Wong: How to stop smoking – naturally

Remember to take the process one day at a time – and don’t take a single puff again, unless you enjoy the withdrawal process and want it to last forever. Think about the reasons why you want to quit and use those reasons to choose to be smoke-free every day.

Once you stop, it takes three to four days for the brain to adjust to low nicotine levels, with withdrawal symptoms peaking within 48 to 72 hours.  If you can make it through three days without smoking, your life without cigarettes will get easier from then on.

Some dos and don’ts:

Do drink tea instead of coffee. It contains L-Theanine, an amino acid that is safe and effective for anxiety.

Do drink plenty of fluids to flush out nicotine metabolites.

Do avoid alcohol, refined sugar and flour as these may cause cravings that make it harder to quit.

Don’t set a quit date. This creates anticipation and stress that often leads to increased smoking. Just have your quit strategies in place and keep your goal in mind.  You’ll know when you’re ready.

Don’t focus on bad feelings. Instead, remember all the wonderful ways you’ll benefit as a non-smoker – you will smell better, breathe better and be more kissable!

Holistic/lifestyle therapies: Many people have found acupuncture and hypnosis to be helpful in quitting.  Deep breathing meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting calm focus.  Exercise, however, is the very best method for stress relief: find a physical activity that you love to do and stick with it!

Nutritional supplementation:

• Omega-3s in fish or flax oil can help with depression and energy crashes, both common symptoms of withdrawal. Make sure to get at least 1 gram of EPA per day.
• L-Glutamine is the amino acid precursor to GABA, the neurotransmitter that keeps us calm. You may take 1000mg up to 3 times per day on an empty stomach.
• N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), taken with plenty of Vitamin C, aids lung recovery and boosts immunity. 500-1500 mg per day in divided doses. Make sure you are also taking a good multi-mineral supplement.
• Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Tang is a traditional Chinese herbal formula that is widely used to treat drugwithdrawal symptoms and promote detoxification. It is found in Chinese herb and some health food stores. Consult your Chinese herbal practitioner for dosing.