Herbal Cigarettes were designed as an aid to quit smoking. They do not contain tobacco or nicotine and are smoked in the usual way. However, researchers have warned that even herbal cigarettes could prove to be a potential health hazard. In certain European countries, Herbal Cigarettes are marketed as an aid to stop smoking.

However, a research team from the University of Vienna has stated that the “vegetable based” cigarettes, produce a high level of carbon monoxide, which is similar to that produced by tobacco cigarettes. On further investigation, it was found that the combustion of vegetable-based cigarettes produced toxic substances. On measuring the carbon monoxide breathed out by five volunteers, out of whom two smoked vegetable-based cigarettes, measurements of carbon monoxide of the two volunteers showed that the concentrations of carbon monoxide after smoking vegetable-based cigarettes increased from 15 parts to 21 parts per million in one, while the levels increased from 14 to 26 parts per million in the other. Smoking a second cigarette led to further increase in carbon monoxide concentrations.

Hence, considering that herbal cigarettes are a potential health hazard, the researchers emphasize that treatment of nicotine dependence should be a combination of nicotine substitution, along with psychological and behavioral therapies without medication.

Carbon monoxide, is a colorless, odourless gas, high concentrations of which are deadlier than cigarettes. The common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include dizziness, headache, breathing difficulty and irritability.

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