Is herbal tobacco effective?

Herbal tobacco has been used successfully used to help some people in the smoking cessation process. Many people find that it is relaxing and believe that it is safe. Unfortunately that is not entirely true. Although herbal tobacco does not contain nicotine, there are still inherent risks in smoking it.

What is herbal tobacco?

Herbal tobacco is a term used to identify a variety of natural, nicotine free alternative to cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Also Herbal chewing tobacco has been used by many people to help them kick the chewing habit. Many people use herbal tobacco products to help them drop their dependency on nicotine.

What are the risks of herbal tobacco?

Most people assume that because herbal tobacco doesn't contain tobacco or nicotine, it is a safe alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes. Research has shown this is far from the truth. Although many of the ingredients are safe and use natural remedies, setting the herbs on fire changes their properties. Even though many herbal tobacco products claim to be tobacco and nicotine free, many still have tobacco and nicotine in them. Additionally, they still contain many cancer causing age nts, like tar and carbon monoxide. The health risks associated with herbal cigarettes are outlined below.

• Smoking herbal cigarettes can cause cancer: Although herbal cigarettes claim that they do not have the bad health effects of nicotine, they still contain many cancer causing agents.
• Smoking of any type causes respiratory problems including:
• Emphysema: Emphysema occurs when the lungs are damaged, usually from tar and the other chemicals found in cigarette smoke. This makes it difficult to breath. The most effective way to prevent emphysema is to avoid any type of cigarette smoke.
• Chronic Bronchitis: The lungs of people that have chronic bronchitis are red, swollen and irritated. They overproduce mucus resulting in blocked airways.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: COPD is used to describe the chronic lung diseases usually caused by smoking and includes Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis.
• Heart Diseases: Cigarette smoke of any kind causes car bon monoxide levels to rise in the blood, depriving the heart and other organs of oxygen. Additionally, smoke constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure.
• Aside from heart and lung issues, smoking also has a detrimental effect on the digestive systems,
• It can also cause infertility, peptic ulcer disease and delayed healing in wounds.
• Smoking of any kind by pregnant women can cause a variety of health and pregnancy complications as well as health complications in the child.

Can herbal chewing tobacco help people quit chewing?

Herbal chewing tobacco quitting options include products that have been successfully used in chewing cessation programs. Since the products are natural and not smoked, there are usually no adverse effects to the user's respiratory system.

How can herbal chewing tobacco help in the chewing cessation process?

Using a variety of techniques, people that chew smokeless tobacco can successful quit with the help of an herbal chew. Mint chew can successfully be used to help people quit chewing tobacco . Outlined below are a few techniques and steps those wanting to quit the chewing habit with the help of an herbal chewing tobacco should follow.

• Determine why you want to quit. Experiencing and overcoming nicotine withdrawal is a trying and taxing process. It is very difficult, not impossible, to do, but you need to want to quit. No one else can decide to do it for you.
• Prior to quitting, keep a chewing journal for about a week. Keep track of when you chewed, where you were at, who you were with, why you chewed and your feelings before during and after chewing. Analyze the journal and see if there are any patterns (there probably are).
• Compile a list of alternate activities you can participate in that do involve chewing or being around other people that chew. Also, if you tend to chew when you get bored, make a list of things you will do instead of chewing. This can be taking a walk, readin g a book or drinking a glass of water.
• Educate yourself about nicotine withdrawal and what you may experience. Understanding that the feeling is only temporary and why it is happening, helps many people overcome nicotine cravings and the urge to chew.
• Many people find it helpful to slowly wean themselves off nicotine using a mixture of the mint chew and tobacco. They gradually decrease the amount of tobacco used until they use no tobacco at all. They also continue to use the mint chew until they are comfortable as it has a very few minor health effects (slight gum irritation).

Who are some of the herbal chewing tobacco manufacturers?

A popular manufacturer of herbal chewing tobacco is the Oregon Quit Company. They produce a mint chew that is all natural and a safe edible alternative to chewing tobacco. Their Mint Chew is available at mass retailers and convenience stores across the country.

Recently the FTC settled a claim with the manufacturer of Magic her bal cigarettes. Ads run by the manufacturer claimed that herbal tobacco was safer to smoke than cigarettes containing tobacco. The FTC asserted that there was not a scientific basis for the claim and the manufacturer must include warnings on their packaging.

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