It’s common knowledge that cigarette smoking is bad for one’s health. Besides increasing the risk of fatal health conditions like cancer and heart disease, it can cause blindness and even defects in the reproductive system. That’s why the American Cancer Society urges the public to prioritize smoking cessation methods to help them stop the habit. Fortunately, they found that 63.2% of Americans already tried to quit smoking in 2020, indicating a positive step towards a smoke-free community. Moreover, with the introduction of various smoking cessation solutions, more options are available for individuals who want to quit smoking.

In this article, we will discuss four alternative cessation methods that can help smokers overcome their tobacco dependence:

Acupuncture

One of the emerging methods to cease smoking habits is acupuncture. In a study by Lai Fun Ho on those who use acupuncture, they noted that acupuncture helps users quit smoking by alleviating cravings during the initial abstinence phase of smoking cessation. After regularly using combined acupuncture and auricular acupressure treatments, researchers found that the smoking cessation success rates of participants were 36.67% during the eighth week and 46.67% during the 24th week of the study period. This indicates that acupuncture is an effective alternative method and may even become a long-term solution to help people stop smoking. When planning to get acupuncture treatments, make sure to visit licensed acupuncturists from established clinics and hospitals.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Another well-known approach to quitting smoking is the use of non-prescription nicotine alternatives in nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). This approach makes use of different forms of nicotine replacement such as pouches, chewing gum, and lozenges. Smokers who choose to buy Zyn nicotine pouches often opt for this method because it is tobacco-free. Instead, users place the pouch under their gum for a slow release of nicotine. This means users can prevent the severe withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation and still achieve their goal of being tobacco-free. The nicotine gums from Johnson & Johnson also showed that despite being an OTC option, nicotine alternatives are helpful cessation products because users can adjust their nicotine intake accordingly. Today, most nicotine alternatives are available on authorized sites online so it’s easy to get them anytime.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is also a well-known alternative cessation method. Unlike the previous solutions, hypnosis can help individuals quit cigarettes by highlighting the psychological aspects of their tobacco dependence and examining their underlying motivations for smoking. By doing so, hypnotherapists can guide users in breaking or eliminating the negative behaviors and thought patterns associated with smoking, such as using cigarettes as a way to relieve stress. Ultimately, this method strengthens the impulse control of individuals against detrimental habits like cigarette smoking. As long as they’re performed by a trained therapist, hypnosis is a safe treatment for those who want to quit smoking naturally.

Regular Exercise

Lastly, replacing the unhealthy habit of smoking with a healthy one like exercise is known as a valid recourse. Usually, exercise-based interventions can be used alone or with other interventions like nicotine alternatives to reduce tobacco dependence. According to reports from BioMed Central, exercise alleviates withdrawal symptoms and relieves cravings because it has a similar impact on the body as nicotine. Like nicotine, exercise can stimulate the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline hormones, which allows users to subdue their cravings. Apart from this, physical activity can become a form of positive distraction because it gives individuals a task to focus on instead of thinking about smoking. This is why exercise as a natural smoking cessation method is usually met with positive results.

If you’re interested in learning more about alternative medicine, check out our recent
blog posts on Townsend Letter.