Rubbing the face and hands may help people who are trying to quit smoking deal with nicotine cravings.

In a study conducted by researchers at the Touch Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., scientists led by Dr. Maria Hernandez-Reif studied 20 adult smokers between ages 21 and 45. The average number of cigarettes smoked per day by the 10 men and 10 women was 14.5 and 70 percent of the group had tried to kick the habit at least once.

Half of the group members were taught self-massage techniques. Study results showed that the massage group was less anxious than the control group and had fewer symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

"The present findings suggest that self-massage may be an effective adjunct treatment for adults attempting smoking cessation to alleviate smoking-related anxiety, reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, improve mood and reduce the number of cigarettes smoked," researchers write in the January issue of Preventive Medicine.

Smoking cessation programs are often unsuccessful because nicotine withdrawal frequently is accompanied by anxiety, researchers say. The mechanism by which massage appears to lower anxiety remains unclear.

Researchers also suggest other alternative treatments, such as acupuncture and hypnosis, could help smokers quit.