Mark Twain once said, “Quitting smoking is easy; I’ve done it dozens of times.”
With the proof more readily available than ever that cigarette smoking causes serious threats to our health, many are choosing to finally bite the bullet and kick the habit. That means that options for methods for ditching the “coffin nails” are numerous, with patches, vaporizers, nicotine gum, and pills at every turn, and each one being promoted as the one right option for you. But one alternative we don’t hear mentioned quite as often is that of herbal cigarettes.
What is an Herbal Cigarette?
Basically speaking, these are cigarettes that contain any blend of herbs, oftentimes along with a filtration device of some description. Originally, this was a Chinese pastime, with a variety of medicinal herbs being combined alongside tobacco in varying degrees to give your smoke a little extra flavor, thereby creating a more pleasurable smoking experience. However, the kind of herbal cigarettes we’re discussing — for the purpose of kicking nicotine — actually contain no tobacco whatsoever.
Rather, the herbal cigarettes most beneficial for the cessation of smoking tobacco will contain herbs such as clove, mugwort, linden, and lavender. Such cigarette alternatives have become widely popular here in the U.S., as well as in other countries like Europe, India, and Korea.
Why Try Herbal Cigarettes?
When it comes to switching to herbal cigarettes, there are several immediate benefits to consider.
The first is that (as any smoker can tell you) a major factor in smoking addiction is the “ritual” of the habit. The act of taking out a cigarette, lighting up, and drawing in a lungful of smoke comes to be, in itself, a pleasurable act. Not to mention the social aspect, wherein stepping out with a group of friends for a breath of “fresh air” becomes a way of marking time as you pass the evening with your social circle.
When you give up smokes, however, you may find yourself standing idly by with hands shoved deep in your pockets while your friends happily puff away around you like smokestacks.
Switching to herbal cigarettes satisfies the immediate need to maintain the ritualistic aspect of the habit — taking out a smoke and lighting it, whether on a quick break from work or going out with friends. To a large degree, this can satisfy the majority of your brain’s demand for a cigarette, while the more deeply-rooted nicotine withdrawal can (if necessary) be supplemented with nicotine patches or pills.
This gives you the opportunity to “taper off” the nicotine itself while feeling less like you’re going without something you’ve grown to need.
Easier on the Lungs, Easier on the Wallet
In addition to being a great way to quit smoking tobacco that is both plentiful and easy to acquire, herbal cigarettes are also cheaper than many brands of cigarettes. This is especially true if you’re used to smoking cigarettes marketed as being “all-natural,” or live in a major population center where tobacco can cost you as much as $20 for just one pack.
If you, like many, are smoking a pack every day or two, just think of how much you could save by switching to a safer, cheaper tobacco alternative, all while enjoying the peace of mind that comes from not worrying about the incomprehensible health risks associated with nicotine use. You could finally buy that motorcycle you’ve had your eye on all winter!
Okay, maybe not that much, but you’d still save a ton.
Say Goodbye to Addiction
Or just ghost it. Your call. Whatever the case, there’s no risk of addiction associated with smoking herbal cigarettes. That means that you get to quit on your own time, with no fear of withdrawals, mood swings, and all the other obstacles that have stood in your way in the past.
In addition to throwing addiction to the curb, one big difference between herbal cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes is the smell — you could go from smelling like a fire in a garbage can full of used dental floss to smelling like a veritable cornucopia of herbal deliciousness that will have everyone turning to ask, “What is that smell?” But, you know, in a good way
If you’re struggling with putting down tobacco products for good, why not consider switching to herbal cigarettes today?
