Add to favorites Examiner Bio

Holistic help to stop smoking in 2009!

To stop smoking is one of the top New Years resolutions for 2009. The US Surgeon says it is the top thing you can do to improve your health. The habit of cigarette smoking is more complex than just not lighting up again. That cigarette habit has been your friend (of sorts) it has been there for you when no one else has. The cigarette has gotten you through many trials and tribulations and eased your anxiety when you had to cope instantly. Many of my past clients have made it for years without smoking by following these steps. Only about 5% have needed me to schedule a visit for hypnosis or ear acupuncture with them to help the nervous system cope with anxiety. All of my clients realized they needed to acquire new coping skills in dealing with the really tough situations like marriage, deaths and job loss, most added Yoga, or meditation and an Ayurvedic diet to their lifestyle as a healthy alternative.

 

By following the 5 steps below I think you will have and edge and insight into the smoking cessation goal you have set for yourself. Women who stop smoking reduce experiencing a premature death in half, says a study out of Harvard. Studies have shown that smokers must deal with both the physical and psychological (mental) dependence to quit and stay quit.

Withdrawal symptoms can include any of the following: (all the same as loosing your best friend)

Step 1. Grieve. Grieve the loss of your best friend (Mr. Cigarette), in a journal memorial. Write about the times you spent together, the time you counted on leaning on Mr. Cigarette to get you through. Some of my clients have even done a eulogy, and a mock funeral for their ‘last cigarette’. I had clients bring me pictures of the services and the marker they placed on its grave. This step aids greatly in the psychological anxiety separation aspect. 

 

Step 2. Detox. Rid your body of the toxins it has stored in the liver and internal organs that cause fatigue and extra acid in the body. Start with water that has a high pH (potential hydrogen) of 7 or higher, like Fiji or Volvic, or buy a water machine that produces high pH water like the one I have. Some health food stores have homeopathic supplements especially for smoking cessation programs. A good colon flush and heavy metal chelating nutrients help wonders. Reduce Yeasts and sugars to fight an over growth of parasites. Cadmium is a heavy metal that needs to be detoxified from the body with the help of supplements. I have always recommended a natural pharmaceutical grade supplement for my smoking cessation clients.

 

Step 3. Rejuvenate. Rebuild your body tissues; muscles, lungs, liver, blood etc. After a 2-3 week detoxification process with colonics and chelation, you are ready to rebuild your body in a way it can absorb and heal. Begin with B-vitamins, Vit-C, Phyto-nutrients and Omega –3,6, and 9’s. Take the B-100 Complexes with Vitamin C (1000mg) and Fish oils (with out mercury) every morning in a daily packet if you can find them. At night take your minerals include adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D and magnesium, which also aids in sleep. Avoid aluminum cookware and antacids that contain aluminum. Aluminum can displace calcium in the body. 

 

Step 4. Journal. Writing about your daily progress gives you insights and records what works and what does not for the personal journey you are on. As a holistic coach for over 30 years I have seen what works best and have trained many to follow their clients recovery by journaling and discussing it in weekly visits the first month. I recommend to clients they list the foods eaten, the supplements taken and the ups and downs they feel could be triggers from the old days when your ‘friend, Mr. Cigarette’ helped you cope. Even their dreams are a map for healing the subconscious’s attachment to smoking. No two people are the same and a good holistic coach can see and hear the signs of relapse from your visits. Give your self-3 stars when you get through a day with out thinking more than 2 minutes about smoking. Be sure to note how different food taste and how your sense of smell changes. Clients notice their clothes and hair smell different immediately after stop smoking. Make sure you get your clothes cleaned professionally to remove any lingering odors. If you were an out-door smoker, don’t give up that fresh air, just enjoy it more!

 

Step 5. Pay it forward for someone else. You get to keep what you give away. Help someone else quit, and you strengthen your recovery. Find a friend, do the steps together. Or wait till you have a handle on the Steps and give your newfound fresh breath (gift of life) to someone you care about. It will reduce their risk of heart attack, cancer and boost their immune system. Now that’s the kind of love we all need in 2009!

 

 

 

 

12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

 

 

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.

 

 

1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.

 

 

1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

 

 

5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.

 

10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease, too.

 

 

15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a non-smoker's.