What is vaping? – Definition of vaping terms and methods

Please note: all information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. The article only describes possible uses of cannabis flowers, provided that these flowers do not contain more than 0.3%THC. The article is in no way intended to entice, encourage or incite anyone to abuse any substance. The article is not suitable for persons under the age of 18.

• Brief definition of the terms vaping, e-cigarette, vaporizer and vaper
• What is vaping?
• What is a vaporizer?
• Study: how did the tested vaporizers perform?
• What are the vaping methods?
  • Vaping style comparison table
• What can be vaped
• What causes vaping – the effects
• CBD dosage
• Is vaping harmful? Beware of the risks of illegal CBD liquids
• Conclusion

Brief definition of the terms vaping, e-cigarette, vaporizer and vaper

“Vaping” is an English word that is derived from the word “vape”. It is a colloquial term used to refer to the use of an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or vaporizer. In this process, the material is vaporised. The word vaping means to vaporise (inhaled).

The disposable e-cigarette is pre-filled with e-liquid (tobacco-free), and during use, it vaporises mainly liquids consisting of substances such as glycerin, propylene glycol, flavourings, water, or nicotine.

Vaporizers (vapes) come from the Latin word “vapor”, meaning vaporizer. Vaporizers use hot air or steam to extract active ingredients from herbs, oils or concentrates, without nicotine, whereas e-cigarettes usually contain a liquid with nicotine and other flavourings.

The term “vaper” refers to a person who inhales vapour from a vaporizer or e-cigarette.

 

What is vaping?

Vaping is an activity in which the user inhales vapour (mist) using a device (pocket vaporizer, vaporizer pen, desktop vaporizer, etc.). This process differs from smoking, which involves burning herbs, which produces harmful by-products (tar and nitric oxide).

These toxic substances irritate the throat, mouth and lungs. Burning also destroys the active substances.

Vaporising CBD is usually more effective than smoking because CBD’s active ingredients such as cannabinoids and terpenes are sensitive to heat. So when CBD is smoked, often more than half of the substances burn before they reach the lungs. Also, about 15-20 % of the substances burn between puffs, whereas during vaporisation the temperature is usually much lower, allowing the constituents to reach their potential.

What is a vaporizer?

Vapes are devices that vaporize herbs, oils or concentrates. The material is not burned, only heated and turned into steam. The resulting mist is then inhaled. These devices use a similar principle to aromatherapy. The similarity is particularly apparent in the early generation of vaporisers, which were made of glass and heated herbs with a flame. Today, such devices are referred to as manual vaporizers.

There are countless different models of vaporizers on the market, which vary in function. For example, vape pens may have a cartridge, which is a pre-filled capsule of liquid. Cartridges are an ideal choice for beginners and vapers who are looking for a simple and quick method. You can start using the vape pen right away. You can read more information in the article: What is a vaporizer and what is it used for.

However, all models have one thing in common, namely the evaporation of active substances through heat. But how much do vapes heat up? The following table will help you choose the ideal temperature for vaporising cannabis flowers:

Level of effect	Temperature
Gentle and lightweight	143-166 °C
Pleasant, fun and still controllable	166-187 °C
Intense and heavy	187-225 °C

“Are vaporizers a less risky alternative to smoking cannabis?” This is the focus of a study published in 2021. The study suggests that vaporizers do not produce toxins and carbon monoxide because they do not burn the material.

Compared to smoking cannabis, vaping is not associated with an increased incidence of respiratory illnesses and may also produce similar effects, meaning that vaping could be a suitable alternative for regular cannabis smokers to minimise the harmful effects on their health.

Study: how did the tested vaporizers perform?

A study published in 2016 tested the ability of vaporizers to release THC and CBD with vapor. The in vitro study (in a test tube, an experiment outside the human body) tested 4 electric vapes and 1 gas vaporizer. How did these devices perform?

The conclusion of the research suggests that the 4 electrically powered and temperature controlled vaporizers – DaVinci, Arizer Solo, Plenty and Volcano Medic that were investigated effectively decarboxylate acidic cannabinoids and reliably release the corresponding neutral cannabinoids into the vapor.

The study also states that vaporizers can be considered a promising application for the safe and effective administration of medicinal cannabis and cannabinoids. Signs of cannabis combustion, such as ash left in the sample compartment and visible smoke, were only found in the case of the Vape-or-Smoke gas device.

It is important to emphasize that after the current in vitro validation, further clinical trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of vaporizers as therapeutic application tools.

   

What are the vaping methods?

As already written above, various plant materials can be inhaled. If you choose an oil vaporizer, you may come across the terms Direct-to-Lung, abbreviated DL, or Mouth-to-Lung, abbreviated MTL, abbreviated Mouth-to-Lung.

The technique used to produce large clouds is called Cloud Chasing, or CCH for short. It’s a competitive and powerful style of vaping that aims to achieve as much vapor as possible. CCH is an advanced technique and requires detailed knowledge of vapor production, safety and Ohm’s Law. To achieve high output and dense vapor, special devices are usually used that allow for higher output and greater vapor production. These include sub-ohm atomizers, which have lower coil resistance, allowing higher power electrical current to pass through and greater vapour production.

Vaping style comparison table

The comparison below will help you understand the differences between vaping methods. These characteristics are also influenced by the specific vaporizer and setup.

 

	DL (direct lung coating) devices	MTL (mouth-to-lung) devices	Device with CCH method (directly into the lungs)
Definition	The vapour is inhaled directly into the lungs	The vapour is first sucked into the mouth and then inhaled into the lungs	The vapour is inhaled directly into the lungs, a massive production of vapour clouds
Characteristics	More steam and more intense pull	Less steam, less intense draft	Abundant steam and very intense thrust
Description of the pair	Large quantity; airy and warmer	Smaller amount concentrated and cooler	Large and dense quantity and the hottest
Cover style	Free	Tightened	Free and extended
Liquid consumption	Higher	Lower	High
Discharging the battery	Faster	Slower	Faster
Battery power requirements	Higher	Low	High
For whom it is suitable	Suitable for advanced users who prefer a stronger and richer experience	Suitable for beginners or users who prefer a smaller amount of vapour and a finer stroke	Not suitable for beginners, suitable for experienced vapers

 

The table shows that the MTL method is the most suitable for beginners. More advanced users can choose the DL style and the CCH technique is suitable for the most experienced vapers who are familiar with Ohm’s Law and are thoroughly familiar with vaporization safety.

What can be inhaled

Different types of products can be inhaled in the vaporizer:

• Herbs, herbal mixtures
• Hemp flowers CBD, CBDP, CBG and H4CBD
• Liquids (vape oils, cartridges)
• Concentrates (budder, shatter, crumble, wax, crystals and more)

   

Herbs are a very popular material for vaping, especially anise, valerian, eucalyptus and sage. However, the choice is much wider, so everyone can find an herb that suits their requirements.

If you are suffering from headaches, read our article: What are the most effective herbs for headaches?.

What causes CBD vaping – effects

While CBD capsules or CBD oil, for example, must first pass through the digestive tract, when vaping, the active ingredients are quickly absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the lungs, so the effect is noticeable after just a few minutes. 

Because the ingredients are directly absorbed into the body during vaping, the body has a higher ability to absorb these substances than with other CBD products. For oils, the absorption efficiency is between 5-25%, while vapes can reach 50-60%. During vaporisation, the absorption of the active substances also varies depending on various factors (quality of the vaporiser, concentration of CBD in the product, inhalation technique, individual differences in metabolism, etc.)

However, this method has a slight disadvantage, as the efficiency decreases the fastest. How long do the effects of CBD last? This cannot be said with certainty, as the length of effect is very individual and depends on the bioavailability of the cannabinoid and lifestyle.

What causes CBD? A lot of users feel a calming effect. Some report a slight increase in energy that increases concentration and alertness. Others use CBD to induce a sense of relaxation and relieve anxiety, without feeling drowsy. The effect of CBD also varies depending on how much CBD the user consumes.

CBD can be beneficial in:

• Stress, anxiety and depression
• Pain relief
• Reducing inflammation and swelling in the body
• Improving sleep quality
• Inducing calming and relaxing effects

This cannabinoid may have different effects on the body and mind, but it does not have psychoactive effects compared to THC.

CBD dosage

The question of dosage is always individual. Many factors play a role, such as the target of application, body weight and CBD tolerance. Everyone’s metabolism and endocannabinoid system is different. It is recommended to start with a low dose and gradually increase it as needed.

Is vaping CBD liquids harmful?

It is important to always purchase CBD liquids from reputable manufacturers/vendors to avoid the risk of the product containing harmful solvent residues and other undesirable ingredients. A reputable vendor will provide you with lab analysis and certification every time.

Conclusion

We hope you are now more familiar with what vaping is. Vaporizers use hot air to release active ingredients from herbs without burning them. Vaporization produces pure vapor without the presence of tar and ash. Vaporisation of herbs is a method of extracting and inhaling active substances from plant material. Any medicinal herb can be inhaled, but it is important to know that not every herb is suitable for everyone.

If you are looking for a vaporizer, take a look at our offer.

You can also read more in the articles: Introduction to vaporization – Everything you should know about vaporizing herbs.

 

Author: Patricie Mikolášová

 

 

Photo: Shutterstock

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