Generally, nicotine involves a tobacco component that is very addictive. This chemical is used in making vapes, chewing tobacco, and cigarettes, making them hard to quit. Quitting chewing or smoking tobacco usually causes withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, addicts trying to quit tobacco can use nicotine therapies such as pouches, lozenges, and gum. You can check here for various nicotine pouches with different nicotine contents.
What is Nicotine
Nicotine involves a plant alkaloid- a naturally occurring chemical comprising nitrogen. Nicotine is famous for its use in making cigarettes. Nevertheless, it has other use like making pesticides. Nicotine can also be found in potatoes, tomatoes, green pepper, and eggplants. All these plants come from the nightshade family, but their nicotine content is much lower than tobacco.
How Nicotine Works in the Body
Our bodies are composed of some proteins known as receptors, and they are responsible for receiving specific chemicals or neurotransmitters. Nicotinic-cholinergic involves the receptors that nicotine binds to when consumed. When nicotine gets into the body, it binds t these receptors generating a biological response. These receptors are located in various parts of the body ganglia, the inner part of the adrenal gland, neuromuscular junctions, nad the brain. The stimulating abilities of nicotine are achieved when it binds to nicotinic-cholinergic messenger chemicals such as beta-endorphin, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Therefore, the chemicals released positively influence one’s mood, pleasure, pain, or even emotions.
What is Nicotine Used for?
Nicotine has several uses, including;
Recreational use
After nicotine’s effect on one’s mood, nicotine is a recreational drug. Also, its use causes pleasure to the body of the user. The main form through which nicotine is taken recreationally is through cigarette smoking. Nevertheless, nicotine can also be consumed through pipe tobacco, e-cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff.
Long-term use of nicotine can affect the brain as its frequent use trains the brain to depend on nicotine.
Medical Use
You can use nicotine to overcome tobacco smoking addiction. If you stop smoking abruptly, it can cause withdrawal symptoms and other bodily effects. Therefore, using other nicotine products with lower levels is recommended to help manage withdrawal symptoms and finally quit. Treating cigarette addiction using nicotine products is referred to as nicotine replacement therapy. This therapy can be administered in the form of lozenges, patches, nasal sprays, gums, or inhalers. People addicted to smoking are usually advised to combine nicotine products for efficiency.
Pesticide
Naturally, the nicotine in tobacco plants prevents it from being eaten by herbivores. Also, the chemical has been utilized in manufacturing pesticides fo a long time. Pesticides are effective in managing fleas and ticks, especially in pets. However, pesticides containing nicotine have been banned in many parts of Europe, but some people can still use them under some restrictions.
Remember that nicotine pesticides are harmful to bees; thus, they should not be used in or close to a bee farm. Also, wear proper garments when using pesticides to protect your body’s health from being affected.
