Herbal cigarettes

[nsd_user663_37946]

Hello everybody.

Been reading this sight since I stopped smoking(day 35). I have not seen any mention of herbal cigarettes, and wondered what the forums thoughts were? I have a packet from Holland & Barrett with no nicotine/tabacco. I know they will not stop the craving, but may help phycologically?

[nsd_user663_6426]

The only experience I had with them was many years ago when a friend tried to quit using them. She offered one to me to smoke and they tasted like camel dung (well not very nice). I suppose because I was expecting them to relieve some sort of craving they would satisfy me, but it didn't really work. I think she lasted a few days on them before starting smoking again. This is my only experience of them though so other people may have better success from them. I dunno because there was no nicotine there to surpress the craving it really did feel like I was sucking on burnt paper....(I know that's what cigs are really, burnt paper but they had that addictive nicotine in them). The herbal cigs did nothing for me. I'd say try them and give it a go (if you don't you'll never know what they're like)...apart from a little cash that you'd be spending on cigs anyway you won't lose anything. Just research them a bit to see if they're as safe as they say they are.

Well done on your 35 day quit...can I ask, if you've done 35 days already....why light anything up and puff on it at all, you're doing fab already!.

Lisa x

[nsd_user663_37946]

Hi Lisa

Thanks for the reply. The reason is that I have put on a stone in weight in five weeks and thought that having a nicotine free cigarette instead of snacking may help. FYI I gave up on a snap decision after watching my mom die of COPD. Not planned, just a gut feeling. Now feeling confused about giving up, hence the herbals.

[nsd_user663_6426]

HIya chunky...now I get the name, but a stone isn't that much and if you can kick the fags then you can kick the weight into touch. I've also put on half a stone in three weeks. So the weight issue is getting to me a bit too. A lot of people quit on a snap decision...after having bronchitis I decided to give up as it was just too painful to smoke and I scared myself that I thought it was lung cancer. Now I've got better there's the temptation to smoke, but we've got through so much...why start again now? You're probably feeling better for not smoking, I know I do. Do you really want to go back to that dirty, smelly habit...the idea of a cigarette is so much better than actually smoking one. I know as I've tried to quit so many times before now. If the cravings are getting to you and you need something to do with your hands, could you try the NRT inhalator...a few people on this forum rate them. I'm really sorry to hear about you losing your mum, she would definately want you to continue this quit.

Lisa xx

[nsd_user663_18145]

Hi Chunky sorry read about you losing your mum

I tried the herbal ciggies and aswell as tasting like a mixture between musky cabboard dung taste with a slight flowery tinge they stunk really bad too :eek:

You are doing so well in your quit

because i missed smoking the most when i was on the phone i used to keep an empty nrt inhaler to hold i then progressed to doodling but after a while i just seemed to stop doing that

some of the people on here took up knitting or

cross stitch to help keep there hands busy

Hope you manage to find something that helps

Regards

Carol

[nsd_user663_18145]

Forgot to add about the weight gain sadly for most people they do tend to gain weight not just because they need to put something in there mouths you also tend to eat more as the nicotine is a suppressent so normally if you was hungry you woild have a ciggy first then find you wasnt so hungry aftewoods so drinking a glass of water when you feel hungry and eating slower will help also alot of foods taste so much better

[nsd_user663_35913]

Hi Chunky

Really sorry about your mum!

Don't know what the herbals taste like - but they smell a bit dodgy (a bit like a certain illegal substance) so be careful where you smoke them (if you do).

I think it is normal to feel a bit confused about giving up - I still have doubts even now and think it would be easier to just to give up the quit and start up again...but the thing is, you would just have to give up again at some point! After 35 days (which is brilliant by the way) of hard work - why chuck that away? Makes no sense. There are times when I really miss smoking - but I have often likened it to having come out of an abusive relationship - you still miss the person, but not what they did to you - and you KNOW it would be sheer and utter stupidity to go back, because there is NO good side to it.

As for the weight gain - it is to be expected, but try and think of food as a fuel for this wonderful machine (body) you have - you want to give it the best quality fuel that you can, so when you do snack think about whether the 'fuel' you're consuming is good or bad - ie. carrot sticks vs crisps. You wouldn't put fuel in a car that would clog up the engine - so why do it to your own engine...

Okay - lecture over (I think that was more aimed at me then anyone else ;))

Keep strong Chunky - you will succeed!

Fellie