Although there’s no doubt that smoking can be deadly and it’s the cause of many illnesses and diseases, most smokers find it very hard to quit. Also, many of them fail when they try quitting, which makes them feel frustrated and defeated, so they don’t want to try again for a while.
When facing the challenge of quitting smoking, many people look for alternatives to help them achieve their goals. Some even try alternative remedies, such as hypnosis and acupuncture. Also, lately, some people are using kava to help them quit smoking. But is it really effective?
Health Dangers of Smoking
Most of us know that smoking is dangerous and poses many risks to the overall health. After a period of smoking your lungs and heart are affected and you can develop numerous diseases, some of them irreversible.
Some conditions related to smoking include:
- Loss of smell and taste
- Dental decay
- Erectile dysfunction
- Poor blood circulation
Also, smoking can make you develop much more serious conditions such as:
- Blood clots in your legs and brain
- Miscarriage
- Strokes and heart attack
- High blood pressure
- Asthma
- Cancer
The good news is that many of the problems associated with smoking can be reversed after quitting.
What Happens in Your Body After You Quit Smoking?
After you quit smoking you start feeling the cravings very soon. Anxiety is constantly present, and you think of smoking almost all the time. Physical withdrawal effects will last for about 2 weeks. But, the psychological withdrawal effects can last longer, they can last up to 3 months.
But also, when you quit smoking, you start feeling its benefits very soon. Your blood pressure will go back to normal about 20 minutes after your last cigarette. After 8 hours the nicotine level in your body will decrease by almost 94%, and after 12 hours your blood oxygen level will go back to normal.
After a few weeks, your heart attack risk will start dropping and your lungs will start improving. Then, after a year your stroke risk will be cut by half and after 5 to 15 years it will be the same as that of a person that has never smoked. Finally, after 20 years your lungs will be like those of none smokers.
What Is Kava?
Kava, or kava-kava, is a plant native to the South Pacific Islands, a member of the pepper family. The plant grows naturally in the island countries of Fiji, Tonga, Hawaii, and Polynesia. And it was traditionally used by the ancient societies of these regions as a ceremonial drink and as a medical remedy.
Today, kava is gaining popularity in America, where we can find many kava specialized bars, especially in California, Florida, and, of course, Hawaii. The main difference between kava bars and regular alcohol bars is the relaxed atmosphere. Whilst alcohol bars are always noisy, people tend to be calmer when drinking kava.
Users of kava report that it has relaxing and calming effects and helps them ease stress and anxiety. Also, it can be effective to relieve insomnia and some opiate withdrawal symptoms.
Is Kava Effective to Quit Smoking?
Quitting smoking is one of the most difficult tasks that smokers must face in their lives. Although everybody knows the dangers of smoking, many can’t find it in themselves to even try to quit. Probably, the worst nicotine withdrawal symptom is anxiety. Typically, the first few days (or weeks) after quitting smoking, the craving for nicotine is always present. Fighting these cravings is very hard and many people start smoking again.
The main effect of the kava plant is the feeling of calm and relaxation that it gives you. Thanks to its relaxing and antianxiety properties kava can be an aid for those trying to quit smoking. Although there is still not enough evidence that kava is effective in nicotine addiction, some users report that it has helped them cut their cravings.
Also, some users say that smoking a cigarette after drinking kava makes them feel nauseous and queasy. Others say that drinking kava stops the urge of smoking for a few hours, so it has helped them cut the daily cigarette consumption.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that kava kava has some side effects, and individuals who suffer from liver conditions should not consume this plant.
Methods to Quit Smoking
Many people who smoke have tried or wish to give up cigarettes. Although some of them are lucky enough to succeed on their first attempt, most smokers need a few tries to finally quit forever. Even, there are people that can’t just cope with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and will never quit smoking.
There are numerous traditional methods to quit smoking, like nicotine replacement therapy, such as nicotine gum or nicotine patches. Also, there are prescription medicines that you can use, such as Chantix or Zyban.
But there are also other things that you can do when you are dealing with nicotine cravings, for example:
- Go for a walk
- Do breathing exercises
- Talk to someone
- Do a task that keeps you busy, like cleaning the house
- Eat raw fruit or veggies, such as a carrot or an apple
Finally, some changes in your lifestyle such as eating healthy food and exercising regularly can help you in your fight against nicotine.
Nevertheless, remember that to effectively quit smoking, you need to really want to do it, so remember to keep your goal in mind all the time. And remember that each day will be easier!
