Herbs can help you stop smoking
Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. The World Health Organisation estimates that five million deaths occur each year due to tobacco-related illnesses.
By Timothy Makokha
Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. The World Health Organisation estimates that five million deaths occur each year due to tobacco-related illnesses. And if current smoking patterns continue, tobacco will cause some 10 million deaths each year by 2020. Half the people who smoke today – about 650 million people – will eventually be killed by tobacco.
You don’t want to be part of these statistics. All smokers must be assisted to stop. According to Kenneth Opira of Homeopathy and Herbal Centre, Kampala, when a smoker decides to stop, s/he needs assistance to move through it to success. Herbal medicines can help an individual to contain the urge to smoke.
Opira, who holds a postgraduate diploma in herbal medicine from the Institute of Natural Healing in the UK, says these herbs must be taken consistently until the habit dies.
Psidium guajava
English: Guava
Luganda: Mapeera
Acholi: Mapera
The large amount of Vitamin C found in guavas is a great help to those in treatment for nicotine addiction. A guava’s nutritional value neutralises nicotine. Vitamin C also hardens the arteries, thereby filtering the amount of nicotine that flows into the blood stream. “A guava after each of the three meals in a day should be able to bring the urge to smoke down,†Opira says. Consistently taken, three to six months should be enough to make a difference. However, without it, quitting could take a little longer.
Boerhavia diffusa
English: Horse purslane, Hogweed
Luganda: Magunda, Kalandalugo Acholi: Pata pata
Runyankole: Eirengye
Boil handful of dried leaves in one litre of water and take twice a day – morning and evening.
Dracaena fragans
English: Corn plant, Fragrance flower
Luganda: Omulamula
Boil a handful of dried flowers and pounded seeds in one litre of water, take in the morning and evening.
Ends
Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. The World Health Organisation estimates that five million deaths occur each year due to tobacco-related illnesses. And if current smoking patterns continue, tobacco will cause some 10 million deaths each year by 2020. Half the people who smoke today – about 650 million people – will eventually be killed by tobacco.
You don’t want to be part of these statistics. All smokers must be assisted to stop. According to Kenneth Opira of Homeopathy and Herbal Centre, Kampala, when a smoker decides to stop, s/he needs assistance to move through it to success. Herbal medicines can help an individual to contain the urge to smoke.
Opira, who holds a postgraduate diploma in herbal medicine from the Institute of Natural Healing in the UK, says these herbs must be taken consistently until the habit dies.
Psidium guajava
English: Guava
Luganda: Mapeera
Acholi: Mapera
The large amount of Vitamin C found in guavas is a great help to those in treatment for nicotine addiction. A guava’s nutritional value neutralises nicotine. Vitamin C also hardens the arteries, thereby filtering the amount of nicotine that flows into the blood stream. “A guava after each of the three meals in a day should be able to bring the urge to smoke down,†Opira says. Consistently taken, three to six months should be enough to make a difference. However, without it, quitting could take a little longer.
Boerhavia diffusa
English: Horse purslane, Hogweed
Luganda: Magunda, Kalandalugo Acholi: Pata pata
Runyankole: Eirengye
Boil handful of dried leaves in one litre of water and take twice a day – morning and evening.
Dracaena fragans
English: Corn plant, Fragrance flower
Luganda: Omulamula
Boil a handful of dried flowers and pounded seeds in one litre of water, take in the morning and evening.
Ends