Introduction
Quitting smoking means taking a path that is certainly difficult in which strength of will must never be lacking.
However, willpower may not always be sufficient to definitively say goodbye to smoking, especially when the typical symptoms of withdrawal syndrome begin to arise (such as anxiety, irritability, frustration, anger, aggression, restlessness, agitation, depression, decreased concentration and attention and increased appetite).
The dependence on tobacco smoke (or smoking) is, in fact, considered as a form of real drug addiction caused by nicotine.
Nicotine is a stimulating alkaloid found in tobacco leaves. Once inhaled with smoke, this molecule enters the circulation and interacts with its receptors (the nicotinic receptors) present in the brain, thus causing the classic sensation of pleasure and gratification that smokers experience.
Various types of drugs are available to help smokers become ex-smokers, but some natural remedies can also be effective. Natural remedies can help above all to counter - or at least alleviate - the symptoms deriving from the withdrawal syndrome.
Below, some of these remedies will be briefly illustrated. However, it is good to remember that, before taking any type of remedy or natural supplement for curative purposes, it is always necessary to consult one's doctor first to make sure that there are no contraindications and that there is no risk of potentially interactions dangerous with any other drug therapies already in place.
Medicinal plants for smoking cessation
Some medicinal plants can be very useful to the smoker who intends to say no more to nicotine by helping him to counter the symptoms induced by his abstinence.
Preparations based on ginseng, rhodiola, echinacea and eleuterococco, can be used as an aid against the stressful situation that arises when an individual stops smoking. These plants, in fact, are called " adaptogens ", a term used to indicate any remedy or drug capable of increasing the organ's non-specific resistance in response to both physical and mental stress.
The Hypericum - also known as St. John's Wort - is a plant with antidepressant and sedative properties and can be used in combination with conventional anti-smoking therapies to counteract the symptoms induced by nicotine withdrawal.
Similarly, the use of plant-based preparations with tranquilizing and sedative properties can also be a valuable aid in keeping the symptoms of abstinence from smoking such as agitation, restlessness, anxiety and irritability under control. Among the plants with the best known sedative action, we mention valerian, escolzia, hawthorn, kava kava, lemon balm and passiflora .
Berberine for smoking cessation
Berberine is a natural molecule - more precisely, an alkaloid - found inside many plants of the Berberidaceae family (such as, for example, barberry), but is also found in plants such as hydraste and hawthorn.
Berberine is best known for its cholesterol-lowering properties. Indeed, one study has shown that this molecule is able to reduce blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.
Moreover, some researches have been carried out which suggest the use of berberine in the treatment of smoking.
In reality, berberine is not able to reduce the desire to smoke or reduce the symptoms of withdrawal, but it has a protective action on the lungs and mucous membranes of the respiratory tract directly exposed to tobacco smoke.
Indeed, some studies have shown that berberine - thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties - is capable of reducing inflammation and lung damage caused by smoking. Another study, however, has shown that berberine is able to increase the activity of oral peroxidases that are usually inhibited by smoking, thus favoring an antioxidant type of action.
However, despite the encouraging results obtained, other studies and studies are certainly necessary.
N-acetylcysteine for smoking cessation
N-acetylcysteine (or NAC) is a derivative of the amino acid L-Cysteine and is used above all for its marked antioxidant properties.
More precisely, the N-acetylcysteine is obtained by adding an acetyl group to the N-terminal end of the above amino acid.
Cysteine is an amino acid that is part of the composition of glutathione (a tripeptide composed of glycine, cysteine and glutamate), the main antioxidant agent present in the lung.
Many studies have shown that tobacco smoke is a powerful oxidizing agent, since both the gaseous phase of cigarette smoke and the corpuscular phase are rich in oxygen radicals, extremely toxic chemical species for the cells of our body. Furthermore, smoking causes a decrease in glutathione levels in the lung, thus preventing it from carrying out its precious antioxidant activity.
The intake of N-acetylcysteine can promote an increase in glutathione levels and, consequently, promotes an antioxidant action.
Furthermore, a recent study has shown that N-acetylcysteine may also be able to diminish the sense of gratification induced by nicotine and can help to maintain abstinence when it is decided to quit smoking.
However, despite the potential efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of smoking, further clinical investigations are needed to evaluate all the potential benefits of this molecule on smokers.
Melatonin for smoking cessation
Melatonin is a hormone produced by our body (in particular, by the pineal gland or epiphysis) which is responsible for regulating the circadian rhythm and the sleep cycle.
Melatonin is present in numerous supplements used mainly for the treatment of sleep disorders, although there are also studies in which the use of melatonin is proposed in sports, in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases induced by oxidative stress (such as, for example, Alzheimer's disease) and in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
In any case, melatonin has a certain sedative activity which makes it potentially useful in treating nicotine withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, restlessness, anxiety, irritability and depression.
However, some studies have also investigated the potential protective capabilities of melatonin against the respiratory tract of smokers. From one of these studies conducted on animals, it was found that melatonin can decrease the damage caused by oxidative stress at the level of the larynx by stimulating the production of antioxidant agents. Another study, again conducted on animals, has shown that melatonin may be able to reduce lung inflammation that characterizes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (or COPD) induced by cigarette smoke. Finally, a further animal study showed the potential efficacy of melatonin in preventing restenosis (ie shrinkage) of the carotid arteries induced by smoking.
Even in this case, however, other investigations and clinical tests are needed before proceeding with the use of melatonin for these therapeutic purposes.
