Herbal Smoking Blends

Why Do We Smoke?

It’s a new year and that time when people are making resolutions, like, for instance, quitting smoking.

Using tobacco can lead to addiction, let’s not fool ourselves, and there are some very harmful additives put into commercial tobacco blends. There are, however, many reasons people smoke besides addiction. For some, the act of smoking and its effects is pleasurable, it can also be a way to satisfy an oral fixation, or a social activity (or social vice) shared with others that bonds, much like drinking alcohol.

In the United States, we look down on and socially isolate smokers as people who cannot control their “dirty” addictions in a way that we do not look down on people who congregate in bars or coffee shops. It can be quite a different experience as a smoker to visit another country and see how the attitude differs. For example, in Japan, smoking is associated with relaxing and letting one’s hair down, and some pubs and even restaurants still allow smoking.

Many people also smoke marijuana for a number of reasons, including its many and varied medical benefits. There has never been a reported overdose due to marijuana consumption, and it is not a a physically addictive substance. Someone people can, however, develop an emotional dependence on it. Most Americans who have tried marijuana however abstain from using it because it is either illegal in their state, it did not give them the effects they were looking for, or, more commonly, because of widespread drug testing by employers, even for jobs where workers are not responsible for the welfare of others.

So, dear reader, if you’re looking for an alternative to tobacco or marijuana where you can still get that smoking fix without the risks to health or your job, you might want to consider ordering or making your own herbal smoking blend.

An Alternative: Herbal Smoking Blends

Herbal smoking blends can have a variety of effects, based on the herbs used in the blend. They can be calming, or tranquilizing, relaxing your mind or your body. Herbal blends have long been taken ceremonially orally or by smoking by many people to produce altered states of consciousness in order to take a spiritual journey. Milder herbs have been used in vision quests, meditation, or in ceremonies such as peace pipe ceremonies.

Smoking has long been a ritual, both personal and communal, something that we have lost sight of but should try to be more conscious of.

Quite similarly, yet without the social stigma, incense (Latin for “to burn”), is a combustible bouquet composed of aromatic plant materials, sometimes combined with essential oils. Incense has been used since the ancient Egyptians and frequently used in therapy, meditation, ceremony and religious uses.

While I don’t encourage people to develop a smoking habit, I do encourage those who do smoke already to take control of their habit and de-stigmatize it both to themselves and to others who judge them for it.

If you don’t want to custom make your own blend for different effects and taste, you can always order herbal cigarettes online. If, however, you relish the idea of making and rolling your own, there are a lot of options!

First, there’s the question of where are you going to get the herbs? You can purchase your herbs through trusted herbalists, I personally recommend Herbal Spirits and Harmony Herbal. The latter is great for ordering single herbs for making your own custom mixes. If they don’t have something that you want, try looking for wildcraft vendors on Etsy.

The other option of course is that you grow and/or wildcraft your own ingredients. If you’re looking to replace your current smoking preference right now or soon, this may not be the best option for you. When wildcrafting herbs, consider the location you are taking them from. Avoid harvesting near roadsides, irrigation ditches, and other areas there may be contaminated by harmful chemicals.

• Learn more about wildcrafting with Wildcrafting Basics
• Check out 10 Tips for Wildcrafting Medicinal Herbs

There are a number of important factors to consider when making your own smoking blend from planted and/or wildcrafted herbs. The first is how the herbs were dried and cured. Like tobacco, you don’t want your herbal smoking blend to be dried to a crisp. Some ingredients can be, but as a whole there should be a slight moistness.

For a more flavorful smoke, you want to dry your herbs slowly, then cure and then finally store in an airtight container. If your herbs, whether store-bought or home-made, are too dry, try spraying the mixture lightly with water and then mixing it thoroughly. You can also experiment with the water you spray the herb mix with, try adding a bit of honey or an apple slice. If the herbs get too wet, let them air dry a bit.

The other factor to consider is the consistency of the mixture so that is burns evenly. This is more important when smoking a rolled cigarette rather than a pipe. In a rolled cigarette, you’re going to want to pick out any stems or bits of root that could puncture the paper, finely chop the mixture or use a mortar and pestle to grind it into a powder.

Making Your Own Herbal Smoking Blend:

There is a general ratio of ingredients you can apply to making your own herbal smoking blends of base herb to flavoring herb to secondary herb.

• 2 Tablespoons base herb(s)
• 1 Tablespoon secondary herb(s)
• 1/2 Tablespoon flavoring herb(s) (or 1 teaspoon for powdered seeds or spices)

With this basic recipe you can go forth and experiment to your heart’s content! But first, here is a list of different base herbs, secondary herbs, and flavoring herbs you can experiment with in your blends.

Base Herbs:

• Mullien (lung restorative) (fluff up with hands or blender for better mixing)
• Damiana (relaxing and creativity boosting effect)
• Rubus leaves (raspberry, blackberry, loganberry, thimbleberry, salmonberry)
• Use barks for bases: Thinly sliced/shredded inner bark of Dogwood, Willow, Manzanita, and Kinnikinnik.

Secondary Herbs:

• Blue Lotus
• Wild Dagga
• Uva Ursi
• Skullcap
• Wild Lettuce
• Hops
• California Poppy
• Catnip
• Chamomile
• Thyme
• Lobelia
• Calendula
• Coltsfoot (expectorant)
• Marshmallow
• Marjoram
• Rose
• Passionflower
• Kinnikinnik leaves
• Pipsissewa leaves
• Manzanita leaves
• Powdered Rubus root (blackberry, raspberry, loganberry, thimbleberry, salmonberry)
• Parrot’s Beak
• Horehound (expectorant)

Tips:

Damiana blends well with other relaxing, psychotropic herbs such as: Catnip, California Poppy, Wild Lettuce, Hops, Mugwort, Skullcap, Uva Ursi, Wild Dagga, Passionflower, and Blue Lotus.

Mullein and Raspberry blends will with: Chamomile, Sage, Rose Petals, Marjoram, Marshmallow, Coltsfoot, Calendula, Lobelia, Mugwort, and Uva Ursi.

Flavoring Herbs:

When experimenting with flavoring herbs, consider the possible side effects some may have. Consult this flavoring guide to see how it may impact your blend and experience.

• Madrone (leaf or bark)
• Mints: Peppermint, Spearmint, Apple Mint, etc.
• Lavender
• Sage (including white, black, and hummingbird)
• Thyme
• Clove (crushed or ground)
• Licorice Root (crushed or ground)
• Stevia
• Osha Root (finely ground)
• Elephants Head
• Mugwort
• Lemon Balm
• Sagebrush
• Yerba Buena
• Angelica
• Osha, Oshala, Lovage
• Ginger (use dried powder)
• Anise

Herbal Smoking Recipes:

To Quit Smoking Tobacco Blend:

Looking to quite smoking tobacco? Read this on how to do so with the help of herbal medicine.

Phase 1:

• Rubbed Mullien leaf base
• Kinnikinnik and Manzanita leaves for secondary
• Skullcap leaf (for calming effect)
• Lobelia (for lobeline) (expectorant, muscle relaxant and tranquilizer. Do not mix with alcohol or other pharmaceutical tranquilizers.)
• Mint (optional for menthol smokers)

Phase 2:

• Stop adding Lobelia
• Add Coltsfoot
• Increase Mullein leaf proportion to other herbs

Phase 3:

• Smoke Mullein alone

Lung Cleanse/Chest Cold Blend:

• Mullein for base
• Coltsfoot
• Horehound
• Flavorings optional

To Quite Smoking Marijuana Blend:

Recipe 1:

• Skullcap
• Parrot’s Beak
• Elephants Head for flavorings

Recipe 2:

• Mullein leaf for base
• Calamus root, small pieces or powder (secondary)
• Coltsfoot (secondary)
• Elephant’s Head Buds (calming and flavor)

Ceremonial Blend:

• Mullein leaf for base
• Fermented Scotch Broom flowers
• Desert Skullcap (small amount)
• Elephant’s Head Leaf
• Parrot’s Beak Leaf
• Osha Root, powdered for flavor

Calming garden and kitchen blend:

This is an easy blend to grow, wildcraft, and scramble together from kitchen items you already have. It’s a nice calming blend that tastes like smoking an herbal tea.

• Mullien and/or raspberry leaves for base
• Secondary Herbs: Catnip, Chamomile, and Calendula
• Flavoring options: Mint, sage, thyme, clove or ginger