Typically, when you think of herbs to smoke, your mind automatically wanders to tobacco and marijuana.
Although these are the most popular herbs to smoke, they’re not the only herbs you can puff on — and some even provide health benefits you wouldn’t believe.
So today, we’ll discuss one of the other alternatives – botanicals – and the benefits of adding it to your marijuana.
Let’s get started!
A Look Back: The History of Herbal Smoking
Herbal smoking has been part of human culture for thousands of years.
Ancient civilizations across the globe turned to botanicals for ceremony, therapy, and daily life. What began as ritual smoke offerings and plant-based remedies evolved into everything from incense to the first herbal cigarettes.
In Indigenous North American traditions, smoking blends like kinnikinnick (often made from bearberry leaves and bark) were used in ceremony, prayer, and community gatherings. Other herbs, including willow bark, manzanita, and mugwort, were incorporated for their flavor, aroma, or spiritual significance.
In India, Ayurvedic medicine developed dhūmapāna, an herbal smoke therapy designed to treat respiratory and throat conditions. Practitioners prescribed specific herbs like clove, black pepper, turmeric, and holy basil, blended with ghee and smoked under careful guidance.
Ancient Egypt is also tied to herbal smoking, with the blue lotus water lily appearing in both ritual and recreational use. While modern marketing positions blue lotus as a botanical for mood and sleep, scientific evidence remains limited, so these claims are best described as traditional or anecdotal.
By the 1970s in East Asia, China introduced herbal-tobacco cigarettes, combining small amounts of herbs such as ginseng and apocynum venetum with tobacco. These products were marketed as “healthier” options that could reduce coughing or phlegm.
In Europe, herbal blends became popular centuries ago, with coltsfoot, mullein, lavender, rose, and spices often added to tobacco for flavor and ritual use. Some of these mixtures survive today, reframed as incense or smoke blends for relaxation.
Across all these regions, one theme remains constant: people have long used smoke as a way to deliver plant compounds quickly into the body.
For today’s readers exploring botanicals to smoke with cannabis or hemp, this history shows two things clearly. First, the practice is deeply rooted in culture. Second, safety and scientific evidence vary widely—making it important to choose blends carefully and approach herbal smoking with balance and moderation.
How Botanicals Came to Be
A year before Luther Terry, a former surgeon general, campaigned for the war on tobacco, a London company introduced commercial herbal cigarettes to the market.
These herbal cigarettes contained exotic herbs, such as red clover flowers, rose petals, wild lettuce, and honey.
Later, in the heat of the war on nicotine addiction, herbal cigarettes were widely advertised as safer and non-addictive alternatives to conventional tobacco cigarettes.
Today, smoking botanicals is becoming a more common practice as people seek healthier-for-you smoking options. But really, there are not so many herbs that are safe to smoke.
Below, we’re going to explore the following:
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- The best herbs to smoke
- How to smoke herbs
- The benefits of smoking botanicals
But first things first, what are botanicals, and should you be smoking them?
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Can You Smoke Botanicals?
Generally, botanicals are plants or plant parts valued for their therapeutic or medicinal properties and/or scent, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Herbs are the botanicals often used to improve health.
The question now is, can you smoke botanicals? Centuries before now, humans all over the world have always used dried/crushed leaves of their favorite herbs in incense and used pipes to smoke marijuana.
These days, people everywhere are finding that mixing botanicals with hemp or marijuana further enhances their smoking experience. And that’s exactly why brands like Barbari exist!
Barbari offers various botanical and hemp-based blends that are safe for smoking — and beneficial for so many different reasons. (But we’ll get into those next.)
What Are the Benefits of Smoking Botanicals?
Although it is hard to pinpoint how ancient civilizations determined the best herbs to smoke, well-documented facts show that ancient humans smoked herbs for different reasons, from enhancing sexual and recreational experiences to spiritual enlightenment.
While these seeming benefits still apply today, modern use has helped us better define the benefits of smoking botanicals.
Here are some other common reasons and benefits of smoking herbs:
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- Health benefits:
- Pain relief
- Management or relief of various health conditions, including fertility and menstrual issues.
- Energy boost
- Managing anxiety disorders
- Mood enhancement
- Non-addictive alternatives to nicotine addiction
- Relaxation
- Sleep improvement
- Health benefits:
Keep in mind that not all herbs are smokeable, irrespective of the benefits they provide when you consume them in other forms.
Additionally, even if your choice is one of the herbs that are safe to smoke, that doesn’t mean that it’s healthy for you to smoke it day in, day out.
That said, are there techniques on how to smoke herbs?
How to Smoke Herbs
If you’re new to smoking botanicals, you’d have noticed that it’s a tad bit difficult to keep most herbs lit. This is the case even with marijuana.
Admittedly, most smokeable herbs, apart from well-made herbal cigarettes, won’t be able to stay lit as steadily as your conventional cigarettes or tobacco. But that shouldn’t deter you.
Keen on knowing how to smoke herbs? There are two main options:
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- Pipes: When using pipes, pack the bottom layer densely, the middle layer slightly less dense, and the topmost layer loosely. Packing your pipe like this can help your herbs stay lit a little longer.
- Rolling papers: With rolling papers, ensure your paper is not too tight. Tight filters restrict airflow.
For better results, ensure your herbs are properly cured, preferably in a jar for a few days.
Leaving them out in the open to dry will make them too dry and consequently burn faster.
Too fresh, and you’d have herbs that would refuse to light; when they light up, they emit thick black smoke.
How Botanicals Compare to Vaping and Teas
When it comes to enjoying botanicals, smoking isn’t the only option. Many people now turn to vaping or herbal teas as alternative ways to experience plant compounds. Each method changes how the body takes in those compounds, the effects you feel, and the risks involved.
Smoking botanicals delivers active compounds almost instantly since smoke reaches the lungs and bloodstream within seconds. This fast onset is why many people enjoy mixing herbs with cannabis. The trade-off is that combustion also produces irritants and toxins, even if the herbs themselves are considered safe.
Vaping botanicals uses lower heat to release plant compounds without burning them. Because there’s no combustion, vapor tends to be smoother on the throat and may reduce exposure to harmful byproducts. The effects still come on quickly, though some herbal flavors are less pronounced when vaped compared to smoked.
Herbal teas offer the slowest route, but also the gentlest. Steeping herbs in hot water extracts their compounds without producing smoke or vapor. The effects are more subtle and take longer to notice, yet teas remain a preferred choice for people focused on wellness. Teas also allow for larger serving sizes of an herb, which can support relaxation, digestion, or sleep depending on the plant.
For anyone exploring botanicals, the best option depends on what you’re looking for. Smoking and vaping bring immediate effects but carry different safety considerations, while teas are better suited for a mild, sustained experience.
The Best Herbs to Smoke
Now that you know the benefits of smoking botanicals and how to smoke herbs, what are the herbs that are safe to smoke?
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1. Hemp or Cannabis
Cannabis, whether hemp or marijuana, is easily the best herb to smoke. It embodies a lot more than the benefits listed earlier.
More importantly, cannabis consumption and beneficial effects are backed by historical testimonies/accounts and results from widespread modern research, which makes hemp and marijuana the best herbs that are safe to smoke.
If you want all the benefits without the highness, you should go for hemp, as it contains less than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive substance in cannabis.
Otherwise, marijuana with higher THC content could be your best choice.
Unlike most smokeable herbs that are better off in blends, you can smoke cannabis alone and thoroughly enjoy it.
2. Raspberry Leaf
Raspberry is one herb you’ll likely see in a lot of well-prepared smoking blends. And that’s because it’s a great base herb that enhances the texture and flavor of other botanicals.
Some cannabis connoisseurs always prefer to roll their joints with some raspberry leaves in the blend.
Although debatable, raspberry leaf – in teas – is known to be useful for various women’s health concerns, including lactation and induction of labor.
3. Mugwort
Mugwort is one of the more popular herbs that have had a long history with generations of humans, especially in Chinese traditional medicine.
The most notable uses include acupuncture, regulation of menstruation and fertility, and prevention of seasonal colds.
Given that it’s also known as the dream herb, mugwort in herbal cigarettes or in a blend of smokable herbs is also used to induce lucid dreams.
When smoked, mugwort has a smell that is slightly reminiscent of marijuana. It is one of the few herbs you can smoke alone.
4. Lavender
Lavender does well in a mix of other herbs. It provides an aromatic finish that’s in itself therapeutic while unrolling a sense of calm throughout your body.
It’s definitely one of the best herbs to smoke for anxiety. Also, research has found it to be helpful in the temporary relief of mild insomnia.
However, expect a bit of sting down your throat if lavender makes up the majority of your blend or you are trying to smoke only lavender.
5. Rose
Rose is a gift that keeps on giving, and you‘ll be sure to get a lot more when you add rose petals to your blend of smokable herbs for a hint of refreshing flavor and aroma.
Additionally, rose petals add a light buzz – mild euphoric effects – that some people claim to be similar to a nicotine buzz.
6. Blue Lotus
The blue lotus is an Egyptian blue water lily that is sometimes marketed as one of the best herbs to smoke for energy – as blue lotus concentrate is used in energy drinks.
It’s also rich in vitamin B, which is essential for energy-yielding metabolism in the body.
However, most people smoking botanicals with blue lotus in the mix now do so in hopes of sleeping better or relieving anxiety and, in some cases, having lucid dreams. Thus, making it one of the best herbs to smoke for anxiety.
Nuciferine, a compound found in blue lotus, is also behind a recent scientific breakthrough exploring the treatment of obesity and obesity-related diseases.
7. Chamomile
Best known as a soothing bedtime tea, chamomile can also be smoked in small amounts. When added to a blend, it produces a smooth, mellow smoke that carries its signature apple-like aroma. Many people use it for relaxation, stress relief, and sleep support.
Smoking chamomile may also help calm nerves before bed, good for those who want a non-intoxicating way to wind down.
8. Peppermint
Peppermint leaves deliver a crisp, cooling flavor and an unmistakable freshness. Smoking peppermint can open the sinuses, clear the chest, and create a subtle energy boost similar to caffeine. Some people also find it useful for easing minor headaches or motion sickness. Because its menthol content provides a natural “lift,” peppermint is often mixed with heavier herbs like cannabis.
9. Lemon Balm
Part of the mint family, lemon balm is prized for its light citrus scent and calming effects. Traditionally used to improve mood, ease anxiety, and support digestion, it translates well into smoking blends. The smoke is smooth with a slightly tangy note, adding both flavor and a relaxing quality. Some users find it especially helpful for tension or restlessness at night.
10. Mullein
Mullein is perhaps the most popular base herb for smoking. Its large, fluffy leaves burn evenly and produce a mild, neutral smoke that balances stronger botanicals. Historically, mullein has been associated with supporting lung health, and it’s still used in blends designed for smoother breathing. Many herbalists recommend it as a foundation herb because it doesn’t overpower other flavors and can make harsher herbs easier to inhale.
11. Coltsfoot
Coltsfoot has a long history as a remedy for coughs and respiratory irritation. Its smoke is gentle, though inhaling too much at once may cause coughing. Traditionally, it’s been used to help clear mucus from the lungs, especially after colds or seasonal illnesses. Today, people sometimes add it to blends as a complementary herb, but it’s best used sparingly due to limited modern safety research on long-term smoking.
12. Passionflower
Passionflower is a calming, slightly sweet herb often used for relaxation and sleep. In smoke form, it can help ease nervous tension and promote a mellow state of mind. Many people add it to blends when they want to unwind without strong sedative effects. Its gentle properties make it a natural companion to herbs like lavender or chamomile for a stress-relieving mix.
13. Valerian Root
Valerian root has been used for centuries as a natural sedative and sleep aid. When smoked, it adds a deep, earthy flavor and a noticeable calming effect. Many people turn to it for reducing stress or preparing for sleep, though its taste is strong and best combined with lighter herbs. Because valerian is potent, it’s often used in small amounts to avoid an overly heavy or sedative effect.
14. Catnip
Though famous for sending cats into a frenzy, catnip has the opposite effect on humans. Smoking it can bring a mild relaxation paired with a gentle sense of euphoria, and in some cases, even giggles. Historically, it was used in both Europe and China for calming nerves and easing headaches. Its flavor is soft and slightly minty, and it blends well with cannabis or raspberry leaf for a lighthearted smoke.
15. Yerba Mate
Widely consumed as a tea in South America, yerba mate contains caffeine and other stimulants that provide energy and focus. When smoked or vaporized, it delivers an uplifting effect that some compare to a strong cup of coffee. The flavor is bold and grassy, which pairs well with herbs like peppermint or sage. Many people enjoy it as a natural pick-me-up without the jitters of synthetic stimulants.
16. Sage
Sage has a long tradition in ceremonial and cleansing practices, and its smoke carries a strong, earthy aroma. Beyond ritual use, some believe it may sharpen focus, aid digestion, or bring clarity of mind. In smoking blends, sage is powerful, so a little goes a long way. Its rich, grounding flavor makes it a good companion for lighter herbs such as rose or chamomile.
Interested in Adding Botanicals to Your Cannabis?
Whether you’re new to smoking botanicals or simply looking for new herbs to smoke, the perfect smokable herb is out there for you.
However, it’s very important to note that besides cannabis, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to back the beneficial and negative effects of most of these herbs. Therefore, you should approach the idea of smoking botanicals with caution.
But, that’s exactly why brands like Barbari exist.
Elevate Holistics has established a partnership with Barbari, a U.S.-based botanicals company reputed for the use of only organically grown, food-grade herbs that are safe for consumption. They’re your one-stop shop for the best herbs to smoke in the U.S.
As a pacesetter in the botanicals industry, all Barbari products are lab-tested and certified safe for ingestion. And they have their certificates of analysis (COAs) to show for it; you can request the COAs at any time!
When you shop with Barbari, you know you’re always getting the highest-quality smokable herbs as possible.
So, now’s the time to get your medical marijuana card, buy top-shelf bud, and mix it with some of Barbari’s incredible herb blends. This is truly a great way to get your mind and body closer to Mother Nature than ever before.
