Vaporizers have become very popular over the last few years, allowing users to vape herbs, liquids, and other compounds. E-cigarettes and many types of vapes use cartridges of liquid, which often contain nicotine. A dry herb vaporizer is designed to allow users to vape dry herbs and flowers, offering a different experience than a traditional e-cigarette or liquid vape.

What Is a Dry Herb Vaporizer?

A dry herb vaporizer, also called an herbal vaporizer, is typically a small and portable unit that is easy to take with you. The compact size makes it easier to maintain the components, which include a cartridge tank system and a lithium-ion battery. Some desktop-style units are larger and meant to be left in one place. When you’re ready to use it, simply press the button on the unit to activate the heat.

One of the most appealing aspects of a dry herb vaporizer is the fact that no combustion is taking place. Therefore, you’re not inhaling carcinogenic compounds, tar, or other harmful toxins that come from smoke. When using this option, you can take advantage of using herbs and flowers through potent, pure vapor rather than risking your health by smoking them.

The heat produced by the unit is lower than the combustion temperature, allowing you to experience the herbs and flowers, along with the aromas, flavors, and effects of these herbs without any smoke. Portable vaporizers utilize the latest advancements, including convection heating systems that use hot air to heat up the herbs instead of hot surfaces. When the herbs are heated on a hot surface, some combustion occurs, although still less than what would occur through the traditional process of smoking the herbs.

What Does Dry Herb Vaporizer Mean

A dry herb vaporizer works by heating up the herbs to vaporize them without using the process of combustion. The coil within the vaporizer heats up the herbs you use within the reservoir to bring out the flavors and features without burning the herbs to create smoke. When you’re using a vaporizer, the white plumes that come out are vapor, not smoke. You can inhale the vapor to take advantage of the benefits of the herbs without the concern or danger of combustion.

In order to vape a dry herb, you’ll need several important items. The first is the unit, and the second is the herb you plan to use within the reservoir. You’ll also need a grinder, a funnel or loading tool, and a glass jar. When the time comes to clean your vape, make sure you have rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs to remove all the grime that stays behind when vapor is produced.

You’ll use the grinder to make sure all particles of the dry herb are roughly the same size, which ensures more even heating for a smoother flavor. The funnel allows you to load up the reservoir, while the glass jar is what you’ll put the remaining herb in when you finish your session. If you’re vaping cannabis, the cannabis that remains behind is referred to as “already been vaped” or ABV. Some people like to use this to make tincture, an alcoholic beverage, or edibles with the remaining herb.

Is a Dry Herb Vape Worth It?

If you enjoy using dry herbs, this type of vaporizer is certainly worth using because of the many benefits that it can bring. You can use this type of unit to vape cannabis, which activates the terpenes and cannabinoids found in the herb. When vaporizing the herb, you can actually taste more of the terpenes than you would if you were smoking cannabis.

The terpenes in cannabis are the essences of fragrance found in each flower, so the tastes enhance the experience. Certain terpenes produce different effects. For example, pinene helps you feel relaxed but alert, while limonene provides relief from anxiety. Myrcene is the terpene that can help you fall asleep, and linalool offers a relaxed, sedated feeling. If you’re looking for pain relief, the caryophyllene terpene is most likely to provide this benefit.

Since cannabinoids and terpenes vaporize at different temperatures, the process of combustion won’t produce the same result as using a dry herb vaporizer. When you use this type of unit, you can heat the plant to the right temperature to enhance the experience and have more control. Lower temperatures will vaporize terpenes first, offering mellow hits that are full of flavor. When you vape at higher temperatures, the CBD and THC in the cannabis will come to life, providing a more potent hit.

Is a Dry Herb Vaporizer Safe?

Since a dry herb vaporizer doesn’t rely on the process of combustion to heat up the herbs, using this type of unit is safer than smoking. When you burn a cigarette, the lit end can reach a temperature of 800 degrees Celsius. Combustion produces thousands of chemicals, many of which are harmful, and exposure to carbon monoxide is a concern for smokers.

Most dry herb vaporizer units contain a metal or ceramic heating chamber, a butane or electric energy source, a battery, and a filter or fine screen. When you press the button to activate the vaporizer, the coil within the unit will heat up to the temperature you have set. This heat allows the chemicals within the reservoir to be vaporized, but they are not combusted. You can inhale the vapor to get a direct hit from the chemicals while avoiding tar and other potentially harmful substances found in smoke.

Newer dry herb vaporizers use new technological advancements to offer better control over the temperature, which improves safety. When you want to take advantage of the benefits of dry herbs for your physical and/or emotional health, using a dry herb vaporizer is a safer option than smoking those herbs.  

Many people who smoke dry herbs experience lung irritation and other health problems. Although smoking herbs isn’t directly linked to lung cancer, a study published in Cancer Causes & Control found that heavy smoking of dry herbs can increase the risk. Wheezing and coughing may also result from smoking, whether you’re using the herbs in joints or a pipe. Using a method that doesn’t involve combustion is a better option for getting the herbs you want to use while mitigating these health risks.  

Are Dry Herb Vaporizers for Weed?

Dry herb vaporizers are designed to vaporize any type of dry herb. Marijuana is certainly one of the options to use in the unit, although it’s not the only option. You can use just about any type of dry herb in a vaporizer, but make sure you know the proper temperature for vaporizing the herb you’re using before you get started. If the temperature is too low, you may not experience the desired effects, while a temperature that is too high could result in burned herbs.

Medical marijuana is legal in many states across the nation, so patients who are using this as a treatment option for various mental and physical health conditions also use dry herb vaporizers. Since this delivery method doesn’t use combustion, it is a safer and healthier way to experience the effects of marijuana. Those who are treating existing conditions often want to avoid the potential lung irritation and health hazards associated with smoking, which is why they look into dry herb vaporizers as a better option.

What Are the Dry Herb Vaporizers Used For

Dry herb vaporizers can be used for a number of different herbs. If it’s legal in your state, you may choose to vape medical or recreational marijuana. The ideal temperature for vaping this herb depends on the effect you want to experience. The two main cannabinoids found in cannabis are THC, which vaporizes at 315 degrees Fahrenheit, and CBD, which vaporizes at 356 degrees Fahrenheit. THC produces the psychoactive, high feeling that many associate with weed, while CBD is known to provide relief from pain and anxiety symptoms. Cannabis also contains terpenes, some of which vaporize at lower temperatures.

Even if you don’t use marijuana or it’s not legal where you live, you can place other legal herbs in your dry herb vaporizer. Some people use lavender to promote relaxation, while others use eucalyptus to treat sore throats and cold symptoms, as well as boost immunity. The purpose of a dry herb vaporizer is to allow the user to experience the effects of a specific herb without having to go through the process of combustion, which can be dangerous.

Are Dry Herb Vaporizers Bad For You?

Smoking any type of herb can produce some known carcinogens and tar, which are hazardous to your health. Using a dry herb vaporizer is a safer alternative to smoking because it doesn’t produce those carcinogens or tar. You can also avoid lung irritation, which can lead to chronic bronchitis or worsen existing respiratory and health conditions by vaping herbs instead of smoking them. The vapor produced by this type of unit is much cleaner than the smoke produced by combustion.

What Dry Herbs Can You Vape?

People across the world have been vaporizing dry herbs for centuries. Marijuana is one of the most commonly used herbs, offering a relaxing and euphoric feeling in most users. When you’re using cannabis as a dry herb, it’s best to set your unit between 356 and 392 degrees Fahrenheit for the best result. Another option is lavender, which can treat depression and insomnia. If you have trouble relaxing due to anxiety or stress, vaping lavender may help you overcome those feelings and feel less anxious. When you’re using this herb in a vaporizer, keep the temperature around 257 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mulungu is an herb found in South America that is vaped to treat high blood pressure, insomnia, and anxiety. The ideal temperature setting for this option is 392 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Eucalyptus is a natural herb that is found in a variety of cold and flu medications because of the cooling sensation it provides. The ideal temperature for vaporization of eucalyptus is 256 degrees Fahrenheit, and its benefits include improved immunity, treatment of the common cold and its symptoms, and lower levels of stress.

Catnip is known for driving cats crazy, but it offers benefits for humans as well. When you use this herb in your vaporizer, you may experience relief from symptoms of depression and anxiety. This option can also help improve your immune system. Set your vaporizer at 302 degrees Fahrenheit for this herb. 

Klip Dagga is from South Africa and produces some of the same effects as marijuana. Some of its users praise its ability to treat a number of ailments, including paralysis and jaundice. The best temperature for vaping this herb is 347 degrees Fahrenheit.

Damiana is an herb that offers calming properties and a mild high that is also similar to the effect of marijuana. Some people also use it as an aphrodisiac. Heat this herb to 347 degrees Fahrenheit in your vaporizer. 

Betel Nut is an herb that some people prefer to chew rather than vape, although you can certainly use it in your vaporizer. It may help treat infections in the body and mouth, as long as you vape it at around 392 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chamomile grows in West Asia, North America, Europe, and Africa. Its flowers can help ease depression, anxiety, headaches, and indigestion. The essential oil also has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-spasmodic properties, so some people use this herb to lessen the symptoms associated with colitis, peptic ulcers, and spastic colon. 

The raspberry leaf herb can treat the common cold, sore throats, and diarrhea. This herb is also used in pregnancy and to provide postpartum support for new moms.

To soothe an upset stomach or ease digestive troubles, try using peppermint. This herb has been found in Egyptian pyramids from thousands of years ago and was also valued by the ancient Romans and Greeks. Peppermint can relieve bloating, colon spasms, ulcers, and headaches. No matter what type of herb you wish to use, a dry herb vaporizer makes it easier to get the effects without worrying about the side effects of smoking. Try one with your favorite herb and take advantage of the health benefits that this practice can provide.