Whether it’s a sweet-tooth craving for a sugary treat you want to cut back on or a nicotine craving for cigarettes when you want to quit smoking, cravings can bounce in your mind like a song that won’t go away.  They call to you, taunting you. They distract you from other priorities.  They can reduce your will power in other areas of your life.  If this sounds familiar then this post and these Young Living Essential Oil tips are for you!

Let me start with some reassurance – if you see other people who can have one chocolate and stop, and feel like cravings are harder for you than others, don’t beat yourself up.  There is some evidence that certain personality types are more sensitive to cravings than others.  All hope is not lost though – there are tools (and essential oils!) you can arm yourself with to make it easier to break those habits and resist those cravings! And the best news is, that for many of us, it isn’t about making huge changes to our lives – it’s about small incremental changes that add up to a big change over time.

Break The Habit

Have you ever noticed how orange juice tastes awful after you brush your teeth? Well, the same works in reverse.  I had a piece of chocolate the other day, and then took a sip of my lemon water and it tasted DISGUSTING.  That’s the premise of these Quit Sticks. The “Sweet Tooth Quit Sticks” change your palate and gets your tastes buds all prepping for a different savory flavor profile.  The “Smoking Quit Sticks” by contrast help break the habit, by giving you the spicy taste of black pepper (and coincidentally are also a great substitute for having something in your mouth). So what are Quit Sticks?  They’re essential-oil-infused toothpicks that you can chew or suck on when you feel a craving coming on! Nice!

Quit Sticks

Basic Supplies

• 8oz mason jar
• 100 toothpicks (I like this double ended style in bamboo rather th)
• 2tsp carrier: V-6 vegetable oil complex or other food-grade carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil or olive oil
• optional – empty roller without the roller ball as a travel case

Add carrier and essential oils to the bottom of the jar.  Add toothpicks and roll jar to thoroughly coat.  I store the jar on its side and rotate of the next couple days to help it soak in evenly.

Sweet Tooth Quit Sticks

• 15 drops Dill Vitality Essential Oil
• 15 drops Tangerine Vitality Essential Oil (get it free with this Month’s Promos or feel free to substitute another citrus like Lemon or get inspired by the list below)

Smoking Quit Sticks

• 15 drops Black Pepper Vitality Essential Oil
• 15 drops Cinnamon Vitality Essential Oil

Best Essential Oils for Stopping Sugar Cravings

• Cinnamon Bark– helps suppress appetite, helps balance blood sugar levels, helps fight sugar cravings, and helps minimize binging
• Coriander– helps balance blood sugar levels and helps minimize sugar cravings
• Dill– a superstar in fighting sugar cravings and stimulates brain’s satiety center
• Fennel– helps balance blood sugar levels and helps suppress appetite
• Ginger– stimulates brain’s satiety center and helps minimize binging and overeating
• Grapefruit– helps fight sugar cravings, reduces appetite, helps minimize binging and overeating, and helps with emotional and stress-induced eating
• Peppermint– stimulates brain’s satiety center and helps minimize binging and overeating

Best Essential Oils for Stopping Smoking Cravings

• Black Pepper– helps suppress appetite, helps balance blood sugar levels, helps fight sugar cravings, and helps minimize binging
• Clove– removes the desire to smoke
• Present Time– helps with insecurity, and being in the moment to focus on your goals
• Cinnamon– helps fight cravings
• Thieves– contains Clove and Cinnamon, so it’s a double whammy

Identify The Habit Around the Craving

I think it’s fair to say that for most of us, the craving doesn’t come out of the blue. Most people have some triggers – whether you are conscious of them or not – that preceded our cravings.  For me, it’s a cup of tea. After all those years of living in Australia and having “morning tea” – a cuppa and a cookie – my mind subconsciously associates the two and makes me crave something sweet with my tea. My brain then justifies it by telling me I went to the gym, or I’ve been working hard and deserve a teat.  Sometimes my brain gets really creative and even says things like “If you don’t eat it, the kids’ will and their health is REALLY important”.  Gee, thanks, Brain.

So what are your triggers? Do you always feel like a sweet treat after lunch? Always want a smoke break after a team meeting? Do you use it as an excuse to wind down after a long day? or take a break from your desk? (yep, this one is me too!).  Take a few moments to think about what your triggers are.  It may even help to track them for a day or so until you feel confident that you have identified them all.  Like me, you probably have more than one trigger.

I hope you find these recipes inspiring.  I’ve found that 20 quit sticks fit perfectly in an empty roller bottle so it’s great to carry in my pocket or handbag.  Very discrete.  I’d love to hear how your goals are going? Have these helped? Have you cut back on your cigarettes? Quit smoking altogether? Stopped snacking as much? Managing those sweet treats a little better? Losing weight? I want to hear! P.S. I think the Sweet Tooth ones taste a little like a pickle!