Homoeopathy and counselling can help quit smoking: experts

People looking for a way out of tobacco addiction should not miss out on the homoeopathic route which experts say could also help through a combination of counselling and medication.
According to Homoeopathic consultant Dr AK Gupta, homoeopathic medicine can treat a large number of conditions or withdrawal symptoms arising out of stopping or reducing smoking such as anxiety, nervousness, fatigue, irritability, distension of abdomen and variations in blood pressure and pulse rate.
"All these last for a short while and simultaneously, according to totality of symptoms, some homoeopathic remedies can be used with great success. There are some medicines which gradually develop aversion to tobacco and treat other conditions too," said Gupta.

However, he stressed that motivation to quit tobacco is the prime thing in the treatment.
"Sophisticated therapeutic methods are useless unless the patient is cooperative. Simple yet effective steps can be taken to get rid of nicotine addiction once and for all which include not keeping a pack of cigarettes and purchasing one only in case of an overpowering urge to take a puff.
"Don't throw away the stub after smoking. Simply collecting them in transparent jar and looking at them would have an effect at the end of the day, week or month," he said, adding that he is holding a free consultation camp for those willing to quit.

"Along with the treatment, counselling is very crucial. It is important to motivate the patient. The patient should have a strong will power to give up this habit of smoking and chewing tobacco. Exclusive reliance on medication is not sufficient," said Dr Mohit Mathur, reader at department of Medicine, Nehru Homoeopathic Medical college and hospital.

At the start of the process, the cause or situation in which a person took up smoking is evaluated which is followed by counselling or medication as the symptoms vary from person to person.
"Pictorial and other forms of warning on tobacco packs can help as there are chances that a person would relate to them and have second thoughts," he said.

Citing a survey, which found that young men feared erectile dysfunction and early ageing due to tobacco products the most, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) recently demanded strong pictorial warnings on the cover of tobacco products.
Meanwhile, a six-day camp is being organised in the national capital where homoeopathy experts would be present to guide all those desirous of giving up smoking or any form of tobacco.