What Does Vaping Do To Your Lungs? Comparing Vaping Solutions for Lung Health

Vaping is an easy, fast-acting way of consuming cannabis. However, some forms of vaping come with significant side effects that we shouldn’t neglect. In this article, we want to look deeper into some of the concerns many of you have: is vaping worse than cigarettes? Can vaping damage your lungs? We’ll examine different types of vaping experiences and bring you the latest science on the actual effects of vaping on your lungs. 

What do we mean by “vaping”?

Vaping is short for “vaporizing”, which means turning something into vapor. A vape or vaporizer is a device that can be used to turn any type of natural or artificial extract into vapor particles that go straight to the lungs. 

The problem with having such a broad definition of the term “vaping” is that many different products get confused. We use the word “vaping” to discuss using a pink, strawberry-flavored e-liquid that contains ingredients like propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. We use the same word to describe vaporizing pure cannabis flowers in a herbal vape, or pure cannabinoids extract. 

Although these products use the same broad technologies (heating up substances to produce vapor), their effects are completely different.

What does vaping do to your lungs?
The effects of vaping cannabis flower and extracts 

We want to preface this section by mentioning that research on the effects of vaping pure cannabinoids or cannabis buds is still limited. Despite its many benefits, this method of consumption is still largely underused. 

What little research exists on this topic suggests that vaping pure cannabis products (products that don’t contain any ingredients outside of cannabis) is very safe. A 2014 study showed that vaporizing cannabis reduced the number of toxic compounds going to the lungs when compared to smoking the same product. According to another study, people who switched from smoking to vaping experienced better lung function. 

Although vaporized cannabis was shown to have fewer harmful chemicals compared to smoked cannabis, it isn’t 100% safe. Vaporized cannabinoids could still cause some damage to the lungs, if simply from the fact that their temperature is elevated. Some research also shows that the temperature created by vaping could damage tooth enamel. 

In short, no method of consumption that involves inhaling a substance straight to your lungs is completely safe. However, we can say with certainty that vaporizing pure cannabis extracts causes minimal damage to the lungs. 

Is vaping worse than cigarettes?

With the rapid rise of e-cigarette consumption in the 2010s, we’ve seen an increase in vaping-related accidents and diseases. This has created a lot of (rightful) anxiety about the dangers of vaping products.

Some vaping products do seem to be worse than cigarettes. First in our line of sight are black market THC-oil vapes, which have been associated with EVALI, a rare disease that affects the whole respiratory system. It appears that vaping these extracts could be worse than smoking cigarettes.

When it comes to legal, regulated cannabis vaping liquid, the question gets more difficult. These products certainly have their drawbacks. Most of the studies we have on these products link the problems to propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. Both of these substances are almost universally used in vaping liquid. They have been linked to drying out, irritating, and creating inflammation in the lungs. However, it seems that whatever danger they present is still lower than that of smoking tobacco. 

Finally, vaping propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin-free cannabis extracts hasn’t been shown to damage the lungs—and is certainly much healthier for lung function than smoking cigarettes.

Can vaping damage your lungs? Should you be worried about vaping cannabis? 

Vaping can damage your lungs. However, not all vaping products cause the same damage.

Vaping THC oil that contains vitamin E is unsafe and could even be worse than vaping nicotine or smoking marijuana. 

Vaping cannabis products that contain vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol is also unsafe and could irritate the lungs. However, it appears to be safer than smoking. 

Some cannabis vaping solutions don’t contain any carcinogenic aerosols. Those which are made with pure cannabis extracts don’t seem to damage the lungs nearly as much as the aforementioned. With these products, vaping cannabis is as safe as can be.

Does vaping have any benefits?

Although many vaping products give vaporizers a bad name, they do have some considerable benefits.

Vaping pure cannabis extracts is one of the fastest ways of getting the molecules into your system. You can expect to feel their effects within just 5 to 10 minutes. For people who use cannabinoids as a way of relieving pain, anxiety, or nausea, this is a massive plus. 

The fact that they are so fast-acting also means it’s easy to see exactly how they affect you. After just 10 minutes, you can see a marked improvement in your symptoms—or choose to take more to feel a greater effect. 

Vaporizers are also very portable. Most of them will slide easily into your jeans pocket, making it easy to use them on the go. Again, this is a big advantage for people who need to redose cannabinoids throughout the day for consistent relief. 

Finally, vaporizers make cannabinoids easy to dose. The manufacturer should indicate how many milligrams are in each puff. With that in mind, it’s easy to keep track of how much you are taking in throughout the day. 

Final Words

There have been some noteworthy vaping-related scandals in recent years. The scientific community has reacted with more research, giving us more insights into what exactly causes these issues. 

The main takeaway is that the act of vaping itself isn’t a problem. It’s certain substances in vaping products that cause issues and can damage the lungs.

Pure cannabinoids vaping solutions like Renact’s proprietary formulas completely avoid these harmful substances. As a result, they are safe to use while giving you all the practical benefits of vaping. Try our Rest and Relief cannabinoids vaping formulas today by ordering your first starter kit! 

Cannabis 101: What Are Cannabis Strains?

“Cannabis” is a very general term we use to discuss a plant that is incredibly diverse. Not only are cannabis plants subdivided into the three broad categories of indica, sativa, and hybrid, but they’re also divided into thousands of different strains.

Some strain names like Girl Scout Cookies or Blue Dream may already be familiar to you. There are actually hundreds of them, with new ones being created every single year. Simply put, a strain is a type of cannabis plant with unique genetics, that has been selected for its cannabinoids and terpene profile. 

What are cannabis strains? 

To understand what cannabis strains are, we’ll have to discuss a little genetics first. Cannabis plants can be grown in one of two ways: by crossing male and female plants together, or by cloning a female plant. 

When we cross male and female plants, the “plant child” that results is genetically different from its “parents”. If we’re lucky, it might take the best traits of both. For example, the rich flavor of the female plant, and the high CBD content of the male plant. For hundreds of years, cannabis growers have been taking advantage of this technique to breed new and better types of cannabis plants. These are what we call “strains”. 

Each cannabis strain has a unique name (Sour Diesel, OG Kush, Pineapple Express…) which allows both users and consumers to know what to expect from the plant. Cannabis strains all have different effects on the body, as well as different looks, tastes, smells, and growth patterns. 

Unique Cannabinoids Profiles

All cannabis strains have a different impact on the body and mind—which is due to their chemical makeup. For example, the THC levels of a plant will greatly impact its effects. High-THC strains tend to be used recreationally because they can create a feeling of euphoria. High-CBD strains can be much more relaxing and better at addressing certain issues such as anxiety or inflammation.

However, we also need to look past the THC-dominant/CBD-dominant dichotomy. There are dozens of different cannabinoids in cannabis: THCV, CBN, CBC, CBG, CBDA, THCA, etc. 

Each cannabinoid affects the endocannabinoid system slightly differently—which is why different cannabis strains have completely different properties. When we use cannabis for wellness, we need to be careful to choose strains that have the right ratios of the cannabinoids we want. 

Terpenes: More Important Than You Think

Terpenes are molecules in cannabis that give the plant its taste and smell. They’re responsible for the fresh citrus smell of a Super Lemon Haze strain, or the sweeter aroma of a Mango Kush. But they also do a whole lot more than that.

Research has found that terpenes are responsible for a lot of the mind and body effects you feel from consuming cannabis. For example, some terpenes such as linalool tend to make strains more relaxing. Other terpenes such as limonene or geraniol provide a mood boost and are more energizing. 

The effects of a given cannabis strain are greater than the sum of its parts. We don’t just get the result we want from combining all the right cannabinoids with all the right terpenes. It’s the complex interaction between cannabinoids and terpenes in their unique ratios that give cannabis strains their unique properties.

Strains Matter … But That’s Not All

When we consume cannabis products to address certain conditions, choosing the right strain is of the utmost importance. Different strains work for different people, for different symptoms, for different times of day. However, let’s remember that choosing the right strain isn’t everything.

Depending on the way that they’re grown, two cannabis plants with the same genetics (from the same strain) can have completely different effects. The name of a strain itself doesn’t tell you anything about the quality of the product. 

What’s (also) important to look at is:

The Growing Methods

The best quality cannabis is grown organically, in pure, organic soil. The use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides can actually ruin many of the beneficial properties of the plant. Always choose products that are certified organic and grown in an ecologically responsible way. 

The Extraction Methods

To go from the raw cannabis plant to a product such as CBD tincture of cannabis vaping extract, there is a lot of complex machinery involved. Cheap extraction methods that use solvents can result in a product that’s less effective, tastes worse, and can contain traces of solvent. By contrast, a product that’s extracted with supercritical CO2 extraction will provide you with the best possible quality. 

The Delivery

The delivery method (whether you consume cannabis in the form of a vaping product, edible, tincture, topical product, etc.) makes a world of difference in the range of effects you can expect. You won’t get the same effects from the same cannabis strain if you smoke it, eat it, or use it as a topical. 

Cannabis Strains At Renact: A Well-Rounded Approach

To formulate our cannabinoids vaping solutions, we select strains with a uniquely therapeutic genetic profile. Our Special Sauce strain is CBD-dominant, with a range of other helpful cannabinoids such as CBG and CBN. It’s been selected by experts in the field to create products that help with targeted areas of concern. 

At Renact, we firmly believe that the benefits of the cannabis plant can’t be reduced to just a handful of molecules. It is the whole plant, the whole profile of a given strain that gives it its powers. That’s why we formulate products that keep the profile of our cannabis strain intact for you to enjoy.

Our two cannabinoids formula: Relief (for anxiety) and Rest (for insomnia) are already available for purchase! Give them a try today by ordering your first starter kit.

The first vapes or “e-cigarettes” were introduced as a way for people to quit smoking. However, they quickly turned into a cultural phenomenon and became incredibly widespread. Today, there are hundreds of different types of vapes you can have, all of which provide different benefits—as well as a few drawbacks. With the increased popularity of vapes, many have been asking themselves, is vaping bad for your teeth? and does vaping stain teeth? In this article, we answer this question by focusing on different vaping ingredients and the effects they can have on your dental health.

Does vaping damage your teeth?

The short answer to the question is yes, vaping can damage your teeth. The longer answer is more complex, as it must take into account the different vape ingredients that actually cause damage to the teeth.

Over the past couple of years, vaping has been linked to:

• • Stained teeth

    Although cigarettes stain teeth much quicker than vapes, e-cigarettes have also been associated with staining teeth. This is because of the nicotine they contain. Nicotine-free vapes don’t tend to cause stained teeth, unless they contain coloring agents.

• Faster plaque and bacterial growth

A few studies have shown that regular vape users have more plaque growth and more active oral bacteria than those who don’t vape.

• • Inflammamed, bleeding, and receding gums

    There are a few ingredients commonly used in vapes which can irritate the gums, leading to inflammation and bleeding. Vapes that contain nicotine are particularly dangerous in that regard.

• Bad breath 

Yes, even fruit-flavored vapes can cause bad breath! This is mainly attributed to increasing bacterial growth, as well as mouth dryness.

What vape ingredients are bad for your teeth?

Although it makes sense to talk about the dangers of vaping for dental health, it wouldn’t be fair to ignore the ingredients that actively damage your teeth. Let’s take a closer look at each one of them:

Nicotine

Does vaping stain teeth? Yes, it can because of nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive molecule found in tobacco and synthesized in a lot of vaping liquids. As well as being habit-forming, nicotine has also been found to stain teeth—though not as much as some of the other compounds in cigarette smoke.

Nicotine has also been found to lower blood flow to the gums, which can lead to a slew of issues: receding gums, bleeding gums, and gingivitis.

Propylene Glycol

Does vaping damage your teeth? It most definitely does if you’re vaping a product that contains PG (propylene glycol). PG is a clear liquid that’s used to dilute common vape juice ingredients like flavorings, nicotine, and even CBD or THC. It’s a cheap product that works well in terms of texture—but can cause some serious issues.

During the vaping process, as PG is transformed into vapor, it breaks down into other substances: lactic acid, acetic acid, propionaldehyde. All of these can break down enamel (the thin outer layer of the teeth) and damage gums and other soft tissue in the mouth.

Vegetable Glycerine

Most vapes use either propylene glycol or vegetable glycerine. Although it’s the healthier of the two, VG (vegetable glycerine) also raises some issues. One study found that VG-based vaping liquid that contained flavorings caused oral bacteria to stick to the teeth four times as much as normal. In time, this can lead to tooth decay.

How To Protect Your Dental Health While Vaping

As you’ve gathered, vaping isn’t typically the best thing you can do for your teeth. That being said, there are types of vapes that don’t damage teeth at all—in short, those that don’t use the ingredients we mentioned in the last section.

Choose The Right Vape

It is possible to vape without damaging your teeth. Here are a few tips to help you choose vaping products and devices that actally care for your dental health!

Choose vaping products that are nicotine-free. Although vaping nicotine is a lot healthier than smoking cigarettes, it’s still a molecule to avoid. Nicotine creates addiction, stains your teeth, and endangers your gums by reducing the amount of blood flow they receive.

Avoid propylene glycol and, to a lesser extent, vegetable glycerine. Both of these ingredients can do a lot of damage to your teeth. Although they’re essential for creating the type of vape that produces a ton of vapor, there are plenty of alternatives.

Try a vape that uses pure plant extracts. It’s a common misconception that every vape contains PG or VG, colorings, flavorings, or nicotine. There are vapes that strictly contain all-natural plant extracts and therefore won’t damage your teeth at all. For example, Renact’s vapes contain pure cannabinoids extracts only, giving you a vaping experience that leaves your teeth healthy (plus a lot of other benefits!)

Treat Your Teeth Right

If you’ve decided to stick with a more “traditional vape” that contains PG or VG and nicotine, there are still things you can do to minimize the risks to your dental health:

• Drink water after vaping to prevent dry mouth—which is associated with bacteria growth and bad breath.
• Brush your teeth twice a day to prevent the formation of plaque and avoid staining.
• Floss every day to minimize bacterial growth and keep your gums healthy.
• Brush your tongue to get rid of bacterial growth and keep your mouth smelling fresh.
• Use mouthwash to prevent plaque and prevent bad breath.
• Don’t forget regular dentist visits to ensure you catch any issues early.

Final Words

Unfortunately, the answer to the question does vaping damage your teeth? is yes… for the most part. The good news is that there are vapes out there that don’t stain teeth or irritate the gums because they aren’t formulated with any of the ingredients known to damage the teeth.

At Renact, we believe in creating all-natural vaping products that make vaping as healthy as it can be. Our pure-cannabis vaping extracts are free of nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and flavorings to provide you with the purest experience possible. You can try out our sleep or anxiety-focused formulas today by ordering your first starter kit here!

We’ve never lived in a time with greater awareness of ADHD and ADD. But while more and more people are getting diagnosed with these conditions, treatment options are still lagging behind. Today, CBD and other cannabinoids offer a new source of hope: these plant-derived molecules could improve focus and help people with ADHD perform better with their neurodivergence. Let’s take a closer look at what the most recent science shows:

A Short Definition of ADD and ADHD

ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and ADD (attention deficit disorder) are two neurodevelopmental disorders. Let’s take a look at what that means: both of these conditions are life-long and have to do with the way that people’s brains work. They are not mental disorders but rather neurological differences that come with pros and cons.

People with ADD and ADHD have a harder time than most keeping their focus for extended periods of time. They tend to get distracted by small things, fidget a lot, and lose their train of thought easily. When hyperactivity comes into play, they also struggle to sit still and need a lot of movement to feel well.

Having ADHD or ADD can also be a strength. But in most cases, individuals with this neurological condition need to work hard on learning to manage their condition.

The Benefits of CBD For Attention And Focus

People who take CBD often note that it helps them feel more focused throughout the day. While there is little actual research on that phenomenon, we know that CBD is very effective in relieving anxiety. Taking CBD makes you feel calmer, which naturally increases your ability to pay attention and focus on things for longer periods of time.

There’s also the fact that CBD can help you fall asleep and improve the quality of sleep cycles. When you sleep better and wake up feeling rested, you’re naturally better able to keep your focus on throughout the day.

With so many studies showing the benefits of CBD for a very wide range of mental health issues, it’s no wonder that the molecule can also improve focus and attention. When we feel good in our heads and confident tackling the day, things like sustained attention tend to follow suit. But what about CBD for ADHD and ADD?

Does CBD For ADHD Work?

Taking CBD for attention and focus may work well for neurotypical people, but it isn’t necessarily so obvious for people with ADD or ADHD. Anecdotal evidence does suggest that CBD could help people with these conditions to focus better and feel more at peace throughout the day. And there is even research to support this finding.

A 2017 study of the effects of full-spectrum cannabis on people with ADHD showed that it could help with symptoms of hyperactivity and attention. Researchers noted “significant improvements” in the mental state of the 30 patients who took part in the study.

It’s hard to draw a clear conclusion on the benefits of CBD for ADHD and ADD. However, because non-THC cannabinoids come with very few side effects, giving them a try can definitely be worth it.

CBD Dosage For ADD: Finding What Works

Due to the limited number of studies on CBD for ADHD and ADD, giving dosage recommendations isn’t easy. Moreover, every person with ADHD and ADD experiences different issues and different levels of discomfort. With that in mind, the best way of finding out the ideal CBD dosage for ADD or ADHD is to try out a few different doses and see what works.

For anyone new to CBD, we recommend starting out with a daily dose of 10 to 15 milligrams. Over time, this dose can be increased. The idea is to keep track of how much you are taking and how it makes you feel. Some people find that they are perfectly fine sticking to a low daily dose of 15mg a day, while others may need to get up to 50 or even 100mg to keep their ADD symptoms under control.

Final Words

While CBD for ADHD and ADD is still underresearched, a lot of anecdotal evidence indicates it could provide significant relief. People with ADHD and ADD who start taking CBD can expect to experience more peace of mind, better focus, reduced levels of impulsivity and fidgeting.

Renact’s patented Relief formula is a pure cannabinoids vaping extract that’s aimed specifically at relieving anxiety and improving cognitive abilities. Easy to use and easy to dose, it’s the perfect introduction to CBD for anyone trying to boost their mental wellbeing—give it a try today by ordering your first vape!

Although migraines are an incredibly common health condition, treatment for them is still lagging behind. Many of us who get migraines have to take time off work to deal with them, sometimes for days at a time.

Some migraines respond well to painkillers, while others are harder to treat. Either way, painkillers do come with some dangerous side-effects and it’s ideal to avoid them altogether. With that in mind, could CBD be a good alternative? In this article, we explore the latest research on CBD for headaches and migraines, how it works, and how it could help you.

What Are Migraines, Really?

Migraines are an extreme type of headache that causes pulsating pain as well as sensitivity to light and noise. In more extreme cases, they can even lead to nausea, vomiting, and partial loss of vision.

Scientists currently think that genetics play an important role in determining which people get migraines and which don’t. That being said, research on the root causes of migraines is still limited. We know that some people commonly get them, while many will never experience one in their life.

What Can You Do To Treat Migraines?

If you are predisposed to getting migraines, they’re more likely to show up when triggered by stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes or alcohol. In that sense, prevention really is the best treatment. Try to adopt a healthy lifestyle, get 8 hours of sleep every night, and fight stress by practicing meditation or yoga.

When that’s not enough, doctors commonly prescribe painkillers for migraines, which range from light doses of ibuprofen to prescription-strength triptans or ergots. These drugs can be very effective, but can have serious side-effects when taken on a regular basis.

As a way to bypass these side-effects, many people are now replacing painkillers with CBD. While this solution may not work for everyone, it can be effective and is a lot safer than prescription-strength medication.

Can Taking CBD for Headaches Work?

CBD acts as a painkiller which can relieve almost any type of pain. However, research does suggest that CBD could be more useful for chronic rather than acute pain.

CBD mainly works by targeting the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a vast network of receptors which manage pain, mood, inflammation, appetite, and more. By giving a boost to the ECS, CBD can relieve headache pain. However, it’s more effective when taken on a regular basis, as this gives it a chance to give the ECS a more sustained boost.

If your headaches are recurrent, then taking CBD could be a great treatment option.

CBD For Migraines—What The Research Shows

CBD has many properties which make it ideal for targeting migraine pain and more general headaches. Not only has it been shown to be an effective pain-killer, but it could also help to prevent migraines by fighting stress and insomnia. Let’s take a closer look at each of these properties and the current state of the research on them:

CBD As A Painkiller For Migraine Pain

Cannabis has been used to fight headaches for hundreds of years. Today, we know that a lot of its pain-relieving properties come from a molecule called cannabidiol, also known as CBD.

Current research on CBD shows that it is effective in treating chronic pain, inflammatory pain, and neuropathic pain. When taken in large doses, CBD gives a big boost to the endocannabinoid system—which is directly responsible for pain management.

Since migraines cause such extreme pain, you may need to take very high doses of CBD to feel relief. But luckily, smaller doses of CBD also work—particularly as a preventive measure.

CBD For Anxiety

While CBD may be useful in relieving migraine pain, it also offers a lot of hope in the domain of prevention. As we’ve discussed previously, stress is one of the most common triggers for migraines.

Multiple studies have shown that CBD is a great stress-reliever. For example, this study showed that CBD could help with chronic anxiety when taken on a daily basis. Taking CBD regularly can be a great way to keep stress at bay, which makes it ideal for preventing migraines.

CBD For Insomnia

Second only to stress, lack of sleep is a major trigger for migraines. That’s also something that CBD could help with. CBD has been shown to prevent insomnia and make falling asleep easier. By taking CBD regularly, you could ensure getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night, which takes at least one migraine trigger out of the equation. Renact’s Sleep-specific vaping extract is a great option for that type of use, as it isolates cannabinoids and terpenes in all the right ratios to make falling asleep as easy as possible.

How To Take CBD For Migraines

There are two main ways of taking CBD for migraines:

• Take a high dose of CBD when you start getting a migraine
• Take lower doses of CBD on a daily basis

Both of these methods have pros and cons.

Taking high doses of CBD in the midst of a migraine can relieve pain immediately and allow you to recover faster. On the other hand, it may get too expensive (high-strength CBD products are costly). Moreover, taking high doses of CBD when you’re not used to it occasionally causes side-effects such as nausea or dizziness.

Taking lower doses of CBD on a daily basis is a great way to prevent migraines. It targets both anxiety and inadequate sleep triggers and gives a sustained boost to the whole endocannabinoid system. It may well be cheaper in the long run as well. Unfortunately, such low doses may not be enough to relieve pain when a migraine comes along.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you are getting high-quality CBD products that have been third-party tested and have the potency you’re looking for. If you’re looking for products that relieve migraine pain instantly, stay away from CBD that you ingest, as it may take much longer to take effect.

CBD For Migraines Dosage—Finding The Best Dose For Your Condition

For people who want to take CBD as a way to prevent migraines, we recommend a daily dose of 10-25mg of CBD. This CBD for migraines dosage may not seem like a lot, but you have to consider that CBD builds up in your system overtime. If those doses don’t do enough to relieve stress or insomnia, you may consider upping them gradually.

For people who want to take CBD to relieve migraine pain, we recommend a much larger dose. Anything from 50mg to 250mg is a good target to aim for—though of course the CBD for migraines dosage will have to take into consideration your pain level, weight, and many more factors.

Learning what works best for your body takes time, so try to have patience when finding your ideal dose of CBD. It’s a good idea to keep a journal in which you write down your CBD intake as well as any migraine symptoms that pop up. Overtime, you will be able to see what doses of CBD seem to work best for you—whether they’re preventive or curative.

Final Words

Dealing with migraines is never easy, especially if you’re looking for natural treatment methods. Fortunately, CBD does have a great track record when it comes to relieving pain, anxiety, and insomnia—making it perfect for preventing and relieving headaches and migraines.

To give CBD for migraines a try, order your Renact vape pen today! Our two patented cannabinoids formulations, « Relief » and « Sleep » have all of the brain-active compounds you need to relieve anxiety and insomnia so migraines become a thing of the past.