Beginning September 2012, new health warnings will appear on all cigarette packages and advertising. These prominent warnings will be displayed on the top 50 percent of both the front and rear panels of each cigarette package and in the upper portion of each cigarette advertisement, occupying at least 20 percent of the area of the advertisement. This change by the FDA will be a more aggressive approach to communicating the dangers of smoking.
Smoking is the leading cause of premature death in the United States and is responsible for nearly one million deaths a year. It causes lung disease, cancer, strokes, heart disease and can kill you. Though well aware of these hazards, smokers are powerless to the desire to light up because smoking is an addiction.
Addiction is an obsessive, compulsive reaction to a stimulus. Everyone has an energetic life force that is contained in every cell of our body. This energy determines the color of our eyes, the shape of our bodies, our mental, emotional and physical health; it also determines the way we think and react to life. To truly overcome addiction, this inner obsessive compulsive energy must be released from the body.
Many quit smoking “cold turkey” or use nicotine replacement products like skin patches and chewing gum to overcome the urge to smoke. But these methods only attempt to reprogram that energy. Unless released, the addictive energy remains suspended in the cells in the body and addiction repeats itself in different forms. That’s why reformed smokers often find themselves overeating and gaining weight after they quit smoking.
Classical Homeopathy is a holistic treatment that releases toxic energies which disturb thoughts, emotions and body functions. It uses the energy patterns of animals, plants and minerals to heal similar diseased energy patterns. For example, someone suffering with insomnia or hyperactivity may experience relief from the homeopathic remedy Coffea, derived from coffee beans. Coffee in crude form is a drug-like stimulant, but Coffea as a healing agent can relax an over-stimulated person and help one kick the coffee habit.
Homeopathic remedies are prepared by diluting and energizing substances (potentization) in purified water. As a substance is continuously diluted and energized, its healing properties are extracted and suspended in the purified water. The higher the potency, the more dynamic it becomes which means substances that are poisonous or addictive in crude form are safe and effective as homeopathic remedies*.
There are many homeopathic remedies that treat smoking habits and other addictions. For example, Nux vomica is commonly known as the “hangover” remedy. It’s derived from a plant that contains strychnine, a neurotransmitter that causes obsessive compulsive behaviors. Though ingesting or inhaling this plant may cause addictive behaviors, as a homeopathic remedy it is often a very effective first step in treating withdrawal symptoms from addiction including tobacco addiction.
Lobelia is another remedy often recommended for treating smoking addictions. It’s from the Indian tobacco plant. The nicotine in tobacco increases levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for euphoria and relaxation. In homeopathic form, tobacco remedies can be effective in releasing addictive energies caused by nicotine.
Carbo vegetabilis is derived from the charcoal and ash of birch wood which is similar to the ash produced by smoking cigarettes. Smoking relaxes the mind and enhances mental capacity but when over used (i.e. abused) it slows down many body functions. In remedy form, Carbo-v can revitalize a state of inertia while maintaining a sense of calm and focus. It also has an affinity to heart disease, respiratory diseases and digestive disorders, and can be very effective in healing these important body functions.
Staphasagria is a remedy often used to treat suppressed emotions, and addiction is directly link to one’s emotional state. The typical profile of a person benefiting from this remedy is someone who on the outside appears proud and dignified but on the inside suffers from a history of abuse, humiliation and/or neglect.
These are just a very small sampling of the many homeopathic remedies available to help one kick the habit. The key to successful healing with homeopathy is selecting the most similar remedy at the lowest potency which maximizes healing, and then taking that remedy at appropriate times. Though homeopathic remedies can be purchased over-the-counter, it is highly recommended to seek the assistance of a trained homeopath when deciding upon homeopathy to treat addiction or chronic mental, emotional or physical illness.
Homeopathy is a deep acting treatment for kicking habits such as smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. For more serious addictions, this treatment is most effective when combined with a comprehensive recovery program such as Alcoholic Anonymous, Al-Anon, Narcotics Anonymous or other 12 Step fellowships.
*Important: When self prescribing, it is recommended (1) to use low potencies (up to 30C), (2) to limit the treatment to one remedy at a time, and(3) not to repeat the remedy too often. Over use or improper administration of homeopathic remedies may have a temporary negative or reverse affect on the condition. In such cases, simply stop the treatment and contact a professional homeopath for continued treatment.
