Herbal cigarettes contain ingredients such as cloves, corn silk, banana skins, weeds and other herbal ingredients. Many varieties of herbal cigarettes are imported from India and Southeast Asia and sold at natural health stores and online. Smokers think that these cigarettes are a better alternative to standard cigarettes with surgeon general warnings on the label. However, herbal cigarettes are just as dangerous as regular cigarettes.
Deceptive Advertising
The Federal Trade Commission recently settled with natural cigarette companies such as the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company for deceptive advertising. The FTC found that the companies lied to consumers with their claims that their cigarettes didn't contain additives or pose any health risks. The companies were forced to add health warnings to their packages.
Nicotine
A study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program in Baltimore found that clove cigarettes, bidis and additive-free cigarettes release about the same about of nicotine as standard cigarettes.
Ingredients
Herbal cigarettes that do not contain nicotine use other hazardous ingredients such as tar and carbon monoxide.
Clove Cigarettes
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that clove herbal cigarettes are dangerous when burned. The chemicals produced when burned increases smokers risks of respiratory conditions of pneumonia, bronchitis and lung infections.
Bidis
These cigarettes appeal to young smokers because of candy-like flavors like vanilla, chocolate and fruit. Tendu leaves used to wrap bidis do not burn easily, causing smokers to inhale more cancer-causing compounds and toxins into their lungs.
Additive-Free Cigarettes
Additive-free, herbal cigarettes use whole-leaf tobacco. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that many smokers choose these cigarettes in place of standard brands. However, studies show that plasma nicotine levels are higher and the high nicotine levels remain in the body longer.
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