Lavender is an evergreen plant native to the Mediterranean. Its flowers and oils have a popular scent and are also used as medicine.
Smoking lavender has become very common, mainly because of its health benefits. Do you know the pros and cons of smoking lavender? Smoking lavender or anything, in general, can harm your health. in addition to other respiratory issues, such as lung cancer. But any benefits of smoking lavender? Nevertheless, it also has a few well-known advantages!
Keep reading, this post introduces all key information about smoking lavender.
Table of Contents
What Is Lavender?
An evergreen plant native to the Mediterranean, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is widely distributed. The plant’s ability to promote relaxation is well known. As for aromatherapy, lavender oil is a common choice. The plant is spiky and has whorls of various purple and yellow flowers.
Lavender has long been used in aromatherapy in addition to traditional uses in medicine and cosmetics. Nowadays, people have discovered that combining the plant’s buds with other herbal mixtures makes for a more calming experience.
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Uses Of Lavender
Numerous advantages of using lavender have been found since antiquity. Lavender is primarily used to promote relaxation. It induces serenity and frequently induces euphoria.
To help with their anxiety and depression, people have been consuming lavender or using it in aromatherapy sessions. They assert that doing this lessens their stress and increases their happiness.
It benefits those who have trouble sleeping and aids in sedation as well. Lavender generally has a CNS depressing effect.
Lavender use can sometimes reduce pain in some people. It is found to lessen post-surgical pain in some minor cases.
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Why Do People Smoker Lavender?
Cannabis and marijuana use increased tenfold throughout the pandemic. This increased use posed a considerable health risk, and the users themselves admitted to being “drained” with the help of nicotinic products. As a result, creative minds emerge when there are voids.
People started incorporating different herbs devoid of nicotine to smoke products that weren’t harmful and could still be used for their relaxation fix.
In fact, in doing so, people found that smoking these “herbal cigarettes” actually helped them to get over their habit of smoking cannabis.
People who couldn’t find good cannabis strains, on the other hand, began putting lavender buds in their joints because they discovered that both worked incredibly well.
Additionally, users reported that smoking herbs like lavender prolonged the calming effect the herb produced by allowing the herb’s fragrance to linger in their rooms for a long time.
Is Lavender Safe To Smoke? Can You Smoke Lavender?
Lavender may be smoked in a similar way to tobacco. People can grind dried lavender into smokable pieces and roll it into cigarettes, which can be used alone or mixed with other plants. It can be added to tobacco, marijuana, or other herbs.
Smoked lavender smells similar to fresh lavender, but has a deeper, more smoky aroma like incense. It also has a strong flavor.
Can Smoking Lavender Kill You?
No, it won’t kill you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise caution. The simple chemical process of combustion, which results in the consumption of tar, carbon monoxide, and numerous polyphenol compounds, which pose a long-term health risk, has made it beyond a shadow of a doubt that breathing inhalant smoke of any kind is harmful to human health.
As a result, it is not advised to use any smokable herb repeatedly over an extended period of time, including tobacco, cannabis, and even naturally smokable herbs like sage, tea, lemon balm, or calendula.
The best way to inhale lavender if you enjoy the flavor of smoking it but don’t want to take any chances is with a dry herb vaporizer like the DaVinci.
Smoking Lavender Pros and Cons
Smoking Lavender – Pros
- Lavender is nicotine-free
Anyone who has tried to quit smoking will tell you that quitting smoking is never easy. This is because regular cigarettes are made from tobacco, which contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance. However, smoking lavender means you don’t have any addictive substances.
In addition, the withdrawal symptoms that develop after quitting can cause anxiety and depression in quitters, and smoking lavender can help relieve that anxiety and calm your mood.
- You won’t get drunk if you smoke it
While some people like to be excited, others would rather not be excited. So while smoking lavender will give you a relaxing feeling, it won’t have any psychoactive effects. Meaning it doesn’t get you excited.
- It has a soothing effect
The best part about lavender is its calming properties. When you smoke, your body absorbs terpenes, like linalool, which have calming and anti-anxiety properties. This help promote relaxation and elevate the user’s mood.
Smoking Lavender -Cons
The main health risk of smoking lavender is exposure to smoke and other potential carcinogens.
Smoking exposes a person’s lungs to dozens of harmful chemicals from cigarette additives as well as the tobacco itself. Lavender cigarettes do not contain all of these additives. However, previous analyses of herbal cigarettes found that their carbon monoxide levels were similar to tobacco smoke.
Smoke of any kind is air pollution, and inhaling it is always harmful. Smoking produces tiny particles and gases that enter the lungs. Over time, these particles can irritate the lungs and cause damage.
Is Smoking Lavender Healthier Than Tobacco?
Some people smoke lavender instead of tobacco because they think lavender is a healthier option. No studies have tested or found support for this claim.
One advantage of lavender compared to tobacco is that it does not contain nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance to tobacco. For people who want to quit smoking, herbal cigarettes without nicotine may help. However, that doesn’t mean that smoking lavender is inherently healthy.
Is it Safe To Smoke Lavender Around Pets Or Children?
No studies have evaluated the safety of lavender cigarettes. However, inhaling the smoke of any type can be harmful, especially in young people whose lungs are still developing.
The risks of secondhand smoke are obvious. Some of these dangers include:
- Increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome
- Lung damage in developing infants and children
- Increased frequency of ear infections, bronchitis, and some other infections in children
- Increased risk of asthma attacks
- Pet cats and dogs at increased risk of cancer
While no studies have tested the effects of secondhand smoke from lavender cigarettes, inhaling it may carry similar risks, especially when a person mixes lavender with tobacco.
Is Smoking Lavender Safe During Pregnancy?
No studies have tested the safety of smoking lavender during pregnancy, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that pregnant women avoid inhaling the smoke. Doing so may harm the pregnant woman and the fetus.
Pregnant women should consult their doctor before smoking any substance or using lavender oil products.
Better Ways Of Smoking Lavender
Using lavender has been around for a very long time. It has only recently become more popular to smoke lavender cigarettes instead of regular cigarettes, possibly as a result of a younger generation seeking out flavors other than tobacco.
Lavender can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, including by adding dried lavender to teas or other beverages. But it can also be employed in baking. The use of a scent in your home and purchasing fresh lavender are both excellent choices.
Essential oils have occasionally been thought of as a good replacement for therapeutic use. However, before using it, seek medical advice because the oils may have unfavorable interactions with other medications. Instead of consuming you can use the essential oils in these ways:
- Aromatherapy diffuser
- Carrier oil to help the skin feel better
- Bath oils, salts, soaps, or even scrubs
- Using it as a pillow spray, a great way of perfuming the bedroom
Summary on Smoking Lavender Pros And Cons
Smoking is not safe even with herbal products. There is no evidence that smoking lavender is beneficial or safer than smoking. The safest option is always to quit smoking.
People who like the smell of lavender or want to use it as an herbal remedy can use it in a healthier way. For example, people can use fresh or dried lavender flowers to flavor food or beverages, or they can put the essential oil in a diffuser or on the skin.
A person should first discuss using a new essential oil or home remedy with a doctor and follow safety guidelines, as aromatherapy and herbal remedies are not without risks.
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