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If you’re anything like me, you have probably dreamt about running through a French lavender field as if you were the main character in some coming-of-age movie that’s bound to be nominated for an Oscar.
While this dream might not come true for everybody, lavender is still something you can add to your lifestyle and reap the benefits of. Living in times of nature-based health alternatives, you have probably already heard about how lavender can provide wellness advantages.
While often infused in aromatherapy, lotions, and oils, current trends point towards a new way to get your lavender fix: smoking it. Whether you’re rolling up a cannabis joint with a touch of lavender or just smoking it on its own, this movement seems to be here to stay.
Looking to add some Lavender aromas into your cannabis routine? Check out our list below:
Keep reading to find out what the hype is all about and get some inside information on how it all works.
What is Lavender?
Lavender is a plant that belongs to the mint family (a surprising little factoid). It’s thought to be native to Northern Africa, the Middle East, India, and the Mediterranean, with its use dating back 2,500 years. Which really makes you wonder how many of your long-lost ancestors may have used it and how.
We know that it was revered as a holy and hygienic herb, used in different spiritual and religious rituals in cultures around the world, in warm and fragrant baths during the Roman Empire, and as a perfume to give clothing and hair that distinctive and calming smell we know and love, probably enamoring people along the way.
Nowadays, you can find lavender everywhere. It’s one of the most common essential oils, but it’s also used in dozens of different ways. It can be infused in perfumes, lotions, beverages, food, candles, and even beauty products, to name just a few.
While terpenes are most often associated with cannabis, many plants are packed full of them, including lavender. Let’s get into the effects these terpenes and the plant itself can have whether smoked, ingested, or topically applied.
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Benefits of Smoking Lavender
The lavender plant primarily contains these terpenes: linalool, pinene, limonene, geraniol, and cineole. All of these components work together to make lavender a beneficial plant for many reasons, so let’s get into it. We obviously can’t cover all of the effects (you’d be surprised at how many there are), but we might as well dive into some of the most common.
- Treat Your Skin
Smoking lavender might not be a great way to get rid of blemishes but topically applied lavender lotions and oils have been shown to help with issues like acne, blemishes, eczema, and inflammation. As always, talk to your dermatologist before trying it out.
- Keep Pain Away
While over-the-counter pain medication can be helpful to ward off pain, it’s not an option for everyone. Although we don’t recommend using only lavender when it comes to chronic pain, and we recommend consulting a doctor, it can be helpful to soothe uncomfortable sensations.
Aromatherapy, smoking, or infusing lavender products into your regimen might just do the trick, considering that the linalyl acetate and linalool found in the plant are anti-inflammatory components. It might not be a long-term solution, but it’s definitely worth a shot.
- Anxiety and Mental Health Relief
It’s been shown that lavender affects the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls processes that induce anxiety, breathing, hormone secretion, and heart rate.
Lavender is believed to aid in regulating these processes by potentially slowing your heart rate and adrenaline levels, as well as controlling your breath intake.
While lavender isn’t the cure for mental health issues, it has helped many people to deal with anxiety symptoms and mild to moderate depressive episodes, as well as easing PTSD symptoms.
- Reducing Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world, which is why it’s imperative we keep our hearts healthy and happy. Eating well and exercising is a must, but lavender can also play a role.
More research is needed to confirm its wellness effects on the heart, but initial results have shown that using lavender in aromatherapy can help decrease blood pressure and heart rate, which is great news for those wanting an extra boost of help to ensure heart health.
- Relieve Menopause Symptoms
Every single menstruating person in the world will eventually go through menopause, and one of the peskiest symptoms of this is hot flashes. Sweat will begin to roll off their temples, their bodies will feel a sudden uncomfortable heat, and their faces will go flush.
Just 20 minutes of lavender aromatherapy a day has shown a significant decrease in hot flashes, lessening the annoying symptoms and offering relief to the billions of people who will experience intense hormonal change.
Quitting Nicotine
Many long-time nicotine smokers have found relief in the use of lavender. Although inhaling smoke can still be detrimental to health, there’s no question that smoking safe herbal infusions is a lot better than inhaling dangerous and addictive chemicals.
In fact, lavender’s calming and relaxing effects make for a great way to ease anxiety provoked by nicotine withdrawal, as well as taking away that itch to smoke a ciggie.
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Smoking Lavender for Better Sleep
Many people suffer from sleepless nights, and lavender can sure come in handy when it comes to twisting and turning for hours on end. Although you should also consider exercising, eating healthy, cutting out caffeine, and consulting a specialist, lavender could also help.
Whether you’re smoking it, dabbing some lavender oil on your temples and neck, or making yourself a lavender tea, studies have shown that it can be a helpful remedy in improving sleep quality.
Lavender and CBD
Lavender and CBD are two natural substances that have gained popularity for their various benefits. Both lavender and CBD are known for their calming properties and ability to reduce anxiety and stress. They can help improve sleep quality, reduce inflammation and pain, and promote relaxation.
Additionally, both lavender and CBD are believed to have a positive effect on the skin, helping to soothe and hydrate it. While lavender is often used in aromatherapy and topical products, CBD is commonly consumed orally often in CBD gummies or applied topically.
Despite their differences in usage and application, lavender and CBD share several similar benefits, making them both valuable natural remedies for a variety of health concerns.
Smoking Lavender Effects
While lavender is used in dozens of ways, we’re seeing an influx of people smoking lavender, whether on its own or mixed with different herbs and plants.
Side note: it’s always best to speak to a medical professional before indulging in the world of herbal smoking. Additionally, it’s always good to research the good and the bad when it comes to smoking herbs.
While it can have positive effects and benefits, there’s still much research to be done, and smoking anything can harm your lung health.
Here are some of the effects that smoking lavender can have on your body and mind:
- The ultimate relaxation remedy
- Reduces anxiety and depression symptoms
- Improves mood (sign me up)
- Aids in quitting tobacco intake
- Spiritual benefits for all us hippies out there
- Health benefits
- Mental boost for those days
Can You Smoke Lavender By Itself
The short answer is yes. The first thing you need to do if you want to try out smoking lavender is to find good quality and dried product. If you’ve got a green thumb, growing your own is a great option as long as you do proper research on how to harvest and dry it.
If you don’t have your own, you can always get some elsewhere. You can find plant nurseries that carry the herb in most places or even buy some from your favorite website. Something to keep in mind: make sure you’re getting pure, dried lavender. No fragrances or additives, as these can pose health risks when smoking them.
With the rise of so-called ‘girl blunts’ that have taken over the internet (and our hearts), it’s no surprise that people are adding lavender to their weed by placing it in their bowls and adding it to their blunts and joints.
Alternatively, you can include other herbal infusions like blue vervain, marigold flowers, and chamomile to name just a few, as well as innovating by making rolling papers out of rose petals and a whole plethora of unique herbal mixtures that give your joint a special twist (not to mention the medicinal and therapeutic effects different plants can have).
You can roll up a joint with a herbal mixture (adding mugwort, mint, and sage), but you can also add it to your dried marijuana or tobacco if that’s what you’re into.
That being said, how do you smoke lavender? Here’s a quick rolling tutorial for curious newbies.
- First, pick your herbal mixture, whether it’s pure lavender, a mix of herbs, or marijuana with lavender.
- Use a grinder to break down the lavender into an easily rollable substance.
- Take your favorite rolling paper and make sure the adhesive side is facing up.
- At this point, you can add a bought or homemade filter if you want to.
- Carefully sprinkle your herbal mixture in a line across the rolling paper.
- Remove any excess and roll the sides of the paper to form a cigarette.
- Once you’ve sealed the rolling paper, use a small tool (even a pencil will do the trick) to lightly compact the herbs and add more to the opening if needed.
- Light ‘er up and enjoy.
Can You Smoke Dried Lavender?
The best and only way to effectively smoke lavender in its different presentations is to make sure it’s dried, as non-dried herbs don’t take well to the flame and can have you wasting your time.
You can easily find fresh lavender at nurseries that you can dry yourself, plant a lavender plant in your backyard, or buy buds from online or local retailers. There’s nothing like growing, harvesting, and drying your own lavender, as you have complete control over its use and can be sure there are no additives, chemicals, or dangerous fertilizers involved.
Can You Smoke Lavender Flower?
Luckily, the entire lavender plant is smokable (as long as it has no additives and is just pure, dried herb). The lavender flower is packed with terpenes – which are what ultimately provide health benefits. You can smoke dry lavender flower and make the most of its benefits as long as you’re aware of the ingredients and the risks posed by the act of inhaling smoke into your lungs.
Can You Smoke Lavender Oil?
This is a big no-no. Although the plant in itself is safe, it’s not recommended to smoke lavender-infused oils, as they can contain additives that aren’t safe for smoking consumption.
The side effects of smoking or vaping any essential oil are still being researched, but preliminary results are pretty clear: don’t risk it. From coughing fits, bronchospasms, itching, and swelling of the throat, the consequences are too risky to even chance it. For now, stick to natural, pure, additive-free buds and flower.
Can You Smoke Lavender Buds?
Lavender buds are one of the most common and accessible ways to smoke lavender. You can buy it from many major retailers and can easily be ground up (if it isn’t already) and placed in your bowl or joint. However, make sure you read the ingredients list to be sure you’re only smoking pure lavender buds.
Can You Smoke Lavender Leaves?
You’ll probably get the most out of smoking lavender buds or flower, but the leaves are definitely generally safe to try via cigarettes. Just keep in mind – whether you grow your own or buy a supplier – you don’t want any nasty chemicals and fertilizers getting in the way of your relaxation.
Is It Safe to Smoke Lavender?
Smoking anything carries health risks, as it’s never great to inhale smoke into your lungs. However, if you are a smoker or simply don’t mind the risk, there aren’t any specific risks other than the ones that any smoker is subject to.
However, it’s always a good idea to talk to a medical professional before trying herbal infusions in cigarettes, as well as make sure the products you’re using are safe for consumption and don’t carry any ingredients that might put you at risk.
At the end of the day, smoking isn’t what it used to be. Nicotine is slowly but surely taking a backseat to herbal cigarettes, vapes, and of course, good old weed. Measure the hazards, but go for it if you’re curious about trying.
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