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For my husband, after 5 years of trying to quit smoking at least 20 times, when he began dosing himself with the appropriate amount of Lithium Orotate, he was FINALLY able to quit tobacco.

I found out that tobacco has lithium in it and that's one of the reasons it's so sedating to smoke.

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Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004  |  IP: Logged | 

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Medical use
Main article: Lithium pharmacology

Lithium salts were used during the 19th century to treat gout. Lithium salts such as lithium carbonate (Li2CO3), lithium citrate, and lithium orotate are mood stabilizers.

They are used in the treatment of bipolar disorder since, unlike most other mood altering drugs, they counteract both mania and depression. Lithium can also be used to augment antidepressants.

Because of Lithium's nephrogenic diabetes insipidus effects, it can be used to help treat the syndrome of inappropriate diuretic hormone (SIADH).

It was also sometimes prescribed as a preventive treatment for migraine disease and cluster headaches.[48]


The active principle in these salts is the lithium ion Li+. Although this ion has a smaller diameter than either Na+ or K+, in a watery environment like the cytoplasmic fluid, Li+ binds to the hydrogen atoms of water, making it effectively larger than either Na+ or K+ ions.

How Li+ works in the CNS is still a matter of debate. Li+ elevates brain levels of tryptophan, 5-HT (serotonin), and 5-HIAA (a serotonin metabolite). Serotonin is related to mood stability.

Li+ also reduces catecholamine activity in the brain (associated with brain activation and mania), by enhancing reuptake and reducing release.

Therapeutically useful amounts of lithium (~ 0.6 to 1.2 mmol/l) are only slightly lower than toxic amounts (>1.5 mmol/l), so the blood levels of lithium must be carefully monitored during treatment to avoid toxicity.


Common side effects of lithium treatment include muscle tremors, twitching, ataxia[49] and hypothyroidism. Long term use is linked to hyperparathyroidism[50], hypercalcemia (bone loss), hypertension, kidney damage, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (polyuria and polydipsia), seizures[51] and weight gain.[52]

Some of the side-effects are a result of the increased elimination of potassium.


There appears to be an increased risk of Ebstein (cardiac) Anomaly in infants born to women taking lithium during the first trimester of pregnancy.


According to a study in 2009 at Oita University in Japan and published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, communities whose water contained larger amounts of lithium had significantly lower suicide rates[53][54][55][56] but did not address whether lithium in drinking water causes the negative side effects associated with higher doses of the element.[57]

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Trace elements are known to influence a number of biological processes. [7]

The possible role of lithium as a trace element in human nutrition and in the pathogenesis of certain diseases is presently under investigation.[7]

Information regarding the lithium content of articles of food and the daily intake of lithium in Indian subjects is limited.

Lithium intake is likely to be affected by such factors as dietetic habits, type of drinking water, and soil content of this element.

Such differences in intake may be responsible for the epidemiological differences observed in the incidence of manic depressive psychosis (MDP) and atherosclerotic heart disease (AHD) in different populations.[7]

The present study describes the result of estimation of lithium which was found to be present in articles of food commonly used in an Indian diet.

The lithium content of serum, urine, and other biological fluids in healthy Indian volunteers is also reported.

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Lithium content of food:
The results of analysis of various articles of food are shown in [Table - 1].

Amongst the various leafy and non-leafy vegetables which were analysed, coriander leaves, tamarind, tomato and garlic had high amounts of lithium;

while onions, green chillies, and vegetables like cauliflower had little lithium.

Spices such as nutmeg, cummin seeds and coriander seeds had high lithium content.

The lithium content was high in various cereals and pulses like pearl-millet, black-gram, and chawli seeds;

while rice and wheat contained very little lithium.

Lithium content was also found to be high in rock salt and commonly used crude sea salt as compared to refined table salt.

The highest amount of lithium (12 �g/gm) was detected in tobacco.

The lithium content of water varied according to the source.

Tap water supplied to Bombay city had a low lithium content as compared to spring water from a nearby village which had twice the amount of lithium, probably because the water supplied to Bombay is mostly soft rain water which collects in catchment reservoirs and contains less minerals.

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A very high amount of lithium is present in tobacco.

Chewing or eating tobacco, by itself or with betel nuts and leaves, is common in India and this will add to the lithium intake.

Serum contains very little lithium, and in some samples of cerebrospinal fluid, lithium could not be estimated by AAS, which is perhaps the most sensitive method available at present.

Endogeneous serum lithium levels in various psychiatric disorders do not seem to have any diagnostic value (unpublished data).

It is possible that the tissue level of lithium and its daily turnover are physiologically more important than the serum level.

Earlier studies have demonstrated the presence of lithium in various biological tissues.[3]

Lithium has important effects in many different organ systems, particularly those involved in ion transport and polypeptide hormone action,[4] and it is also an effective therapeutic agent in manic depressive psychosis.[2]

There is a vast difference between the large amounts of lithium required therapeutically and the small amount of lithium which is consumed regularly in the diet.[8]

Little is known about the role of lithium intake in low doses as supplied from the diet in contemporary metropolitan health.

It is possible that the epidemiological differences in diseases such as AMP among various population may be related to the dietetic intake of lithium.[9]

It is realized that the present study was carried out in the subjects from Bombay and the cooked food analysed was obtained from a general hospital in Bombay.

Food habits are known to vary from state to state and from class to class and no generalised conclusion can be drawn from the above data for the entire population of India. The need for further work in this field is obvious.

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Hmmmmm.......

[ 08-21-2009, 01:33 AM: Message edited by: AliG ]

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Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner.

Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006  |  IP: Logged | 

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(I broke this up for easier "neuro" reading)

There are several herbs with a traditional reputation for helping people quit smoking.
These herbs exert varying effects that will ease the process of smoking cessation.

Most of them can be found in either dried bulk, capsule, or liquid extract form. Follow the directions on the label for use.

If using dried herbs, use them only to prepare tea, and never smoke them as a replacement for tobacco.


Lobelia (pictured above):
Is a very powerful herb that helps to calm the mind and relax the body.

It has helped many people to control their cravings for nicotine.

Lobelia is also reputed to have the effect of making cigarettes taste very bad.


St. John's wort:
One of the best known herbs for promoting a positive mental attitude-something people often need help with during the early phases of becoming a non-smoker.


Black cohosh:
Is commonly used by women to help them stay balanced during their monthly cycle.

However, it is also known to be a safe sedative that relieves nervousness and anxiety, which makes it useful for the irritability, restlessness, and nervousness associated with quitting smoking.


Blue vervain:
Has been referred to as a natural tranquilizer and as such it can be used to calm the nerves. It can also be used for insomnia.


Catnip:
Has a soothing and relaxing effect on the digestive system, and helps to relieve diarrhea, flatulence, indigestion, upset stomach, and headache.

Catnip also has antispasmodic properties that make it useful for abdominal cramps as well as chronic coughing.

Catnip is also good for alleviating sleeplessness.

Catnip's antibiotic and astringent properties are also beneficial for treating colds and bronchial infections.


Hyssop:
Has the ability to help with clearing mucus congestion in the lungs associated with COPD.

It also has been known to alleviate the anxiety and even hysteria that is sometimes associated with smoking withdrawal.


Korean ginseng:
Is one of the most popular herbs in the world for stimulating energy and helping the body to deal with stress.

This property enables ginseng to help alleviate the fatigue and anxiety related to quitting smoking.

Ginseng is known to help reestablish balance in the body's systems, which can be helpful to smokers as their bodies adjust to the absence of nicotine.


Motherwort:
Has properties that enable it to act as a sedative, inducing tranquility in times of anxiety associated with quitting smoking.


Oat straw or oat seed:
One of the best remedies for stress, nervous debility, and exhaustion, especially when associated with depression (a common affliction in people who have recently quit smoking).


Peppermint:
Has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the digestive system, combats flatulence, and stimulates the flow of bile and other digestive juices.

The volatile oil in peppermint acts as a mild anesthetic to the stomach wall, which helps alleviate feelings of nausea.

Where headaches are associated with digestion, peppermint may help. Peppermint also eases anxiety and tension.


Skullcap: Contains plant compounds that help the brain produce more endorphins (naturally occurring chemicals that promote feelings of well-being).

This is believed to enhance both awareness and calmness.

Skullcap relaxes states of nervous tension while renewing and reviving the central nervous system.


Slippery elm:
Is rich in nutrients and easy to digest, making it an excellent food during times of digestive discomfort, which can sometimes accompany smoking cessation.

It works with the body to draw out impurities and toxins, assisting with the healing of the entire body.


Valerian: One of the premier sedative herbs used to aid people with anxiety, stress, and insomnia.

Valerian also acts as a muscle relaxant.

Valerian is clearly one of the herbs of choice in smoking cessation to deal with the issues of insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety.

Adapted from Natural Therapies for Emphysema and COPD: Relief and Healing for Chronic Pulmonary Disorders, by Robert J. Green Jr., ND (Healing Arts Press, 2007).

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Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006  |  IP: Logged |