Overview

Smoking is related to a number of ill-effects, most notably increased risk of cancer, COPD, and heart disease. However many individuals find it difficult to quit smoking, partially because of the addictive properties of nicotine.

Please see conventional, complementary, and alternative medical treatments for important background information regarding the different types of medical treatments discussed on this page. Naturopathic, Complementary, and Alternative treatments that may be considered include:

Differential Diagnosis

Treatment

  • Acupuncture, notably auricular, is very helpful.
  • Treat hypothyroidism if present.

Hypotheses

In some cases, it has been proposed that the smoker is self-medicating with nicotine and that if the underlying disorder is corrected, then it will be easier to quit smoking. In particular, hypothyroidism can lead to a fatigued state that temporarily improves in the presence of stimulants such as nicotine [Barnes], [Starr2005, pg 102].

References