IBS AND EVERYDAY POISONS: STOPPING SMOKING – WHICH SUPPLEMENTS WILL HELP?

Vitamin C has long been known to aid detoxification, strengthen the immune system and ease withdrawal symptoms. Vitamin B3 -niacin – has also been found to be helpful. This chemical, which can also be bought in the form of nicotinic acid, is similar in structure to nicotine. Niacin is also thought to resemble endogenous benzodiazepine – a tranquillizing substance similar to Valium made naturally in the brain. In the United States large quantities of niacir are used in detoxification programmes. Its use is combined with saunas and exercise and seems to have wonderful results, and there appear to be few toxic effects even at very high dosages. The usual recommended dose is to build up to 100 mg morning and 100 mg Ј night. Don’t be surprised if your skin pricks and you go bright red twenty minutes or so after taking it; this is a harmless flush and is beneficial. Niacin improves circulation to the extremities (it is used for chilblains and Raynaud’s Disease, a condition characterized by cold, white or blue fingers, caused by spasm in the arteries in the hands), and acts like an internal sauna. It is also known to be essential to the health of the bowel. People who are always cold often find this supplement helpful and many people say that after the first few doses they feel very much calmer. The only thing to remember is to take all the B vitamins if you take this; no B vitamin should be taken in isolation because it depletes the store of the others.*40\326\8*