Smokeable Herbs – Herbal Alternatives To Tobacco

Organic herbs are a great alternative to cigarettes, cannabis, and tobacco.

Smoking medicinal herbs is a great alternative to tobacco and cigarettes. It is also a great substitution or addition to smoking cannabis. It is widely known the harmful effects of smoking cigarettes. When smoking cigarettes, toxic chemicals are being inhaled for the sake of “relaxation” or “calming the nerves”. What if there were natural alternatives to smoking synthetic substances that can relax you at the same time? Smokers can enjoy the benefits of smokable herbs with no side effects or addictive properties (such as nicotine in cigarettes). While smoking herbs is a healthier and cheaper way to replace a habit like smoking nicotine or cannabis, you should use these herbs as a transition into healthier habits, such as drinking these herbs as a tea or taking them as supplements.

Every day there are numerous people who attempt to stop smoking tobacco cold turkey. The body’s craving for nicotine can be too much to bear for some people and unfortunately most people relapse. People try an average of 3 times to quit before eventually giving it up for good. A lot of times people don’t fully give it up until they are in their 40s or 50s, when the damage from prolonged smoking has already been done. Smoking tobacco/cigarettes fires up the dopamine receptors in the brain and body, which is responsible for the sensation of “feeling good”, but the feeling hardly lasts long. Hence, the need to keep smoking to uphold the sensation of “feeling good”. Abusing the stimulants can reduce the body’s natural ability to produce dopamine, which can contribute to feelings of sadness and depression, further fueling the addiction. Dopamine is the same neurotransmitter that gives the same high as heroin and other opiates!

Choosing to stop smoking with the support of herbs (as well as hypnotherapy and CBT) will improve your chances of stopping and SUCCEEDING. Smoking is a habit rooted in the subconscious, and it is important to acknowledge this to create more beneficial habits to heal holistically. CBT does not support the theory that smoking is a lifelong disease that you have to continue to suffer for the rest of your life so that’s great news for anyone with the desire and will to quit.

People smoke herbs for the same reason one would smoke a cigarette. Most people smoke a cigarette for the “calm” feeling it temporarily gives you. It is when the habit interferes with daily life and you become consumed by the habit of smoking that we need to take a look at what is going on at a deeper level. Anything that causes more anxiety than pleasure should be objectively analyzed — is it harming you or helping you? Cigarettes are known to contain THOUSANDS of harmful chemicals and ingredients – what business do you really have smoking that? Herbal blends can provide the same mental enhancement and relaxation as cigarettes, without the toxicity or addictiveness.

Indigenous cultures all over the world smoked over 100 different plant species. The first smoking pipes were made of copper, dating back to Egypt around 2000 B.C., and possibly earlier. They were often used for ritual ceremonies and communing with nature. Many plants have been smoked for centuries by shamans, medicine men, and herbalists, They were often smoked for their flavor, but they also offer medicinal properties as well. Cultures smoked certain herbs for certain reasons, ranging from recreational, ritual, spiritual, or therapeutic properties. Herbs have been part of humanity since the earliest documentations and historical writings.

In herbalism, “synergy” means that combining more than one herb at a time can provide greater benefits. Some herbs, when combined, have a stronger, more medicinal effect than when taken by itself. Historians have discovered pipes from different cultures with traces of herbal blends, giving us the insight that even our ancestors understood synergy. Here is a non-exhaustive list of herbs that can be rolled into a joint or smoked in a pipe, bong, etc.

Peppermint– Peppermint can improve blood circulation and relax the nerves. It can be a strong purifying agent that rejuvenates the mind and body. The menthol in peppermint can facilitate easier breathing by clearing the lungs and respiratory passages and also alleviate the feelings of nausea.

Red Raspberry Leaf– One of the most popular herbs to add to smoking blends for its great fruity taste. It helps soothe sore muscles and promote relaxation. When drank as a tea, it helps stabilize blood sugar and nourish the body. This herb is commonly used with pregnant women to provide prenatal nourishment.

Rose Petals– Rose petals add great flavor and aroma to a smoking blend. It promotes a feeling of inner peace, uplifting mood and relieving depression and anxiety. It is also an aphrodisiac.

Skullcap – Skullcap is one of my favorite medicinal herbs for anxiety. It is also great in relieving symptoms of diseases like insomnia, hysteria, delirium tremens, and withdrawal symptoms. It can be used as a booster to the central nervous system, and a sedative managing restlessness and headaches. This herb contains plant compounds that help the brain produce more endorphins. It’s a relaxing and sedative herb used as an alternative to cannabis, giving the smoker a tingly body high,

Passionflower– This plant is used to promote calm, relaxation and well being. It is often used to calm anxiety. It is a sedative and causes drowsiness, so it is a great ally to combat insomnia.

Wild Oat/Oatstraw – Also known as oat, groats, oatstraw, and straw, this is a wonderfully medicinal herb that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It is great for calming the nervous system, having anti-depressant qualities and reducing mental tension/anxiety for the consumer. It provides liver, kidney, and joint pain relief. It’s a powerful antioxidaant and a natural tonic to improve the strength and vitality in both men and women. This is one of the best herbs for stress, nervous debility, and exhaustion.

Marshmallow Root– This dried root is commonly used to soothe sore throat and coughs. It has a sweet and calming smoke that is great for herbal smoke blends. It’s great for inflammation and lung health. It is also good for regulating appetite and aiding the digestive system.

Gotu Kola– It’s smoked or drank as an herbal tea to fight depression and nervous tension. It lowers blood pressure and produces a calm body high. It’s also used to improve memory and focus.

Lavender– A lovely multipurpose herb that is great for relaxation. It is calming and mildly sedative, helping with anxiety and insomnia. It offers relief from headache, muscle sores and indigestion. Adds an amazing flavor and aroma to herbal smoking blends.

Catnip– It is a member of the mint family, sharing some of the same medicinal properties. Drank as a tea, it can help soothe digestion. It is a mild sedative which can produce a sense of calm and relaxation.

Mullein– Mullein is one of the most commonly smoked herbs. It has a more neutral flavor, so it is often used as a base herb for herbal blends, or smoked alone. It is mildly calming and relaxing, easing anxiety. It is a great expectorant, helping to clear the lungs and respiratory pathways. Drank as an herbal tea, it promotes healthy digestion and lungs.

St. John’s Wort– Known for promoting a positive mental attitude and having antidepressant qualities. It’s one of the most popular herbs for relieving mood disorders and fighting depression and anxiety. It can be smoked for mental clarity.

Damiana– The leaves and flowers of this plant are commonly smoked as an aphrodisiac. It’s a great addition to smokable herb blends as it has a similar flavor to cannabis. It also has great relaxation properties.

Mugwort– One of my favorite herbs to smoke for ritual purposes. It is mildly psychoactive, giving the user heightened awareness. It is also used for dream work and dream recall, giving the user vivid dreams that can be remembered. Great to smoke or drink in herbal tea if you need assistance bringing back messages from the astral (dream) world. It’s good for digestion and relieving headaches.

Ginseng– This root is used to improve mental clarity, memory, focus, and mood. This makes it a great herb for ADHD. It has traditionally been used to help with memory and cognitive decline that comes with aging.

Blue Lotus– The dried flowers are smoked or infused into an herbal to to give the user a sense of peace and relaxation. It’s noted for it’s feelings of euphoria, aphrodisiac qualities, and sedation.

White Sage– The dried leaves of white sage are used in smoking blends to improve mood and promote relaxation. It is also great at releasing negative energy and nervous tension within the body and spirit. It helps clear the throat, lungs, and sinuses of congestion (especially when combined with mullein or peppermint). The smoke alone can be kind of intense, so it’s best to use it in an herbal blend to make the smoke less harsh.

Clove– Clove and its oil can reduce cravings for nicotine by placing a drop of the clove oil on the back of the tongue whenever one gets the urge to smoke.

Chamomile– One of our favorite muti-purposeful herbs. Smoke cravings can be curbed by drinking herbal tea made from chamomile. It is also a powerful antidepressant and reliever of nervous tension in the body, easing anxiety. It helps to manage the withdrawal symptoms of smokers, possibly preventing relapses.

Ginger Root– This sacred herb has been used for generations as a health booster and fighting inflammation. It is a common herbal remedy for indigestion, nausea, stomach cramps, and chills, but it also helps with smoke cravings.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of herbs you can smoke, as there are many others that aren’t listed here. Smoking herbs is a great alternative to smoking chemically toxic and addictive substances. While smoking anything changes the biochemistry of the herb and ingesting smoke isn’t the healthiest way to ingest the herbs, it still is a far less damaging way to smoke than cigarettes. One is still able to enjoy some of the medicinal benefits of the herb and wean themselves off of cigarettes or cannabis. Take this list and create your own herbal blends; or shop the Chill Vibes Organic Herbal Smoke Blend, which is a synergistic blend for relaxation/anxiety on RareRareness.com.