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At 52 years of age after 25 plus years of smoking a pack a day
or more, I quit cold turkey on February 1, 2003. I discovered that
what I was taking to help an unrelated problem was also working
to overcome the problems of quitting smoking.
It was producing effects conducive to quitting before I realized
they were happening and why. Even though I did not intend to quit,
the impact these effects were having on my system ultimately made
quitting easier, as well as sticking to it. This is a chronicling
of the process of that experience.
I was a long term heavy smoker; constant cough, getting sick for
one or two week periods over the winter, increasingly short of breath,
skin would reek in the sun or when exercising due to "smokers
sweat", etc. My health was getting worse by the year. However,
few smokers make their decision to quit by explicitly concluding
"hey, this is bad for me I should quit!"
In past attempts quitting normally took a prompting of some kind
to make the decision, and then the battle began. This time the battle
was surprisingly short, mostly fought and over with behind the scenes
"before I made the decision".
In early January 2003, I got sick for the second time that winter.
It started as a head cold, moving into the chest. Daily, it progressed
into what was likely bronchitis - been there, done that through
the years and I knew the symptoms.
As I got sicker and my lungs became more congested it became more
painful to "take a puff". The more I kept taking puffs,
the worse I felt; even a few per day aggravated my lungs big time,
making me feel like I was suffocating.
I reached the point where the discomfort of the puffs was greater
than the known discomfort of not smoking a few days to a week would
be to help clear up the lungs! Fully intending to start up again
after my lungs cleared, I stopped. I put my last pack of smokes
and lighter on top my microwave, along with the ashtray that held
the butt of my last smoke.
I got sick like this many times through the years, and had no reason
to think this time would be any different. The withdrawals were
always miserable and I would "test puff" daily to see
if my lungs still hurt. When that stopped, I started smoking again,
even if not fully recovered.
Day three. I realized I was not climbing the walls, nor "test
puffing" to see if my lungs still burned. Other than that,
everything "seemed" more or less normal and my lungs were
starting to clear. I decided to go a few more days.
Day seven. Lungs are much improved and clearing, coughing a little
still from the cold. A week had past without one test puff or lighting
a cig to burn in the ashtray for the secondhand smoke! Normally
I would be smoking by now. I did not feel stressed about it, after
all I was "not quitting" just trying to give my lungs
a break. Still it struck me as odd I was not climbing the walls
struggling with cravings or withdrawals, or fighting with all the
"occasions and reasons", I smoked! They were there, but
distant and subdued. I decided to let it go a few more days, but
it was becoming clear to me what was happening and why.
 I
wanted to smoke, but my "body craving compulsions and drives"
to light up where noticeably and significantly reducing, like something
was turning them off or dampening them. I was experiencing a strange
disconnect between the psychological callings still there and the
dampening effects on my physical cravings. I found myself in the
odd place of repeatedly confronting "some situation or favorite
occasion that use to make me strongly crave and light up",
only to find the cravings greatly reduced! I was feeling in control
of it, instead of controlled by it. This was something new!
With each passing day, I felt more in control and able to ignore
my psychological callings because of reduced body cravings, withdrawals,
and a much calmer system. Exactly what I always had trouble with
in past. The more I realized I was regaining control, the more I
choose to move towards it instead of back to smoking.
About 6 months before this I started taking 2 teaspoons per day
Yucca Schidigera extract for a bad back I have had for years. (Multiple
low back bulging disks, low back pain and in the legs). Yuccas'
anti-inflammatory and cartridge regenerative properties were working
exceptionally well at reducing my "back-going-out-episodes"
from 3 to 5 per year, to just once in two years. My low back pain
has reduced to where I stopped taking Ibuprofen and Advil type pain
pills for it. Yuccas natural anti-inflammatory properties were working
better than those pills, without their side effects from continuous
use. However, Yucca has many other beneficial properties.
I was taking it for my back but also clearly benefiting from its
ability to detoxify my body and calm and sooth my system, dampening
my body cravings for those poisons. Unlike patches and gums that
put toxins back into you then "step you down" in stages
(a euphemism that the body needs to be detoxified). Yucca Schidigera
was continuously removing toxins from my body and calming my system
"well before" I had actually stopped smoking. Moreover,
once I stopped that process became even more noticeable.
Before I got sick, I was smoking under a pack a day. Normally I
was fighting to stay under 2 packs! The smoker's perspiration odor
had also significantly reduced. Normally when exercising the smell
would be awful - now barely detectable. These were clear indicators
of what was happening, and at a certain point, my body made me aware
of them, as "it" tried to move me towards quitting.
Day ten. I have gone this long I may as well let it ride and see
if this really works; that was my decision to quit.
Day 14. By now I knew this was working and I was not only going
to be smoke free but was! I was feeling much better, had more energy,
and was seeing 14 days of pack-a-day money in my pocket for a change.
I felt like all the various struggle point aspects of stopping smoking
were like a rapidly dimming light bulb, and I was in control of
the dimmer. I was also not on any phony time schedule pressure to
be smoke free. Every ones body is different. For me it was more
an issue of detoxification and calming the system. From first taking
Yucca to this point was about 6 months. From last cig to here: 14
days! Listen to your body; it is your guide, not the calendar.
It was months before the smoker's cough ended, and smells and tastes
returned I had not noticed in years. The longer I took Yucca the
less appealing was the smell of smoke, one of the reasons I smoked.
Now a good whiff makes me feel crappy. I have zero desire to smoke
and no conflict over not lighting up.
I still had to "make the decision to quit" and do what
is necessary to follow through. However, compared to other times
I quit or tried this was significantly easier. I was not exactly
sweating bullets over it.
I still had to address the physiological aspects associated with
why I smoked. Smoking twenty-five years can deeply ingrain them.
Even so, without my high body toxin levels fighting against my every
effort, and a much calmer system I was surprised at how much easier
my reasons, excuses and rationalized crutches were to deal with.
I was in control of making the decisions, not the poisons from my
smoking or my body's' desire for them. Yucca helped me regain control
of my body, making quitting easier. It was the only variable here,
the only thing that was different.
I still had to deal with exposure to others close to me who smoked.
However, I am not the one smoking, they are. It is not my problem.
All I can do is make them a gift of Yucca Schidigera and hope they
use it.
Even with these issues, quitting smoking this time in comparison
was straightforward, easier, decisive and final. Yucca may be one
of the least know methods of quitting, but my experience has convinced
me it is one of the most highly effective.
Cleaning one day I picked up those smokes that sat on the microwave
for 6 months and tossed them into the garbage without a second thought.
A test of will I had no trouble winning. That tells me Yucca Schidigera
extract not only helped me quit, but to stay a non-smoker. It is
now a non-issue.
I took between one to two teaspoons Yucca per day total. (Two worked
best for me because of my back). At one teaspoon per day consumption,
a quart will last about 6 months. Take at meals and through the
day adding 5 to 10 drops per 8oz of liquid every time you drink
liquids. I think it is important to keep it entering your system
through out the day. Take daily for one to three months before you
stop smoking, through the period you are actively stopping, and
after since there are a great many health benefits to long term
use of Yucca Schidigera extract
For more information about the many uses and long term health benefits
of Yucca Schidigera extract go on line to: http://www.tandjenterprises.com/FoodGradeYucca.htm
1 Quart Yucca Extract Premium Food Grade Quality
Price: $20.00
Order
Product
T&J Enterprises
2328 W. Providence Ave., Spokane, WA 99205
(509)-327-7670
thomas@tandjenterprises.com - www.tandjenterprises.com
These statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose
or cure any disease. The information contained herein is for educational
purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to replace
the advice or attention of health care professionals. It is based
on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience,
or traditional usage as cited. The results reported may not necessarily
occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed,
treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also
available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist
for any health problem and before using any supplements or before
making any changes in prescribed medications.
Copyright by Larry Giannou 2004. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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