Guest guest Posted August 29, 2004 Report Share Posted August 29, 2004 http://www.forces.org/evidence/evid/therap.htm I don't know whether smoking might be beneficial under certain circumstances and within certain boundaries, but I find the idea interesting. A look at current literature seems to indicate that nicotine and other compounds in tobacco have a wide range of benefits, but that the harms of cigarette smoking far outweigh the benefits. However, I find many of the claims against tobacco to be questionable, especially when levied against tobacco per se, rather than specifically flume-cured tobacco loaded with toxic additives. I certainly haven't come to any conclusions about the matter, but I'm passing along some of the evidence of beneficial effects. The above site contains a lot of information in favor of tobacco. I've recently taken up the experiment of smoking 1-3 American Spirits cigarettes a day. So far, I've found that it helps me concentrate on intellectual projects after a long work-day, and helps maintain a positive mood at work. Oddly, I've found that smoking a cigarette at lunch helps relieve some of the respiratory symptoms from the concrete dust at work. Friday night, I binged on five cigarettes, and the typical allergy symptoms of my eyes, nose, and throat I've acquired with my new job, during the night and following day were greatly improved over normal. My kettlebell workouts are extreme cardiovascular workouts. If light smoking has a negative effect on my cardio-respiratory system, it will become evident in these workouts, and my health is my first priority, so the whole thing is experimental. But so far, I haven't found negative effects at this degree. I suspect that perhaps light use of smoking and alcohol may be beneficial, while heavy use of either may be harmful. We'll see, over time. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 > http://www.forces.org/evidence/evid/therap.htm > > I don't know whether smoking might be beneficial under certain circumstances > and within certain boundaries, but I find the idea interesting. A look at > current literature seems to indicate that nicotine and other compounds in tobacco > have a wide range of benefits, but that the harms of cigarette smoking far > outweigh the benefits. Here is a recent article about nicotine http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040621/pf/nm0704-660_pf.html Since the mob has already spoken that tobacco kills, all the gutless researchers who know the benefits won't dare speak about it. I am sure that the fact that this beneficial compound is widely and cheaply available and not patentable does not help. I find the whole thing similar to the problem with saturated fat. No one willing to stick their neck out and speak against the mob. Speaking of the mob I am sure you saw that it has been one of the coldest summers in a long time, cause it was all over the news ya know. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040817.wxweather 0817/BNStory/International/ -Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 In a message dated 8/30/04 2:56:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time, implode7@... writes: This is quite hilarious really. Most people who are addicted to smoking can admit that they are hooked. You, however, are simply doing a scientific experiment. Classic. _______ I've been doing the experiment for a week. Would one expect to be " hooked " after a mere week? Didn't you and I come on the same side of a debate about the nature of addiction with a while back in which we both opined that addiction requires a certain course of time to become active? I call it an " experiment " because: 1) It was pre-planned and deliberate 2) I've been generally following the course in terms of smoking habits I set out to 3) I've been observing the effects I intended to observe While I didn't mention whether or not I was " hooked, " I, at this point, don't believe I am, because: 1) I smoke far less than the typical smoker 2) Depending on what I'm doing, I may not desire a cigarette the entire day until I relax and unwind at night 3) I don't suffer any of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal (or withdrawal from whatever else) that I experienced when I *was* addicted to cigarettes, years ago 4) I've abruptly changed my smoking schedule (from 1 cig split between breaks at work to one whole one at lunch) without needing any adjustment Having been addicted to cigarettes before, I think I'll be aware if the signs arise again. It took me longer than a week (or, 1.5 weeks now I think) to become addicted the first time, and I would expect it to take me longer this time. (and to smoke more, and maybe to smoke nastier cigarettes.) Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 This is quite hilarious really. Most people who are addicted to smoking can admit that they are hooked. You, however, are simply doing a scientific experiment. Classic. > http://www.forces.org/evidence/evid/therap.htm > > I don't know whether smoking might be beneficial under certain circumstances > and within certain boundaries, but I find the idea interesting. A look at > current literature seems to indicate that nicotine and other compounds in > tobacco > have a wide range of benefits, but that the harms of cigarette smoking far > outweigh the benefits. > > However, I find many of the claims against tobacco to be questionable, > especially when levied against tobacco per se, rather than specifically > flume-cured > tobacco loaded with toxic additives. > > I certainly haven't come to any conclusions about the matter, but I'm passing > along some of the evidence of beneficial effects. The above site contains a > lot of information in favor of tobacco. > > I've recently taken up the experiment of smoking 1-3 American Spirits > cigarettes a day. So far, I've found that it helps me concentrate on > intellectual > projects after a long work-day, and helps maintain a positive mood at work. > Oddly, I've found that smoking a cigarette at lunch helps relieve some of the > respiratory symptoms from the concrete dust at work. Friday night, I binged > on > five cigarettes, and the typical allergy symptoms of my eyes, nose, and throat > I've acquired with my new job, during the night and following day were greatly > improved over normal. > > My kettlebell workouts are extreme cardiovascular workouts. If light smoking > has a negative effect on my cardio-respiratory system, it will become evident > in these workouts, and my health is my first priority, so the whole thing is > experimental. But so far, I haven't found negative effects at this degree. I > suspect that perhaps light use of smoking and alcohol may be beneficial, > while heavy use of either may be harmful. We'll see, over time. > > Chris > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 > > In a message dated 8/30/04 2:56:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > implode7@... writes: > This is quite hilarious really. Most people who are addicted to smoking can > admit that they are hooked. You, however, are simply doing a scientific > experiment. Classic. > _______ > > I've been doing the experiment for a week. Would one expect to be " hooked " > after a mere week? Didn't you and I come on the same side of a debate about > the nature of addiction with a while back in which we both opined that > addiction requires a certain course of time to become active? Oh - to some degree I was joking, but the point was that most people who 'need' cigarettes would acknowledge that it is bad for them, while recognizing that it had some good effects. You sounded just like someone in denial, which I thought was pretty funny. Hmmm, I think I'll take up smoking too... > > I call it an " experiment " because: > 1) It was pre-planned and deliberate > 2) I've been generally following the course in terms of smoking habits I set > out to > 3) I've been observing the effects I intended to observe > > While I didn't mention whether or not I was " hooked, " I, at this point, don't > believe I am, because: > 1) I smoke far less than the typical smoker > 2) Depending on what I'm doing, I may not desire a cigarette the entire day > until I relax and unwind at night > 3) I don't suffer any of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal (or withdrawal > from whatever else) that I experienced when I *was* addicted to cigarettes, > years ago > 4) I've abruptly changed my smoking schedule (from 1 cig split between breaks > at work to one whole one at lunch) without needing any adjustment > LOL - so you used to be a smoker, and now you've convinced yourself that it's good for you, and that you can smoke without becoming addicted again. Sounds like you're already psychologically addicted to a degree. Whether you're physically addicted with only a few a day, or how long it takes, I don't know. But, obviously, the longer your 'experiment' takes, the greater the chances that you will be addicted. But, as long as you convince yourself that it's good for you, why be concerned? And you are totally objective, right? > Having been addicted to cigarettes before, I think I'll be aware if the signs > arise again. It took me longer than a week (or, 1.5 weeks now I think) to > become addicted the first time, and I would expect it to take me longer this > time. (and to smoke more, and maybe to smoke nastier cigarettes.) > > Chris > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 In a message dated 8/30/04 1:08:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time, implode7@... writes: LOL - so you used to be a smoker, and now you've convinced yourself that it's good for you, _______ I already stated my opinion in this thread, which is that I'm not sure whether or not it might be good for you in moderate doses, perhaps with cycling. (not bike riding :-) ) _____ and that you can smoke without becoming addicted again. Sounds like you're already psychologically addicted to a degree. _____ I'm not sure how to define " psychological addiction " because it seems to have very ambiguous boundaries with " really liking something. " I'm psychologically addicted in the sense that " I really like it, " and I would prefer to do it if it had a neutral or positive effect on my health, or even if it had a slight negative effect on my health that could be compensated for in other areas. But all of those things are true for getting drunk. I get drunk at most once on the weekend. If I had more money and more spare time, I'd get drunk once or twice a week. Am I " psychologically addicted " ? The same could be said for a variety of foods too. Am I psychologically addicted to hamburgers? ________ Whether you're physically addicted with only a few a day, or how long it takes, I don't know. But, obviously, the longer your 'experiment' takes, the greater the chances that you will be addicted. But, as long as you convince yourself that it's good for you, why be concerned? And you are totally objective, right? ________ That's true (the first part), but I don't think that additive-free tobacco is very physiologically addictive. I say this because when I quit Marlboros the first time, I had very intense physiological withdrawal symptoms, especially for the first 7-10 days, while, when I quit a second time a year later, this time having switched to American Spirits for about a year, I suffered virtually no physical withdrawal symptoms at all. I don't remember whether I suffered very little withdrawal or none, because it was seven years ago, but in any case the physiological withdrawal is basically negligible in terms of being an obstacle to quitting. In some sense, smoking irregularly or lightly is a way of claiming my freedom from tobacco. Needing to have it, or needing to not have it (because if I have some, I must have it all), are both spiritual slavery to it. If it's possible, I'd prefer to treat it like any other pleasurable thing in my life. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 > This is quite hilarious really. Most people who are addicted to smoking can > admit that they are hooked. You, however, are simply doing a scientific > experiment. Classic. > > Lol Gene! You reminded me of a comedy bit that Robin did about his " experiment " with drugs that turned into a ten year research project, lol. regards, Bruce (who has done all the research he needs to, thank you) : -) " Good broth will resurrect the dead, " - South American proverb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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