Herbs can help relieve the tension,depression and stress that goes with stopping smoking - but remember the real power to quit lies within. Other herbal stop smoking aids can help repair the damage done to lungs, help remove the carcinogens, and provide non-harmful tobacco substitutes.

Easing the Stress: Green oats (oatstraw) are thought to have a sedative effect, fighting anxiety and panic attacks and are also useful when trying to stop smoking by reducing the craving to smoke. Kava Kava works much like Valium, as an antidote to the depression and mood swings that often occur when you stop smoking. Passionflower is a strong calming herb generally used for treating insomnia. Passionflower can be occasionally useful for severe daytime anxiety, and could be employed in a stop smoking stragegy. Skullcap is a sedative herb that can help alleviate the anxiety that sometimes accompanies giving up cigarettes. Can't sleep without a last puff? Valerian relaxes tense muscles, and can be used as a sleep aid if insomnia is one of your quitters symptoms.²

Herbal Smoking Blends: When I finally quit smoking I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without feeling like I was going to have a heart attack. Most smokers know they need to quit, but nicotine is such an addictive substance that it is one of the hardest habits to break. There are many premade herbal blends on the market, but the one I smoke occasionally, that seems to fill that void when I am craving something to smoke, is based on the classic recipe for English Herbal Tobacco. This old fashioned blend has coltsfoot as the base along with other herbs that soothe the throat and relax the nerves. There isn't any tobacco in it, in fact the blend was prescribed for asthma is the last century. By mixing your own smoking blend, you not only save money, but ensure the quality and freshness of the herbs.