4 Natural Remedies to Help You Quit Smoking

4 Natural Remedies to Help You Quit Smoking More in Addiction Nicotine Use How to Quit Smoking After You Quit Nicotine Withdrawal Smoking-Related Diseases The Inside of Cigarettes Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Coping and Recovery Smoking is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome, so its only natural that you want to try anything that might help. Many smokers look to natural remedies to help them quit, but not all of them are effective or actually safe for you to use. When youre seeking natural alternatives to help you quit smoking, there are a few that you might try. There are no guarantees that they will work, however. Many people who successfully quit used multiple approaches, including counseling or a support system. Acupuncture Acupuncture is a common therapy  that some people use to help them quit smoking. The acupuncture needles used are usually hair-thin. They are inserted into various points in the ear where they remain for about 20 minutes. For help in between sessions, many acupuncturists provide tiny balls (the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen), that are taped with invisible tape to the ear. When a craving for cigarettes hits, the smoker is instructed to press gently on the ball, which stimulates the acupuncture point. One five-year study in Hong Kong of 5,202 smokers concluded that acupuncture was both an effective and safe method to help smokers quit. The study notes that the number of cigarettes per day decreased and that the average time to relapse was 38.71 days, which was longer than 35 days in E-cigarette and 14 days in nicotine patch.?? The number of acupuncture sessions made a significant impact on success, with most people receiving eight sessions within the first month. St. Johns Wort The herb St. Johns wort (Hypericum perforatum) is used primarily for depression. Researchers have been trying to figure out if its effective for smoking cessation as well. The results are mixed.?? Although St. Johns Wort appears to be reasonably safe when taken alone, it can interfere with the effectiveness of prescription and over-the-counter medications. This includes antidepressants, drugs to treat HIV infections and AIDs, drugs to prevent organ rejection for transplant patients, and oral contraceptives.?? St. Johns wort is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women,?? children, or people with bipolar disorder, or liver or kidney disease. Ginseng Ginseng has been shown to prevent the nicotine-induced release of the neurotransmitter dopamine.?? Dopamine is what makes people feel good after smoking and is part of the addiction process. Although intriguing, no studies to date have examined whether ginseng supplements can help people quit smoking. Hypnotherapy The next question many people have is whether hypnotherapy can help. It sounds like a good alternative to prescription and over-the-counter stop-smoking aids, but is it effective? According to one randomized trial, hypnotherapy is only slightly more effective than behavioral relapse prevention intervention. After three days of not smoking, participants were placed in one of the two groups. The hypnotherapy group had a 29% success after one year, while 28% of people in the counseling group had quit.?? In another study, hypnotherapy was compared with common nicotine replacement therapies (NRT). The two were also combined for some of the hospital patients in the study. The methods were used and followed after the participants were discharged from the hospital. The conclusion was that hypnotherapy was more effective NRT in long-term abstinence, though there was no improvement when the two therapies were combined.?? Lobelia Is Not Recommended The herb lobelia (Lobelia inflata) has been promoted to help people fight the effects of nicotine withdrawal and it is found in many anti-smoking products. The active ingredient in lobelia is lobeline and it is thought to have similar actions on the body as nicotine. In 1993, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) temporarily prohibited the sale of certain lobelia products marketed to help people quit smoking. According to the report, the reason was that evidence showed they were not effective.?? Lobelia has since been placed on a list of smoking cessation ingredients that require FDA approval. Later research has shown that lobeline may increase levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, an effect similar to cigarettes. Dopamine influences mood and produces feelings of pleasure. There is still no evidence, however, showing that lobelia supplements help people quit smoking.?? Lobelia is a potentially toxic herb, however, so it cannot be recommended.  It is also in the FDAs Poisonous Plant Database. Lobelia can cause dry mouth, profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, rapid heartbeat, confusion, seizures, and coma. In larger doses, it can even cause death.?? People with heart disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, tobacco sensitivity, paralysis, seizure disorder, shortness of breath, or who are recovering from shock are at particularly high risk. Pregnant and nursing women and children should never take lobelia. A Note From Verywell Scientific support for the claim that any remedy can help with smoking cessation is limited. Supplements havent been tested for safety and are largely unregulated. This means that the content of some products may differ from what is specified on the product label. Also, keep in mind that the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. If youre considering the use of any form of alternative medicine, talk with your primary care provider first.