It’s Not Just The Nicotine That’s Causing You To Smoke Cigarettes

As we mentioned in our previous post, Aromatherapy and essential oils change moods and influence how you feel. Scents that are believed to help relieve the effects of nicotine addiction are lavender, bergamot, and chamomile. A number of people have found that bergamot especially takes away smoking cravings for cigarettes, helping them give up smoking more easily. These scents are aimed at revitalizing the body and mind while lifting your spirits and promoting a sense of well-being. Aromatherapy is also known for easing mental fatigue and insomnia.




But you might be wondering how these emotional feelings could help you quit smoking cigarettes, right?



Well, those struggling with depression often use cigarettes, alcohol or drugs to “self-medicate” and are also more likely to undergo severe psychological distress during attempts to quit. Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed data on 5,000 people, compiled between 2005 and 2008. They concluded that 43 percent of people suffering from depression are smokers, versus 22 percent of non-depressed people. And the relationship between intensity of depression and smoking was directly related: As severity of depression increased, so did the odds that an individual smoked cigarettes.



There are many pharmaceutical drugs available for treating depression and to help you stop smoking, like Wellbutrin, (which was designed as an antidepressant and later approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a smoking cessation aid under the name Zyban). However, drugs often come with weird and scary side effects.



The desire for relief without side effects often leads people with depression or who are trying to quit smoking to search for alternatives, like aromatherapy. However, many people have found relief through natural means like dietary changes, exercise, supplements, herbal remedies, aromatherapy or a combination of these and other therapies to ensure their lifestyle changes.