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Kicking Some Butt(s)
Are you one of the 47 million Americans who smoke? Are you thinking about quitting? Help is on the way.
The dangers of inhaling the noxious fumes from highly treated plant materials are well documented. If I were to say to you: "Here's a product that if used as directed will not only increase your likelihood of cancer, heart disease, lung disease and a host of other ills, but will make your clothes and breath smell bad and potentially cost you as much as a new Mercedes over the course of a lifetime", would you think that was a product you would choose to consume? Of course not. Instead what the advertising companies tell us is: "Here's a product that makes you cool and sexy and has the added benefit of calming your nerves."
Can anybody tell me why tobacco, which contains nicotine, a highly addictive drug and kills more people every year than heroin, cocaine and speed combined, is not regulated by the FDA?
The good news is that when you or someone you love is ready to quit, help is at hand. Acupuncture has long been used to help people break a variety of addictive behaviors by stimulating the body's innate ability to rebalance the nervous system. This is most important during the first three to seven days of nicotine withdrawal. Common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are cravings, moodiness, irritability and difficulty concentrating. According to many experts in the field of addiction, nicotine is one of the hardest drugs to kick.
Remember the old saying: "It's easy to quit smoking; I've done it hundreds of times." Many people start and stop smoking numerous times—but I've never had anyone tell me it was easier to stop than to start.
If you are ready to kiss your butts good–bye, Chinese medicine is your friend. Along with acupuncture, Chinese herbs can be quite helpful, as well. There are a number of herbal formulas that address the irritability and moodiness people experience in addition to detoxifying the body. Acupuncture has the added benefit of promoting the repair and regeneration of healthy lung tissue, as well as soothing frazzled nerves.
Besides taking Chinese herbs in tea or pill form there is now a new method that is also proving to be quite effective. By simply smelling this liquid herbal extract every time you want to light up, the urge to smoke can be controlled and cravings can be eliminated.
According to the American Lung Association, 70 percent of smokers want to quit, and of the 34 percent of smokers who attempt to quit each year, only 2.5 percent are successful. When you are ready to kick the habit, Chinese medicine is ready to help. You can use it to improve your odds of success and improve your health and longevity.
© 2001 Larry Forsberg. All rights reserved.
Articles posted on this Web site are for personal use only and remain the property of Larry Forsberg, L.Ac.
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