Positive thoughts help kick nicotine habit

AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Fresh research supports previous studies that guided health imagery helps smokers kick the habit, a University of Akron study concludes.

Seventy-one smokers were taught guided imagery tactics and encouraged to use them at least once a day as well as a 20-minute audio tape exercise.

Smokers were encouraged to relax and open their minds to images of health and healthy living. The process has been used to treat cancer, rape and trauma victims.

The result was that -- 24 months later -- 26 percent of the guided imagery group remained free of the nicotine habit while 12 percent of the control group still refrained from smoking.

The study was reported in the December issue of the Journal of Nursing Scholarship.