Guide to Vaporizing Legal Herbs

Vaporizing is in vogue, and for good reason. By opting for vapor over smoke you are avoiding the myriad of carcinogens released through combustion. This has led to a massive influx of personal vaporizers in the market, it’s now the ‘in’ way to consume a variety of herbs.

Cannabis is usually associated with vaporizing, but there are plenty of other herbs you can vaporize for a myriad of reasons. You can even mix these herbs together and create your own personal blends.

Guide to Vaporizing 30 Legal Herbs and their Benefits

Let’s take a look at some of the legal herbs that you can vaporize. We will go over the best temperature to use when vaporizing each specific herb, as well as some of the health benefits of each herb.

Basil (130° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing basil

Useful in the treatment of a cold, flu or cough.
Uplifting effects help to relieve feelings of anxiety and depression.
Helps to relieve indigestion and constipation.
It has been used to treat menstrual disorders.

The name basil comes from the old Greek word “basilikohn”, meaning “royal”.

Basil is touted for its vast number of health benefits, it’s been used for centuries in a number of different cultures because it is such a powerful healing herb. Antibacterial properties coupled with the ability to protect our DNA lends itself to virtually every health condition. It is often used to help protect DNA from radiation damage as well as oxidative damage. [1]

Bearberry / Uva Ursi (100° – 150° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing bearberry

Relaxing and calming effect.
Used to help with headaches.
Thought to boost the immune system and detoxify the body.

A very common addition to the Native American peace pipe ceremony. Bearberry was given it’s name because the berries that grow on it are a favorite of bears. The berries can be eaten by humans as well, and the leaves have long been used as a herbal medicine.

Blue Lotus (125° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing blue lotus

Deeply physically and mentally relaxing.
It can help relieve pain, anxiety and depression.
Calming effects with a slight euphoric buzz.

Blue lotus contains a psychoactive alkaloid called apomorphine, often used in the ancient Mayan and Egyptian civilizations.

The mild sedative effects can help users unwind after a long day and relieve daily stresses.

Calea Zacatechichi (190° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing calea zacatechichi

Famously used to induce lucid dreams, enhance dream memorability and lengthen shallow sleep patterns.
Sedative qualities with possible hallucinogenic effects.
Appetite stimulant.
May be useful in reducing inflammation throughout the body. [2]

Calea Zacatechichi is often referred to as the “Dream Herb” or “Leaves of God”. Historically it is most often consumed as a tea or placed near the bed to help induce vivid dreams. Because it is so bitter, it is suggested you mix it with a more palatable herb such as peppermint.

The psychoactive / hallucinogenic effects were the reason Calea Zacatechichi was banned in Poland in 2009.

Catnip (125° – 150° C)

Nepeta Cataria

Health benefits of vaporizing catnip

Mild sedative with some anxiety relieving properties.
In stronger doses it can put users in a mild euphoric state.
It has an antipyretic effect that may be useful to fend off a cold or flu.
Helps induce sleep.

The herb famous for making our feline friends go wild can also be enjoyed by humans. Catnip’s effect on humans is quite different though, it will actually help to relax and calm instead of drive you up the walls.

Chamomile (100° – 150° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing chamomile

Often used to combat stress and anxiety.
Helps promote a deep relaxing sleep.
Can be used to help treat stomach and gas pains.

Classically chamomile is used in herbal teas to help users relax and get ready for bed. These very same soothing qualities can be felt when chamomile is vaporized and inhaled. Pair it with a pinch of peppermint for a vaporizing experience similar to a cup of sleepy time tea. [3]

Clove (125° – 150° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing cloves

Has antiseptic and analgesic compounds.
Used to loosen and expel phlegm from the lungs.
Helps to treat upset stomach and digestive discomfort.

Clove has long been used as a medicinal herb due to it’s powerful pain relieving benefits, dating back to 1721 BC. It is also used to help freshen breath.

Damiana (190° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing damiana

Used to treat insomnia due to its deeply relaxing effects.
Helps to treat anxiety and depression.
Commonly used as an herbal aphrodisiac.

Damiana is a wild shrub that grows in Mexico and Central America, historically it was most often used to help increase sexual desire. It is now used in the treatment of a variety of ailments and even recreationally for its mild ‘high’. [4]

Eucalyptus (130° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing eucalyptus

Often used to relieve head colds and sore throats.
Antiseptic, antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral properties.
Strong soothing effects, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.

Eucalyptus is a very versatile plant, the oils can be used in cleaning agents, industrial solvents, insect repellents, food supplements and decongestants.

Ginseng (175° – 200° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing ginseng

Considered an energy boosting herb.
Used to help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Thought to help with male sexual dysfunction.

Ginseng has long been a staple in ancient chinese herbal remedies and medicines. It is used in a wide variety of treatments and has very promising benefits. This invigorating herb is often found in energy drinks as a natural herbal energy enhancer. [5]

Green Tea (190° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing green tea

Anti-aging properties.
Increased energy and focus.
Used to treat pain, headaches and indigestion.
The soothing vapor can help to ease depression. [6]

Just like a warm cup of tea, try cozying up to a nice vaporizer bowl of green tea leaves. The numerous polyphenols and flavanols can be enjoyed in the form of vapor, plus it tastes fantastic!

There is a huge variety of different green tea’s available, each offering a slightly different flavor profile and vaporizing experience. Regardless of the genus you choose, ensure it is 100% free from pesticides and grown organically.

Hops (175° – 200° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing hops

Used to induce a mild state of euphoria and drowsiness, great as a sleep aid.
Can be a mild psychedelic at high doses.
Deep relaxation benefits.

Craft beer enthusiasts rejoice, hops can be vaporized! They offer a fantastic mental buzz that helps reduce stress and helps many people get to sleep.

Hops contain phytoestrogen compounds that can have a significant effect on hormonal balance. Fortunately, the phytoestrogens in hops don’t reach their boiling point until about 600°, so there is no danger of growing boobies by vaping hops. [7]

Kola Nut (185° – 200° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing kola nut

Stimulating energy boost.
Used to increase mental focus and alertness.
Often used as an aphrodisiac.

Kola nuts were famously used to give early soda pop it’s caffeine kick. Now soda companies use artificial sweeteners and flavoring, unless you opt for a premium soda brand that still uses kola nut.

Harness the energy boosting benefits of the caffeine found in the kola nut by vaporizing it. Often thought of as an energy drink in the form of vapor, it gives users an energy boost, increased mental focus and even boosts your sex drive.

Lavender (125° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing lavender

The most common herb used to treat headaches and migraines.
Deeply relaxing, helping to treat insomnia and stress.
Helps to improve blood flow.

Lavender is often used in aromatherapy because of its sweet aroma and ability to relax and calm. The stress relieving and calming effects of lavender have been well documented, but it’s recently being studied for its ability to treat neurological disorders as well.

Lemon Balm (150° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing lemon balm

Sometimes used to relieve vertigo, fainting spells and hypochondria symptoms.
Deeply relaxing, helps induce sleep and ward off insomnia.
Improves blood circulation.
Helps relieve headaches and indigestion.

Lemon balm actually hails from the mint family, often paired with peppermint to make tea because of its complementary flavor profile. You can crush up and rub lemon balm leaves on your skin to help repel mosquitoes. [8]

Lemongrass (125° – 150° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing lemongrass

Helps to relieve pain and inflammation.
Antipyretic, fungicidal and antibacterial.
Has antidepressant properties.

Lemongrass is an aromatic herb often used in Asian cooking, but you can also harness the plethora of benefits lemongrass has to offer in vapor form. One species of lemongrass known as citronella grass is often found in candles, soaps and disinfectants for its aroma and pesticide qualities. [9]

Maca Root (150° – 200° C)

Lepidium meyenii

Health benefits of vaporizing maca root

Improved sexual function and fertility for men and women.
Used to boost energy levels and focus.
Helps to balance hormones and strengthen the immune system.

Maca root has been a dietary staple and herbal medicine for centuries in the Andes. Maca was consumed in large amounts by Inca warriors before battle. This was thought to make them more formidable warriors, it was also thought to make them extremely virile. This legend helped give rise to maca root’s widespread success as a sexual health supplement today. [10]

Marshmallow (150° – 200° C)

Althaea officinalis

Health benefits of vaporizing marshmallow

Helps relieve sore throats and dry coughs.
Used to treat a number of digestive disorders.
Could help some with blood sugar levels.

Althaea comes from the Greek word “althainein”, meaning “to heal”.

Marshmallow has been used by many cultures over the years as a herbal remedy for a huge variety of ailments.

Fun fact, the marshmallows most of us know and love (the ones you roast on the fire) were named after the marshmallow plant because of its white, soft, almost fluffy petals.

Morning Glory (185° – 200° C)

*Potentially dangerous, do not mix with alcohol or other drugs.

Health benefits of vaporizing morning glory

Contains Lysergic Acid Amide (LSA), a psychoactive hallucinogenic similar to LSD.
Mild state of euphoria helps ease depression and anxiety.
Improves mental focus and concentration.

The morning glory has fantastically beautiful flowers when it blooms, making it a staple in Japanese horticulture since the 9th century.

Aztec priests would often use the morning glory for it’s hallucinogenic effects. Shamans would use morning glory seeds in rituals and medicinal practices to treat illness and gain spiritual knowledge.

Mullein (150° – 160° C)

Verbascum

Health benefits of vaporizing mullein

Used to cleanse the lungs and mucus membranes.
Helps treat the common cold, coughs and hay fever.

Mullein is a traditional Australian herbal medicine, usually consumed as a tea or used topically as an ointment. Native Americans would use the ground up seeds of this herb as a paralytic fish poison because it contains high levels of rotenone.

Passion Flower (100° – 150° C)

Passiflora

Health benefits of vaporizing passion flower

Most often used to treat anxiety.
Useful to relax and help treat nervous disorders.
Can help treat high blood pressure and convulsions.

Native Americans have a long history of using passion flower as an herbal remedy for many ailments.

Today, passion flower is still a popular herbal medicine, used to help improve mood disorders and opiate withdrawal.

Peppermint (160° – 170° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing peppermint

Most often used to treat digestive problems and discomfort.
Relieves tension from headaches as well as pain.
Used to relieve cold symptoms, sore throat and coughs.
Invigorating vapor that can enhance focus and alertness.

One of the most welcome herbs among herbal vaporizer enthusiasts. Peppermint has a refreshing, cool taste and feel and offers a whole host of medical benefits. It is often used in combination with other herbs, generally to make them more palatable. However peppermint can be enjoyed thoroughly by itself.

Rosemary (125° C)

Rosmarinus officinalis

Health benefits of vaporizing rosemary

Antimicrobial elements help to relieve respiratory ailments.
Can help to alleviate a nasty cough.
Improved mental focus and clarity.
Can be used to help relieve headaches.

Rosemary was thought to be a love charm back in the Middle Ages, often used in wedding ceremonies.

The numerous phytochemicals found in rosemary make it a powerful herbal medicine, used to treat a wide variety of health problems. Rosemary is quite aromatic and tasty, making it perfect for cooking and vaping; or both at the same time!

Sage (190° C)

Salvia officinalis

Health benefits of vaporizing sage

Helps alleviate sore throat and inflammation.
Can encourage a more regular menstrual cycle.
Promotes healthy digestion.
Sometimes used to treat excessive sweating.

Sage is a profoundly beneficial herb. Recently it has been found that sage can help improve memory, mood, focus and alertness, making it one of the best brain health herbs. [11]

St. John’s Wort (125° – 150° C)

Hypericum perforatum

Health benefits of vaporizing St. John’s wort

Acts as an antidepressant, used to alleviate a variety of mood disorders.
Has a calming effect that can help those who have trouble sleeping.
Antibacterial and antiviral properties can help to prevent infection.
Can ease severe anxiety and uplift users.

*Can render hormonal birth control ineffective.

St. John’s Wort is one of the most widely used herbals supplements in the United States. Used in the treatment of a wide variety of health conditions, praised for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties and antidepressant activity.

Thyme (150° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing thyme

Often used to help treat respiratory ailments.
Antimicrobial properties help cleanse lungs.
Used to rid the body of intestinal parasites and improve digestive health.

Thyme oil contains quite a bit of thymol, a great antiseptic that is often found in popular mouthwash brands. It has been used to help treat wounds and skin conditions as well as respiratory issues.

Tobacco (125° – 150° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing tobacco

May help to improve and maintain brain function.
Aids in the growth of new blood vessels.
Used to help treat depression. [12]
Used to help treat ADHD, Tourette’s and Parkinson’s disease. [13, 14, 15]

We all know that smoking cigarettes is bad for our health, this isn’t a secret. But if you take a look at why smoking tobacco is so bad for our health, you can start to appreciate why vaporizing tobacco is so much more beneficial.

Tobacco has been used for hundreds of years for its healing properties. Nicotine is popular for its ability to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s progression. It binds to nerve receptors and makes nerve cells fire more frequently, helping maintain cognitive function as we age.

Nicotine has been found to boost the growth of new blood vessels, important for individuals suffering from diabetes.

Valerian (200° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing valerian

Often used to help treat anxiety.
Can be useful in the treatment of depression.
Many enjoy it to help them get to sleep / treat insomnia.

The flowers of the valerian plant were once used in perfume a few hundred years ago. The root of the valerian plant is where most of its medicinal value comes from. It has sedative and anxiolytic effects, found in many herbal sleep supplements.

Wild Lettuce (125° – 150° C)

Lactuca virosa

Health benefits of vaporizing wild lettuce

Deep tranquilizing properties offering an opiate-like effect.
Very useful in the treatment of anxiety.
Used to treat chronic pain and induce a mild state of euphoria.
Can help relieve insomnia.

Wild lettuce was often used by physicians when opium wasn’t available, about 100 years ago or so. It has been extensively studied throughout the 20th century and is totally legal to grow and use in the United States.

Wormwood (100° – 150° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing wormwood

Used to help treat digestive issues.
Some claim very mild psychoactive effects.
Provides a brief rush of energy.

Wormwood was made famous because of its use in absinthe. Offering mild psychoactive effects, it gives consumers a very different sensation than drinking alcohol alone. These very same psychoactive effects are thought to be attainable through vaporization of the herb.

Yerba Mate (150° C)

Health benefits of vaporizing yerba mate

Acts as a very mild stimulant, improving mental focus and energy.
Improved mood, helps relieve depression.
Helps to relieve headache and joint pain.

Yerba mate contains a number of polyphenols and xanthines, including caffeine. It is widely used throughout South America, usually brewed in a tea. Because of its stimulating effects and caffeine content, yerba mate is a common addition to many energy drinks. [16]

Complete Guide to Vaporizing Marijuana

*It is important to ensure you are sourcing your herbs from a completely organic source. Any pesticides, fungicides or chemical treatments can pose a serious health risk if vaporized and inhaled. If you aren’t sure about your herbs, don’t vaporize them!

*It’s important to note that heating the herbs listed past their recommended temperatures could release dangerous toxins. Never burn the herbs. Do not vaporize any of the herbs below if you are pregnant, sick or on any medications; first consult with your doctor. Do not operate a motor vehicle after vaporizing any of the herbs on this list without first consulting with your doctor.

*Don’t mistake anything found on this page or this site as sound medical advice. Always consult with a medical professional before vaporizing, smoking or eating anything; anything at all!