You’re likely aware of how dangerous to your health cigarette smoking is. And you’re also probably aware, too, that quitting this nasty and expensive habit is very challenging.
Nicotine is the culprit, and it’s the main reason why people find it difficult to stop smoking; this chemical is responsible for the addiction.
After a long period of smoking, the body gets used to the nicotine, and the body cannot function properly without it. And of course; the more you smoke, the more you’ll want to smoke.
Now that’s a stacked deck against smokers if there ever was one.
So, here’s what happens when the body doesn’t get its nicotine fix: it feels anxious, restless… even nervous. This is of course the withdrawal symptom that we know of or are familiar with. Even if physical symptoms disappear in a few days, the cravings may linger for a much longer period.
If you or your friend or loved one is determined to kick the cigarette habit, I want to go out on a limb and say this article could be just the solution you’ve been looking for.
The natural answer to stop smoking lies in the herb Stevia. This sweet herb can eradicate cigarette cravings.
How to Use Stevia to Stop Smoking
German researchers found that Stevia not only helps to eliminate the nicotine addiction, it can also stop alcohol addiction. Stevia blocks the signals for craving that the body is trying to send to the brain. It short-circuits this addiction signal.
Stevia originated form Paraguay, and is a member of the chrysanthemum family. Paraguayans have used Stevia for centuries to sweeten their food.
Put a few drops of it on the tongue each time you feel the urge to light-up. This may seem incredible, and so simple, but many people swear by this therapy… and who’s to doubt German scientists? Stevia is available in both liquids and powders, so if you have it in powdered form, simply put some of it on your tongue, just as you would with the liquid.
In addition to this anti-smoking remedy, Stevia can also help fight diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. It can even make your skin look healthier, because it can nourish and smooth out the skin. It is the main ingredient in many skin care products!
How to Grow Stevia
Stevia prefers warm climates, and subsequently, at lower temperatures, it can’t survive. It can only thrive in zone 9 climates, which is the climate of Florida, southern Texas, and most of the west coast. With proper frost protection, it can survive in zone 8 regions.
When you’re planting Stevia, us containers that are at least 12” wide, and use the best soil. It should always be in well-lit areas. Watering should be done when the soil is dry to the touch.
Stevia will grow to a whopping 10 feet in height if cared for properly, and if the growing season is long. Before planting, always make sure there is no risk of frost.
Keep the soil fed with plant food, and use mulch or pine straw to prevent it from drying out during those scorching hot days in mid to late summer.
Troubleshooting your herb
Stevia does not like damp, soggy soil, so make sure it can drain properly. If it doesn’t drain, the roots will rot. If a wilted plant doesn’t recover after watering, it is likely the roots have already rotted and died.
Harvesting and storing
When Stevia blooms, remove the flowers so the plant will have room to grow more leaves. In Autumn, it will have white flowers and offers fewer good leaves for harvesting. The leaves are the sweetest at the end of fall and taste the best (and are less bitter) prior to blooming.
Drying the herb is the best way to make it useful and beneficial. Cut the stems and remove the leaves, then spread them our over fabric or put them outside.
Just one very warm day is all that is needed to dry your Stevia, and make sure the plant is brought inside before the dew moistens it in the evening. You can even use a food dehydrator if you have one. After the leaves are dried, grind them in a food processor, use a mortar and pestle, or crush them by hand. Keep them in an air-tight container and add to food recipes, or use as an anti-addiction therapy when needed.
Watch this video to learn what happens to your body when you quit smoking.