I wonder if I had a sample of a healthy lung and a sample of an unhealthy lung, as displayed on the popular art show “Bodyworlds” by Gunther Von Hagens, to show my patients the difference if they would make different lifestyle choices? My ex-smoker friends say “no”. What changes a person’s mind about smoking are very personal from having an attack of chest pain, they fear is a “heart attack”; to they just get plain MAD about the control the “coffin nails” have on their life and budget or they have a spiritual epiphany. Whatever the reason a person has decided it is time to quit smoking, as sure as learning how to ride a bike, they are going to fall and start smoking again several times before they quit for good.

I encourage my patients to make other changes in their lifestyle first before they attempt to quit smoking. If people are generally feeling better and more energetic because they have already stopped eating a lot of wheat and dairy, improved their thyroid, adrenal and liver function with various treatments I have had them implement, they can handle this terrible addiction much better.

Addicts of any nature are often known to have under-functioning liver, thyroid or adrenal health and use addictive substances to boost their sense of energy and well being. Once these deficiencies have been corrected, the need for the addictive substances may be reduced and replaced with healthier choices.

For anyone trying to quit cigarettes I suggest a three pronged approach. Firstly is to initiate ear acupuncture. A small ball is inserted into  acupuncture points in the ear that you stimulate whenever the craving surfaces. Secondly  I recommend taking Nu Life Stop Smoking capsules. They contain lobelia, plantain and alfalfa. Lobelia is well known for its expectorant and stimulant effect on the lungs. The isolate Isolobelene is very similar to nicotine, tricking the body into thinking it is getting nicotine when it is not. It is also a cleansing herb helping rid the body of nicotine accumulations. The main constituent of Plantain that causes an aversion to tobacco is the alkaloid aucinbin. It also has anti-inflammatory, antitoxic and expectorant qualities. Alfalfa is a wonderful source of vitamins, minerals and chlorophyll that oxygenates the blood and detoxifies the body as well as improves overall health, vigor and vitality. These are taken for at least seven weeks along with acupuncture and homeopathic medicine.

Thirdly the professional homeopathic program from Seroyal is recommended. It is composed of four different remedies taken throughout the day to assist the body in ridding itself of nicotine and thus the cravings for cigarettes, supporting the nervous system to aid in cravings, mood and sleep, as well as support of the liver, kidney and intestines, the main organs of elimination of the body.