Coughing when smoking cannabis is a common experience that can detract from the intended enjoyment. This reflexive action is the body’s natural defense mechanism, triggered by the inhalation of irritants like high heat and particulate matter produced during combustion. Smoke, which can reach high temperatures, enters the sensitive tissues of the throat and lungs, causing irritation. By adjusting your smoking technique, apparatus, and the material itself, you can significantly minimize this irritation and achieve a smoother experience.
Modifying Your Inhalation Technique
Adjusting the way smoke is pulled into the lungs is the most immediate change a user can make to reduce coughing. Instead of taking deep, forced breaths, aim for shallow, controlled inhales. This “mouth-to-lung” technique involves drawing smoke into the mouth first for slight cooling before gently inhaling it into the lungs with a small breath of fresh air.
Controlling the burn temperature is also important, as combustion creates irritants that trigger the cough reflex. When lighting the material, apply heat slowly and steadily to create a controlled cherry, rather than scorching the cannabis with an intense flame. Avoid breath-holding after inhalation. While the psychoactive compounds are absorbed within seconds, holding the smoke allows irritants to settle in the lungs, increasing irritation and the likelihood of a cough.
Optimizing Your Smoking Apparatus
The equipment used to consume cannabis affects the harshness of the smoke. Water filtration, typically achieved through bongs or bubblers, is an effective method for cooling the smoke before it reaches your airways. As the smoke passes through the water, its temperature is lowered, which reduces thermal irritation in the throat and lungs.
Water also traps some of the heavier particulate matter and byproducts of combustion, providing a smoother hit. Devices with percolators or ice catchers further enhance this cooling effect. Keep the apparatus meticulously clean, as resin buildup drastically increases harshness and introduces stale, irritating compounds back into the smoke.
Preparation of the Cannabis Material
The quality and preparation of the cannabis flower contribute significantly to the harshness of the smoke. An ideal grind consistency is necessary for an even, smooth burn. Material ground too finely increases the surface area exposed to the flame, causing it to burn hotter and faster, which leads to harsher smoke and more particulate matter.
Cannabis that is too dry burns excessively hot and quickly, making the smoke more irritating. Flower with optimal moisture content slows the combustion rate, resulting in a cooler and gentler smoke. Proper curing and storage are also essential, as poorly prepared material can contain residual compounds that create a sharp, unpleasant smoke when combusted.
Switching to Non-Combustion Methods
Eliminating smoke entirely by switching to non-combustion methods is the most effective solution for reducing coughing. Dry herb vaporization involves heating the cannabis flower to a temperature high enough to release desirable compounds as an inhalable vapor, but below the point of combustion. This process avoids the creation of harsh byproducts, such as tar, that are responsible for most respiratory irritation.
Studies show that individuals who switch from smoking to dry herb vaporization report a significant reduction in respiratory symptoms like coughing and phlegm. Vapor contains a purer profile of beneficial compounds with virtually no toxic byproducts, making it a gentler alternative for the lungs. Alternative consumption methods, such as edibles or tinctures, bypass the respiratory system altogether, offering a completely smoke-free experience.