Pros and Cons of Smoking Lavender: Relaxation Versus Health Risks

Understanding the Pros and Cons of Smoking Lavender

Lavender is a fragrant herb that many people find relaxing. Some claim that smoking lavender provides health benefits. However, others argue that any kind of smoking carries risks. What does the research say about potential pros and cons of smoking lavender?

What Is Lavender?

Lavender refers to over 40 cultivars of the flowering Lavandula angustifolia plant. Its purple flowers and pleasant, clean scent make lavender popular in cosmetics, aromatherapy, and household cleaning products.

Many enjoy lavender for its soothing, calming properties. The herb contains compounds like linalyl acetate and linalool that may promote relaxation when inhaled or applied topically.

Forms of Lavender You Can Smoke

There are a few different ways people smoke lavender:

• Dried lavender buds
• Lavender essential oil
• Lavender herbal blends

Typically the lavender flowers get dried and bundled into smokables often called herbal cigarettes. Some also add lavender essential oil to other dried herbs when making homemade smoking blends.

Potential Pros: Purported Benefits of Smoking Lavender

Advocates believe smoking lavender offers certain mental and physical perks. But what does science actually say about the potential benefits?

Relaxation and Stress Relief

This remains the number one reason people smoke lavender. Its sweet floral scent activates relaxing regions in the brain. One study found lavender essential oil reduced stress and improved mood in high-stress work environments.

So while lavender itself hasn’t been tested post-smoking, its destressing effects seem plausible. However, relaxation could also result merely from the act of taking smoking breaks.

Pain Relief

Another alleged perk of smoking lavender is natural pain relief. Research does indicate lavender aromatherapy enables people to use lower doses of pain meds after surgery. And linalool may interact with pain receptors.

But more research needs to confirm if smoked lavender delivers meaningful analgesic effects. Pain relief could also tie into relaxation.

Better Sleep

Many turn to lavender as a sleep aid. Studies demonstrate lavender aromatherapy benefits insomnia and sleep quality. The herb seems to help people fall asleep faster and wake less at night.

While inhaling smoke doesn’t equal aromatherapy, smoked lavender could carry over pre-bedtime for mild sedative effects. Any relaxation it provides may ready the body for rest as well.

Decreased Nausea and Headaches

Along with pain, preliminary findings note lavender's potential to lessen headaches, nausea, and motion sickness. However, most research examines essential oil instead of smoked lavender specifically.

One study did find that cigarette smoke diluted with lavender essential oil increased calmness. But more evidence is needed regarding smoked lavender and these benefits.

Potential Cons: Risks of Smoking Lavender

Despite some possible mental and physical perks, smoking anything comes with health hazards. Lavender smoke carries its own negatives as well.

Respiratory Irritation

Smoke inflammation can impact airways and lungs short and long term. Dried plant matter contains particles that irritate lungs when inhaled. One study discovered vaporizing dried lavender flowers worsened asthma in mice.

While human evidence is lacking, it’s logical that lavender smoke may likewise trigger cough, breathing trouble, or lung inflammation for some people.

Increased Cancer Risk

All smoke contains carcinogenic compounds, including carbon monoxide and tar. These toxins bombard lungs when you smoke. Although many wrongly believe natural smoke equals safe smoke, inhaling burning plants frequently almost certainly boosts cancer likelihood over time.

Harmful Route of Administration

Smoking anything sends assorted chemicals into the bloodstream rapidly. But lungs aren’t designed to take in foreign material this way. Benefits like relaxation or pain relief seem achievable through safer, studied lavender delivery methods instead.

Cause of Fire and Burns

Loose lavender left smoldering on fabrics or other surfaces risks starting fires. People under the influence of sedating smoke may burn themselves by accident as well. Impaired attention plus hot ashes or embers make injuries more probable.

Smoking Habit and Addiction

Even without nicotine, smoking motions often become ingrained habits over time. Smoke breaks foster ongoing reliance tough to break for some people. And other compounds in lavender may have dependence potential through smoking.

Safer Ways to Use Lavender

If you want lavender’s relaxing or pain-relieving effects, safer administration options exist without the risks of smoke inhalation:

• Aromatherapy diffusers
• Topical lavender oil
• Lavender tea
• Candles or potpourri
• Baths, massage, or acupuncture incorporating lavender

Talk to your doctor before using alternative remedies. But these generally studied applications likely provide advantages without smoking's downsides.

The Takeaway

Lavender smoke may foster relaxation or other benefits in the short term. Chemicals entering the lungs rapidly enable fast-acting effects. But research can’t yet confirm smoked lavender’s purported perks.

Meanwhile, smoke of any kind means inhaling carcinogens, tar, and carbon monoxide. Although lavender smoke seems less dangerous than tobacco, it likely shares similar long-term risks.

Fortunately, those seeking lavender’s advantages have many safe options without hazards of smoke inhalation. Talk to your healthcare provider about evidence-based lavender uses if interested.

While some enjoy smoking lavender recreationally now and then, making it a habitual part of life almost certainly does more harm than good over time. Any ambient benefits require weighing against considerable cons of regular smoke intake.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.