N-acetyl cysteine comes from the amino acid L-cysteine, and has a mucolytic affect that relieves obstructions in bronchial diseases, popular among patients with AIDS and cancer. NAC in an abstract on PubMed.gov “interestingly subjects receiving NAC rated the first cigarette after the absence period of 3.5 days as significantly less rewarding than subjects on a placebo…” NAC dietary supplementation has been shown in the laboratory to attack mucus and make it more fluid, NAC is also a powerful antioxidant.

In the January 2002 issue of Life Enhancement “… Those particular mechanism of action is believed to lend itself well to the treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases” ⁽¹⁾Repine JE, Bast A, Lunkhorst J, and the Oxidative Stress Study Group. Oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med1997;156:341-57 ⁽²⁾Barnes PJ. New therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thorax1998;53:137-47.. NAC has also demonstrated to protect against cytotoxicity of cigarette smoke and cigarette smoke condensates in vitro according to Clinical Cardiology volume 24 issue seven published February 3, 2009 they went on to say in the conclusion “N-acetyl cysteine attenuates the negative effects of cigarette smoke on capillary blood flow viscosity. The results show support the contention that the antioxidant defense aimed to reduce oxidative stress is of importance for the microcirculation. N-acetyl cysteine may become an interesting drug in this context.”