Smoking herbs

There are several herbs that are used for smoking today. Smoking herbs are known to be potent and have an intoxicating effect on the mind and body. Many of these herbs were used in folk medicine for their sedative effects and continue to be used for medicinal purposes even today. In contemporary medicine practices, these herbs are still used as tranquilizers and have a non-addictive calming effect. They are also used for insomnia, stress, restlessness, and to help overcome nicotine craving. Read on to know more about the herbs that can be legally smoked.

Legal Smoking Herbs

California Poppy
California poppy thrives in grassy and open areas that are 2000 meters above the sea level. Its habitat extends to the high altitude regions of western United States, throughout California to Oregon, southern Washington, Nevada, and Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico, in Sonora and northwest Baja California. The plant can grow up to 60 cm in height.

Damiana
Damiana, also known as Turnera diffusa, is from the family Turneraceae, and native to Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean. It is a small shrub that has small, fragrant flowers. It is said to have a chamomile-like odor, because of an oil present in it. Its flowers blossom in early to late summer and are followed by fruits that have a taste similar to that of figs. The leaves are traditionally used to prepare a tea in Central and South America, known for its aphrodisiac effects.

Hops
Hops, commonly called cones or strobiles, are the clusters of female flowers of the humulus plant. The herb belongs to the family Cannabaceae. It is chiefly used as an agent for flavoring and inducing stability in beer. However, hops are also used in other beverages as well as for medicinal purposes. Going by documentations, hops were first used as a bittering agent in the 11th century.

Lion�s Tail
Lion�s tail, botanically known as Leonotis leonurus, is native to Southern Africa and belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The commonest use of the plant is in the form of its leaves, which are picked and dried to make tea. Studies have also listed down its properties as antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, and hypoglycemic, which gives credence to its traditional use as a medicinal herb.

Magic Mull Mix
Magic mull mix is a popular smoking herb. It is believed to be the ideal smoking mix, which consists of a flavorsome blend of many other herb flavors, such as damiana, hops, rosemary, mugwort and catnip. It is said to have an uplifting buzz effect, which also makes it a preferable mix with tobacco and other herbs. The leaves of the plant are possibly used to prepare a tea in certain parts of the world.

Marihuanilla
Leonurus sibiricus, also known as Siberian motherwort or �little marijuana�, is a bush that reaches 1-2 meters in height. It has traditionally been used as a medicine in Asia, for centuries. The herb was nicknamed as "marihuanilla" in South America and Mexico. It was used either isolated or mixed with other herbs and is said to be a mild intoxicant.

Mugwort
Mugwort, botanically known as Artemisia vulgaris, is also occasionally known as Felon Herb, Chrysanthemum Weed, Wild Wormwood, Old Uncle Henry, Sailor's Tobacco, Naughty Man, Old Man or St. John's Plant. The herb is native to Europe, Asia and Northern Africa, though it is also present in North America as an invasive weed. Mugwort contains a toxic substance known as thujone, which is toxic when consumed in large amounts, or under extended intake.

Nettle
Nettle is the common name for around 30-35 species of flowering plants belonging to the family Urticaceae. These plants are mostly herbaceous perennial, though some of them are annual and a few are shrubby. The leaves of stinging nettle are used to make a soft drink, which has been historically popular in Northwestern Europe. The commercially produced nettle drink is quite concentrated.

Passion Flower
Passion flower, also called passion vine, consists of about 500 species of flowering plants. Most of them are vines and some are shrubs, while a few species are herbaceous. In folk medicine, the passion flower is viewed as a calming herb. It is also taken as a sleep-aiding tea before going to bed. One clinical study has also found it to lower anxiety. The plant contains many potent chemicals.

Skull Cap
Skull cap is a perennial herb, native to North America. Its habitat extends from New York and West Virginia to South Carolina, Alabama and Missouri. The plant thrives in rich woods, thickets, bluffs and along roadsides in wet ditches. It is a powerful herb used for medicinal purposes. Skullcap is used in alternative medicine as anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, slightly astringent, emmenagogue, febrifuge, nervine, and sedative.

Wild Lettuce
Lettuce, also known as Lactuca, is a flowering plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. There are around 100 species of plants that can be categorized as lettuce. Wild lettuce refers to the wild growing cousins of lettuce that are commonly grown in gardens. They contain a milky juice and are known to possess the properties of a sedative.