Tobacco – Tobacco or tobacco substitute product or component part thereof – Compositions – e.g. – smoking or chewing mixture or medium
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-22
2002-12-24
Griffin, Steven P. (Department: 1731)
Tobacco
Tobacco or tobacco substitute product or component part thereof
Compositions, e.g., smoking or chewing mixture or medium
C131S359000, C424S725000, C424S040000, C424S195170, C424S747000, C424S774000, C424S773000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06497234
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to a mixture of herbs and other natural products that can be used as a healthy substitute for tobacco. The herbal composition of the present invention also alleviates the addictive effects of nicotine, and provides an aid to quit smoking tobacco-related products.
2. Background Art
Note that the following discussion refers to a number of publications by author(s) and year of publication, and that due to recent publication dates certain publications are not to be considered as prior art vis-a-vis the present invention. Discussion of such publications herein is given for more complete background and is not to be construed as an admission that such publications are prior art for patentability determination purposes.
Smoking tobacco, and particularly cigarette smoking, is recognized as a substantial health factor, and a major risk factor in a variety of diseases, including coronary artery disease and a wide range of cancers. It is also recognized that nicotine, a constituent of tobacco, is highly addictive, making decreasing or ceasing to smoke tobacco-related products very difficult for a significant percentage of tobacco users.
At present there are several consumer products that help people overcome their addiction to nicotine found in all tobacco related products. One type of product includes a transdermal patch, which allows the person's body to slowly absorb a prescribed amount of nicotine over a given period. Little by little the dosage of nicotine in the patches is decreased until the person is no longer addicted. Once the physical addiction to nicotine is overcome, the person can more easily fight the psychological, associational and related desires to smoke.
Another type of product is sold in the form of a chewing gum containing nicotine. Thus, whenever a smoker has the urge to smoke, the smoker will chew the gum instead. However, the smoker still has to restrict the use of the gum in a manner that will eventually overcome the addiction.
There are substantial limitations and drawbacks to the various methods of nicotine-replacement therapy in current use. Orally ingested materials, including gums, have a bad taste, may lead to mouth ulcers, heartburn and other adverse consequences, and are highly dependent of the user following a specific regime. Other forms of oral administration can result in nausea, unpredictable nicotine blood levels and the like. Patches, including transdermal patches, and other topical applications of nicotine can cause skin irritation, and patches containing nicotine are known to cause pruritus.
Devices and methods involving nicotine therapy all necessarily depend on the use of nicotine, the substance causing addiction, to control nicotine craving or desire. This approach is thus susceptible to abuse, and users are known to become addicted to the use of gum, patches or the like, and not to decrease nicotine intake as instructed. In addition, users are known to concurrently use both tobacco, as in cigarettes, and nicotine therapy aids, such as gum or patches, thereby increasing the total intake of nicotine. Further, in such instances acute adverse medical consequences may result, including increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and other conditions associated with nicotine administration.
There are certain herbal preparations that are known to have been used as smoking materials, including use in non-tobacco cigarettes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,010 discloses use of nicotine-free herbal compositions, used either as a substitute for or in combination with tobacco. This smoking composition may include
Laurus nobilis
and
Nelumbo garetin
. The use of herbal preparations as aids in cessation of tobacco use is taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,045,825 and 6,063,401. These patents disclose use of herbs such as
Plantago major, Piper methysticum
and
Hypericum perforatum.
The present invention removes approximately 25 to 90 percent or more of the craving a person would normally experience when that person attempts to reduce their use of nicotine containing products or stop using such products altogether. At the same time the invention will strengthen the person's immune system allowing that person to stop smoking tobacco with very little effort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION)
The invention provides a composition for use as a tobacco substitute for aiding in the cessation of tobacco use, the composition including a
Vebascum thapsus
component, an algae component, a
Medicago sativa
component, and a
Symphytum officinale
component. The
Vebascum thapsus
component may be dried leaves of
Vebascum thapsus
, the algae component may be Laminaria, the
Medicago sativa
component may be dried leaves of
Medicago sativa
or may also be an aqueous concentrate of
Medicago sativa
, and the
Symphytum officinale
component may be dried root of
Symphytum officinale
. The composition may contain approximately equal quantities of each of the components by weight. The composition may further include cigarette paper, and may be formed into a cigarette. In this composition, the algae component and
Medicago sativa
component may be Wachters' Organic Sea Food No. 3.
A variety of other ingredients may be added to the composition, including
Cnicus benedictus, Centalla asiatica, Mentha peperita, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Eriodictyon californicum, llex paraguaiensis, Lobelia inflata
, or
Hypericum perforatum
, or a combination of any of the foregoing.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides a composition for use as a tobacco substitute for aiding in the cessation of tobacco use, the composition including a
Vebascum thapsus
component, an algae component, and a
Medicago sativa
component. This composition may further include
Cnicus benedictus, Centalla asiatica, Mentha peperita, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Eriodictyon californicum, hex paraguaiensis, Lobelia inflata
, or
Hypericum perforatum
, or a combination of any of the foregoing. Here too the algae component and
Medicago sativa
component may be Wachters' Organic Sea Food No. 3.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide the means to reduce the addictive affects of nicotine in tobacco smokers.
Another object of the invention is to provide a healthy alternative for people who decide to continue smoking.
A primary advantage of the present invention is that it provides a means for people to reduce their addiction for nicotine at relatively low cost.
Other objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, and in part will become, apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention)
A number of herbs and other ingredients are employed in this invention, and are defined as follows:
Mullein includes
Verbascum thapsus
, and primarily the dried leaves of
Verbascum thapsus
.
Alfalfa includes
Medicago sativa
, and both dried leaves of
Medicago sativa
as well as the juice, extracts and concentrates of the juice or extracts of
Medicago sativa.
Algae includes marine algae, and specifically brown algaes, including those from the Laminaria family, and green algaes. Algae is generally prepared in a dried formulation, but may be powdered or an extract.
Blessed thistle includes
Cnicus benedictus.
Gota kola includes
Centalla asiatica
, also known as
Hydrocotyle asiatica.
Peppermint includes
Mentha peperita
, and primarily the leaves of
Mentha peperita.
Licorice includes
Glycyrrhiza glabra
, and primarily dried root of
Glycyrrhiza glabra.
Yerba santa includes
Eriodictyon californicum.
Yerba matte, also called yerba m
Griffin Steven P.
Slusher Stephen A.
Walls Dionne A.
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