There are plenty of reasons to vape herbals over traditional methods like smoking. Dry herb vaporizers provide an experience that's gentler on the lungs. They're also sleek, portable, discreet, and just generally more convenient - check out our article "What Are Dry Herb Vaporizers?" for a full introduction.
Vaping marijuana is a healthier alternative to smoking cannabis. Many of the harmful substances in smoking are caused by the combustion process, not the herb itself. When you vape, you're heating dry herbs to the point that they release cannabinoids like THC and CBD into vapor.
But you're not actually burning the herb itself, making it much easier on your respiratory system and lungs than smoke. Vapes also deliver clearer flavor and a purer aroma. In this article, we'll introduce you to all the herbs besides weed that you can put in your vaporizer.
Beyond Cannabis: Different Herbs to Vape
Most people don’t realize there's a hidden side benefit to investing in a dry herb vape. You can also use vapes to enjoy a wide array of other dry herbs beyond weed. For example, you can vape green tea, passion flower, lemon balm, basil, eucalyptus, peppermint, St. John's wort, hops, chamomile, damiana, lavender, ginseng, thyme, and even catnip.
Herbs like these can have health benefits for issues such as anxiety, depression, headaches, cold and flu symptoms, insomnia, and more. As we'll see, dried herbs can provide comfort and relief, and have been used for centuries. They can still be useful when natural remedies are preferred. What hasn’t always been around is vaping.
Vaping: a new way to consume dry herbs
Discovering plant-based natural medicine can be a wonderful experience, especially for those who already appreciate the healing properties of marijuana. There are many other dried herbs that have a wide range of health and wellness benefits, some similar to marijuana.
So let’s talk about some of the different herbals people put in their vaporizers (besides our good friend Mary Jane), and why you might want to give them a try. The list below includes some of the most popular herbs to vaporize, and what they’re commonly used for. Consult a doctor before using herbs medicinally to treat one or more of the common mental and medical ailments listed below.
Herbs for Relaxation: Lavender, Chamomile
There are many plants that can provide a calming effect and can help relieve anxiety and stress. Experiences will vary, but for centuries, people have found these herbs have properties that reduce stress and relax the body.
- Lavender – This well-known botanical comfort and sleep aid is also used to treat symptoms of depression and provide headache relief. Lavender should be vaped at approximately 125°C, or 257°F.
- Chamomile – You may like chamomile tea to unwind before bed. Imagine the calming effects when you vape chamomile! Heat to a temperature of 125°C, or 257°F.
- Sweet Flag – Historically used for spiritual purposes, this herb is known to help with anxiety and have a relaxing effect when ingested. Vape it at 175°C, or 347°F.
- Valerian – Most commonly used to help with insomnia, Valerian produces effects similar to lavender. Give valerian a try in your vaporizer at 150°C, or 302°F.
- Passion flower – This herb produces sedative-like effects that can assist with pain relief and symptoms of withdrawal. Passion flower can be vaporized at 150°C, or 302°F.
- Papaver somniferum – Also known as “poppy seed”, this herb is often used as a muscle relaxant as well as for its relaxing properties. Vaporize at 175°C, or 347°F.
- Kanna – This South African herb has psychoactive effects, but is most popularly used for its ability to reduce anxiety. It should be vaped at 188°C, or 370°F.
- Mulungu – Native to South America, this herb is useful for anxiety, insomnia, and high blood pressure. Vape it at around 200°C, or 392°F.
- Catnip – Yes, you read that right. Surprisingly, while catnip has uniquely stimulating effects on felines, it is actually great for the human immune system and also relaxes the mind, aiding conditions like anxiety and depression. If you’re interested in finding out for yourself, you can vaporize catnip at 150°C, or 302°F.
- Wild Lettuce – Heat this herbal at around 150°C, or 302°F to experience its pain relieving, sedative-like properties.
- Hops – Used in the making of beer, hops can also be vaporized to provide the user with a light, euphoric feeling. Vape hops at 200°C, or 392°F.
Energy Boost: Green Tea, St. John's Wort
Here are some common dried herbs for elevating your focus and energy levels. Vaporizing these therapeutic herbs can result in euphoric effects, and help with depression.
- Green Tea – A classic drink enjoyed by many (sometimes even more than coffee), green tea in its dry herbal form can be vaporized and when it is, it actually releases more caffeine, providing a stimulating boost of energy. Vaporize green tea at 185°C, or 365°F.
- Ginseng – A common ingredient used in energy drinks, ginseng is a natural energy booster and can be vaped at a temperature of 200°C, or 392°F.
- Wormwood – Known as the ingredient used to make absinthe, this herb has both energy-boosting and psychoactive properties. It can also help relieve digestive issues. Vape your wormwood at 150°C, or 302°F.
- Jasmine – Historically used as a stimulating aphrodisiac, jasmine flower provides a number of benefits when vaped, including stress relief and mood elevation. It is also used to treat symptoms of anxiety and depression. Use a temperature of 212°C, or 302°F for best results.
- Damiana – Similar to Jasmine, damiana is known to be an aphrodisiac in addition to the mild, psychoactive high it provides which isn’t unlike marijuana. Vape damiana at 175°C, or 347°F.
- Yerba mate – The popularity of yerba mate is on the rise as a tea, but it is known to increase energy and your overall mood when vaped. You should vaporize yerba mate at 150°C, or 302°F.
- Salvia divinorum – Known to produce hallucinogenic effects when heated to 230°C, or 446°F.
- Klip Dagga – Another South African herb, vaporized for its mild psychoactive, elevating properties.
- St. John’s Wort – This wild-growing herb is a very popularly used to treat mild to moderate depression as it can improve your overall mood. Vape at 150°C, or 302°F.
Best Herbs for Headache and Pain Relief
These herbs are beneficial when you’re fighting off a migraine or are extra sensitive to loud noises or stress caused by changes in the weather. And let’s not forget about those nasty wine hangovers – you’re sure to be extra grateful for these natural aids on those days!
- Peppermint – A popular herb for any type of body pain, peppermint’s calming and cooling properties make it a great way to ease your aches and pains in a refreshing way. This herb should be vaporized at 170°C, or 338°F.
- Spearmint – While slightly less potent than peppermint, this herb contains similar relieving properties that help with a headache as well as sore throats and nausea. Vape at a temperature of 154°C, or 309°F.
- Rosemary – A popular and classic herb, rosemary’s soothing effects are even more powerful when vaping it. Rosemary can be effective in reducing headaches, as well as alleviating cold and flu symptoms. Vape rosemary at 125°C, or 257°F.
- Lemon Balm – A natural remedy not only for a headache, but for gut problems and sore muscles as well. Best when heated to 142°C, or 288°F.
- Feverfew – This herbal is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, working wonders to relieve headaches. To vaporize, eat to a temperature of 125°C, or 257°F.
- Bearberry / Uva Ursi – Dually named for its popularity among bears, this herbal does the trick for relieving headaches and generally relaxing the body. Set the temperature to 150°C, or 302°F to vaporize.
Herbs for Cold and Flu Symptoms
Last but certainly not least, these herbals are ideal for alleviating some of the discomfort that comes from catching a cold or flu, or for pushing through allergy season!
- Eucalyptus – Possibly the most popular herb for treating cold and flu symptoms, eucalyptus is a natural tool used to strengthen the immune system and accelerate the healing process. Heat your vaporizer to exactly 130°C, or 266°F to enjoy.
- Thyme – This herb is very common and generally great for lung and chest ailments, perfect for treating cold and flu symptoms. Vape at a temperature of 150°C, or 302°F.
- Basil – Just as it boosts the flavor of many delicious dishes, basil can actually help to elevate your overall mood as well as to treat colds and digestive issues. Vape this herb at a temperature of 130°C, or 266°F.
- Anise – This herb is used not only to help aid cold and flu symptoms, but to ease the intensity of cramps as well. It can be vaporized at a temperature of 125°C, or 257°F.
- Mullein – This Australian herb is great for clearing up the lungs and subsiding other symptoms of the common cold. It should be vaporized at 150°C, or 302°F.
- Licorice – In its dry herb form licorice produces useful effects on the body that can help with cold and flu symptoms. Vape at 200°C, or 392°F to see for yourself.
- Sage – Vaping sage provides an array of benefits which include relieving cold and flu symptoms, as well as improving overall brain function and the digestive system. Vaporize your sage at 190°C, or 374°F.
- Marshmallow Herbs – As delightful as it sounds, the marshmallow herb is great for treating sore throats, coughs, and digestive issues. It can even help improve low blood sugar levels. Vape this dry herb at 200°C, or 392°F.
Health Benefits of Vaping Dry Herb
There are lots of herbs you can put in your vaporizer besides cannabis, and this list is just a start. The four categories of uses we’ve included here provide only a glimpse into the many areas of health and wellness that herbal vaporizing can help with.
Some other common uses of herbals include treating symptoms of menopausal conditions and painful menstruation, arthritis, high cholesterol and other various cardiovascular conditions, and more.
Needless to say, exploring these natural remedies and their many health and wellness benefits is invigorating and certainly pays off in a number of ways.
Consume quality herbs for most beneficial effects
One important thing to remember is that you must consider the quality of the herbals you purchase to vaporize. This is crucial to ensuring that the herbal you’re vaporizing is as good for your health as it appears to be. Do your best to find herbals certified to be as organic as possible. You’ll be avoiding the risk of inhaling any pesticides that impure herbals may have been sprayed with, which could have an adverse effect on your health.
Also, keep in mind that a lot of these herbals pair quite nicely with one another and are often mixed together when vaporizing. For obvious reasons, mixing these herbals with the right, complementary strain of cannabis will almost always make your experience of them even more enjoyable!
Finding the best vaporizer for vaping herbs
We hope this article has been informative and that when it comes to getting the most use out of your vaporizer as possible, you’re feeling empowered, knowledgeable and open-minded. Keep doing your research and consider giving some of these herbals a try – you may be pleasantly surprised by how much you enjoy their effects.
If you're looking for a portable dry herb vaporizer so that you can enjoy vaping, whether it's cannabis or other herbs, the Furna is the best option. Combining precise temperature control with top-grade materials that allow the full flavor of your herb to come through, Furna also features swappable ovens, which offers incredible convenience.
It's annoying to reload a dry herb vaporizer when you're on the go. It's not always convenient to clean out the vape's chamber and carefully load in more cannabis (or other herb). With Furna, you can load up more than one oven before you leave the house. Then when you need to switch from one to the other, you can do it in an instant, with no fuss and no mess. It's also more discreet. You can learn more about Furna here.
