Aromatherapy to help quit smoking ?

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone, you might find this interesting. I prepared it for another

forum and thought I would share it here. If anyone is trying to kick the

habit this is probably worth considering and/or incorporating into your

'quit smoking regime'. I suggest you put a room aside as a no smoking area

and when you get cravings go there and vaporise a few drops of the EO

suggested for a short while.

 

Anyway here is the information.

 

Rose JE. Behm FM. Inhalation of vapor from black pepper extract reduces

smoking withdrawal symptoms. Drug & Alcohol Dependence. 1994;34(3):225-9

 

Previous studies have suggested that sensory cues associated with cigarette

smoking can suppress certain smoking withdrawal symptoms, including craving

for cigarettes. In this study we investigated the subjective effects of a

cigarette substitute delivering a vapor of black pepper essential oil.

Forty-eight cigarette smokers participated in a 3-h session conducted after

overnight deprivation from smoking. Subjects were randomly assigned to one

of three conditions: one group of smokers puffed on a device that delivered

a vapor from essential oil of black pepper; a second group puffed on the

device with a mint/menthol cartridge, and a third group used a device

containing an empty cartridge. Subjects puffed and inhaled ad libitum from

the device throughout the session during which no smoking was allowed.

Reported craving for cigarettes was significantly reduced in the pepper

condition relative to each of the two control conditions. In addition,

negative affect and somatic symptoms of anxiety were alleviated in the

pepper condition relative to the unflavored placebo. The intensity of

sensations in the chest was also significantly higher for the pepper

condition. These results support the view that respiratory tract sensations

are important in alleviating smoking withdrawal symptoms. Cigarette

substitutes delivering pepper constituents may prove useful in smoking

cessation treatment.

 

Other EOs that spring to mind which you could try vaporising are Juniper

Berry (Planet Sun and linked with protection, purification and healing) and

Frankincense (Planet Sun, Element Air and associated with breaking ties with

the past). I could say a lot more about these two EOs but a bit pushed right

now.

 

Good luck ....... Richard (Ipswich, UK)