Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAcupunctureBlack PepperHypnotherapySt. John’s WortFresh Lime JuiceLobeliaLifestyle ChangesOther Methods That Can Help You Stop Smoking

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Acupuncture

Black Pepper

Hypnotherapy

St. John’s Wort

Fresh Lime Juice

Lobelia

Lifestyle Changes

Other Methods That Can Help You Stop Smoking

If you are trying to give up cigarettes, there are many methods and resources that can help. Nicotine replacement therapy is a popular option that can be effect, but you might also wonder if there are any natural ways to quit smoking.

Smoking cigarettes is one of the most difficultaddictionsto overcome. It’s only natural that you want to try anything that might help you quit. Many people try natural remedies, but not all are effective or safe. However, some studies do show promising results for some.

Many people who successfully quit use multiple approaches, includingcounselingor asupport system, so you might find that a combination of methods works best for you. Be sure to talk to your doctor to make sure any alternative treatment you try is safe for you.

At a Glance

If you’re considering using any alternative medicine to help you quit smoking, talk with your doctor first. Many supplements and herbs, for instance, have warnings stating that people with certain medical conditions and/or people who are pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn’t take them.

Acupuncture may be effective for helping peoplequit smoking. An acupuncturist will insert thin needles (that are about as thin as a strand of hair) into certain pressure points on the body. People receive acupuncture for various conditions such as chronic pain and migraines.

Acupuncture is generally safe; however, tissue injury may occur if needles are inserted improperly. If the needles aren’t sanitized, there is also a risk of infection.

Can Acupuncture Help You Stop Smoking Naturally?

One study looked at the effect acupuncture had on smoking cessation.Participants received acupuncture needles in various parts of the ear, where they remained for about 20 minutes.

For help resisting smoking in between sessions, acupuncturists provided tiny balls (the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen), that were taped to participants' ears with invisible tape. When acraving for a cigarettehit, the participant was instructed to press gently on the ball, which stimulated the acupuncture point.

As a result, the number of cigarettes that each person smoked per day decreased—the average time torelapsewas 38.71 days, which was longer than 35 days for people who usede-cigarettesand 14 days for people who usednicotine patchesas a method of quitting.

The authors of the study concluded that acupuncture was both an effective and safe method to help people quit smoking.

Black pepper essential oil may reduce the severity of cigarette cravings.In one study, participants inhaled one drop of pepper oil on a tissue for two minutes whenever they were struck with a craving.

May Reduce Cravings

The participants reported that both black pepper oil and angelica oil reduced the intensity of their cravings; in addition, the oils made cravings less frequent.

Black pepper oil was more effective at reducing cravings, whereas angelica oil was more effective in extending the time in between cravings.

Inhaling black pepper oil is a type ofaromatherapythat may help relieve cravings; however, further studies are needed to fully understand the effects.

Mixed Results for Smoking Cessation

According to one randomized trial, hypnotherapy is only slightly more effective than behavioral counseling in helping people quit smoking.

Participants who underwent hypnotherapy had a 29% success rate of abstaining from cigarettesafter one year of quitting. Those who did counseling had a 28% success rate of smoking abstinence, so the results were similar.

In another study, hypnotherapy was compared withnicotine replacement therapies (NRTs). The conclusion was that hypnotherapy was more effective than NRT in long-term abstinence, though there was no improvement in abstinence when the two therapies were combined.

If you are hesitant to try hypnotherapy, you might try another therapy type likecognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT has been shown to help improve self-control when it comes to resisting the urge to smoke cigarettes.

St. John’s is an herb that has been used medicinally for centuries. It is used to treat the symptoms ofdepression, symptoms of menopause,attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), among many other conditions. Whether it is effective for these conditions is up for debate.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, St. John’s Wort has been shown to be as effective as a standardantidepressantwhen taken for mild and moderate depression for a short-term period.

It is not proven to be an effective long-term treatment for depression; it is also not proven to be effective in treating more severe types of depression.

More Research Is Needed

Though some people take St. John’s Wort for smoking cessation, it is not proven to be effective for that purpose.More research is needed to know for sure.

Although St. John’s Wort appears to be reasonably safe when taken alone, it can interfere with the effectiveness of prescription and over-the-counter medications, including antidepressants, drugs to treat HIV infections and AIDs, drugs to prevent organ rejection for transplant patients, and oral contraceptives.

St. John’s wort is not recommended for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking this or any other herbal supplement.

Limes might be an affordable, accessible alternative to nicotine gum for smoking cessation.Researchers in one study measured smoking abstinence in participants who used lime juice as a cessation method and compared them with those who usednicotine gum.

May Help Smoking Abstinence

After seven days, people who consumed lime juice were found to have higher smoking abstinence rates than those who used the nicotine gum. However, nicotine gum was better at reducing cravings for cigarettes.

It’s not known for sure why lime juice may help with cravings. Researchers have noted that people who smoke commonly have lower levels of vitamin C in their bodies which may increase cravings, and lime juice can replenish vitamin C in the body.

Limes also have antibacterial properties which help to restore the immune system of people who smoke.

Further studies are needed to fully understand how lime juice can lead to smoking cessation.

The herb lobelia (Lobelia inflata) has been promoted to help people fight the effects ofnicotine withdrawaland it is found in many anti-smoking products. The active ingredient in lobelia is lobeline, and it is thought to have similar actions on the body as nicotine.

Lobelia is a potentially toxic herb, however, so it is not recommended as a method to quit smoking. It is also in the FDA’s Poisonous Plant Database.

Lobelia can cause dry mouth, profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, rapid heartbeat, confusion, seizures, and coma. In larger doses, it can even cause death.

People with heart disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, tobacco sensitivity, paralysis, seizure disorder, shortness of breath, or recovering from shock are at particularly high risk. Children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take lobelia.

There are also lifestyle changes—from diet to sleep—that can help you quit smoking.

Studies find that people who smoke tend to have less nutritious diets than people who’ve never smoked. A healthy diet may help with smoking cessation.

Make sure you’re drinking enough water.Staying hydrated is a great preventative measure to take to manage cravings. Limit your intake ofcaffeineandsugar. One study links caffeinated beverages and sugary beverages (like energy drinks) with increased smoking.

Deep breathingandmeditationhave been linked with smoking cessation.Also, be sure you’re getting enoughphysical activityandenough sleep. Taking care of your body and fulfilling these basic needs can go a long way in supporting smoking cessation.

Natural remedies for smoking cessation can be more effective if you combine them with other proven ways to quit smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy can be helpful. NRT products, including nicotine gum, patches, and lozenges, can help you gradually taper your dose to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Medications such asZyban (bupropion)andChantix (varenicline)can also help you quit successfully. Counseling, support groups, and other resources can support your efforts and make quitting easier.

Other methods you might consider include apps, text message services, online 12-step groups, and phone coaching resources.

Best Non-Medical Ways to Quit Smoking

17 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lin JG, Kotha P, Chen YH.Understandings of acupuncture application and mechanisms.Am J Transl Res. 2022;14(3):1469-1481. Published 2022 Mar 15.Wang YY, Liu Z, Wu Y, et al.Acupuncture for smoking cessation in Hong Kong: A prospective multicenter observational study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:2865831. doi:10.1155/2016/2865831Weleff J, Dore S, Anand A, Barnett BS.Black pepper(Piper nigrum)for tobacco withdrawal: A case report.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2022;2022:5908769. doi:10.1155/2022/5908769Williamson A.What is hypnosis and how might it work?.Palliat Care. 2019;12:1178224219826581. doi:10.1177/1178224219826581Carmody TP, Duncan CL, Solkowitz SN, Huggins J, Simon JA.Hypnosis for smoking relapse prevention: A randomized trial.Am J Clin Hypn. 2017;60(2):159-171. doi:10.1080/00029157.2016.1261678Hasan FM, Zagarins SE, Pischke KM, et al.Hypnotherapy is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation: Results of a randomized controlled trial.Complement Ther Med. 2014;22(1):1-8. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2013.12.012Goyal J, Menon I, Goyal T, Passi D, Gupta U, Gupta R.Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and basic health education for tobacco cessation among adult tobacco users attending a private tobacco cessation center.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(2):830-833. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_786_19National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.St. John’s Wort.Nisaa ZU, Zafar A, Zafar F.Efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention using the natural agents.International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health. 2018;10(2):809-815.Nicolussi S, Drewe J, Butterweck V, Meyer Zu Schwabedissen HE.Clinical relevance of St. John’s wort drug interactions revisited.Br J Pharmacol. 2020;177(6):1212-1226. doi:10.1111/bph.14936Rungruanghiranya S, Ekpanyaskul C, Sakulisariyaporn C, Watcharanat P, et al.Efficacy of fresh lime for smoking cessation.J Med Assoc Thai. 2012;95 Suppl 12:S76-S82.Un Nisaa Z. Zafar A. Zafar F.Efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention using natural agents.International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health.2018;10(2).Martin CA, Nuzzo PA, Ranseen JD, et al.Lobeline effects on cognitive performance in adult ADHD.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(14):1361-1366. doi:10.1177/1087054713497791Shakeela Begum M, Saradamma B, Reddy VD, et al.Influence of green tea consumption on cigarette smoking-induced biochemical changes in plasma and blood.Clinical Nutrition Experimental.2017;16:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.yclnex.2017.10.002American Cancer Society.Help for cravings and tough situations while you’re quitting tobacco.Fagan MJ, Di Sebastiano KM, Qian W, Leatherdale S, Faulkner G.Coffee and cigarettes: Examining the association between caffeinated beverage consumption and smoking behaviour among youth in the COMPASS study.Preventive Medicine Reports.2020;19:101148. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101148Tang YY, Tang R, Posner MI.Brief meditation training induces smoking reduction.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013;110(34):13971-13975. doi:10.1073/pnas.1311887110

17 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lin JG, Kotha P, Chen YH.Understandings of acupuncture application and mechanisms.Am J Transl Res. 2022;14(3):1469-1481. Published 2022 Mar 15.Wang YY, Liu Z, Wu Y, et al.Acupuncture for smoking cessation in Hong Kong: A prospective multicenter observational study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:2865831. doi:10.1155/2016/2865831Weleff J, Dore S, Anand A, Barnett BS.Black pepper(Piper nigrum)for tobacco withdrawal: A case report.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2022;2022:5908769. doi:10.1155/2022/5908769Williamson A.What is hypnosis and how might it work?.Palliat Care. 2019;12:1178224219826581. doi:10.1177/1178224219826581Carmody TP, Duncan CL, Solkowitz SN, Huggins J, Simon JA.Hypnosis for smoking relapse prevention: A randomized trial.Am J Clin Hypn. 2017;60(2):159-171. doi:10.1080/00029157.2016.1261678Hasan FM, Zagarins SE, Pischke KM, et al.Hypnotherapy is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation: Results of a randomized controlled trial.Complement Ther Med. 2014;22(1):1-8. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2013.12.012Goyal J, Menon I, Goyal T, Passi D, Gupta U, Gupta R.Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and basic health education for tobacco cessation among adult tobacco users attending a private tobacco cessation center.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(2):830-833. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_786_19National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.St. John’s Wort.Nisaa ZU, Zafar A, Zafar F.Efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention using the natural agents.International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health. 2018;10(2):809-815.Nicolussi S, Drewe J, Butterweck V, Meyer Zu Schwabedissen HE.Clinical relevance of St. John’s wort drug interactions revisited.Br J Pharmacol. 2020;177(6):1212-1226. doi:10.1111/bph.14936Rungruanghiranya S, Ekpanyaskul C, Sakulisariyaporn C, Watcharanat P, et al.Efficacy of fresh lime for smoking cessation.J Med Assoc Thai. 2012;95 Suppl 12:S76-S82.Un Nisaa Z. Zafar A. Zafar F.Efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention using natural agents.International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health.2018;10(2).Martin CA, Nuzzo PA, Ranseen JD, et al.Lobeline effects on cognitive performance in adult ADHD.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(14):1361-1366. doi:10.1177/1087054713497791Shakeela Begum M, Saradamma B, Reddy VD, et al.Influence of green tea consumption on cigarette smoking-induced biochemical changes in plasma and blood.Clinical Nutrition Experimental.2017;16:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.yclnex.2017.10.002American Cancer Society.Help for cravings and tough situations while you’re quitting tobacco.Fagan MJ, Di Sebastiano KM, Qian W, Leatherdale S, Faulkner G.Coffee and cigarettes: Examining the association between caffeinated beverage consumption and smoking behaviour among youth in the COMPASS study.Preventive Medicine Reports.2020;19:101148. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101148Tang YY, Tang R, Posner MI.Brief meditation training induces smoking reduction.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013;110(34):13971-13975. doi:10.1073/pnas.1311887110

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Lin JG, Kotha P, Chen YH.Understandings of acupuncture application and mechanisms.Am J Transl Res. 2022;14(3):1469-1481. Published 2022 Mar 15.Wang YY, Liu Z, Wu Y, et al.Acupuncture for smoking cessation in Hong Kong: A prospective multicenter observational study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:2865831. doi:10.1155/2016/2865831Weleff J, Dore S, Anand A, Barnett BS.Black pepper(Piper nigrum)for tobacco withdrawal: A case report.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2022;2022:5908769. doi:10.1155/2022/5908769Williamson A.What is hypnosis and how might it work?.Palliat Care. 2019;12:1178224219826581. doi:10.1177/1178224219826581Carmody TP, Duncan CL, Solkowitz SN, Huggins J, Simon JA.Hypnosis for smoking relapse prevention: A randomized trial.Am J Clin Hypn. 2017;60(2):159-171. doi:10.1080/00029157.2016.1261678Hasan FM, Zagarins SE, Pischke KM, et al.Hypnotherapy is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation: Results of a randomized controlled trial.Complement Ther Med. 2014;22(1):1-8. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2013.12.012Goyal J, Menon I, Goyal T, Passi D, Gupta U, Gupta R.Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and basic health education for tobacco cessation among adult tobacco users attending a private tobacco cessation center.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(2):830-833. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_786_19National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.St. John’s Wort.Nisaa ZU, Zafar A, Zafar F.Efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention using the natural agents.International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health. 2018;10(2):809-815.Nicolussi S, Drewe J, Butterweck V, Meyer Zu Schwabedissen HE.Clinical relevance of St. John’s wort drug interactions revisited.Br J Pharmacol. 2020;177(6):1212-1226. doi:10.1111/bph.14936Rungruanghiranya S, Ekpanyaskul C, Sakulisariyaporn C, Watcharanat P, et al.Efficacy of fresh lime for smoking cessation.J Med Assoc Thai. 2012;95 Suppl 12:S76-S82.Un Nisaa Z. Zafar A. Zafar F.Efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention using natural agents.International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health.2018;10(2).Martin CA, Nuzzo PA, Ranseen JD, et al.Lobeline effects on cognitive performance in adult ADHD.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(14):1361-1366. doi:10.1177/1087054713497791Shakeela Begum M, Saradamma B, Reddy VD, et al.Influence of green tea consumption on cigarette smoking-induced biochemical changes in plasma and blood.Clinical Nutrition Experimental.2017;16:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.yclnex.2017.10.002American Cancer Society.Help for cravings and tough situations while you’re quitting tobacco.Fagan MJ, Di Sebastiano KM, Qian W, Leatherdale S, Faulkner G.Coffee and cigarettes: Examining the association between caffeinated beverage consumption and smoking behaviour among youth in the COMPASS study.Preventive Medicine Reports.2020;19:101148. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101148Tang YY, Tang R, Posner MI.Brief meditation training induces smoking reduction.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013;110(34):13971-13975. doi:10.1073/pnas.1311887110

Lin JG, Kotha P, Chen YH.Understandings of acupuncture application and mechanisms.Am J Transl Res. 2022;14(3):1469-1481. Published 2022 Mar 15.

Wang YY, Liu Z, Wu Y, et al.Acupuncture for smoking cessation in Hong Kong: A prospective multicenter observational study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:2865831. doi:10.1155/2016/2865831

Weleff J, Dore S, Anand A, Barnett BS.Black pepper(Piper nigrum)for tobacco withdrawal: A case report.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2022;2022:5908769. doi:10.1155/2022/5908769

Williamson A.What is hypnosis and how might it work?.Palliat Care. 2019;12:1178224219826581. doi:10.1177/1178224219826581

Carmody TP, Duncan CL, Solkowitz SN, Huggins J, Simon JA.Hypnosis for smoking relapse prevention: A randomized trial.Am J Clin Hypn. 2017;60(2):159-171. doi:10.1080/00029157.2016.1261678

Hasan FM, Zagarins SE, Pischke KM, et al.Hypnotherapy is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation: Results of a randomized controlled trial.Complement Ther Med. 2014;22(1):1-8. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2013.12.012

Goyal J, Menon I, Goyal T, Passi D, Gupta U, Gupta R.Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and basic health education for tobacco cessation among adult tobacco users attending a private tobacco cessation center.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(2):830-833. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_786_19

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.St. John’s Wort.

Nisaa ZU, Zafar A, Zafar F.Efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention using the natural agents.International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health. 2018;10(2):809-815.

Nicolussi S, Drewe J, Butterweck V, Meyer Zu Schwabedissen HE.Clinical relevance of St. John’s wort drug interactions revisited.Br J Pharmacol. 2020;177(6):1212-1226. doi:10.1111/bph.14936

Rungruanghiranya S, Ekpanyaskul C, Sakulisariyaporn C, Watcharanat P, et al.Efficacy of fresh lime for smoking cessation.J Med Assoc Thai. 2012;95 Suppl 12:S76-S82.

Un Nisaa Z. Zafar A. Zafar F.Efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention using natural agents.International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health.2018;10(2).

Martin CA, Nuzzo PA, Ranseen JD, et al.Lobeline effects on cognitive performance in adult ADHD.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(14):1361-1366. doi:10.1177/1087054713497791

Shakeela Begum M, Saradamma B, Reddy VD, et al.Influence of green tea consumption on cigarette smoking-induced biochemical changes in plasma and blood.Clinical Nutrition Experimental.2017;16:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.yclnex.2017.10.002

American Cancer Society.Help for cravings and tough situations while you’re quitting tobacco.

Fagan MJ, Di Sebastiano KM, Qian W, Leatherdale S, Faulkner G.Coffee and cigarettes: Examining the association between caffeinated beverage consumption and smoking behaviour among youth in the COMPASS study.Preventive Medicine Reports.2020;19:101148. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101148

Tang YY, Tang R, Posner MI.Brief meditation training induces smoking reduction.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013;110(34):13971-13975. doi:10.1073/pnas.1311887110

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