In recent months there has been much debate over e-cigarettes with one side saying they are beneficial for those who wish to stop smoking and the other claiming they are still addictive.
Although they are generally thought to be less harmful than smoking real cigarettes, because they contain no tobacco, e-cigarettes do contain the addictive chemical nicotine and the latest US research has suggested that e-cigarettes contain some toxic chemicals and are not a safe alternative to smoking tobacco.
The best alternative to smoking still seems to be not to smoke and the easiest way to kick the habit is through hypnotherapy.
The National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH), with more than 1,800 highly qualified therapists on its register, is well placed across the UK to help those who wish to give up smoking.
Using hypnotherapy to stop smoking has been proven to be the best method in a meta analysis conducted at Iowa University involving 72,000 subjects. The study looked at many different ways to stop smoking and hypnotherapy was shown to be the most effective method.
It works well and efficiently in curing bad habits like smoking because the hypnotherapist will work directly with the smoker’s subconscious, bypassing the critical mind and getting to the root of the issue so that changes can be made.
Since the advent of e-cigarettes and even the earlier use of nicotine patches, many have said this is a way to be weaned off smoking and the nicotine addiction.
But, in the latest US study and using experiments on mice, scientists found that e-cigarette vapour could harm the lungs and make them more susceptible to respiratory infections. The PLOS One study, according to the BBC, also found traces of ‘free radical’ toxins similar to those found in cigarette smoke and showed that this still appeared to damage the lungs.
Thomas Sussan, lead author and assistant scientist in the department of environmental health sciences at Johns Hopkins University, said: “E-cigarette vapour alone produced mild effects on the lungs, including inflammation and protein damage.
“However, when this exposure was followed by a bacterial or viral infection, the harmful effects of e-cigarette exposure became even more pronounced.”
Besides this scientific evidence, there are other valid reasons to stop smoking. The NHS says by not smoking people can have better sex lives, a healthier skin, whiter teeth, less stress and live longer.
The NHS says that in 2-12 weeks of stopping smoking, circulation improves and this makes all physical activity, including walking and running, much easier.
By visiting an NCH therapist (you can easily find one near you by using the NCH directory) you can kick the habit in possibly just one session. The number of sessions could vary. The therapist may use what is known as aversion techniques which will put the smoker off having another cigarette.