Turning to a healthcare professional is the best way to benefit from personalized follow-up to quit smoking, but some people wish to supplement this support with alternative methods. Hypnosis, acupuncture, or even certain essential oils, can relieve the urge to smoke, or even allow some to never touch a cigarette again. Just like artificial intelligence, a more eccentric aid, which could however be an ally of choice in the event of smoking cessation.
Whether they are unusual, or better known – and acclaimed – so-called alternative methods are considered effective by many people, but not necessarily by science. This does not prevent health professionals from offering these gentle solutions to smokers to complete an accompaniment, or more simply to allow them to put all the chances on their side to put an end to cigarettes for good. Here are a few to know, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day.
hypnosis
Defining hypnosis is not easy as there are many interpretations. According to the Larousse dictionary, it is a “particular state of consciousness, between waking and sleeping, caused by suggestion”. For its part, the French Institute of Hypnosis (IFH) indicates that hypnosis “allows, through an attentional game involving the imagination of patients, to revisit reality and the way the patient perceives it”. In the case of smoking cessation, hypnosis will act on behavioral dependence by suggesting disgust with cigarettes, or the fact of freeing oneself from it without the effect of withdrawal or frustration. On the price side, this can vary from simple to double depending on the hypnotherapist chosen, and the region in which it is installed.
acupuncture
Restoring the harmonious circulation of energy – the famous Qi – throughout the body in order to be, or remain, in good health: this is one of the main foundations of acupuncture, which is one of the branches of traditional Chinese medicine. All through very fine needles that the professional introduces on specific points, the acupuncture points (each lateral face of the nose, for example). For quitting smoking, it is essentially a question of reducing the craving for nicotine, or of alleviating certain symptoms of smoking cessation, including the feeling of hunger, stress, fatigue, or even irritability. Again, the price varies considerably from one professional to another, but it is possible to be reimbursed part or all of the price of the session depending on the mutual insurance company.
Phytotherapy
Some plants are known for their action on health and well-being, whether on sleep, digestion, stress, or libido. But there are also, probably less popular, to quit smoking, or at least relieve certain symptoms related to quitting smoking. This is particularly the case with ginseng, which notably helps to fight against fatigue, stress, and anxiety, while improving the ability to concentrate, but also with valerian, known to relieve nervous tension, stress and anxiety, and for its calming and soothing properties. The naturopath is the best professional to help smokers quit smoking thanks to the powers of plants.
aromatherapy
Like plants, essential oils can also help smokers – or former smokers – not to crack by fighting again against the most frequent symptoms. There are no essential oils that fill the gap associated with smoking cessation, but there are on the other hand a multitude to deal with certain symptoms: fatigue (black spruce, Scots pine), stress (lemon balm, lavender ), irritability (shell marjoram), or cough (eucalyptus, cajeput). Consultation with a naturopath is necessary if aromatherapy is a viable alternative method of quitting smoking.
Artificial intelligence?
As incredible as it may seem, artificial intelligence (AI) could help some smokers quit smoking once and for all. British researchers have developed an AI-based mobile application, Quit Sense, which works to detect the triggers of tobacco consumption and helps smokers not give in to withdrawal in real time via messages. Support. Considered effective following an initial trial conducted with more than 200 smokers, the application looks like a quit smoking assistance service, such as Tobacco Info Service, if not is that in the latter case it is the smoker who must contact potential support. Hence the importance of not hesitating to seek help in the event of smoking cessation.