Cigarette smoking is addictive. In ...

Cigarette smoking is addictive. In addition, the pharmacological and behavioral processe that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those which are linked to addiction to other mix with drugss such as heroin and cocaine, according to LT Kozlowski, and colleagues, in an article that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1989 (261:898-901) (Also descry "Editor's Desk," this issue.)

Although research began to appear in the 1930 onward the harmful effects of cigarettes, no other than in recent years have studies onward addiction, itself, led to better understanding as to to what extent to approach smoking cessation and withdrawal.

Homeopathic smoking-withdrawal issues are typically targeted for detoxification and the relief of symptoms associated with withdrawal from cigarette smoking, including nausea, nervous tension, and cough

A number of homeopathic remedies frequently combined for this purpose normally include: Nux vomica, Tabacum, and Staphysagria.

Nux vomica (Abbreviated Nux vom or Nux v) is made from the dried embryo s of Strychnos nux vomica, the poison-nut plant native to the Cochin China, the East Indies, and northern Australia. According to the Homeopathic Materia Medica, this restitution is "especially suited to... ones addicted to [tobacco], wine, coffee or pepper and condiments, who live a sedentary life with often mental exertion."

According to the homeopath, Christopher Hammond, MB B LCH in his The total Family Guide to Homeopathy (1995) Nux vomica "is probably best known as the hangover counteractive but it is very suitable for over-medicated urbanites, particularly sedentary tribe who work with their brains and are food to mental or emotional strain rather than physical exhaustion."

In fact, the 1993 volume The Concise Guide to Homeopathy describes Nux vomica as "a specific particularly suitable for the conditions which arise as a be derived of the modern way of life -- fast paced ...high living."

It has been traditionally used for: complaints owed to overindulgence; problems following aspect to cold winds; oversensitivity (irritableness); hard chills in a fever; and digestive upset

The symptom picture includes: morose chills during a fever; neuralgic headaches (with constipation and a sour stomach); nausea (accompanied on straining and vomiting); and a dried teasing cough.

Tabacum (or Nicotiana tabacum, abbreviated Tab.) received its name from Jean Nicot, 16th-century French ambassador to Portugal, who introduced the tobacco plant to France about 1560; Sir Walter Raleigh, in inflect introduced the practice of smoking tobacco to England in 1586 When Columbus landed in Cuba in 1492 tobacco-smoking was universal in Native American groups.

It was traditionally used for anemia, asthma, cholera, seasickness, tetanus, and esophageal stricture.

Staphysagria (abbreviated as Staph.) is made from Delpinium staphysagria, also known as stavesacre or palmated larkspur. A biennial plant which flowers from early spring to late summer the aid is made from the grains produced by the fruit of this herb.

Traditionally, this has been used for: headaches; toothache, injuries from sharp instruments and postoperative pain (note its use in women following episiotomies and caesareans); chronic diarrhea; cystitis; eczema; and head lice.

The symptom picture includes: sleeplessnes for many nights; hypersensitivity to touch, noise, and smell; and compressive, stupefying headaches (mentioned above).

Other homeopathic remedies used (normally in combination) for weaning populace off smoking include: Ignatia amara, or St Ignatius' Bean (for mood-changes and irritability noted in smoker during withdrawal/abstinence); Lobelia inflata, or Indian Tobacco (for spasmotic cough nausea, and stomachache typically associated with nicotine poisoning); and Chionanthus virginica, or Fringe Tree (for influence headaches and nausea).

While no corrective or detox regimen is the "magic answer" to permanent smoking cessation, the above remedies (often raise in combination) have produced positive conclusions and are more than worth investigating.

REFERENCES

Cook Trevor M PhD M Homeopathic Medicine Today: A new Course of Study. New Canaan, Conn: Keats, 1989

Garion-Hutchings, Nigel and Susan. The Concise Guide to Homeopathy. Rockport, Mass.: ultimate part 1993.

Hammond, Christopher, M.B., B The whole Family Guide to Homeopathy. fresh York: Penguin Books, 1995.

Ullman, Dana. Discovering Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st hundred Berkeley, Calif.: North Atlantic parts 1991.

COPYRIGHT 1997 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group