue use of the medication and talk with a pharmacist or a physician.
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Several therapies have entered the market to help smokers curb the smoking habit. No sooner is one treatment method entrenched in the market than another new stop smoking medication makes its debut on the shelves. This inundation of treatment methods has actually flummoxed the person who wants to give up smoking. If you are a smoker thinking to give up, then it is necessary to make a comparison of the various kinds of new stop smoking medication so that you know what will work the best for you.



Nicotine replacement methods are not that new actually - they have spent some years on the shelves. But still they are so popularly used nowadays that people think they are new entrants in the market. These come in various forms like patches, gums, lozenges, etc. All of them contain nicotine as the main ingredient. When a person uses a nicotine replacement product, then he or she is getting a fix of nicotine, which helps to keep away the urge for the real cigarette. This works because pure nicotine is not as harmful as the other ingredients in the cigarette, especially tar.



But even with nicotine replacement methods, depression is common. In fact, the depression could lead to the person becoming demoralized and return back to active smoking. For this reason, different antidepressants have been developed. In fact, popular new stop smoking medication is in the form of antidepressants such as varenicline (brand name Chantix) and buproprion (Wellbutrin). Both of these help the body's nervous system to cope with the depletion of active nicotine from the receptor cells, which controls the depression.



These drugs are also helpful to a great extent in cold turkey situations. Doctors prescribe both Chantix and Wellbutrin to a large extent, but suggest the quitting smokers to keep the medications supplemented with a healthy diet and lifestyle.



However, antidepressant drugs have one great failing - they cannot be used in all kinds of people. There are several contraindications for them, and people with serious disease conditions like diabetes mellitus and liver and kidney problems must strictly avoid their use. In some people - especially young teens - both varenicline and buproprion can stimulate suicidal tendencies.



That is the reason why the very new stop smoking medication - the herbal remedies - have become so hugely popular. These contain a very judicious blend of herbs that can work in several ways to heal a person from smoking addiction. Herbs like Saint John's Wort and chamomile have been used for their antidepressant properties for centuries, while herbs like lobelia and cinnamon can actually make the taste of nicotine unbearable to a smoker. For this reason, a proper formulation of these herbs can cure the smoking addiction like nothing else can.



Apart from acting as antidepressants, these herbal remedies can flush out the toxic buildup in the smoker's body. This is a very advantageous edge over other new stop smoking medications that are thronging the market.



Among the recent popular brands that have infiltrated the market, remedies like SmokeRX stand apart simply because they have the right blend of herbs and not just fillers. For this reason, these remedies work very effectively and also show quick results. In fact, their acting time is oftentimes so short that the person can completely quit smoking, without having to go through the excruciating cold turkey phase.



Also, it is slightly wrong to classify herbal remedies as new stop smoking medication, because they have been in use since thousands of years. It is only recently that products are being made by blending several of these effective herbs in the right proportion.
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7/25/2013

If you are making an attempt to rid yourself of the smoking habit, then there are great chances that the name of Wellbutrin will be quite familiar to you. Several doctors prescribe Wellbutrin to stop smoking. People use this drug, without actually knowing what it does to the body. Wellbutrin is popularly considered to be an effective medicine for smoking cessation. But very few people know why this drug is effective, or whether there are any limitations to its use.



Wellbutrin is the brand name of the drug buproprion, also known as amfebutamone. In some places, Wellbutrin is also sold under the brand name of Zyban. The main use of this drug is as an antidepressant. In fact, as an antidepressant, it is very popular - it is currently the fourth largest prescribed antidepressant in the world.



The active component of Wellbutrin, i.e. buproprion works at reducing the effects of nicotine in the smoker. Nicotine is the main addictive principle of the cigarettes. It is the nicotine that causes the smoker to smoke again and again. Buproprion works at reducing these effects.



Also, due to its antidepressant properties, Wellbutrin can help the quitting smoker to face the withdrawal symptoms better. One common problem with smoking cessation is that it can cause obesity. Recent studies has shown that Wellbutrin is effective even in causing weight loss.



However, detractors of the drug maintain that the use of Wellbutrin to stop smoking may actually not be so effective as it is claimed to be. There are some experts who claim that the drug will not work in hardened smokers, and there is a tendency to return back to the addiction. Since it is medication to be taken orally, if one forgets a dose, or if the drug is unavailable, the anxiety pangs could be so strong that the person may be forced to smoke again. Wellbutrin has also been denounced as being no more than a placebo, which does nothing better than create a false feeling of de-addiction in the mind of the smoker, which does not last for a very long time either.



There are several contraindications of the drug that doctors need to check up on before making a prescription. Wellbutrin cannot be prescribed to people having problems such as epilepsy or eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Since the drug is metabolized in the liver, it is necessary that the person taking it must have a healthy liver. Wellbutrin is also not advisable for people with any kind of kidney problems, or those who are suffering from high blood pressure.



But the biggest risk of using Wellbutrin to stop smoking is observed in children and adolescents. It is found that continuous use of the drug can increase the risks of suicide. In fact, FDA has made it compulsory for all packets of the drug to carry a suicide risk warning.



The use of Wellbutrin is somewhat controversial, but it does remain one of the most popular treatment methods. It has a comparatively decent success rate in reducing the smoking addiction.
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Is it time to quit?



These days we are all acutely aware of the damage smoking does to our health. Millions of pounds have been spent by Governments on anti-smoking campaigns and in recent years a number of countries and cities have become smoke free in public places. However, as hard as it is for us to imagine now, people smoked for centuries without realising the damage it was doing to their health, and it was only in the 1950s that medical research into the harmful effects of smoking began to sound warning bells. In 1964 the US Surgeon General finally reported that smoking caused lung cancer and the anti-smoking campaign began in earnest.



Making that big decision



For most smokers, going cold turkey simply will not work. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, as addictive as cocaine or heroin according to some research, and the majority of smokers will need some kind of help weaning themselves off it. Nicotine replacement therapy is based on the principle of replacing 'dangerous' nicotine consumption with a 'cleaner' safer way of delivering the nicotine to smokers. It is not the nicotine itself that causes the most damage, rather the tar and other chemicals that are found in cigarettes, so this kind of treatment is seen as the best way for smokers to kick their habit.



Over the years a number of nicotine replacement products have come on the market, and researchers are continuing to look for new ways of helping people quit. Smoking is a physical and a psychological addiction, so if you are someone who associates smoking with socialising, certain times of the day, for example smoke breaks at work, or certain people, then you will find it harder to quit than someone whose addiction is more of a physical one.



It may take several attempts before you finally quit but the benefits are certainly worth the effort. Your breathing and general fitness will begin to improve almost instantly, the risk of heart attacks and cancer will greatly be reduced, food will taste better, fertility levels will be improved, and if you have children they will be far less likely to start smoking once you have quit.



Treatments available



The type of smoker you are and the amount you smoked will determine the type of treatment that works for you. Here is a brief introduction to some of the main treatments available today.



Nicotine patches



Nicotine patches stick to your body in the same way a plaster does and release nicotine slowly into your bloodstream throughout the day, helping to relieve your cravings. They can be worn all the time or you can take them off when you go to bed at night, depending on how bad your cravings are when you wake up in the morning. If the first thing you do when you wake up is light up a cigarette, it might be better for you to wear the 24 hour patches initially.



Stick new patches to a different part of your skin to avoid irritation and change it at the same time every day. If you smoked more than ten cigarettes a day then you should start on a high strength 15mg patch. If you've managed to stay smoke free for eight weeks then you can switch to a lower dose until you've been smoke free for twelve weeks. At this point you will no longer be physically addicted to nicotine, and you'll be on your way to being an ex smoker.



Nicotine gum



With gum, nicotine is released by the chewing action and is absorbed by your body when mixed with the saliva in your mouth. Unlike patches that release the nicotine gradually, gum releases a quick hit when you need it, and helps relieve sharp cravings. If you were someone who smoked in times of stress this might be a good option for you as many people find the chewing action also helps reduce stress levels. When you feel the need, chew a piece of gum until you feel a tingly sensation in your mouth (this is the nicotine being released) then stop and leave the gum resting between your gums and your cheek. Start chewing again when the tingly sensation fades and repeat this process until there is no more tingling. You'll probably need to chew one every hour or two initially, which you should aim to reduce to one every two to four hours. Take care not to chew too often or too quickly as you may start to feel dizzy, lightheaded or nauseous.



Inhalators



Inhalators contain nicotine cartridges which deliver nicotine to your bloodstream when you suck air through them. They are the same shape and size as a cigarette and are a good option for anyone who misses the familiar feel of holding a cigarette. As with other NRT products, you'll need to gradually reduce the dose and the amount of times you use the inhalator in a day. To begin with you'll probably go through between six and twelve a day but you should try and reduce this over an eight week period of using them, until your body is no longer addicted to nicotine.



No two people will have the same experience when quitting and what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. It's a good idea to have a chat with your GP or pharmacist about your particular smoking habits as they will offer advice and help you decide what option is best for you. Whatever product you choose, remember to use it as prescribed, hang in there when the going gets tough and just think how much better you'll feel when you're finally smoke free.
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The most popular aids to stop smoking are nicotine replacement products. Mostly they are the nicotine chewing gum (Nicorette), the nicotine nasal spray, and the nicotine patch (Nicotrol or Nicoderm CQ). What they do is to cause you to release small amounts of nicotine into your system to attend to your cravings.



As you continue to use them, you are gradually weaned off of the harmful substance until you don't need them so much anymore. You can get them over the counter just about everywhere in the United States.



Another way to stop smoking that you may not have considered is alternative medicine. There is considerable controversy regarding how safe and effective these smoking cessation methods are so you may want to do some personal research on your own before you embark upon them.



Few people will deny the fact that hypnotism really does work to help addicts break the habit, but the effect of acupuncture in the same regard is still in question. If at all you do decide to pursue any of these methods, at least see to it that you first consult a practitioner with good repute.



There are a lot of other aids and ways by which you can stop your smoking habit, and you will find them all over the Internet. I will only advice that a little caution never hurt anybody, especially if you are hoping to quit smoking and never relapse into the habit. Go to it. Like I said earlier, a word with your doctor can just be good for you.
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7/24/2013

It is astounding that we live at this point in history where the greater bulk of our maladies and physical troubles are able to be restored or at any rate handled by utilising a trouble free lozenge.



With a several forms of capsule stop smoking solutions available in the marketplace nowadays, numerous people may ask if really there is unquestionably a decent quit smoking pill or lozenge which is available, inexpensive and that genuinely can prevail.



The good news for those would like to give up smoking cigarettes, is that in that respect is that innumerable medications are currently available that carry the power to assist you. The breach the smoking habit product is just one such alternative. These can be utilised to bring down the demand to smoke or to diminish the after effects of symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.



Two of the best-selling quit smoking pills are Zyban and Wellbutrin. Zyban actually an antidepressant drug and it discharges endorphins by arousing the pituitary. These endorphins encourage activeness and give an individual person a more positive mindset. Just about all of these characters of pills contain Bupropion hydrochloride to help counterbalance withdrawal troubles.



The most widely adopted course of treatment lasts for 8 to 12 weeks. Patients who stop taking them too quickly or who take them only now and again won't receive the help from the treatment because its follow through is designed to be collective. Quit smoking products will without question always include blow-by-blow instructions, guidelines and recommendations as to how they should be taken and these instructions must be followed step by step without any deviation.



The tablets must be taken for at least 7 days during which time you would ideally continue to smoke cigarettes. As you commence your second week you should commence to stop smoking completely. If after two months of taking Zyban you have still not managed to stop smoking tobacco, it's questionable you will be able to kick the habit during that bid and you should stop taking the Zyban medication.



This Type of quit smoking treatment is available only by prescription and may carry some risks of side effects which your physician or pharmacist will be able to go through with you in detail.



For people who may be worried about the cost or the side effects of quit smoking medications, in that respect there are many disparate items for sale in stores nowadays to augment them. This can cover nicotine patches or gum or hypnotherapy or laser quit smoking treatments.



A lot of erstwhile tobacco users have described significant experiences with these kinds of treatments and stages of medicinal drugs, so it's favourable to realize that a person wanting to cease smoking cigarettes has got many chances with reference to the assistance that's available



Eventually maybe there'll be an affordable, trustworthy, free from side-effects quit smoking tablet widely available, but, for now at least you can for the time being, you can of course consult with your physician or pharmacist and discuss the alternative treatments that would suit you. If you are sure you are ready to finally break the smoking habit then now is most certainly the right time to book an appointment with your doctor and take your first tentative steps on the road to being an ex-smoker who no longer spends a fortune every year on health damaging tobacco products.
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It is fortunate that unlike the old generations, cigarette will no longer be taking us to our grave as quitting has become easier. It is indeed a life saver that anti-smoking medications and tools are available today as smoking contributes to the greatest number of deaths.



With so many anti smoking options in hand it has become a cause of confusion since so many options are available as to what will be the best way to quit smoking. The choices for Nicotine Replacement Therapy like gums, lozenges, inhalers, and patches etc which act as a kind of replacement for cigarettes are popular and are also effective for many people.



The e-cigarette, Ruyan which is like a real cigarette and emits vapor when smoked and also delivers nicotine but in a controlled dose is yet another way to quit smoking. A magnetic treatment known as "Zero Smoke" where in a small magnet is placed in the ear which feels like acupuncture without the needles which triggers the release of endorphins thereby decreasing the craving is another upcoming treatments for anti-smoking. The success rates of these treatments are not yet known.



The most popular and effective treatment is the use of Chantix, the anti-smoking drug which was approved by the FDA on May 11, 2006. It is the only medicine which lives upto its reputation and name. Due to its effectiveness doctors today are prescribing chantix to most of their patient who come for anti-smoking treatment. Only if they are allergic or face severe side effects only then they are referred another treatment. One doctor says out of the 22 patients he had prescribed chantix, 18 of them have already quit smoking completely.



Why Chantix? Unlike the other anti-smoking tools chantix is not a nicotine replacement. It rather works like nicotine but is not addictive. It directly works in the brain by binding nicotine with its receptor a4B2 and blocks the activation of the pleasure cell. Further, chantix changes the taste of cigarette thus making it less pleasurable for smoker after taking chantix. This in turn makes the craving less which greatly helps to successfully quit smoking.



Though, there are many therapies and drugs available it is always advised that you consult your doctor before using any. Just because chantix is popular doesn't mean it is the one for you, it might not work as well. Also, as there are many fake pills available, one must be careful in selecting from where to purchase the medicines. If purchased online take time to find out the authenticity of the store in order to get genuine pills.
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If you have tried to stop smoking many times, yet have failed because you could not withstand the physical withdrawal symptoms of nicotine, then you may wish to consider the stop smoking shot.



This shot was created to help people who suffer intense physical withdrawal of nicotine when they quit this addiction. By alleviating the physical withdrawal symptoms, doctors believe the this shot can help you quit smoking permanently.



Three types of stop smoking shots on the market today include:



Welplex:



This shot is given in three doses. Its ingredients originate from Belladona also known as Deadly Nightshade, which is a toxic perennial and modern herbal. A physician administers the shot. The Welplex stop smoking shot helps with the physical nicotine withdrawal symptoms people experience when they quit smoking.



Smart Shot:



This shot is made from Atarax and an antihistamine. It is FDA approved. The stop smoking shot is given in one dose by a physician. It also helps curb physical withdrawal symptoms smokers experience when they are quitting smoking.



Quit 1-2-3:



This shot helps with the physical withdrawal of nicotine and the psychological effects. The shot is given in three doses by a physician.



Stop smoking shots are medication, and may have side effects which include: vision problems, change in appetite, dizziness, dry mouth, problems urinating, and confusion.



If these shots are given too many times, or overdosed, they may cause a stroke, a heart attack, or coma. These shots should not be given to pregnant women, people who have heart rhythm problems, people with prostate problems, or anyone using a mood enhancer medication.



Normally, the cost of stop smoking shots is around $400, yet health insurance may cover them. Many doctors do feel that there should be more testing and evaluation on these shots, before they are considered a truly successful method of smoking cessation.
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7/23/2013

Many stop smoking aids can easily be acquired over the counter, such as nicotine gums and nicotine patches. There are a few stop smoking aids, however, that need a doctor's prescription before you can purchase them at your local drugstore.



If you're not too sure about which type of aid you would like to use, it's best to consult a physician and ask for professional advice. He or she can best determine which stop smoking aid is most appropriate for your lifestyle and your smoking habits.



As your physician explains to you the intricacies of the various kinds of stop smoking aids, you will also begin to understand why many quitters fall into relapse a few months after quitting.



This is mainly because most nicotine-based products such as the patch, the gum, and the lozenges still give you a dose of nicotine, albeit in smaller amounts. They are designed to gradually wean you off tobacco until that time when you no longer feel the urge to reach for them.



The downside to these medications is that most nicotine-based products only work for a short period. There is a big possibility that the person would revert to his or her normal ways, and because of this, researchers found a need to develop nicotine replacement medications.



Perhaps the most common of stop smoking prescriptions that are premised on nicotine replacement is the pill Zyban (buproprion). It works by tricking the nicotine receptors into thinking that you're still on tobacco.



When using the nicotine-based gum, patch, and other similar products, you are discouraged from smoking at the same time because the nicotine levels in your bloodstream may become too critical.



With Zyban, however, you are allowed to smoke while taking the medication - that is, until a so-called "quit date," after which you continue taking only the stop smoking prescription for Zyban.



Support systems are important especially when you're taking stop smoking prescriptions for medication such as Zyban. Drugs aren't magic pills which you pop to make the smoking addiction go away in an instant. To help ensure that you stay on track even after the therapy is over, the people around you must be available for the needed support and motivation.



In addition, if you feel that you need more than just a stop smoking prescription [http://www.stopsmokingaidsguide.com/Stop_Smoking_Patch/], consult a counselor for some post-treatment therapy. Remember that there is a psychological aspect involved in addictions and smoking isn't an exception.



In this aspect, a complete stop smoking prescription for smoking cessation should involve not just the physical facet of quitting but the psychological and emotional angles as well.
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With the many people trying to quit the smoking habit, there are more methods coming out everyday to help them really quit. This article looks at positive effects of acupuncture and conventional medicine in really helping people quit the habit.



Acupuncture - This is an ancient Chinese treatment with needles that is even older than hypnotism. These needles are pushed into your skin at nerve centers where energy flow is thought to be blocked by meridians, thus empowering your body to cleanse itself. In its application as a stop smoking treatment, it helps in the release of endorphins into your system that you may only have gotten otherwise by succumbing to your nicotine cravings.



Conventional Medicine - Western medicine is full of medications and programs that can help you stop smoking in various ways. Your doctor will perhaps run you through these smoking cessation programs before telling you about alternative medicine. There are pills you can take to help you manage withdrawal from nicotine, and there are support groups that you can be a part of. Nicotine replacement products are also part of conventional Western efforts to help break the smoking habit. Many have been shown to be very effective in almost every patient that has tried them. Before you conclude that one might work or not for you, you should at least give it a shot first.



All in all, you may have to try more than one smoking cessation technique before you finally break free of smoking and stay that way. I will assure you that it is quite a climb to never have to yield to the 'thirst' for nicotine again, but it is a climb that many people have taken before you, and one that you can survive too. Sure you can stop smoking today; you only need to put your back into it.
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Smoking is a habit many people cultivate in order to bust stress although there are several other people who take to smoking because they would want to look cool or be a perfect fit for a gang. For whatever reasons you may have for taking to smoking, there is a question that needs an answer; is it really worth it? It may take some months or even several years but smokers eventually get to know that smoking is not worth the trouble at all in fact there are serious health complications that may arise as a result of smoking. The unfortunate thing however is that this terrible habit can be a difficult one to stop once developed.



As it has been discovered that there are health issues like blocked arteries, respiratory problems and even cancer associated with the habit. Many types of products have been produced in an attempt to help cure smokers of their habit. Brave as this attempt is, many of the products produced are not capable of proffering a long lasting solution to the habit. The best they offer is a temporary end to the craving for cigarettes but this is only for a short period because soon after abstinence, smokers revert back to the smoking of cigarettes.



Finding the right medication to quit smoking could be a daunting exercise and many people have been left confused with the numerous medications that are available in the market today. To find a medication to quit smoking, there are many factors which smokers will have to put into consideration. One of the things that have been found to be very important when a smoker wants to give up this habit is his or her attitude towards smoking in the first place. Although there are many products that can be helpful in the market, none of these will ever work without a strong commitment on the part of the smoker. Stopping the habit of smoking therefore starts with a firm decision to give up the habit. An earnest commitment goes a long way in controlling the craving for cigarettes and can help a smoker think less of smoking or even begin to hate the whole idea of smoking.



Giving up the habit of smoking is not expected to happen overnight. If you are a smoker who has been smoking for a reasonably length of time and would like to give up the habit of smoking, don't expect that you can easily do this otherwise you will be utterly disappointed. The idea of slowly quitting smoking gradually works better. Reduce the number of cigarette sticks you smoke each day to one. It could be tough going but at this stage there will no longer be a physiological dependence on smoking. Kicking out the one-cigarette-stick a day habit will be fairly simple at this stage.



It is recommended that alongside whatever quit smoking medication a smoker uses, taking lots of fresh fruits and vegetable juices is necessary so as to flush nicotine content out of the body. To make the medication work well, smokers should stay away from circumstances and friends that can trigger their cravings for cigarettes.
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7/22/2013

Have you been looking for an easier way to stop smoking and can't find a solution. You have tried all of the treatment, you may have even worn the patch, chewed the gum and done every thing imaginable, and however nothing can take away from the nagging cravings for a smoke. However, the good new is that there is an easier way. It is called Laser treatments. Smoking is a really bad habit. It is one of the habits which are considered to be a part of fashion today. Although it is a part of being fashionable today, still it is not a healthy habit. It is a habit that can very easily destroy your health. Keeping this in mind, it is important that you pay attention towards getting rid of this habit without suffering from the side effects of this problem. Thus the best way of quitting smoking will be to do it through the ways which will make you get rid of this habit in a healthy way. In this way you will be able to avoid the side effects. Laser technology can help you a lot in this regard.



Laser treatment is a process of using a pulsating light to penetrate the points that are identified as acupuncture points, it is then absorbed into your skin and the cells until it stimulates the endorphins, and eases the cravings associated with smoking.



Laser treatment is done by trained and usually certified laser specialists. They will give you a consultation to find out what are they physical and psychological reasons why you are addicted to smoking. In fact to help you stay out of the addiction, the therapist may prescribe aftercare. You will usually only have to have just the one treatment but incase you have problems your therapist may suggest other ways to keep you smoke free. Treatment is a very short process, as it usually only takes about thirty minutes.



The laser will be applied to certain areas of your body such as your wrists, your hands and your arms. During the treatment you will not feel any pain usually people just feel relaxed and the cravings will be gone, you will not need the nicotine. The method is completely safe and 100% all natural, so you won't have to worry about it interfering with any medication you are currently taking. Doctors in Europe are saying that this procedure has a 90% success rate.



So if you are looking for an easy way to get rid of your smoking problem the best thing to do is to have laser treatment and never smoke again. This will ensure a healthy and long life for you. Smoking is not a healthy habit, and people should try to quit it.
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Drugs block the effect of withdrawal from the chemicals in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Some, like Scopolamine and Atarax, which block the brain nicotine receptors and ease your physical withdrawal pains as you try to stay off of the substance, are applied intravenously for best effect - the Scopolamine Medicated Anticholinergic Receptor Treatment, SMART, has been in use in that capacity for years.



Other types of drugs that help with quit smoking efforts include Chantix and Atropine, and a number of other neurotransmitter drugs. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, SNRIs, are mostly also used as depression medications, but they do have some application in helping people to quit smoking, albeit under strict supervision. Drugs like venlafaxine or mirtazapine, which prevent the neurotransmitters serotonin and norephinephrine from binding to nearby nerve cells, have found controversial use in this same department.



Basically, the biggest problem with smoking cessation drugs is the side effects that they have. The chief side effect of such medications is dehydration. Others include nausea, sleeplessness or insomnia, mood alterations, gas, constipation, headaches, allergic rashes, loss of taste, and a number of others. As a result of the severity of some of these symptoms, many physicians actually question the efficacy of these drugs and would much rather have their quit smoking patients on any number of other stop smoking techniques.



But do smoking cessation drugs work? Statistics show that they do. The question is how badly do you want to break the habit? Is it enough to put up with the side effects? If it is, you may as well just stay with any program or medication that you are placed on.
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A large number of today's smokers would love to kick the habit, but it is in no way an easy task. It takes vast amount of determination, commitment, and belief, to be able to be successful. The damage that is caused through smoking is now well known, many smokers try to ignore the warnings but at some point it will strike a chord in them. The good news is that that are now many organizations and treatments that are available to help smokers quit. Herbal stop smoking remedies and solutions have now found favor amongst many people involved with helping others to quit.



Many smokers wish that they had never lit their first cigarette. It is one of the most addictive yet destructive habits that are available to mankind. For those people that are passionate about quitting there are now more treatments and remedies available than ever before.



The problem is to find one that is suitable for that specific individual, maybe they have already tried methods such as nicotine replacement therapy and prescription drugs but to no avail.



Now there are a number of herbal remedies that can be bought and are often preferential to prescribed anti-smoking medications as they offer little or no side effects in comparison.



Most herbal remedies have been created by homeopaths that are experts in the field. By taking such products the smoker can be sure that they are getting a treatment that has helped thousands of other people just like them successfully break the habit of smoking.



Such products can help to alleviate the cravings that most smokers experience when they are trying to give up. A natural approach is far better for your body than using chemical based medications. It is really possible to turn your health around by using herbal remedies to quit smoking.
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7/21/2013

If you are in need of support to halt smoking cigarettes, there are a assortment of different places you can turn. From natural cease smoking cigarettes goods to stop smoking cigarettes antidepressant medications, there are numerous different ways to quit smoking. You may also join a quit smoking help association to get aid to stop smoking cigarettes, and multitudinous non-profit organizations also offer smoking free videos to supply additional quit smoking tips. No matter which process you choose, the most important aspect of trying to stop smoking cigarettes is the truthful desire to be smoke-free and well again.



A focused mind is one of the most powerful forces in the universe.



There are many prescription medicines that provide aid to stop smoking cigarettes. Quit smoking cigarettes antidepressant medications are becoming more and more popular as doctors realize that smokers tend to be more depressive than the rest of the general population. By treating these depressive symptoms while also reducing nicotine cravings, medication smoking stop treatment has proven to be highly productive in helping individuals to stop smoking cigarettes.



If you are wary of medication to assist stop smoking cigarettes, you might consider one of the natural stop smoking cigarettes products on the market today. There is a growing market for laser smoking cessation treatments and acupuncture cessation smoking methods. Both of these stop smoking cigarettes aids work to boost your endorphin levels, giving you a high of sorts that blocks some of the nicotine cravings that make people begin smoking again. These additional stop smoking cigarettes methods do not have much scientific research to back them up, but there are many individual reports that state that the laser smoking stop therapy worked in one or two treatment sessions.



A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood. General George S Patton



In addition to these commodities, you can also find aid to stop smoking cigarettes at your local grocery store or drugstore. Nicotine replacement stop smoking cigarettes aids provide smokers with a means to manage their cravings and to gradually diminish their dependence on nicotine. These stop smoking cigarettes products come in the forms of nicotine gum, the patch and a smoking cessation shot. All of these methods help to cut down a person's dependency on nicotine, and they also lend a hand to reduce the symptoms connected with the nicotine withdrawal process. These symptoms can be somewhat severe if a individual stops smoking cold turkey. However, there are a variety of stop smoking cigarettes methods that make the process easier than it has ever been.



A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided. Anthony Robbins



Even if you try to quit without the aid of medication or nicotine supplements, you will even need help to stop smoking cigarettes. This help can come in the form of quit smoking support groups, friends, family or co-workers. The more people you have supporting you on you voyage toward superior health, the better off you will be. You can also turn to any number of non-profit organizations to receive the help you need.



Thanks for taking the time to read this quit smoking article. You should continue researching for additional information to help you down the road to a smoke free life.
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The FDA recently approved a shot to stop smoking called the SMART shot. It is a combination of two medicines called scopolamine and atarax (an antihistamine similar to Benadryl). These two medicines block the nicotine receptors in the brain, and also decrease the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking.



After the initial shot, there is a series of continuing medication over the next two weeks with a scopoamine patch and oral medications. Do take note that scopolamine and atarax are extracts of the deadly Nightshade. Scopolamine is often prescribed for motion sickness and atarax is safe as an antihistamine. These drugs are in very low concentrations compared to lethal concentrations and thus pose no threat to life.



The benefits of using a stop smoking shot are that:



- they are almost 80% effective,



- they do not force you to rely on nicotine gum or nicotine patches, and



- it has less withdrawal symptoms than other methods of quitting.



The disadvantages are:



- cost (cold turkey is free where the SMART shot costs around $450.00),



- the uncertainty of effectiveness (there is a small chance the shot does not work), and



- possible side effects.



One current shot is called the NicVAX or the nicotine vaccine. This shot works by keeping nicotine from reaching the brain, which makes smoking less pleasurable, and encourages the user to quit.



In a clinical trial, 301 long time smokers in several U.S. Cities were given 4 to 5 shots over a period of six months, at one dose, two doses, or no dose. It was a double blind study. A year into the study, 14 percent of lower dose participants quit, and 16 percent of higher dose participants quit. 73 people dropped out of the study. Only 6 percent of the 'no dose' participants quit.



As you can see, there are a couple of stop smoking shots in the market. To decide which one suits you, you need to consult your doctor.
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Tips To Quit Smoking



When you're ready to quit smoking, you have a number of choices available to you. You can try to quit cold turkey, you can try using medication or hypnotherapy, you can use natural herbs or you can cut back the number you smoke, setting a final date when you will quit.



Five tips to quit smoking that might help you include:



#1 Cut down on the number of cigarettes you smoke in a day or a week, gradually working down to the day where you don't smoke anymore.



#2 Replace a cigarette with something you can bite on or chew on, such as a straw, a fake cigarette or even a pen; for many smokers having something in-between their fingers to raise to their mouth is most difficult to kick.



#3 Drink lots of water to help flush the nicotine from your system. Water's good for you anyway, so this can only be good for your overall health.



#4 Find a motivation to stop smoking. Maybe someone you know recently had health problems from smoking. Maybe your wife hates it or your afraid your children will think its cool.



#5 Don't give up. If you have a relapse, start again, perhaps trying another method. Don't look at a relapse as failure, but as a learning experience.



Quit Smoking Naturally



Quit smoking natural methods aren't all proven. Though herbs have been shown to reduce some of the effects, there is no definitive proof that they work. Other alternative forms have some science behind them and have started growing in popularity. If you want to quit using natural methods, you don't need to rely on quitting cold turkey if you want to do it without using drugs. Consider:



Hypnotherapy: This method uses hypnosis to reverse your thought process about smoking and about quitting, to help you succeed. A hypnotist will use this time to implant encouraging messages in your mind which will make you want to quit.



Acupuncture: If you're not afraid of needles, this is a second option. Needles will be injected at different parts of your body to restore your balance and cut down on withdrawal symptoms and curb cravings.



Lobelia: This herb is designed to reduce the effects of withdrawal by reducing mood swings and increasing feelings of pleasure.



Stop Smoking Using Medication



If you want stop smoking medication, there are dozens you can choose from and each has its pros and cons. Some that you might consider include:



Chantix: This drug blocks the effects of nicotine on your brain and was developed specifically to help people quit smoking. Chantix reduces the feelings of pleasure that nicotine has on your brain and reduces the effects of withdrawal. This is a physician-prescribed medication that has serious side effects, including sleep problems, constipation, gas and vomiting.



Zyban: Reduces the effects of withdrawal and nicotine cravings. It is also used to reduce depression. This medication must be prescribed by your physician. It has serious side effects, including dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, sore throat, dizziness, flatulence and constipation.



You can also use nicotine patches and gum to control your addiction. The patch is effective, but feeds your addiction by releasing small(er) amounts of nicotine into your skin.



Quit smoking medication doesn't work alone, nor is it completely effective. You need to persevere.



Benefits of Quitting Smoking



Cigarettes release hundreds of chemicals into your system, which do things to your body that can be harmful for years to come. Quitting smoking benefits range from emotional to health benefits. Even after a short amount of time, you can see stop smoking effects after only twenty minutes. Some benefits include:



After a week, your blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal, your nerve endings have started regrowing, your body is nicotine free and it's easier to breath. Your senses of taste and smell return to normal in this time, as well. You will still have cravings, which usually last for about three minutes.



After three months, your addiction is mostly under control and circulation to your teeth and gums has improved. Your risk of heart attack has dropped and any chronic cough has disappeared. Walking is easier.



After one year, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath from smoking have improved. Your risk of coronary heart disease has dropped to half of a smoker's.



After 15 years the quit smoking benefits include the risk of stroke has declined to a non-smoker's, your risk of tooth loss has declined and so has your heart disease risk.



There are also emotional benefits for quitting smoking, including a healthier self-image. Never look back.
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7/20/2013

Are you an expectant mother who is still smoking cigarettes? You can stop smoking while pregnant. As a matter of fact there is no better time to quit smoking. This pregnancy can be a double blessing if you use it as your opportunity to quit smoking.



Smoking is dangerous for your unborn baby. The two biggest threats are low birth-weight and premature birth. But there are numerous other ways that smoking can harm your baby. Smoking can also cause damage to your placenta that can threaten the health of the fetus.



The good news is that it is safe to stop smoking while pregnant. You just have to make sure you use a smoking cessation method that is safe for your baby. You also want something that works fast and is effective since time is somewhat of the essence.



Choose an all-natural method to quit smoking when you are pregnant. You do not want to use nicotine replacement therapies (like the patch) or quit smoking medications. Both of these can cause harm to your baby. Nicotine is the chemical that is the greatest threat you the fetus so you do not want to use a nicotine replacement therapy. And medications have many side effects you do not want to subject yourself to while pregnant.



The best all natural method to choose when pregnant is hypnotherapy, especially hypnotherapy that uses NLP techniques. NLP stands for Neuro Linguistic Programming and is a form of hypnotherapy that has been used for years by smoking cessation experts to help people break their smoking habits.



NLP based hypnotherapy offers the best of all worlds for expectant mothers: it is all natural with no side effects, it works very fast, and it is extremely successful. NLP works by removing the cravings to smoke from the subconscious mind. When these cravings are gone then quitting smoking is very easy. All the while your unborn child is completely safe.



And it is easier than ever to remove your smoking cravings with NLP. You no longer have to see a therapist or professional to have an NLP hypnotherapy session. There are now extremely effective NLP sessions available on CD or in MP3 format that you can listen to in your own home.



So if you are looking for the best way to stop smoking while pregnant then please, for the sake of yourself and to prevent any possible harm you may cause to your baby, look further into NLP.
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A physician may prescribe 150 mg Zyban to stop smoking. Zyban is a brand name of the drug Bupropion. It is also sold under the name Wellbutrin and is sometimes prescribed for depression in the United States.



The drug was originally approved by the FDA as an antidepressant in 1984, but was removed from the market due to an increased risk of seizures in persons using the drug. GlaxoSmithKline, manufacturers of the drug, were able to show that by reducing the dosage, the risk of seizure was decreased to less than .4%.



The drug was re-released in 1989 and approved for use in treating depression. The maximum daily dosage is 450mg/day.



In 1997, Bupropion was approved by the FDA as a stop smoking aid. In those who use 150 mg Zyban to stop smoking, the risk of seizures is .1%. In 2000, the UK approved the use of Zyban to stop smoking, but not for the treatment of depression.



Over the years other anti-depressants have been prescribed to reduce the severity of cravings that sometimes accompany nicotine withdrawal. But, anti-depressants are often accompanied by sexual dysfunction, which leads many people to stop using the drugs.



This is one advantage of Zyban to stop smoking. It does not cause sexual dysfunction. In fact there is evidence to suggest that it may be useful in treating sexual dysfunction, although it is not approved for that use. The 150 mg Zyban to stop smoking dosage would probably not improve sexual function. The studies supporting the drugs use for that purpose have been conducted using higher dosages.



Zyban and other "stop smoking drugs" work by affecting the brain's production or depletion of a "feel-good" chemical known as dopamine. There is always a possibility that a person will become addicted to these drugs, in the same way that they have become addicted to nicotine. Since, nicotine is addictive because it increases dopamine production.



There is no reason to believe that the 150 mg Zyban to stop smoking dosage is completely safe. It can damage the liver, since the substance eventually ends up in the liver. It is known to increase blood pressure. And, like other anti-depressants is accompanied by a "black box warning" due to an increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in adolescents. Some scientists would like to see the warning expanded to include persons of any age group.



To learn more, please visit us online at http://www.stop-smoking-blog.com
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A common misconception about marijuana addiction is that like cigarettes and some hard drugs in that the body develops an addiction to a chemical and if deprived of it brings on serious physical cravings that can near incapacitate some people. This is however totally incorrect and is one of the main reasons people misunderstand the addiction and fail when trying to quit? So what is the secret on How to stop smoking marijuana? Why am I addicted to a non addictive substance? The answer is psychological.



Since your body has no desperate need for pot the addiction this creates is mental or psychological. Psychological addiction stems from a person's addiction to the high that an action creates; gambling addiction is the same when people are addicted to winning and even shopping can be a psychological addiction when people get addicted to finding bargains and buying nice things even if they will never use them. In the end they are all similar in that this high becomes something a person wants so much they believe it is a need and will continue to smoke pot because they think they cannot do without it and continue chasing the high.



However to combat this we need to go even deeper and look at why that initial addiction to that high began. What drove you to start smoking and what drove you to continue smoking. Some people simply fell into it because their friends all smoked, others use pot as a was to escape stress or to escape from abuse and others still smoke marijuana because they lack direction in their lives and it feels like an easy way to waste time which they find they cannot escape from. There are as many reasons for addiction as there are addictions meaning everyone is different but the common link is everyone one needs to understand their addiction and the cause before they can really learn to quit forever.



If you can find these reasons then you can start taking action to stop smoking marijuana. Some methods include meditation, finding rewarding hobbies, exercise, finding different social groups and so on. These solutions often have to be hand tailored by the addict so they can fill that time they spent smoking with other activities that are healthy and bring a sense or reward without being high. Though some have to be careful they do not simply pick up a replacement addiction which can be just as bad.



So how to stop smoking marijuana is actually how to understand all aspects of your addiction and then finding the willpower and help you need to fill your life with healthier and better things. good luck!
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7/19/2013

You may already know that there are many advantages when you stop smoking and that's why smokers around the world are seeking help. You will feel far better both physically and mentally if you quit the habit of smoking. Apart from physical wellness, stopping smoking will bring you a lot of financial savings. You'll be amazed to see the kind of money you wasted on this bad habit once you realize the savings after you quit.



Today, there are many quit smoking aids available to smokers. If you are a smoker, that's great news because what works for some may not work for all.



Medication



One of the oldest methods is medication. When thinking about using medications to help you stop smoking, it's best to consult your doctor and do some research on medical quit smoking aids. There are many drugs like Wellbutrin and Bupropion which can help in reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms.



Actually, it's the withdrawal symptoms which make it tougher to quit smoking. Excessive coughing, headaches, and stomachaches are some of the effects of quitting smoking. In order to save yourself from the pains of such symptoms you get back to smoking and it becomes even tougher for you to quit smoking again. If you can somehow reduce the degree of these symptoms then it will be easier for you to cope up with them. These medical stop smoking aids may help with that.



Nicotine Replacement



There are many aspects which are related to smoking and can hamper your chances of quitting it, if not controlled well. One such thing is the nicotine addiction. After you smoke for a few weeks, your body gets habitual of a certain level of nicotine in your blood. Once you quit this level drops and your body finds it hard to adjust the change.



Your mind suddenly generates signals to develop the urge for smoking. It's really hard to resist the influence of such urges and many people start to smoke again. But if you keep your mind positive and do not give in then you will see that the body and mind both adjust well to the lack of nicotine and within days you will stop feeling the urge again.



Some smokers consider the best stop smoking aids are those that focus on nicotine replacement therapy. There are some ways to subside the urge to smoke when they appear by using alternative methods to provide the nicotine to the body. You need to make sure that the methods you use are not harmful to you. Nicotine chewing gums and dermal patches may be two options. While using them you should make sure that you reduce the number of chewing gum or patches gradually, otherwise your body may get addicted to them.



Natural Methods



There are many other natural stop smoking aids which are used by smokers to help them stop this harmful habit. Acupressure, hypnotism, Equal Treatments, Reiki, Musing/Visualization and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) are some of them.



Each smoker will respond differently to any of these quit smoking aids. That's why it is difficult to come up with one method which is suitable for all. Ultimately, you and your physician can decide what suits you well before and during treatment.
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