How to Use Herbs to Help Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the biggest challenges you can undertake. The addiction to nicotine is very powerful. Many products and methods can help you quit smoking, including nicotine gum, inhalers, patches, and hypnosis. Herbs, however, are often overlooked. Herbs can be most useful in helping you reach your goal to quit smoking. They are natural and readily available aids in your quest to be free of cigarettes.

Things You'll Need

• Lobelia liquid extract
• Blue vervain tincture
• Korean ginseng capsules
• Valerian capsules, extract or powder
• Catnip tea, dried

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Instructions

• 1

  Breaking the nicotine habit requires determination and a firm focus on success. Herbs can help you achieve the proper mindset and manage your nicotine cravings, too. Be prepared and have the following on hand when you decide to quit:

  Lobelia helps you to relax, but it also makes cigarettes taste bad should you reach for one. This can help you eliminate your craving for nicotine.

  Blue vervain can calm your nerves in stressful situations such as quitting smoking. This herb tends to make you sleepy, so it is best to take at night.

  Valerian is an all-natural relaxant that can help ease stress. Valerian is not as strong as blue vervain but still tends to make you drowsy.

  Catnip calms your digestive tract, so it can help you manage the digestive upset that can occur when you take away the nicotine your body is accustomed to processing.

  Korean ginseng helps you manage stress and can be most helpful when you're quitting smoking.

• 2

  Know that your first day without cigarettes is going to be hard. Your physical and psychological addictions will be difficult (though not impossible) to break. The psychological habit of smoking---taking the cigarette out of the pack, putting it to your lips, lighting it, and flicking the ashes---are powerful, and you can expect to feel somewhat lost for the first three days. Keep your hands busy and try to chew on straws, gum or healthy snacks throughout the day.

• 3

  Drink 5 to 20 drops of lobelia extract mixed with 3 to 4 ounces of water on the morning of your first smoke-free day. You can repeat this treatment two to three times a day. Lobelia is the herb that will most help you manage nicotine cravings, so have plenty of it on hand. It will not make you sleepy, but it does taste rather bitter.

• 4

  Between lobelia doses, drink catnip tea. Put two teaspoons of dried catnip in 8 ounces of boiling water and steep for about 15 minutes. Catnip is mild in flavor and will help to take the edge off during your first three days without cigarettes. It can also help you ride out stomach upset.

• 5

  During the day, keep Korean ginseng capsules handy and take a 500-milligram dose once or twice a day. Korean ginseng will help your mind stay focused.

  Use valerian in the form of capsules. Take 200 to 400 milligrams every 6 to 8 hours if you begin to feel anxious. Valerian is available as an extract or as dried or powdered leaves. Extracts are stronger, so it's probably best to use them in the beginning. Valerian tends to make you sleepy, so make sure you only use it while at home.

  Add to this regimen blue vervain tincture before bed. Mix 28 drops into a small glass of water and drink to help you relax and sleep.