Health concerns associated with smoking are real, from compromised lung function to cardiac disease and cancer.
But what if you’re not a fan of other consumption methods and you’d like to minimize the harm caused by smoking?
This is where bongs come into play.
Bongs are raved for their ability to filter the smoke out of harmful substances, providing a safer alternative to regular hand pipes, joints, and blunts.
Fact is, switching to a bong when enjoying your favorite flowers comes with plenty of perks other than filtration.
This article, however, is fully devoted to the health aspects of using a bong.
Is smoking with a bong actually healthier than other forms of smoked cannabis?
Let’s find out!
What is a Bong in the First Place?
For those who have just begun their adventure with smoking cannabis, bongs are big water pipes that allow for taking smooth and cool hits full of flavor thanks to their inherent water filtration systems.
They consist of a watertight bowl-stem, a water tank, and a pipe. The cannabis is placed inside the bowl, and the smoker puts their mouth over the mouthpiece to inhale the smoke, which is naturally filtered through the bubbling water.
A bong is notoriously one of the most popular ways of enjoying weed and other herbs — and for a good reason.
These devices come in a wide range of different sizes, shapes, colors, and materials, but the most popular type of a bong is the one made from hand-blown glass. Glass pieces focus on design as much as on the function and efficiency.
Long story short, smoking with a bong gives you the whole package of benefits, from amazing looks to clean smoke and flavorful hits.
The Science Behind Using a Bong
The main purpose of a bong is to filter out all the substances you don’t want in your lungs — tar, impurities, carcinogens, and other particles.
When you ignite your cannabis, it catches fire and begins to burn. At this point, the compounds inside the herb evaporate into a gaseous smoke infused with all the good stuff — THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids.
Once the smoke runs through the water in the bong, all the negative stuff, such as ash, and tar are filtered out, resulting in clean smoke that makes each draw from your device smoother, healthier, and packed with more flavor.
Is Smoking With a Bong Healthier?
Well, that’s a tricky question.
Let’s make something clear, smoking anything is far from being healthy, but if you’re asking if smoking with a bong is healthier than smoking a joint or out of a basic pipe, then the answer is a sound yes.
Sny form of filtration is better than non-filtered alternatives. While all forms of combustion come with certain health risks that people need to weigh for themselves, smoking with a bong appears to be the healthiest of all methods.
If you’re not into smoking at all, there’s plenty of other ways to indulge in the herb, such as vaporizers, oils, tinctures, or edibles. But for those of you who appreciate the art of smoking with a bong, here’s what science has to say.
Studies on Potential Benefits of Smoking With a Bong
While some controversy is still in circulation — mainly due to the “any smoke is bad for you” debate — studies show that bong filtration is very useful for consumers’ health.
There are several studies indicating that smoking with a bong is healthier than smoking without filtration. Some individuals claim that the bong can pull away up to 90% of the harmful substances that are created upon combustion, but this percentage isn’t that accurate.
A study conducted by Dr. Gary Huber at the University of Texas, in collaboration with Harvard’s Schools of Public Health, investigated the toxicity of cannabis smoke. They found that the smoke which was filtrated through water eliminated both acetaldehyde and acrolein, both of which are extremely toxic for lungs.
Another study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, showed that water filtration reduced the concentration of toxic substances in smoke passed through it.
Last but not least, there’s a 1970 study conducted by the University of Athens Medical School that tested cannabis smoke filtered with a water pipe. Researchers in this study concluded that while water filtration resulted in less THC in the subjects’ systems, it also captured impurities and toxins from the smoke to a much higher degree.
Things to Remember When Smoking With a Bong
First things first, make sure to maintain proper maintenance with your bong. Keep it clean change the water frequently. Dirty bong water not only produces a nasty taste, but it also doesn’t filter as well as clean water.
Not to mention that cleaning your bong is just a healthy routine to ensure you and your friends get the best experience from the sesh.
Another important thing to keep in mind is the material of your bong. We recommend using glass bongs. They’re much better than plastic or metal ones because they don’t transmit harmful chemicals to your body when heated up.
Never use a plastic bong because a plastic piece can emit dangerous toxins. We know they’re cheap, but buying cheap isn’t wise if you want to make your smoking experience healthier.
Last but not least, bongs come with varying complexity of filtration systems. Some pieces feature a sheer water tank, while others are equipped with percolators and ice catchers to give you the cleanest smoke possible.
What Are the Healthier Alternatives to Smoking With a Bong?
If you’re concerned about the health risks associated with smoking, you may want to try a vaporizer, which is by far the healthiest and the most efficient way to inhale cannabis without creating the smoke. Instead of combusting the plant material, vaporizers heat the product to release its beneficial compounds which are then contained in the flavorful vapor.
You can also try edibles, but this form of cannabis is a bit difficult to dose for beginners. Also, given that oral cannabis products need to pass through the digestive system before reaching the bloodstream, they have a delayed onset — which is also tricky for newbies.
Why do you smoke with a bong? Is it due to the health aspects?
