Health Hazards Of Herbal Cigarettes

Herbal cigarettes — sometimes called herbal smokes, tobacco-free cigarettes or nicotine-free cigarettes — are often marketed as a safer alternative to traditional tobacco products.

The appeal is clear: They look like regular cigarettes, often cost less and are promoted as “natural” or “additive-free” nonsmoking aids. But that doesn’t mean that herbal cigarettes are safe.

Key Takeaways: Herbal Cigarettes

• You may think herbal cigarettes and other alternative cigarettes are natural and safer than traditional tobacco products. But burning any plant material produces harmful toxins like tar and carbon monoxide.
• Research shows that certain herbal ingredients, when burned, can increase the risk of serious chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
• Bidis and clove cigarettes can expose smokers to higher levels of nicotine, tar and other cancer-causing compounds.
• The only safe alternative is to quit smoking altogether. Proven tools like nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medications and support programs can help.

What Are Herbal Cigarettes?

Instead of tobacco, herbal cigarettes contain a mixture of various herbs and, sometimes, plant materials. You can buy them in convenience stores or online, and they come in flavors like vanilla, cherry and menthol. Also, because herbal cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, smokers of any age can buy them legally.

Herbal cigarette ingredients

Depending on the brand, herbal cigarettes may contain herbs and plant materials, including:

• Cloves (also marketed as clove cigarettes)
• Damiana
• Ginseng
• Jasmine
• Marshmallow root (the plant, not the hot chocolate topping)
• Mullein
• Passionflower
• Peppermint
• Red raspberry

These herbs may sound harmless and even line the shelves of your nearby health food store. But once lit, they can produce dangerous byproducts.

Health Risks Of Herbal Cigarettes

A 2000 investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that several herbal cigarette makers had made false claims that their products were a healthier alternative to tobacco. The FTC found that the smoke from herbal cigarettes, like the smoke from tobacco cigarettes, contains numerous carcinogens and toxins, such as tar and carbon monoxide.

As part of the settlement, the FTC ordered the herbal cigarette manufacturers to add warnings to all packages. The warning states, “Herbal cigarettes are dangerous to your health. They produce tar and carbon monoxide.”

At the time, Jodie Bernstein, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, also said, “These cigarettes are marketed with a ‘natural’ aura, but they’re neither healthy nor safe. The new disclosures should make it clear that herbal cigarettes and cigarettes without additives are not safe to smoke. The fact is, there’s no such thing as a safe smoke.”

Also, some recent studies, including one published in 2022 in the American Chemistry Society’s Omega journal, found that certain burnt herbal ingredients, including damiana, can produce significant metabolic problems. This can increase your risk of developing a variety of chronic conditions, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Another study, published in 2010 in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, found that people may feel free to smoke tobacco-free herbal cigarettes more frequently than regular ones, which can pose even more health dangers.

Other Types Of Alternative Cigarettes

Bidis and clove cigarettes are like herbal cigarettes and sometimes included in the same category, but they contain tobacco.

Bidis

Usually imported from India and Southeast Asia, bidis are small, hand-rolled cigarettes made with dark tobacco wrapped tightly in a dried tendu leaf. They look somewhat like marijuana joints. Bidis are available in just about every artificial flavor imaginable, including root beer, mango, chocolate and cherry.

Bidis are typically much less expensive than regular cigarettes. A bundle, in fact, may cost just $2.

Bidis are also more dangerous than tobacco cigarettes, according to a study published in the journal Public Health. Smokers inhale roughly two to three times more tar and nicotine than they would if they smoked regular cigarettes. And because tendu leaves don’t burn as easily as paper, bidis smokers must inhale deeply and often just to keep the cigarettes lit. As a result, toxins and cancer-causing compounds found in the smoke can end up deep in the lungs.

Clove cigarettes

Clove cigarettes, also known as kreteks, are made with about 60 percent tobacco and 40 percent ground cloves. Popular among young adults for their spicy flavor, clove cigarettes deliver twice as much nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide as standard cigarettes, according to the American Lung Association.

Breathing in clove oil and its byproducts increases the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia. It can also lead to serious lung injuries, such as pulmonary edema, a condition in which the lungs fill with fluid.

Although banned for sale in the United States by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, clove cigarettes are still available online.

How To Quit Smoking For Good

There’s no such thing as a safe cigarette — herbal, clove or otherwise. The healthiest alternative isn’t switching brands. It’s quitting altogether.

Here are a few safe, proven ways to stop smoking:

• Behavioral support: Counseling, quit lines and support groups can provide accountability.
• Mobile apps and digital coaching: Tech tools can track your progress and connect you with real-time encouragement.
• Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT): Gum, patches and lozenges can ease withdrawal symptoms.
• Prescription medications: Certain drugs can reduce cravings and double quit rates. 

Franciscan Health offers comprehensive smoking cessation programs that combine medical treatment with personal support. Our team will help you build a customized quit plan that works for your lifestyle and goals.