A year ago today I made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking cigarettes. I haven’t smoked once since. I didn’t make a plan to quit, I just stopped smoking them. Quitting cold turkey had been on my mind for a while and I kinda knew it was the only way for me. But I couldn’t actually imagine doing it. Until one day I just did it.
I miss it. A lot. The way my brain tries to trick me into how much I miss them is indescribable. Sometimes it tries to convince me that it’s ok to smoke just one. One won’t hurt. But I know it’s a trick, and I have to constantly remind myself of that. When I’m afraid it’ll get the best of me I roll myself an herbal cigarette.
Sometimes all I need is the ritual of smoking.
ROLLING MY OWN BLEND
Originally I came up with the blend to help my lungs. I wanted to support them after all of the damage 14 years of smoking has done to them. Mullein was my first choice because it’s an expectorant, which means it thins mucus and clears it from the airways. I also knew I wanted to use hyssop for its upper respiratory healing properties so I could also support my throat as well.
To support these powerhouse ingredients, I threw in some marshmallow root for its high mucilaginous properties. It has been used to treat symptoms related to cough and irritated throats.
Damiana is a mild sedative so it can be quite controversial to use. In small doses I find it helpful with anxiety and nervousness, so that’s why I added it. Generally when I crave cigarettes the most is when I’m anxious or nervous. It’s nice to have an herb that helps support me if I get a craving.
I blend these herbs in a small bowl and either stuff them into a pre-roll cones or sprinkle them onto a pipe. It’s also nice to mix with a little bit of marijuana, if you roll that way.
The burning herbs can feel a little harsh so I like to add a few drops of honey. It moisturizes the blend and makes it much much smoother to smoke. I also find that grinding up the blend as fine as possible creates a more pleasant smoke. Coffee grinders work great for this.
LUNG SUPPORTING HERBAL CIGARETTES RECIPE
Ingredients
- 2 parts mullein
- 2 parts hyssop
- 1 part marshmallow Root
- 1 part damiana
- Honey, to taste (optional)
Directions
- Combine all of the ingredients into a small bowl.
- Stuff into a pre-roll cone or rolling papers. Or sprinkle onto a pipe.
- Add a dab or two of honey for a smoother smoke (optional).
- Enjoy!