MD Tests 5 Ways to Quit Smoking – The “Strange” One Works

Only 1 out of 10 smokers manages to quit.¹

The odds are not in your favor. It’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do in life.

But what if it literally doesn’t have to be this hard?

Dr. Mae Brooks, Ph.D. in neuroscience, had a feeling she could prove quitting is easier than people think – most of us just approach it from the wrong place.

“We reach for a cigarette on autopilot – that’s the subconscious mind at work. Meanwhile, we try to quit with willpower, which is conscious”, says the doctor.

She ran an informal study, with each group trying a different quit-smoking method.

90 days. 5 groups, each trying a different method.

After reading the results, you’ll never want to quit “cold turkey” again.

1# Cold turkey

Quitting cold turkey is the most common approach.

Most people go in thinking: just get through the first few days, and it gets easier after that. Push through the cravings, the irritation, clear the nicotine, and the hard part is over.

“People who quit cold turkey rely entirely on willpower,” says Dr. Brooks.

Willpower, she explains, is like a well – it runs out quickly and doesn’t replenish itself often.

The results

By day three, the cold turkey group was irritable and restless. “The entire day, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s hell”, one member said.

By week 2, the willpower well had run dry. Only 2 out of 10 made it to 90 days – and both ended up relapsing after.

That tracks.

Usually, only 3 to 5% of people who quit cold turkey stay smoke-free after six months.²

The odds are against you.

“The subconscious doesn’t take strict orders,” says Dr. Brooks. “Force it, and it pushes back.” ³

Dr. Brooks’ verdict – 1/10

2# Nicotine patch

Nicotine patches are the most doctor-recommended quit-smoking tool.

The logic is simple: deliver nicotine another way, slowly reduce the dose, and the physical aspect of your addiction goes away.

The results

Dr. Brooks’ second group used nicotine replacement therapy for 90 days.

Surprisingly, it went much better than with the “cold turkey” group. Most went through the first few weeks without the irritation and uncontrollable cravings.

“Patches do a decent job managing the physical side of withdrawal,” says Dr. Brooks.

“But remember – smoking isn’t just physical. Only 17% of patch users remain smoke-free after one year.⁴

Every time you felt stressed, you lit up. Finished a meal – lit up. Got in the car – lit up.

Those triggers are stored in the subconscious. The patch doesn’t reach them.

Dr. Brooks’ verdict – 4/10

#3 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is the gold standard in addiction treatment.

You work with a therapist to identify your smoking triggers, challenge the thoughts behind them, and replace them with healthier responses.

“CBT is genuinely effective, and I recommend it to many of my patients,” says Dr. Brooks. “However, for some, the effects may diminish over time⁵.”

There’s also a practical problem – one session may cost anywhere between $100 and $300 per session out of pocket. A full CBT program typically runs 8 to 12 weeks of weekly sessions, if not more.

For many people, that’s simply not accessible.

The results

Dr. Brooks’ third group completed a full 12-week CBT program. The results were striking – 9 out of 10 made it through without lighting up.

“Impressive,” says Dr. Brooks. “But 12 weeks is still a short window. The real question is what happens at month six, month twelve, when the sessions are long over, and life gets in the way.”

Dr. Brooks’ verdict – 8/10

#4 Varenicline (Champix)

Varenicline is the most powerful prescription medication available for quitting smoking.

It blocks nicotine receptors in the brain, dulling cravings and easing withdrawal at the same time.

The results

Dr. Brooks’ fourth group had strong results. 8 out of 10 participants made it through 12 weeks without relapsing.

“The evidence behind varenicline is hard to argue with,” says Dr. Brooks.

But the side effects are significant: nausea, insomnia, abnormal dreams, and mood disturbances in up to 11% of users.⁶

And once the medication stops, the subconscious habit is still waiting.

Dr. Brooks’ verdict – 6/10

#5 Hypnotherapy (the one that finally worked)

This was the method Dr. Brooks was most curious about – and one most of her patients were skeptical of.

“I get it,” she says. “Hypnotherapy doesn’t sound like science. But the research on habits and the subconscious mind is solid.”

Her fifth group used Kure, a personalized hypnotherapy app built specifically for quitting smoking. 15 minutes a night, at bedtime, when the subconscious is proven to be most receptive.⁷

After 12 months, people who combined hypnosis with nicotine patches were nearly twice as likely to have quit for good.⁸

The results

At 90 days, 8 out of 10 had stopped completely – the strongest result across all groups with no side effects.

But Dr. Brooks wanted to be sure, so she followed up six months later.

The numbers held – only one participant had picked up smoking again.

“For those dealing with strong physical withdrawal, combining Kure with nicotine patches is a smart approach,” says Dr. Brooks. “The patch handles the body, Kure handles the mind.”

And it only takes a quiz to start.

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health: better sleep, more energy, improved breathing, saved money, and a ton more.

Dr. Brooks’ verdict – 10/10

Free yourself from the shackles of a habit you hate

“The results from this group were unlike anything I’d seen,” says Dr. Brooks.

For years, quitting for them felt like something only others could do.

Then, one day, they looked back and realized – wait, I actually did it.

One patient told Dr. Brooks she’d been to a work event full of smokers. She stood outside with them, chatted, and just walked back in.

The patient said she wasn’t even tempted – the freedom to say “no” felt too good.

You, too, can experience this freedom.

It all starts with a quick quiz – Kure asks you a few questions about your habits, your triggers, the moments you reach for a cigarette, just like in a CBT session.

That’s how it builds a program that actually fits you – not a one-size-fits-all plan.

“Don’t take my word for it,” says Dr. Brooks. “Take the quiz and see for yourself”