Making the decision to quit smoking is a complete life-changer, benefiting your mind, body, and wallet tremendously. But quitting is hard; whether it’s you who wants to be smoke free, or you’re a friend supporting a loved one’s struggle to quit, essential oils may be exactly what you need to help get rid of cigarettes for good. Regularly using certain essential oils can be very helpful during this journey by soothing common symptoms brought on by nicotine withdrawal, such as irritation, sleeplessness, and, of course, cravings.
Soothing the Side Effects
Unfortunately, cravings aren’t the only side effect to overcome. The nicotine in cigarettes stimulates the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and digestive system. When the nicotine is gone, cravings set in, making it very challenging to keep away from opening that pack for “just one more.”
This is where essential oils come in. Certain essential oils are known to help curb cravings and lessen the intensity of cravings dramatically. In particular, Black Pepper is a known favorite to aid in quitting smoking because when inhaled it stimulates the respiratory system in a way that mimics cigarette smoke. Because of this, the body can comfortably sustain longer periods of being without a cigarette, which means fewer cravings.
Notably, Cardamom’s spicy aroma is perfect to encourage a calm, clear, focused, problem-solving mindset. When motivation begins to waver, reach for Cardamom to help you get back on track with your goals. In addition, when feelings of irritation occur, Neroli can help boost your mood and help you climb out of an unhappy mental rut. Tension in the head and neck can be a pretty common occurrence for anyone trying to kick their smoking habit. Thankfully, Melissa’s beautiful grassy, lemony scent can help provide relief to this discomfort.
Using oils known to uplift your spirit and ease tension can help provide relief. Oils such as Lavender, Chamomile, and Ylang Ylang are calming and help to relax nervous tension. Citrus oils like Lemon, Pink Grapefruit, and Sweet Orange are refreshing and bring about a brighter mood, which helps stave off feelings of irritability.
Furthermore, Plant Therapy’s Chill Out blend is packed with mood-boosting oils like Ylang Ylang, Tangerine, Patchouli, Orange Sweet, and Blue Tansy, making it a perfect choice when those withdrawal symptoms try to take control. Combined with these essential oils, Plant Therapy created this blend solely to help calm nervous irritations caused by lack of nicotine.
Personal Inhalers
To quit smoking, a personal inhaler can be critical to success. Personal inhalers are compact and discreet, so they are easy to reach for when the physical habit of smoking a cigarette comes along. Holding an inhaler in your hand psychologically takes the place of a cigarette. Breathe in deeply to calm the cravings and tension.
Using essential oils to help ease withdrawal symptoms can give you the strength and comfort needed to finally kick the habit for good. Below are a few DIY blends of essential oils that can be used to help bring relief when quitting.
Curb the Urge Inhaler Blend
What you’ll need:
- Aromatherapy Inhaler
- 7 drops Australian Sandalwood
- 5 drops Cardamom
- 3 drops Neroli
- 1 drop Black Pepper
What you’ll do:
Inhale throughout the day when needed to reduce feelings of irritability.
*For a printable version, click here.
Sleep Well Diffuser Blend
What you’ll need:
- 4 drops Marjoram
- 2 drops Roman Chamomile
- 2 drops Vetiver
What you’ll do:
Diffuse intermittently during sleep to promote restfulness.
Ready to quit smoking for good? Incorporating these blends of essential oils can help you wean off your smoking habit once you’re ready to take the leap into a healthier lifestyle.
Source:
Rose, J., & Behm, F. (1994). Inhalation of vapor from black pepper extract reduces smoking withdrawal symptoms. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8033760
