Wiccans, what are some herbs that can help me quit smoking and lose weight?

Question

My friend said Wiccans know a lot about herbs which is why I ask.

Answer 1

You are taking you're health into your own hands by asking Wiccans to give you advice on herbs ( They're aren't "witches" they're just self-deluded!). Many of the herbs they use are dangerous. Here are some examples:

Kava Kava New evidence has associated the use of kava with liver damage. And in some of those people the liver damage has progressed to liver failure. It can also cause birth defects and hallucinations.

Lobelia listed by the FDA as a "dangerous herb", can suppress breathing, speed the heart, and possibly lead to coma or death.

Blue cohosh: Toxic to the heart muscle and may harm intestines. Seeds are poisonous. Powder is strongly irritating to mucous membranes. (Some herbalists call this a "blood purifier!")

Coltsfoot: Is used for coughs but contains alkaloids that cause liver cancer.

Comfrey: Contains allantoin and the alkaloids consolidine and symphytocynoglossine. Concentrrations as little as 0.5% of the diet have caused cancer in rats.

Eyebright: 10-60 drops of the tincture can induce mental confusion and violent pressure in the eyes with lacrimation, itch, redness and swellings of the margins of the lids, dim vision, photophobia, weakness, sneezing nausea, insomnia, polyuria.

Sassafras: Less than a teaspoon of the oil causes degeneration of the heart, liver, and kidneys. Safrole, the chemical constituent in Sassafras is forbidden by the FDA from use as flavors or food additives because it is a known carcinogenic.

Herbal Ingredient: Chaparral (a traditional American Indian medicine)
Possible Health Hazards: liver disease, possibly irreversible
Herbal Ingredient: Comfrey
Possible Health Hazards: obstruction of blood flow to liver, possibly leading to death

Herbal Ingredient: Slimming/dieter's teas
Possible Health Hazards: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, chronic constipation, fainting, possibly death (see "Dieter's Brews Make Tea Time a Dangerous Affair" in the July-August 1997 FDA Consumer)

Herbal Ingredient: Ephedra (also known as Ma huang, Chinese Ephedra and epitonin)
Possible Health Hazards: ranges from high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, nerve damage, injury, insomnia, tremors, and headaches to seizures, heart attack, stroke, and death

Herbal Ingredient: Willow bark
Possible Health Hazards: Reye syndrome, a potentially fatal disease associated with aspirin intake in children with chickenpox or flu symptoms; allergic reaction in adults. (Willow bark is marketed as an aspirin-free product, although it actually contains an ingredient that converts to the same active ingredient in aspirin.)

A popular book among herbalists is a book from the 1600's called Culpepper's Herbal Remedies (even though every herbalist doesn't own it, some indeed do). Is it really a red hot idea to go back to the 1600's for medical advice??? Often times these “cures” are based on the “magical” properties of these plants, which in reality they don’t have. For instance, an old herbal remedy book of centuries ago might have read "take ye Juniper Beries, which art an plant of Jupiter, and makest them into a poultice as a cure for consumption". Is this scientific? No, basing a plants curative properties purely on their occult or astrological “powers” is hardly a scientific way to find cures for diseases (because they don’t have any!). It's also hardly worth trusting one's health over. It is true I go for the aloe vera when I have a burn, but no Wiccan ever taught me this, it's common knowledge. If you use herbal remedies, use common sense when you do. [NOTE: the "cure" cited is fictitious, and don't try it. It's given as a made up example of what a medical cure might look like in Culpepper's book.]

I once remember reading in "The Witch's Herbal Spell Book" a concotion of about a dozen herbs, most of which would have been hard to find, which was supposed to be a cure for diarrhea , and I laughed out loud and thought "Or, you could just buy a bottle of Pepto Bismal!" Herbalism makes life harder, not smarter.

Try the Subway sandwhich diet like Jared did if you want to lose weight. Chew mint gum to help you quit smoking.
And believe it or not, prayer has shown to help in clinical tests. Try prayer. No one ever had a toxic reaction from it and it's free!

Answer 2

These herbs help quit smoking

* Avena Sativa
* Garcinia Cambogia
* Gotu Cola
* Skullcap
* Valerian
* Parrot's Beak
* Willow
* Oak
* Oregon Grape Root
* Goldenseal

Regards
http://www.herbalvitaminwonders.com

Answer 3

Well it depends on which one is more detrimental to your health at the present time. I would suggest quiting smoking first as the health benefits are truly great, however if you are morbidly obese, then the weight might be more important. From a purely aesthetic standpoint you might want to quit smoking first then you can lose any extra weight you might gain along with the weight you want to lose currently.

Answer 4

Willow bark, Sassafras, and Golden Seal brewed in a tea will get all those toxins out of you. Ephedra in capsul form is good for weight loss. Sassafras and Blue cohosh brewed in a tea will help you quit smoking.

Also sex will help you take your mind off of nicotine and food. Give you and your lover some Yohimbe to get things going.

Blessed Be!

Answer 5

There is no such think as magical herbs. What you should do is smoke one less cig a day. Start running and working out. Eat less but more often. Smaller meals but lots of them. More fruits less carbs and fat. Don't focus on your weight but how you feel. put your goals on paper. Good Luck

Answer 6

drinking yogi dextox tea from the health food store helped me do both these things. plus i was walking a few miles daily which also helped. eating licorice is known to cut down cravings, so i did that too. eating sunflower seeds has natural nicatine in it and that helped me too. make sure to drink lots of water and that detox tea to clean out ur system. also there's super supportive website for people who quit smoking and many newcomers who just recently quit or just simply need encouragement to quit smoking, that helped me sooooooo much. It's called "Blairsville". check it out online. good luck. I have a lot of Pagan beliefs but that herbal detox tea/not sure what the exact herbal ingredients are.

Answer 7

Eat 5 6 small meals a day instead of 3

Answer 8

Well, I'm not a Wiccan...but I've always read that cinnamon is supposed to help you loose weight by controling post-meal insulin spikes, which make you feel hungry.

Answer 9

Keep this kind of meal between 400 and 600 calories. Serve yourself a smaller portion, so if you like coming back again for seconds, you'll just finish up eating a normal-size portion.

Answer 10

go 20 mph on your bike for 6 1 2 minutes