HEALTH WATCH

There is no doubt that cigarettes kill. Alarming statistic released by the World Health Organisation show that smoking is responsible for approximately 3 million deaths every year and that smoking can cut up to 15 years off your life.

As a result, according to a recent national Health survey, approximately 70% of smokers want to quit. However nicotine is a highly addictive drug, on which users become increasingly dependent to which they can develop a tolerance which demands increased "hits" and without which they experience serious withdrawal symptoms.

ADDICTION TREATMENT

Smokers desperate to quit many opt for nicotine substitutes, but because these actually contain nicotine, users can become equally addicted to them, and at the end of the prescribed weaning period, remain as hooked on nicotine as before. In addition, this deterrent has been linked with some unpleasant side effects including heart palpitations, faintness, difficulties in breathing, skin allergies, cold sweats, flushing and visual disturbances. Apart from these obvious disadvantages, it can also take up to eight weeks or more to kick the habit using such substitutes with no guarantees that you wont remain addicted to nicotine at the end of it.

TIME TO CHANGE

There are some people who are not ready to give up smoking, or want to do it in their own time and at their own pace. However, there are many public places where smoking is now banned, and the ordeal of lasting without a cigarette on a long-haul flight or during work hours, can be all-consuming.

WHAT THE ALTERNATIVE

Cig-no helps smokers quit or control their habit without nicotine. Ten years ago, Dr Mary Cody, an American medical practitioner, began to experiment with a plant called Plantago Major which includes a glycoside called Aucubin. Numerous studies have shown that this glycoside has anti-toxic, anti-inflammatory and expectorant characteristics which are useful in treating lung disorders.

As a result Dr Cody developed, Cig-no, a homoeopathic formula made from Plantago Major which works by creating an immediate aversion to tobacco, making the smoker feel as if they have had too much to smoke. The remedy harnesses the body own natural defence mechanism and allows the system to detoxify itself effectively and naturally.

PUTTING IT TO THE TEST

In a certified clinical trial entitled "An open evaluation of the tobacco aversion caused by Plantago Major Tincture in heavy smokers" *subjects with a history of smoking at least a pack of cigarettes a day for at least five years were recruited. Within one day, 83% of test subjects recorded some aversion to smoking, with four out of five subjects reporting that this aversion manifested itself as "decrease in pleasure of smoking".

*"An open evaluation of the tobacco aversion caused by Plantago Major Tincture in heavy smokers". Constance J Difilglia, MD, Robert W Shanahan, PhD. Essex Testing Clinic, Verona, NJ.

Cig-no is a homoeopathic remedy, which has been registered with the FDA as safe, non-addictive and non-toxic. It is 100% herbal and contains no nicotine. The Cig-no spray has a non-aerosol pump with a metered dosage system.

QUENCHING THE DESIRE

Like many homoeopathic remedies, Cig-no is sprayed sub-lingally, since the area under the tongue allows the active ingredients to reach the blood stream most rapidly. In this way, smokers can immediately quench their desire for a cigarette, up to ten times a day. Most people find it effective to use the spray before they develop the craving, particularly during activities they most associated with smoking. This spray can also be used by smokers to help them cope with non-smoking environments. The pocket sized spray can is convenient to carry and unobstrusive to use.

BREAKING THE HABIT

In the first few weeks, the urge to quit cannot always be quelled by spray alone, so it is recommended that Cig-no herbal supplement capsules should be taken 15 minutes after each meal until the smoking habit is broken or reduced significantly, when the spray alone should be enough.

DOSAGE

On day 1 and 2                - take 4 capsules, 3 times daily

On days 3 and 4              - take 3 capsules, 3 times daily

On days 5 and 6              - take 2 capsules, 3 times daily

On days 7 and 8              - take 1 capsule, 3 times daily

THE GOOD

• Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, your blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature of your hands and feet will return to normal.

• In eight hours, carbon monoxide levels in the blood decrease.

• After 12-hour, the heart and lungs begin to repair the damage caused by cigarette smoke.

• At the 24-hour stage, the risk of heart attach starts to decrease.

• Within 28-hour, the nerve endings start to re-grow and sense of taste and smell start to improve.

• By the second to third week, your circulation and lung functions will increase by 30%.

• Within as little as 1 month (and up to nine) smoking-related symptoms will reduce; shortness of breath, coughing and sinus congestion. In addition the cilia in the lungs will start to re-grow increasing the body's ability to clean the lungs and ward off infection.

• By the end of the first year, your risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.

• Within 5 years, the risk of lung cancer is cut by almost half.

• After 5 to 15 years, you have reached the same level of stroke risk, as a non-smoker.

• In the same time frame your risk of developing cancer of the mouth, throat or oesophagus is halved.

• After 10 years of non-smoking, the risk of lung cancer is the same as non-smoker as the body has replaced all the pre-cancerous cells with healthy ones.

THE BAD

• Heavy smokers (2 or more packets a day) are 3 to 4 times more likely to die of cancer as non-smokers.

• Smokers are twice as likely to die of cancer as non-smokers.

• Heavy smokers have 15 to 20 times the risk of dying of lung cancer as non-smokers.

• Smokers are 10 times more likely to die of lung cancer than their non-smoking counterparts.

• Smoking contributes to 80% of severe lung disease, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

• Heavy smokers have a 200% higher risk of dying from coronary heart disease than non-smokers.

• Smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of damaging the foetus, lower birth weights, miscarriage and stillbirth.

• Smoking has been implicated in osteoporosis, heartburn, ulcers, high cholesterol and cluster headaches.

• Smokers are more likely to get colds and keep them longer than non-smokers.

• Smoking damages the blood circulation and the nerve endings.

• Smoking affects your sense of taste and smell.

 ... & THE UGLY

• Smoking dries and ages the skin. Studies have shown that the skin of a 40 year old who smokes is akin to a 65 year old non-smoker.

• Smoking causes the skin to become prone to puffiness and wrinkles as it becomes deprived of oxygen.

• Nicotine stains the teeth, hair and skin.

• Life assurance and health insurance premiums of smokers are double those of non-smokers.

THE OTHER COST OF SMOKING

Not only is the long-term cost of smoking disadvantageous to your health, it can also seriously affect your lifestyle - after all smoking is an extremely expensive habit. If you are currently smoking a packet of 20 cigarettes a day, a week's supply will set you back over €35.00 - now just think what else you can do with the money.