Nicotine is a poisonous alkaloid found in all parts of the tobacco plant, but especially the
leaves. A colorless, oily fluid when pure, it becomes brown with the characteristic tobacco
smell once exposed to air. Nicotine is one of the most toxic and addictive of all poisons.
The absolute amount of nicotine in each cigarette is 8-9 mg and represents 1.5%-2.5% of the
weight. Blood nicotine level rises within 10-15 seconds after each puff. Cigarette filters
reduce exposure to tar, but not to nicotine. Smokers generally experience withdrawal
symptoms once their daily nicotine levels fall below 5 mg. Nicotine is an extremely toxic
substance that acts as quickly as cyanide. A fatal dose for an adult is estimated to be less
than 5 mg/kg body weight.
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Nicotine Addiction
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igarette smoking is perhaps
the hardest addiction to kick. Ask any smoker. Many researchers equate nicotine addiction
to heroin. While there are countless "stop-smoking"
products and techniques out there, as the saying goes "You're not going to quit until YOU
want to quit." With all the information available on the dangers of smoking, including nicotine
addiction, lung cancer, low-birth weight for infants, and secondhand smoke-related cancers,
it's surprising that anyone still does smoke. Regardless, there are plenty of us
who "really want to", but realize the difficulty of just putting them down. Nicotine binds to specific receptor sites in the brain which causes mood changes. When an individual tries to quit, withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness, irritability, insomnia, and even depression begin. There are several herbs that are helpful in dealing with some of these symptoms. Scullcap, Kava, Licorice, and Schizandra are all anxiety- and stress-relievers. Once an individual has stopped smoking, increased coughing and mucous production may go on for weeks to months. Licorice also nourishes the adrenal glands, eases lung symptoms by fighting inflammation and soothing irritated tissues, and aids in expelling mucous. Schizandra also tones the lungs and eases cough. Mullein tones the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, speeds healing of damaged tissues, and soothes irritated lungs. Studies have shown that Turmeric aids in removing the carcinogens in your body from smoking, and if insomnia is a problem during the quitting phase, Valerian Root and Passion Flower both contain sedative compounds that aid in a restful sleep. Valerian Root also relaxes tense muscles. These products are available from our Virtual Store. Our liberal Money Back Guarantee applies. |
Note:
This information is provided for educational purposes only
and is not intended to replace the use of a qualified
health care professional. We strongly recommend the use
of a physician for the diagnostic phase of any treatment.
With an accurate diagnosis in hand, we believe the consumer,
at that point, has a basic, unalienable right to seek out
factual information on all therapeutic approaches, both
orthodox and alternative, and choose those approach(es)
that are right for them. Nonetheless, a "good doctor"
should be considered a requisite starting point.
To U.S. Users: None of the products mentioned on this page have been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration; therefore, they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. | |
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