International Journal of Homoeopathic Sciences

Tobacco addiction is widely recognized as a major social and public health problem. In the 20th century alone, it caused nearly 100 million deaths worldwide. In India, tobacco-related illnesses claim around 800,000-900,000 lives each year. Currently, the country has over 200 million tobacco users; only about 13% smoke cigarettes, while 54% use beedis, and the remainder consume tobacco in raw or gutka forms.

Strong tobacco-cessation efforts have been shown to deliver significant, well-established health benefits. Many studies confirm that quitting tobacco substantially reduces the health risks associated with its use. For this reason, there is a need to explore the role of homeopathic medicines in supporting tobacco cessation, as they are generally well-tolerated and free from major side effects. Their use can be guided by established homeopathic principles. However, there is limited documented research on the effectiveness of homeopathic treatments for tobacco dependence. This highlights an urgent need for further work in this area so that homeopathy—being affordable and accessible—may eventually become part of the first-line options for helping individuals quit tobacco.