Note: If you are not a smoker, it is advisable not to start, herbs or tobacco.

What is Herbal Smoking?

Herbal smoking is a very old practice which actually involves the smoking of herbs rather than tobacco. One of the primary reasons why many people choose herbal smoking to regular tobacco smoking is either to benefit from the therapeutic potential of the herbs being smoked or as a method to quit tobacco smoking.

Herbal smoking is not as well known a practice among the general public as tobacco smoking, however, many proponents of herbal smoking advocate herbs over tobacco.  While this may be a logical choice to proponents of herbal smoking, many dissidents claim that there is little difference between herbal and tobacco smoking since both are of plant origin and the resulting smoke damages the lungs.

Herbal smoking is often mistaken to be smoking of cannabis. People free smoking cannabis over tobacco because of several reasons -

• Less Fatal : It is nicotine free therefore much less fatal on health
• Simple Recreation : Many feel that smoking herbal mixtures of leaves, barks, and plants gives a feeling of euphoria, lifts the mood of the smoker and relieves stress.
• Tobacco and Marijuana replacements - It is indeed cool, not to smell like an ashtray! Many smoke herbal mixtures to alternate from tobacco and as marijuana is semi legal and suspicious, many avoid it.

Isn’t herbal smoking just about Marijuana?

Definitely no. Smoking cannabis is illegal in most of the countries as it is often classified as a narcotic drug. Therefore, people are always looking for other herbal alternatives that are safer and legal also. Popular herbs among smokers include burdock root, mullein, liqourice and mugwort although there are dozens of herbs that are marketed for herbal smoking. Add to this the new herbal mixtures that people and experimentalists, herbalists and smokers come up with every day and viola! you have a whole plethora of exhaustive resources.

Herbal smoking mixtures are being experimented everyday by various herbal smoking enthusiasts to test the phychological and physiological effects of the herbs.

While herbal smoking claims to be a sociable and beneficial health practice, it has never become as widely practiced as tobacco smoking. The smoke generated from the burning of any herb, tobacco, marijuana or herbal blends, can be damaging to the air passages and lining of the lung. Preparation of herbs for smoking is similar to tobacco and the herb that is usually dried and crushed. Herbs have to be of a suitable consistency to ignite and stay lit and herb powders are not suitable as their fine consistency do not allow sufficient air within the mixture. A roughly crushed herbal mixture is usually suitable and can be smoked in pipes, tobacco paper and hookahs (hubbly bubbly). Herbal smoking blends have become easily available over recent years from certain tobacco specialty stores and even health stores. Herbal cigarettes are now widely available in similar size and presentation to tobacco cigarettes and in a variety of flavors.

Some of the benefits claimed by herbal smokers include an improved sense of health and well-being, increased energy levels, reduced withdrawal symptoms and cravings in smokers who have opted to quit and a range of health benefits associated with the herb being smoked. However not every herb can be smoked and certain therapeutic herbs can release dangerous byproducts when ignited and herbal smoking should be approached with caution.

Smokers who have smoked tobacco for many years will definitely be uncomfortable, switching over to herbal smoking. However, it is definitely worth a shot as variety is the spice of life.