To stop smoking is hard, and most smokers cannot quit - and if they do - it is only for a short time. More and more people are getting into the natural way of doing things anymore, and using herbs to stop smoking is a very popular method for smokers today. Those who have been able to quit smoking with using herbs as a preventive, swear by them as a successful aid.

They help in combating the withdrawal symptoms that every smoker faces when he tries to give up smoking. Among other things, the herbal cures lead to positive mood swings and reduce the urge to light another cigarette.

One of the natural substances that can be used by people when they want to quit smoking is Lobelia, or Indian tobacco, an old and controversial herb that has recently become popular to smokers who want to quit the habit and cannot. Used for centuries as an expectorant that cleans the lungs, it was used for asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, or pleurisy.

Many uses are connected with Lobelia - relaxants, antispasmodics, diaphoretics, reducing inflammations and pain, poultices, hyperactivity, easing muscle tension or convulsions - which go back in history until its recent popularity today. Many believe it makes the taste of regular tobacco "repulsive" while other naturalists use it to clam the nerves and relax the body muscles, easing mild depression.

Lately, current evidence suggests the herb Lobelia can produce similar effects on the human body as nicotine, yet is not addictive and helps eliminate the desire to smoke. There is trouble when it is overused, such as vomiting, drowsiness, weak pulse, and respiratory failure.

Another herb is the Mimosa tea ("mimosa hostilis"), a perennial evergreen shrub that is native to northeastern Brazil and also found in southern Mexico. The root bark is the choice part of the plant, traditionally used in the preparation of a psychoactive sacramental beverage.

Giving up smoking may make you feel anxious, or give you a headache but a strong cup of Mimosa tea can boost your mood and help you calm down. It is not addictive and is recommended for use instead of anti-depressant medicines. Similarly, the traditional Chinese CaoSu herb diminishes the desire to smoke.

Smoking non-tobacco cigarettes look like regular cigarettes and are available in many flavors like burnt sienna and menthol. They offer the same sensation while smoking as regular cigarettes but are healthier because they don't contain nicotine or tar. However, you must consult your doctor before taking these or any herbal medicines, because many of them may contain substances similar to drugs.

You must also eat lots of raw or lightly steamed fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking lots of water, fruit juice, herbal tea, etc, to flush out the nicotine. Try taking hot baths, whirlpool baths, and saunas. These make you feel better, and reduce the urge to smoke.

Another way to fight the craving for nicotine is to chew on a large flavored toothpick, or squirt juice into your mouth. Similarly, drinking herbal tea, which is made from five different herbs, can help you to fight the urge to smoke.