Almost any of the edible plants we use in dried form are also smokable herbs. Do a modest search online and you’ll come up with folk recipes for smoking blends involving kitchen spices like cinnamon and oregano, and tea herbs like chamomile and valerian. However, not all of the herbs you can smoke will have medicinal or psychoactive effects, or even a pleasant taste. This is why many people rely on commercial smoking blends, such as the popular “Knaster” available in Germany, which combines damiana, fermented blackberry leaf, Yerba Santa and skullcap among other herbs. Because of the variety of preblended smokable herbs, you might find it easier to find your best blend if you know what some of these herbs are meant to do--- and the list is sizable.
Throughout history, people have used smokable plants to achieve different effects; these can be roughly separated into recreational, ritual and medicinal effects.The simplest reason for smoking certain herbs is taste: if you’ve ever salivated over smoked salmon, chargrilled shish-kabobs or the heady aroma of an open fire, you can understand how people in centuries past might have discovered that some herbs, once blended together and burned, yield similar rich, multilayered flavors. The herbal combinations we’re interested in here are those that yield psychoactive and/or therapeutic effects to the smoker. Smoking a psychoactive or medicinal herb remains a good way to guarantee immediate effects compared to an oral preparation. It is also a reliable method to regulate dosage: when smoked, a plant’s effects onset much sooner than with oral delivery, so it’s easier for the smoker to gauge its potency and determine whether or not they need a booster dose. Also, if a smoked herb doesn’t agree with you, it’s much easier to stop at a smaller dosage before you make yourself sick.
This is an important point to consider if you are looking for psychoactive smokable herbs to use in visionary and meditation work. Two interesting visionary herbs prevalent in North America are Acorus calamus and scotch broom. The root of Acorus calamus can be chewed or smoked in low doses as a stimulant; in higher doses this plant can have visionary effects. Take note that unlike many other smokable herbs, calamus root may cloud your thoughts and should probably not be taken on a daily basis. Its active ingredients are also somewhat unstable, so you’ll want to obtain the freshest root available to ensure you get its full effects. Break it into small pieces for use in a pipe, or powder it if you use smoking papers.
Scotch broom is native to Europe and was originally planted on North American roadsides to curb soil erosion. Since then it has grown beyond those boundaries and become part of the pharmacopoeia of wild North American flora. Scotch broom was immortalized in Arthurian legend as one of the herbs smoked by the wizard Merlin as he sought answers from the supramundane realms, a story which illustrates the strength and visionary power of this plant. To achieve a mild calming effect, scotch broom must be properly cured by being sealed in an airtight jar for at least a couple of weeks until it has turned brown; for stronger visionary effects, some people have cured scotch broom using the same method for up to eight months. Be warned that scotch broom is not the for the first-time smoker or for casual use; because of its potent psychoactive properties, this is a plant best used occasionally by those pursuing a conscious course of meditation and/or visionary work.
On the medicinal side, there is a range of smokable herbs that can improve the health of the lungs by acting as expectorants and soothing tissue that has been inflamed due to longtime cigarette smoking or respiratory infections. Mullein leaf is one of the most powerful in this category: it can sooth inflamed lung tissue and suppress the constant urge to cough suffered by those with a virulent cold or flu, making it an attractive herbal alternative to powerful prescription medications like codeine. In early modern times, mullein leaf would often be taken by tuberculosis patients to ease the constant coughing associated with the disease. However, mullein will also promote effective coughing to clear the lungs of phlegm due to a respiratory cold or cigarette smoking. If you don’t smoke, you can take a mullein tea or tincture and receive the same benefits.
Horehound and coltsfoot are two other cold season smokable herbs that will make you cough, and can also be helpful in clearing the lungs and throat passages of mucus. They are probably best avoided if you have a painful cough or sore throat; in that case, stick to mullein.
For those looking to quit smoking tobacco, herbal smokes incorporating lobelia can be a lifesaver. Lobeline, the active compound in lobelia, is similar in shape to nicotine and will fit into the same receptor sites that respond to nicotine and generate those cravings for a cigarette after you quit. When used for a short time lobeline is non-addicitive, yet it mimics nicotine so precisely that lobeline become the main ingredient in the chewing gum doctors prescribe to help people quit tobacco. Combined with calming herbs like valerian and skullcap, lobelia can help you weather the physical symptoms of withdrawal and reduce the anxiety that can accompany giving up a long-term tobacco habit. Just be careful not to overdo things with lobelia: this is a very strong tranquilizing herb that should not be combined with alcohol or prescription tranquilizers, and can cause nausea if smoked in excess.
Calming smokable herbs can also be great aids to psychological health. Antispasmodics like skullcap (Scutellaria spp.) and Elephant's Head (Pedicularis spp) can relax tight muscles, cramps and pain. Their calming ingredients can reduce or stop unhelpful circular thoughts, anger and anxiety. Pedicularis, whether smoked or eaten, seems especially helpful as a sleep aid for those who suffer from insomnia and daytime fatigue.
Smoking should be practiced in moderation, as inhaling any kind of smoke will cause some damage to the lungs. It’s all about balance, according to Howie Brounstein, a professional wildcrafter of smokable herbs: if you don’t smoke at all, it’s healthier not to start smoking anything regularly…but if you are a recovering tobacco smoker, switching to different smoking herbs can help you clear the built-up tar from cigarettes out of your lungs and improve your overall health. It’s our “habit of taking things to excess” that Brounstein considers the issue, and occasional smoking is probably fine in a generally healthy lifestyle. Used wisely, these smokable herbs can actually enhance your health, awareness and enjoyment of life. Inhale the benefits today!