Ever sat down to enjoy a smoke only to be coughing up a storm after just a hit or two? Sore throat is extremely common for cannabis smokers and can really put a damper on your smoking experience. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to reduce the irritation in your throat and prevent it from happening in the first place.
Sore Throat From Smoking Weed? Here’s Why
Whether you’re smoking cannabis or something else, inhaling hot smoke can dry out and irritate your throat and nasal passages. Cannabis smokers are especially susceptible to throat irritation because they tend to take much larger puffs than tobacco smokers. For example, a big bong rip is way more likely to induce a coughing fit than a pull from a cigarette.
And while cannabis smoke is generally considered better than tobacco smoke, it still has a similar chemical makeup. Long time cannabis smokers may have a similar “smokers cough” to those who smoke tobacco products, which one study attributes to the fact that cannabis smoke contains 29% larger particles than tobacco smoke.
The toxins contained in any smoke can cause further irritation to the throat area, only being further compounded by the effects of coughing. At that point, your already dry and hot throat is only going to feel worse as these particles irritate your airways.
Furthermore, your sore throat from smoking is also made worse by the fact that THC inhibits the production of saliva. So not only is your throat dry, hot, and irritated, but the cotton mouth that usually comes with smoking cannabis only dries things out even further.
I’m sure anyone who’s ever smoked weed has experienced that slowly drying out feeling as the cottonmouth sets in and you go searching for anything to drink – even that water bottle that’s been sitting on your nightstand since last night.
Can Vaping Weed Cause a Sore Throat?
You may try to prevent getting a sore throat from smoking by using a vaporizer instead. Many people feel that vaporizers make it easier on the throat and don’t cause as much coughing or irritation. Most vapes let you set a lower temperature so what you’re inhaling is smoother and cooler.
However, for some vaporizers can be just as irritating as smoking – or even more. This happens because many vapes produce very hot vapor, which tends to be especially true of low-quality vaporizers.
So, don’t be surprised if your throat hurts from vaping as well. This leads many people to wonder how to cure a sore throat from vaping instead, which brings us to our list of ways to help cure your sore throat from vaping or smoking.
How To Cure Sore Throat From Vaping and Smoking
Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to help your sore throat – but the most important is to limit (or ideally stop) smoking or vaping until your throat is healed. Unfortunately, there’s just no way that you can cure a sore throat when you’re continuing to do the thing that caused the irritation in the first place.
Luckily, that doesn’t have to mean taking a break from cannabis entirely. While you’re giving your throat a rest consider alternatives like cannabis infused edibles, drinks, or topicals to help you get by.
Cold Water
One simple remedy worth trying to soothe a sore throat from smoking is to keep some water on hand while smoking. A drink of cold water will cool your throat right down and can help your throat from getting too parched to begin with. To prevent your mouth and throat from drying out too much – and to cool your throat down – you’ll want water that’s cooler than room temperature, but ice cold water is best possible!
Lozenges/Candy
Another sore throat from smoking remedy you can try is eating a lozenge, candy, or cough drop. Popping one of these in your mouth will stimulate saliva production and prevent your throat from drying out too much. Oh, and make sure not to accidentally swallow it whole while inhaling!
You should also keep in mind that even cough drops can be high in sugars, which aren’t just added calories but also added opportunities for cavities to form – so if you choose this seemingly obvious go to, make sure you’re not overdoing it.
Warm Tea and Honey
Warm tea and honey are a go-to for many people trying to recover from a sore throat – but it’s especially popular among singers of all kinds. The warmth of the tea (especially if you choose an extra soothing tea like ginger or chamomile) will be soothing on it’s own, while the addition of honey will coat your throat and protect it from drying out again too quickly. The best part? It taste great and there’s no limit to the number of cups of tea and honey you can drink to keep that scratching irritation at bay.
Gargle Salt Water
This catch-all home remedy has been around for ages and is used frequently today, especially when it comes to dental procedures and conditions like tooth extraction, aches, or even abscesses are often treated in part with a warm salt water rinse. Not only does it have antibacterial properties but it’s also surprisingly useful in reducing swelling and relieving pain temporarily.
Use an Air Humidifier
When your throat is dried out and irritated, dry air is only going to make things that much worse. Using a humidifier adds moisture to the air in your room (or home), ensuring that the air you’re breathing in isn’t immediately irritating your already sore throat. This is especially important if you live in a climate where it’s already excessively dry or during the winter months when there tends to be less humidity overall.
Warm Soup or Broth
Similar to the warm tea and honey, warm soup or broth is going to be extremely soothing on your sore throat. Chicken soup wasn’t just something your great-great-great grandma gave to your great-great grandma and just kept going! Not only is it something that will sooth your throat but it’s easy to eat even when you’re not feeling well, and it keeps you hydrated – which is important in trying to cure a sore throat from smoking or vaping.
Apple Cider Vinegar
While your salt water gargle might be something you’ve heard of (or maybe even tried) before, chances are less likely you’ve tried to gargle apple cider vinegar to relieve the pain associated with a sore throat. Surprisingly, mixing a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with warm water and gargling is a quick and easy way to ease pain, inflammation, and possibly even help prevent bacterial growth that could make your sore throat worse.
Steam Inhalation
This cure for smoke or vapor induced throat pain follows the same line of logic as the humidifier – only a more direct approach. Inhaling steam directly (whether through your nose or mouth) is going to offer relatively quick relief for your sore throat. You can do this easily by standing over a pot of steaming water – keep a towel over your head to trap more steam if needed. Another option for steam inhalation would be to turn your shower on as hot as you can manage and inhale deeply while in the steamed up bathroom.
Rest Your Voice
Ultimately, there is no guaranteed cure for a sore throat whether that soreness was caused by smoking, vaping, or the common cold. The best thing you can do is try a combination of these remedies as needed to find relief, take over-the-counter pain relievers if absolutely needed, and rest your voice for as long as possible. Resting your voice – along with taking a break from smoking or vaping – is the only way to guarantee your throat has time to heal properly.
Can You Smoke Weed with a Sore Throat?
So, can someone smoke with a sore throat? Yes, but unless you want to have a really bad time you should probably be armed and ready with a sore throat remedy or two. If it gets too bad, switch things up and try edibles for a few days to a week while you recover from your sore throat.
Follow these tips, and you’ll be back to the puff, puff, pass rotation in no time! Remember to take smaller tokes, lower the temperature on your vape, and stay hydrated. Doing these things will help you avoid future pain from a sore throat caused by smoking or vaping.
Smoke-Free Cannabis Alternatives at Mission
If you’re looking for alternatives to smoking and vaping cannabis, Mission has got your back with a wide variety of products to meet any needs. Consider smoke-free and vapor-less cannabis products like edibles and topicals if you’re facing a sore throat from smoking.
If you notice your throat is constantly sore from smoking, it may be time to try something different. But don’t worry, there are many smoke-free options at Mission and our expert budtenders are here to help you find the best alternative to smoking and vaping for your personal needs.
Come by one of our Illinois and Massachusetts dispensaries today or check out our online menu right now to browse a wide selection of recreational and medical cannabis products including smoke-free items like edibles, oils, tinctures, topicals, and more. We look forward to seeing you!
