How can you quit smoking?

All smokers know that smoking is not good for them. Yet, the habit is terribly addictive and it is too hard to quit. My Health Guardian hand holds you through deaddiction.

I will quit smoking on my birthday, for sure, thought Rajiv while lighting tenth cigarette of the day.

I want to quit, but the cravings get me back each time, tells Rituparna.

They are real life people and the difficulties they face in their journey to quitting cigarettes. What makes them so addictive? “Nicotine is the only addictive substance found in a cigarette, out of 4800 chemical substances and 69 carcinogens, present,” informed Dr Sajeela Maini, Tobacco Cessation specialist with Ganga Ram Hospital. Researches claim that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine. An addict needs his fix and if he doesn’t get it, there is a terrible urge for it, technically called craving.

Hurdles on the way

“You got to understand that smoking cigarettes has a mind-body connection,” said Dr. Maini. Leaving cold turkey works. But, the real hurdle comes in the form of withdrawal effects. “They’re so intense that they draw me back all the time. Believe me, last month I took my fourth attempt at quitting. I’m frustrated to say the least,” said Manjeet Singh, Vice President with multi-level marketing company.

No one said that quitting would be easy. “In fact, it’s one of the most difficult tasks that you’ve undertaken till now. And it doesn’t happen in one shot. Relapses happen,” informed Dr Samir Parikh, HoD of Mental Health at Max Healthcare. Mark Twain gave words to every unsuccessful quitters’ travails, “Quitting is easy, done that a hundred times.”

Several methods and therapies claim to cure you of your nicotine addiction. These methods range from acupuncture needles, flower therapy, hypnosis, LASER to homeopathy. Almost all therapists claim to have found a sure-shot method to cure addiction. Is this as simple as it sounds? We navigate you through this maze.

Dr Vidhi Trikha, consultant Homeopathy with Artemis said, “Homoeopathy uses your body’s natural healing ability to cure itself. In this case, it means weaning you off your nicotine habit. Not only does it help erase your nicotine cravings, it also helps to calm your nerves.” Dr Ravinder Tuli, senior consultant, Holistic Medicine with Apollo Hospitals, affirmed in the healing abilities of acupuncture to wean off smokers. He said, “Universally acupuncture is recognized as a tried and tested method to quit smoking and tobacco dependence.” Not to be left around, hypnotherapists emphasize its ability to erase negative memories attached to nicotine addiction. Dr. Vikas Khanna, hypnotherapist and Bach therapist said, “Both hypnotherapy and Bach method work well in quitting. There are several medicines in Bach that help a smoker overcome his cravings.”

The latest method to hit the town for quitting nicotine addiction is laser. Anju Ahuja, certified laser technician with Laser Therapy of America said, “Many smokers have turned former smokers with this therapy. Laser beams are used to ignite endorphin levels to help you tide over the withdrawal symptoms.”

“Whether the methods will work or not is up to you to decide. On the down side none of these methods are approved by FDA,” informed Dr. Maini.

While shopping for quit smoking solutions at our stores, two products caught the attention in particular– herbal cigarettes and nicotine gums. Guardian Pharmacy has Honeyrose cigarettes that offer smokers a safe herbal alternative to quit. We have dedicated buyers who are trying to quit smoking the Honeyrose way and are finding the results good. Also, there are many who buy the product on curiosity. On the positive side these cigarettes give you the tactile delight of smoking and rush of herbs in place of nicotine. On the down side, you don’t get the kick of nicotine which is cleverly provided by nicotine gums. Many smokers swear by them. Dr Maini too finds them useful. She said, “Nicotine Replacement therapy—substituting cigarettes with nicotine gums is an effective therapy for smoking cessation. In our experiences, we have found that NRT, if properly administered, makes the quitting process easy and very less discomforting and it works well for oral use of tobacco as well.” The highs– NRT is medicinal nicotine, which helps in reducing the physiological urges or withdrawal symptoms of quitting in the initial phase of quitting.

The lows—Chewing the gum correctly is important. The technique is park and chew. Chew for a while softly then park the gum between your teeth and throw the juice away, said Dr. Maini.

How long do I need to be on NRT?

The pack reads not more than 12 weeks and it urges you quit cigarettes altogether before you chew your first nicotine gum.
The essential question still remains. Can I do it on my own? Yes, you can—motivation is the key element and this element is amply reiterated by all experts who’re ready to help you in your struggle with overcoming nicotine addiction. Dr Maini added, “Your chances of success greatly increase if you join the nicotine-de-addiction programme, where we help you learn methods to quit cigarettes and to stay off it for life.”

Points to ponder

1. One smoke lowers your life by eight minutes.
2. You can quit smoking cold turkey or it may take many attempts to quit.
3. Motivation is the most important element for quitting.
4. To tide over withdrawal symptoms—short bouts of exercise, breathing techniques, chewing saunf helps. You can take your pick.
5. There is no need to do it alone. Seeking psychotherapeutic interventions will increase your chances of quitting.

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