Whole lot of smoke: How's best to quit cigarettes

There are an estimated 320 million smokers in China, accounting for one-third of total smokers all over the world, according to a survey conducted last year by Gallup, a research-based consultancy. The report also shows about 3,000 Chinese people die because of smoking-related diseases each day and this figure is expected to rise to 8,000 by 2050.

"Medically, smoking will enhance the possibilities of getting various diseases ranging from digestion problems and hypertension to arthrolithiasis and heart disease," Huang Yunyu, a doctor at Dongzhimen Hospital, told Metro Beijing.

In order to help people quit, many methods can be explored, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and psychological treatment.

The TCM method for smokers uses herbs and acupuncture, both tailored to the individual being treated.

"Practicing Chinese medicine to help smokers varies from person to person. Doctors need to make a prescription according to the person's physical status," explained Li Zhengqing from the Xizhihe TCM Hospital. "And this prescription helps to alleviate smokers discomfort when they are trying to quit."

During the early stage of quitting, smokers often feel tired, less energetic and cannot concentrate due to the absence of nicotine. "In this stage, some choose to eat lots of food to replace smoking in order to lift their spirit. So smokers can take some TCM to alleviate these symptoms," said Huang.

Besides using TCM to help quit smoking, psychological methods are also now being applied in China. Unlike in the West, very few people know about them.

Recently a special psychological group for smokers, hosted by psychologist Qi Zhibin, had only two members, which is far below the 10 person minimum for hosting the activity.

"Most Chinese people do not know this method, so my group was unable to continue," said Qi to Metro Beijing.

Psychological ways to quit smoking are varied in form, but all aim to make smokers feel disgusted by cigarettes. For instance, smokers might find that by regularly reading material about the negative sides of smoking it will help them quit.

"Quitting smoking is a very complicated psychological process. To use psychological methods to help smokers abandon their smoking habit involves helping them alleviate their anxiety. But now in China we do not have specialized research on this," said Lu Ling from the Beijing National Olympic Psychological Hospital.

In addition to psychological treatment and TCM, other treatments exist like using a nicotine patch, nicotine gum and an electric cigarette.

Not all believe in these products though. "Since smoking is a habit rather than a disease, those products have little effect," said Li.

According to Xiao Lin, an official from the smoking control department of the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are also three new channels being constructed to help smokers.

"Now we are trying to build a smoking hotline, a quit smoking website and a mobile message service providing suggestions and help for smokers. They can ask about how to quit and experts will be available to advise," explained Xiao.

Though many ways are available, to give up smoking takes more than one try for most smokers.

"I always think about quitting. I tried several times using an electric cigarette to give up but still failed," said Li Guowei, 28, who has been smoking for 10 years. The longest period Li has managed to quit for has been less than a month.

"I know my weakness is that I cannot persist. When I see people smoking, my craving for cigarettes grows," said Li.

As Lu mentioned, there is no best way for people to quit smoking. "All those methods like psychology or medicine only serve a supplementary function. It still depends on the strong personal will of the smoker to truly get rid of the habit," he said.