The 5 Easiest Ways to Give Up Tobacco Using Natural Remedies

You don’t need another lecture on how bad smoking is for you, you are here because you already know and you want to do something about it. You may have tried the patches and the gums or experimented with weird vape flavours; you may have even quit already but feel yourself slipping. Whatever the reason, you’re here because you want a natural remedy against nicotine addiction and harmful tobacco.

Using Ayurvedic principles, tried and tested over millennia, we’ve sourced the easiest natural remedies that you can intertwine with your busy life. Some are designed to stop cravings, others to help you cut down, and when used all together along with your strong willpower, you can finally kick the butt once and for all.

ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils have been the centre of a couple of recent scientific studies into smoking and nicotine addiction, especially focused on one of the hardest moments for any aspiring ex-smoker – the after-meal cravings. When smokers were handed a cloth with the essence of black pepper after eating, the aroma was enough to subdue their cigarette cravings for up to an hour.

The science behind it lies with sensory cues. When we smoke, the nicotine in the tobacco releases serotonin in our brans which felt by us as a moment of euphoria and relaxation. This is the reason why people smoke when they are stressed, and also why the brain becomes dependent on nicotine and irritated when it doesn’t receive it.

We have collated our favourite essential oils that target the same receptors and provide the same feelings that the first puff on a cigarette does.

Bergamot

By stimulating serotonin in the brain and reducing nervous tension, Bergamot Oil is one of the best essential oils for combatting stress and thus a great nicotine replacement. Inhale for instant relief or apply externally on the stomach for longer lasting effects.

Lemon

The aroma of citrus can have such a huge impact on agitated withdrawal symptoms that even the synthetic aroma of Lemon has been proven to be of aid in one study¹. The brain is far more receptive to lemon than any other citrus fruit, and 100% Pure Lemon Essential Oil has much faster and longer lasting effects.

Sandalwood

Sandalwood Oil also possesses strong calming properties, working as a sedative on the nerves without compromising on the mind’s clarity. But the smokey aroma of Sandalwood can also have a huge impact as a cigarette substitute as the sense of taste is also rewarded in its withdrawal. 

HERBAL SUBSTITUTE

Giving up smoking is by no means easy. For many people nothing can replace the physical mechanisms or even the social aspect involved in smoking a cigarette.

Herbal blends have been around as long as tobacco itself but often come under huge scrutiny. People think they taste bad, burn terribly and can be quite hard to roll with. That is mainly because little research has been done to figure out what herbs smoke best, and what blends work together. That is why we look to Ayurveda, the books of which have been tried and tested for thousands of years.

In the Vedas, a number of smokable herbs, each with medicinal properties, are said to not only substitute for tobacco, but to fight against nicotine addiction too.

A few of these herbs include: Intellect Tree – a powerful serotonin enhancer; Agaru – a relaxant that  stimulates the nervous system; and Province Rose – a natural mood enhancer. Holy Smoke Herbal Blend combines the aforementioned herbs together with numerous other Ayurvedic plants to create the ultimate smoking blend that burns well, tastes good and leaves out any harmful additives.

WATER

This one might seem like filler, and you might feel like you already do it, but this may be the crucial step to make once you’ve smoked the last one. From one cigarette to years of smoking, your body will be full of toxins, and you need to flush them out.

To do this, you simply need to up your water intake – especially in the first 72 hours of giving up. Store water in a copper container for 8 hours prior for a full detox. From then on, drink a glass of water every time you get a craving for a cigarette. Don’t opt for sugary or caffeinated drinks, water has shown to have a calming effect on cravings whilst the former can accentuate them.

EXERCISE

The same mood enhancing neurotransmitters – such as serotonin – that are released when we smoke, are also released when we exercise. Take up a new exercise along with your quitting journey as a way to put your mind to something else, and as a reminder that you can do anything with a little perseverance. The endorphins released from exercise last a lot longer than those of smoking, so your body should be satisfied for the majority of the day.

It is written in Ayurveda that yoga and breathing techniques such as bhastrika pranayama can play a role in flushing nasty toxins from your respiratory tract, as well as the practise of Neti Kriyayoga twice a day to help you stay off the smokes.

DIET

Unfortunately cigarettes and food go hand in hand and finishing a meal usually triggers the strongest nicotine cravings, and a lack of nicotine can increase your appetite.

The latter means that if you do go cold turkey, you’re going to get hungry, and your body will be slowing its metabolism, so it will be quite easy to put on weight. Combat this by snacking on vegetables and fruits when cravings occur, they will soon pass.

Quitting smoking can also induce a strange bitter taste, which can be solved by increasing your intake of nuts, beans, dried fruit and other high alkaline foods, whilst cutting down on dairy, breads and other acidic foods.