There are many different medications, tools and techniques that you can incorporate into your plan to stop smoking. In terms of mainstream medicine, these primarily include nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) in the form of patches, lozenges, nasal sprays and gum. The primary concept behind these products is to provide an alternative to quitting cold turkey and allow individuals to slowly reduce their nicotine intake, thereby decreasing the severity of withdrawal symptoms. At the same time, switching to an alternative source of nicotine helps break the other behavioral habits that are a strong component of any addiction. In this way, you can get used to the changes in your daily routine that will come with giving up cigarettes, without having to deal with the side effects of nicotine withdrawal all at the same time.

Other medications such as Bupropion (Zyban) are also thought to help individuals through nicotine withdrawal, although the processes through which this works are not fully understood. Similar in composition to an antidepressant, this approach may contribute to an emotional calm that makes it easier to resist temptation through lessened agitation and anxiety during withdrawal. These drugs are not appropriate for everyone, and need to be discussed with your doctor in terms of effectiveness and potential side effects.

Traditional, herbal products can also be used to help you quit smoking. Teas, capsules, and patches are all available to assist you in a variety of ways. Herbs can reduce your desire to smoke by making cigarettes taste bad, as well as promote relaxation to help decrease the underlying stress or nervousness that may otherwise compel you to smoke. Herbs can also help cleanse, detoxify and flush out your system, reducing cravings and promoting recovery and improved general health. In some cases herbal products contain ingredients that act as substitutes for nicotine, effectively convincing your body that it is not missing the stimulants it has grown accustomed to. Explore your options in herbal formulations designed specifically for the purpose of stopping smoking to determine if these might be useful as a part of your individualized stop smoking strategy.

Depending on the severity of your addiction, the strength of your desire to change, and your general willpower, you may require more or fewer tools to help you along the way. Quitting smoking is different for everyone, and it is important to enlist as much help as necessary in order for you to achieve your goal. From conventional medicine, to alternative herbal remedies drawing on more ancient healing formulas, there are a number of choices for you to consider. Withdrawal is not easy, but it is temporary, so do not give up. It will not belong before you have made it over the first and most difficult hurdle, and from here on the road to better health will get easier and more straightforward as you go.