Not only is vaping less harmful than smoking, but it can also help you quit smoking altogether – people who use nicotine e-cigarettes are more likely to quit regular smoking for at least six months than people who opt for nicotine patches or gum, the New York Times reports. And, now, wellness vaping is a hot new vaping trend on the rise. Wellness vapes (or “nutritional supplement diffusers”) typically contain a host of beneficial ingredients to improve overall health.
What exactly is wellness vaping?
E-cigarettes essentially rely on a battery and heating element to heat the vape juice, which produces vapor that’s then inhaled. Since e-cigarettes don’t burn tobacco, they efficiently deliver vaporized liquid nicotine to the lungs without producing tar or carbon monoxide – therefore eliminating the most harmful elements of tobacco smoke. Vape juice comes in a variety of popular flavors, including strawberry, grape, mango, and pineapple. Wellness vapes, on the other hand, use this same electronic delivery mechanism, while switching out nicotine for numerous different ingredients, such as, melatonin (a key sleep hormone), essential oils, milk thistle, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and green tea. According to wellness vape companies, such ingredients have health benefits when inhaled, including, weight loss, and improved sleep and focus.
Is wellness vaping really healthy?
These compounds are generally considered safe for eating, and inhalation (as opposed to ingestion) results in quicker absorption through the lungs and into the bloodstream. However, it’s important to keep in mind, the inhalation of such vitamins and ingredients generally lacks long-term safety data (since wellness vaping is a relatively new invention). Additionally, wellness vapes are also not yet regulated by official health bodies as they don’t contain nicotine.
Is wellness vaping right for you?
Despite the lack of safety data, it’s still possible to consider the potential benefit and risk of each ingredient. Although vitamin C is a proven supplement, for example, high-doses may be harmful and can even increase the risk of fatality in sepsis patients. B12 supplements are also beneficial for those with deficiencies – however there’s little evidence on the safety or efficacy of its inhalation. And, although essential oils are naturally packed with terpenes boasting documented anti-allergy, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer properties, these degrade when heated. Vaping essential oils may therefore lack these benefits.
If you’re thinking about giving wellness vaping a go, it’s important to first compare the benefits versus risks. Wellness vapes typically contain ingredients with the potential to improve health, however, there isn’t yet evidence suggesting inhalation is superior to traditional modes of delivery.
