by: S. D. Wells
(NaturalNews) Most smokers believe that nicotine is the root of their addiction, but there are actually 4,000 other chemicals in cigarettes creating anxiety and driving them to crave relief, which the nicotine brings, but only for about 15 to 20 minutes. The massive amount of toxic chemicals in cigarettes wreaks havoc on the central nervous system, fueling a different kind of addiction – a body and mind which yearns for relaxation and confidenc.
The majority of those chemicals come from pesticide, and some of that pesticide is actually growing inside the tobacco plant, before it is ever sprayed. Monsanto is a chemical company that figured out how to gene-splice weed killer with tobacco seeds, creating a plant that is immune to pesticide, particularly Roundup. Other chemicals like ammonia and bleach contribute to the vicious cycle smokers find themselves trapped in for years.
Two major aspects to address in order to quit for good
In order to quit smoking and never go back, one must address two major aspects, especially during the first six months. First, the body has been poisoned by hundreds of chemicals on a daily basis for years, so one must detoxify in order to regain balance of the central nervous system and combat anxiety. Secondly, an ex-smoker must understand what the body needs in order feel relaxed daily and deal with stress, without the nicotine. The person must replenish and boost their body's natural chemistry, which performed the same or similar motivational functions at proper levels before pesticides and nicotine crippled their system.
Nicotine stimulates the release of many chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, unnaturally increasing levels of dopamine in the reward circuits of the brain (Mesolimbic pathway). This in turn creates short term feelings of euphoria and relaxation; however, when smokers quit and do nothing to replenish these functions, they often battle depression, sleeplessness, anxiety, and negative emotions that drive them back to smoking cigarettes within 6 months.
Consider for a moment a borderline diabetic's blood sugar levels, which are very high and near the point where the body could stop producing insulin. Similarly, due to the artificial stimulation nicotine is providing, a smoker's neurotransmission system slows down and can actually stop producing dopamine, adrenalin, epinephrine and serotonin, which are the natural ways that the body helps with motivation, stress, anxiety, relaxation, and also critical "fight or flight" reactions.
The pills, the patch, nicotine gum and electronic cigarettes do not help the smoker overcome central nervous system impairments, nor do they properly replace and replenish the body's ability to recover from the "artificial" stimulant. In fact, some people believe that most cessation programs are scams marketed by the cigarette manufacturers to purposely fail and send the ex-smokers back to square one.