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Herbal Combinations for Smokers/Drinkers
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| Making the decision to break a habit such as smoking or excessive drinking can be the most important decision a person may make toward better health, but it can also be a very difficult challenge. There are two combinations now on the market designed to help those who are trying to quit smoking and/or drinking. They are: Lobelia/St. John's Wort Combination (Recommended dosage: 2 capsules, 3x/day) Lobelia: This herb is a must for anyone trying to quit smoking. With its discovery as a medicinal herb attributed to the American Herbalist Samuel Thompson, lobelia has been used for numerous health conditions. Scientific research has proven that its main constituent, lobeline, activates the same nervous system receptors that nicotine does. This helps lessen withdrawal symptoms, and unlike nicotine, lobelia is not habit forming. Kudzu/St. John's Wort Combination (Recommended dosage: 1 capsule, 3x/day) Kudzu: This herb is a native of China and Japan and has been used extensively in the folk medicine of China, Japan, Korea, and Indochina. The flowers of this plant have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries to combat the extreme effects of alcoholic drinks. The herb seems to lessen the cravings for alcohol and helps to quench thirst. Recent studies done at the Isan Pharmaceutical Research Laboratory in Japan support these historical uses. Both combinations contain the following herbs: St. John's Wort: Despite its reputation for being a pest in corn and wheat fields, this plant has amazing medicinal benefits. The leaves produce a soothing effect and help lessen nervous irritability. Its place in both of these combinations is certainly appropriate since it has been historically and scientifically proven to be a natural antidepressant. This quality naturally aids in subduing withdrawal symptoms. Alfalfa: The Arabs anciently call this herb the "Father of All Foods." This title is certainly deserved since alfalfa is extremely rich in Vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-6, B-12, C, D, E, K, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, and folic acid, as well as the trace minerals calcium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, iron, zinc, and copper. Since many alcoholics get most of their calories from drinking, the need to eat is not felt as much, and as a result, they do not get the nutrients their bodies need. For smokers, this high nutrition supports the process of quitting. Sources A Handbook of Native American Herbs by Alma R. Hutchens (Boston, Massachusetts: Shambhala Publishers, 1992). Herbs That Heal: Prescription for Herbal Healing by Michael A. Weiner, Ph.D. and Janet Weiner (Mill Valley, California: Quantum Books, 1994). An Illustrated Dictionary of Chinese Medicinal Herbs by Wee Yeow Chin and Hsuan Keng (Sepastopol, California: CRCS Publications, 1992). Medicinal Wild Plants of the Prairie: An Ethnobotanical Guide by Kelly Kindscher ( Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas, 1992). Nutritional Herbology: A Reference Guide to Herbs by Mark Pedersen (Warsaw, Indiana: Wendell W. Whitman Company, 1994). 'Oriental Alcohol Antidote' in HerbalGram (Summer 1990). |
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