{"id":1362,"date":"2016-03-10T22:06:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-10T22:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stopsmokinghypnosisbayarea.com\/?p=1362"},"modified":"2016-06-04T23:14:34","modified_gmt":"2016-06-04T23:14:34","slug":"where-does-nicotine-come-from","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/josephgiove.com\/qso\/where-does-nicotine-come-from\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Does Nicotine Come From?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In today\u2019s world, with health news and research being presented regularly and a newfound focus among most in the country towards healthier lifestyles, it\u2019s no surprise that most of us are fully aware of how dangerous smoking can be. After all, studies constantly find that things like heart disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases are all linked directly to the use of cigarettes \u2013 there are more than 4,000 toxic chemicals in every puff you take.<\/p>\n

Among the various chemicals and compounds found in cigarettes is one that most are vaguely aware of \u2013 nicotine. But at Joseph R. Giove Clinical Hypnosis, I\u2019ve noticed that nicotine itself is somewhat misunderstood. How it works, what its role in a smoker\u2019s life is, and where it comes from are all things that aren\u2019t often completely known by smokers. That\u2019s something worth changing.<\/p>\n

What Is It?<\/h2>\n

First, we need to understand the basics of nicotine in cigarettes and smokers. Nicotine is a type of compound that is now classified as a drug due to the impact it has on the brain\u2019s natural chemistry. When it is smoked, the lungs absorb it through their mucus membranes and it passes through the bloodstream and into the brain within about seven seconds. Once in the brain it triggers the release of a variety of compounds such as dopamine that relax the user and elicit feelings of calm.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also incredibly addictive, having the same addictive qualities as drugs like heroin and cocaine. As such, smokers become dependent on the drug quickly.<\/p>\n

Where Does It Come From?<\/h2>\n

Nicotine is actually a naturally occurring compound that is found within tobacco and within other plants within the nightshade family. It\u2019s a type of alkaloid, which is a chemical containing nitrogen. While it generally occurs naturally in tobacco plants, some nicotine is artificially produced for certain uses.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s tobacco plants have been bred and genetically modified to produce higher levels of nicotine, primarily to help increase the addictive nature of the cigarettes. In certain products the nicotine will be artificial, such as electronic cigarettes and nicotine patches.<\/p>\n

While nicotine is commonly thought of as the primary component of tobacco, it\u2019s important to remember that it\u2019s also one of the most dangerous and deadly natural poisons found in the world. In fact, for years it was used widely as a type of insecticide due to the fact that it is an antiherbivore chemical \u2013 a compound that kills plant-eating insects. This natural defense mechanism is also a key part of why nicotine is so dangerous.<\/p>\n

The idea of nicotine being a natural ingredient can seem silly, but it\u2019s very true \u2013 the key is to remember that natural doesn\u2019t always mean \u2018healthy\u2019 and in this case it\u2019s the exact opposite. Found naturally in the plant, nicotine is still very toxic and highly dangerous, not only because of its addictive nature.<\/p>\n

Where Do Nicotine Addicts Get Their Nicotine?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s worth looking at the other side of the question of where does nicotine come from, too. You now know where the substance is originally found, but extending that question means understanding where it\u2019s found in the retail world. In other words, where someone who is a nicotine user gets their nicotine \u2018fix\u2019 from. There are three primary sources of nicotine today:<\/p>\n