BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- You don't need a pill, a patch, or a piece of gum to quit smoking. In fact, going "cold turkey" is still one of the most successful methods for kicking the habit, according to a new report.

Australian researchers reviewed more than 500 studies and found 66 to 75 percent of ex-smokers quit all on their own with no help from drugs or nicotine replacement therapies such as gum or a patch.

Even better -- most people said quitting was less difficult than they'd expected it to be.

The researchers said that the nicotine therapies have been over-promoted thanks to pharmaceutical companies' heavy advertising -- and that industry-funded studies are biased in favor of the products.

Health authorities should emphasize that most smokers can quit on their own , the authors claimed -- it's cheaper and carries less risk for side effects.

The U.S. government has suggested that smokers use motivational tips such as counting their days without cigarettes or researching how much money they can save by quitting. And for an average pack-a-day smoker, that's nearly $2,000 per year in extra cash.