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Why Natural Methods to Quit Smoking
Are Ignored
Many methods to quit smoking teach only about nicotine addiction. This started back in 1988 when U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, stated:
“Tobacco is addictive in the same sense as heroin and cocaine.” This unfortunate sound bite gave birth to what I call "the nicotine myth". You see, few realize that the very same 1988 U.S. Surgeon Report report made it clear that: Nine out of ten people spontaneously remit from smoking, many without nicotine withdrawal symptoms.Yet, since science couldn't explain this "easy-quitting phenomenon", they simply chose to ignore it!
The Birth of Nicotine Replacement Therapy
So this report gave birth to the nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) industry that focuses only on nicotine addiction. Yet, is nicotine really that addictive? Well, if nicotine is so darn addictive, wouldn't someone get addicted to the patch? Nobody ever does. The logic of NRT is obviously flawed and even experts agree. Hughes, Shiffman, et. al. 2003 report that 93% of NRT users relapse back to smoking after six months. In other words, billions of dollars are spent on the patch and only seven out of every 100 users of NRT quit smoking for the last time. Let's face it, heroin and nicotine are different animals. Heroin withdrawal includes hallucinations, sweats, vomiting and sometimes death. Conversely, when addressed properly, a smoker absolutely can quit naturally and easily.
Tobacco Addiction Redefined
I revealed in Stop Smoking for the Last Time, that there are 3 Cs to smoking addiction, which are:
Coping: Cigarettes are used as a crutch to deal with the many stresses of life (or simply get out of the room or office). Conditioning: Smoking is a Pavlovian response. Triggers, such as morning coffee, driving, the phone ringing and socializing, as opposed to nicotine, cause many urges to smoke. Chemical Dependence: There are about 4000 chemicals in cigarettes but, like most chemicals, can be processed out of the body in 2-72 hours.
Coping and conditioning can cause strong urges over a lifetime while nicotine is just a temporary problem (if that). Hence, it makes perfect sense that the power of the brain can cure smoking! So, how do you tap this natural power of the brain? Well first you must understand, this is much different approach than using sheer willpower...
Next : Why Willpower Methods to Quit Smoking Don't Work
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