Symptoms and Signs
Smoking dependency is characterized by cravings for cigarettes, irritability, crankiness, cold sweats, and shakiness. These symptoms occur when one is depleting their body of the wanted nicotine.
Dependency is associated with a person that needs to smoke. People will feel mentally and emotionally worn when they do not smoke. It is important to cut down the amounts of cigarettes smoked and eventually quit the habit all together, as many health risks are connected to smoking dependency.
Causes:
Cigarette smoke dependency occurs from continuous inhalation of carbon monoxide, nicotine, tsr, carcinogens, and other irritant substances, and makes the body crave these substances.
What to Expect:
As previously mentioned, the likelihood of contracting a number of diseases and illnesses increases with prolonged cigarette use.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants, such as alpha lipoic acid, grape seed extract, green tea, pycnogenol, vitamins A, C, and E, and coenzyme Q10, help reduce free radical damage that occurs as a result of cigarette smoking. See the dedicated section on Antioxidants for more information on these items.
Foods
A hypoglycemic diet often helps people quit smoking as it maintains a constant blood sugar level and diminishes food cravings. Eat six meals a day consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and proteins. Avoid sugar and baked flour products.
Carrot juice can be used as a preventative measure against lung disease. Beta Carotene, found in carrots, has been proven to combat lung disease.
Herbs
Kava kava is a nervine that helps decrease the irritability associated with nicotine withdrawal. Take 30mg three times daily.
Licorice root is a very good liver botanical. It works as well as milk thistle in protecting and repairing the liver and both herbs often have good results when worked in concert. Licorice tea is rather sweet-tasting. Gently boil 1/2 tsp. powdered root to 1 cup of water for 10 minutes. Drink up to 2 cups daily
Red clover helps purifier the blood and is commonly used during a detoxification. .Add 1 to 3 teaspoons dried herb per cup of hot water. Drink up to 3 cups daily. This dosage can be quite cleansing and may be too much at first. Build up to this dose over a few days.
Minerals
Zinc supports proper immune system function. Take 25 to 50mg daily.
Vitamins
Vitamin A with beta carotene is important for healing mucous membranes and to help protect the lungs. Vitamin A also has strong antioxidant properties. Take 15,000 IU daily.
Vitamin B Complex assists cellular enzyme systems that have become damaged. B vitamins also provide the nervous system with the nutrients needed to support proper function. Take 50mg twice daily.
Vitamin C is an important antioxidant and will help eliminate toxins from the body. Smoking also drastically depletes the body's stores of vitamin C. Take 2,000 to 6,000mg daily. Start at the lower dosage and increase up to bowel tolerance.
Therapies, Healing Aids, and More
Acupuncture helps support the liver and other organs during withdrawal. It is used to break drug and food addictions as well as smoking. Ear acupuncture is often combined with overall body acupuncture. See your naturopath or Chinese practitioner to learn more.
Hydrotherapy is often beneficial. Use Epsom salts in a bath to help pull the nicotine and tar from the skin.
Actions and Remedy Listings
For More Information ...
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
75 Albert Street, Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5E7
Tel.: 613.235.4048
Fax: 613.235.8101
Canadian Cancer Society -- Tobacco and Cancer
Toll-free: 1.888.939.3333
www.cancer.ca/tobacco
Canadian Cancer Society -- About Quitting
www.cancer.ca/tobacco/quite.htm
Canadian Cancer Society -- Information on Women and Tobacco
www.cancer.ca/tobacco/bridge/index.htm
The Canadian Lung Association
www.lung.ca
National Clearinghouse on Tobacco and Health
170 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1000
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5V5
Tel.: 613.567.3050
Toll-free: 1.800.267.5234
Fax: 613.567.5695
Web: www.cctc.ca/ncth
Canadian Council for Tobacco Control (CCTC)
170 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1000
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5V5
Tel.: 613.567.3050
Fax: 613.567.2730
Web: www.cctc.ca
Email: info-services@cctc.ca
The Ontario Lung Association
Ontario Provincial Office
573 King Street East, Suite 201
Toronto, Ontario
M5A 4L3
Tel.: 416.864.9911
Toll-free: 1.800.972.2636
Fax: 416. 864.9916
Web: www.on.lung.ca
Email: olalung@titan.tcn.net
See also
Substance Abuse
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