Helen Spath and her team at Tullivers Health Store, in York, advise on herbal remedies.

Q: My new year's resolution is to stop smoking and any advice would be really appreciated.

A: Perhaps the key to stopping is understanding the nature of your addiction.

Nicotine is highly addictive and creates the need for the next cigarette. It alters the brain chemicals dopamine and noradrenalin within seconds of inhaling, which the smoker interprets as a rush of pleasure.

In reality, the rush only satisfies the craving created by the last cigarette.

Then there's the psychological addiction. Nicotine stays within the system for up to five days, but it takes a whole lifetime of experiences and mental associations to mould the smoker's psyche. However, breaking the cycle and changing the way you think is not impossible - the ten million ex-smokers in the UK alone are living proof.

Start by being aware of your craving triggers and do your best to avoid them. The initial craving doesn't last for longer than a couple of minutes.

Nicotine replacement therapies can help and there are plenty to choose from, including patches, chewing gum and fake cigarettes, but you will eventually need to break this addiction too.

Regular exercise stimulates the release of brain chemicals that help to curb nicotine cravings, so try some form of brisk exercise for at least 20 minutes a day.

Finally, the herbal remedy Plantago can be effective. For years, it has been recognised for its ability to clear congestion and inflammation of mucous membranes, and has been found to cause an aversion to smoking.

A Vogel Plantago tincture from Bioforce should be taken three times a day in a little water.