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Nicotine addiction (NA) is a physical tie to nicotine. If you stop using nicotine you will have physical symptoms until your body adjusts. Nicotine can be found in cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco, cigars, and pipes. Using these products can lead to health problems, such as cancer, lung conditions, and stroke.
Stopping nicotine slowly over time will help to ease symptoms. Standard treatments include nicotine replacement therapy, counseling, and medication. Setbacks happen.
Some people look to natural treatments to help stop smoking.
The following supplements have been studied for their role in smoking cessation:
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some may get in the way of treatment. They can also make illness worse or cause new problems. Examples include:
Acupuncture
A1. White A, Rampes H, et al. Acupuncture and related interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(1):CD000009.
A2. Cheng HM, Chung YC, et al. systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of acupoint stimulation on smoking cessation. Am J Chin Med. 2012;40(3):429-442.
A3. Tahiri M, Mottillo S, et al. Alternative smoking cessation aids: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Med. 2012 Jun;125(6):576-584.
A4. White AR, Rampes H, et al. Acupuncture and related interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syt Rev. 2014 Jan 231):CD000009.
Herbs
B1. Parsons A, Ingram J, et al. A proof of concept randomised placebo controlled factorial trial to examine the efficacy of St. John’s wort for smoking cessation and chromium to prevent weight gain on smoking cessation. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2009 Jun 1;102(1-3):116-122.
B2. Sood A, Ebbert JO, et al. A randomized clinical trial of St. John’s wort for smoking cessation. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Jul;16(7):761-767.
B3. Stead LF, Hughes Jr. Lobeline for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Feb 15;(2):CD000124.
B4. Sood A, Prasad K, et al. S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) for smoking abstinence: a randomized clinical trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Sep;18(9):854-859.
B5. Cahill K, Stevens S, Perera R, Lancaster T. Pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation: an overview and network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 May 31;(5):CD009329.
Hypnotherapy
C1. Carmody TP, Duncan C, Simon JA, et al. Hypnosis for smoking cessation: A randomized trial. Nicotine Tob Res. 2008;10:811-818.
C2. Barnes J, Dong CY, et al. Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Oct 6;(10):CD001008.
C3. Tahiri M, Mottillo S, et al. Alternative smoking cessation aids: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Med. 2012 Jun;125(6):576-584.
C4. Hasan FM, Zagarins SE, et al. Hypnotherapy is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation: results of a randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2014 Feb;22(1):1-8.
Mind-body Practices
D1. Carim-Todd L, Mitchell SH, et al. Mind-body practices: an alternative, drug-free treatment for smoking cessation? A systematic review of the literature. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013 Oct 1;132(3):399-410.
Last reviewed May 2019 by EBSCO NAT Review Board
Last Updated: 6/14/2019