Putting That In My Pipe And Smoking It?

[Aloysius]

So, I've recently been experimenting with the idea of smoking various herbal teas... I have very much wanted to try smoking St. John's Wort because of its mild 'happiness' effects and its traditional use since medieval times to ward off bad feelings and, well, evil in general. Anyway, I have not gotten to try that yet (the only herbal smoke blend I've found of St. John's wort is about $15 an ounce, and I'm not made of money)

I have, however, been trying some tazo teas in my pipe which taste delicious and seem to have some calming properties. I just break open the tea bag and pack it in my pipe, it burns pretty well. Mostly, I've been doing this because I'm out of tobacco, out of money, and out of dish soap (and my tea pot is dirty); but it's been a pleasant discovery if I do say so myself.

the peppermint tea (a Tazo tea named "refresh" I believe) actually smells a lot like marijuana when it's smoked (yeah, I've smelled that smoked, I'm sure a lot of us here have; I definitely don't smoke it, in case you thought that was the implication) so I think that for social reasons, I might want to avoid doing that around people; though it was a pleasant and refreshing smoking experience. I just tried a chamomile blend (the Tazo tea named "calm") which was really good, I very much enjoyed it, and while it had an odd but cool smell, it certainly didn't have the same problematic smell that "refresh" had.

has anyone tried this type of thing? any recommendations of teas? anyone know if there are carcinogens in these things? obviously, smoke is always bad for the lungs, but I don't inhale and was wondering if this is better or worse for the mouth than tobacco... I imagine, though I don't know the science on it, that it definitely wouldn't be as bad as tobacco.... I mean, if you can drink the tea made from it, how could it have carcinogens? but I suppose the carcinogens could be the parts of it that don't infuse into the tea and only come out when it's burned, I don't know... I've either discovered a healthier way to smoke, or a less healthy way to smoke, lol. And I can't seem to find any info on it... hmm...

so, anyone had any experience with this? if you search the internet for "marijuana alternatives" you can find plenty of legal herbal blends to smoke... it all has me quite fascinated. and since the actual "smokeable" stuff they sell is so expensive, I think I might look for a St. John's Wort tea... what do you all think?

[Nihil Obstat]

Probably still an increased risk of mouth cancer, on the health side of it.

On the cool side of things, you're awesome.
In my life I've only ever seen people smoking pipes in public twice.

I'll never do it, but I'll say this: it's preferable to that cigarette smell.

How about trying to smoke incense? I'm only half kidding. Or one-third.

[Aloysius]

I wonder, though... from my rudimentary knowledge of the subject, tobacco smoke increases the risk of cancer not just because it is smoke, but because tobacco inherently has carcinogens... chewing tobacco will still give you mouth cancer... but will chewing a peppermint leaf give you mouth cancer? I don't think so, so why would the smoke produced by a peppermint leaf give you mouth cancer?.... science must be done! the world wants to know!

oh, and I know I'm awesome, thanks for mentioning it

[TotusTuusMaria]

ewww you smoke?

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1815349' date='Mar 24 2009, 12:11 AM']I wonder, though... from my rudimentary knowledge of the subject, tobacco smoke increases the risk of cancer not just because it is smoke, but because tobacco inherently has carcinogens... chewing tobacco will still give you mouth cancer... but will chewing a peppermint leaf give you mouth cancer? I don't think so, so why would the smoke produced by a peppermint leaf give you mouth cancer?.... science must be done! the world wants to know!

oh, and I know I'm awesome, thanks for mentioning it [/quote]
I'm sure it has something to do with the nature of smoke.

For instance, and this may not be a good analogy, there is some link between frequent incense use in the home and increased lung cancer.

Is incense carcinogenic? No idea. (but cigarettes obviously aren't the only things that are.)

[Aloysius]

[quote name='TotusTuusMaria' post='1815352' date='Mar 24 2009, 02:15 AM']ewww you smoke?[/quote]
have you seen my avatar? haha... I smoke pipes, but not necessarily regularly, no cravings/addiction type behavior; and also hookahs occasionally. you may have been indoctrinated to detest the practice, but give a pipe its due: it is totally awesome. I don't smoke cigarettes. I've gotten into debates over the moralityof smoking in the past, do a search if you're interested.

yes, it is not just tobacco that has carcinogens... marijuana does as well... perhaps incense does... but I wonder if it is something inherent to smoke? I imagine smoke in any form will do some type of damage... but carcinogenic? just for being smoke? I honestly don't know.

I'd be interested to see the study done on incense...

[Maximilianus]

How do you get anykind of effect if you don't inhale?

[Hassan]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1815356' date='Mar 24 2009, 01:20 AM']have you seen my avatar? haha... I smoke pipes, but not necessarily regularly, no cravings/addiction type behavior; and also hookahs occasionally. you may have been indoctrinated to detest the practice, but give a pipe its due: it is totally awesome. I don't smoke cigarettes. I've gotten into debates over the moralityof smoking in the past, do a search if you're interested.

yes, it is not just tobacco that has carcinogens... marijuana does as well... perhaps incense does... but I wonder if it is something inherent to smoke? I imagine smoke in any form will do some type of damage... but carcinogenic? just for being smoke? I honestly don't know.

I'd be interested to see the study done on incense...[/quote]


I had a directed in an advanced logic course with an old professor who smoked cigars. All my logic books smelled thick with cigar smoke by the time the lesson was finished. The scent did grow on me by the end of the year. I'd try a Pipe or a Hookah as they seem to be safer than other options.

A Pipe is unusual, can I ask how you got into it?

[Aloysius]

[quote name='Maximilianus' post='1815358' date='Mar 24 2009, 02:24 AM']How do you get anykind of effect if you don't inhale?[/quote]
with tobacco, it mixes with one's saliva and digests... pipes and cigars are not meant to be inhaled, they are really bad for you if you do and traditionally were not done so, they are to be puffed; you get the effects of nicotine all the same (well, you might get a huge rush of it from a pipe or cigar if you inhaled; and some people do do that, but I would not recommend it) cigarettes certainly have to be inhaled to get the effects, as does marijuana generally, I believe; though I believe some of our presidents have tried it without inhaling... don't know why they'd do that. lol

as I've made clear here, I have no idea regarding the other things. I imagine the smoke gets in through the saliva as well and in that event the effects might be no more than drinking tea; but it did seem to have quite a bit more of an effect than the ordinary tea; could be psychosomatic or could be somehow more quickly into my bloodstream.. if there's anything that could even be properly considered to get in my bloodstream... hmm...

how did I get into pipes? hmm... I'd have to answer that with G.K. Chesterton... but I'm not sure really, I know I always admired him and wanted to try a pipe because of that, but I had plenty of other reasons... my traditionalist bents is one of them, and my contrarian impulse against mainstream taboos is another (the two certainly are overlapping)... in any event, ever since I started I've always enjoyed its taste, aroma, effects, and definitely the social aspects of it.

[TotusTuusMaria]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1815356' date='Mar 24 2009, 01:20 AM']have you seen my avatar? haha... I smoke pipes, but not necessarily regularly, no cravings/addiction type behavior; and also hookahs occasionally. you may have been indoctrinated to detest the practice, but give a pipe its due: it is totally awesome. I don't smoke cigarettes. I've gotten into debates over the morality of smoking in the past, do a search if you're interested.

yes, it is not just tobacco that has carcinogens... marijuana does as well... perhaps incense does... but I wonder if it is something inherent to smoke? I imagine smoke in any form will do some type of damage... but carcinogenic? just for being smoke? I honestly don't know.

I'd be interested to see the study done on incense...[/quote]

Indoctrinated to detest the practice? My friend smokes and she takes me home weekly and my grandmother has smoked constantly as I have grown up. I feel like I am dying in that truck every time I ride with her. I don't need truth commercials to tell me smoking is disgusting. I just have to breath around it and I know.



I guess when I look at a pipe it does seem more classier then a cigarette... they both must be bad for you though.

Either way you are smoking tobacco, the same tobacco that is used in cigarettes with the same risks. From my understanding, pipes have a ton of chemicals added to them just as cigarettes. It is harmful on those around you, your teeth, your skin, your lungs...Besides how you look holding a cigarette versus a pipe, is there really any difference between the two?

Basically you said you are doing it because G.K. Chesterton did and you like the way it looks... have you ever considered that vanity, especially considering that it is slowly but surely working to bring about your death?

Edited March 24, 2009 by TotusTuusMaria

[loganrude]

[quote name='TotusTuusMaria' post='1815367' date='Mar 24 2009, 02:05 AM']Indoctrinated to detest the practice? My friend smokes and she takes me home weekly and my grandmother has smoked constantly as I have grown up. I feel like I am dying in that truck every time I ride with her. I don't need truth commercials to tell me smoking is disgusting. I just have to breath around it and I know.



I guess when I look at a pipe it does seem more classier then a cigarette... they both must be bad for you though.

Either way you are smoking tobacco, the same tobacco that is used in cigarettes with the same risks. From my understanding, pipes have a ton of chemicals added to them just as cigarettes. It is harmful on those around you, your teeth, your skin, your lungs...Besides how you look holding a cigarette versus a pipe, is there really any difference between the two?

Basically you said you are doing it because G.K. Chesterton did and you like the way it looks... have you ever considered that vanity, especially considering that it is slowly but surely working to bring about your death?[/quote]

This is quite a harsh response. Do you ever enjoy chocolate? if you do, it must be in vain, because it will make you fat, which in turn can lead to heart or other problems which can bring about your death (sarcasm).

Now although you may be disgusted with smoke, not everyone is. I enjoy a cigar from time to time, as well as a bowl of captain black pipe tobacco, and I find it very relaxing. On top of that, everyone around me encourages it (the pipe that is) because it smells so good. Cigarettes and pipes are hardly similar. The only similarity is the health risk, which is significantly lower for pipe smokers because they usually do not inhale nor smoke everyday.

To say that smoking is an example of vanity means that any pleasurable, relaxing experience that has been deemed unhealthy is unholy (eating fast food, eating dessert, laying outside by a pool and getting a tan).

Aloysius, that's pretty neat that you have been experimenting with tea leaves. I always wanted to try to smoke some other substance that tobacco (legal that is) and see what it's like. Does it taste like pipe tobacco? Is the aroma nice? Good luck on your experiments! Tell me if you find anything worth trying.

[TotusTuusMaria]

[quote name='loganrude' post='1815378' date='Mar 24 2009, 02:33 AM']This is quite a harsh response.[/quote]

Well perhaps it is the way you read it because I did not say it in a harsh tone nor mean for it to be. I am sorry you took it that way.

[quote]Do you ever enjoy chocolate? if you do, it must be in vain, because it will make you fat, which in turn can lead to heart or other problems which can bring about your death (sarcasm).

Now although you may be disgusted with smoke, not everyone is. I enjoy a cigar from time to time, as well as a bowl of captain black pipe tobacco, and I find it very relaxing. On top of that, everyone around me encourages it (the pipe that is) because it smells so good. Cigarettes and pipes are hardly similar. The only similarity is the health risk, which is significantly lower for pipe smokers because they usually do not inhale nor smoke everyday.

To say that smoking is an example of vanity means that any pleasurable, relaxing experience that has been deemed unhealthy is unholy (eating fast food, eating dessert, laying outside by a pool and getting a tan).

Aloysius, that's pretty neat that you have been experimenting with tea leaves. I always wanted to try to smoke some other substance that tobacco (legal that is) and see what it's like. Does it taste like pipe tobacco? Is the aroma nice? Good luck on your experiments! Tell me if you find anything worth trying.[/quote]

Really, all is vanity.

[url="http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gilbertvanity.jpg"][img]http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6938/gilbertvanity.jpg[/img][/url]

Primarily though I was wondering if he ever looked on it as vanity that he first started doing it because of the way it looks.

Smoking in itself isn't an example of vanity. Smoking [i]because of the way that it makes you look [/i][u]could be argued[/u] to be an example of vanity though. Mother Angelica once asked women why they wore those pitiful little pointy shoes when they hurt so much. She flat out told them it was vain, and yeah... it is. I wear pointy shoes. It hurts my feet. It makes me less productive because after about two or so hours on them I don't want to take another step. It is, whether I want to admit it when I get them out of the closet or not, vain because I want to look better and I am convinced that those pointy shoes are somehow going to make me look more sophisticated. Same with that pipe. If one is doing it because one thinks it makes one look more sophisticated and because someone one admires wore it/did it (despite that it causes one harm) then I seriously am interested in knowing if one ever considered it vanity.

It certainly can be an example of vanity with the correct vain intentions, just as make-up, pointy shoes, and certain clothes can be examples of vanity.

Where are the statistics that using a pipe to smoke tobacco causes less health risks then a cigarette, as you state?

Some other things your post made me think about:

Is there a "good intention" for smoking?

And can it be justified that one is relying on "a smoke" to make one more relaxed. Perhaps this only applies to those that are addicted (which the Aloysius says he is not).

Edited March 24, 2009 by TotusTuusMaria

[ardillacid]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1815356' date='Mar 24 2009, 01:20 AM']and also hookahs occasionally.[/quote]
OH. Yeah.

[rachael]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1815356' date='Mar 24 2009, 12:20 AM']and also hookahs occasionally.[/quote]

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1815356' date='Mar 24 2009, 05:20 AM']have you seen my avatar? haha... I smoke pipes, but not necessarily regularly, no cravings/addiction type behavior; and also hookahs occasionally. you may have been indoctrinated to detest the practice, but give a pipe its due: it is totally awesome. I don't smoke cigarettes. I've gotten into debates over the moralityof smoking in the past, do a search if you're interested.

yes, it is not just tobacco that has carcinogens... marijuana does as well... perhaps incense does... but I wonder if it is something inherent to smoke? I imagine smoke in any form will do some type of damage... but carcinogenic? just for being smoke? I honestly don't know.

I'd be interested to see the study done on incense...[/quote]
Hmm, that is a good question about the smoke. I've never smoked a pipe, but I'd probably try it.

[quote name='Hassan' post='1815359' date='Mar 24 2009, 05:25 AM']I had a directed in an advanced logic course with an old professor who smoked cigars. All my logic books smelled thick with cigar smoke by the time the lesson was finished. The scent did grow on me by the end of the year. I'd try a Pipe or a Hookah as they seem to be safer than other options.[/quote]
Mmmm, cigars. I love the smell of cigars (and like smoking them, too, though I haven't had one in a few years).