Dangers of Vaping - Our Beloved Waxy Build-up?

[VWFringe]

This is all possibly wrong (OR, I should say that at least)...

I'm thinking if there are non-psychoactive compounds in extracts like "ear wax" and we know we can vape ear wax completely down, then if follows whatever was in the bud to make the ear wax is also getting into our lungs when we vape herb...but, it's not all bad because there's a side-effect of mitigating irritation.

tell me i'm wrong, but at least tell me the logic isn't faulty.

To continue...

In the article linked below from Mycotopia, a process is given to freeze-out wax gathered by an acetone extraction. The wax isn't psycho-active, and after filtering it out with a coffee filter it's discarded (tho the OP ponders possible future industrial applications for it - ).

Link to process article

I don't think it's much of a stretch to suggest we're getting a lot of that wax in our lungs when we vape herb. And, though it's probably much better to vape a wax than the hundreds of compounds created and released by combusting, it's also good to know our process isn't perfect.

Also, I would suggest we LOVE this waxy build-up because it mitigates irritation of our mucosal linings and is what primarily distinguishes us from vaping noobs (or is what causes vaping noobies to experience more discomfort than we do). I believe I've noticed it cleaning itself off after just a week's t-break, and it took a while to get it back.

EDIT: I found this online description of the waxy substance:
Alkanes of the essential oil of Cannabis sativa

Abstract
A waxy fraction obtained by column chromatography of the essential oil of Cannabis sativa consists of n-alkanes ranging from C9 to C39, 2-methyl and 3-methyl alkanes and some dimethyl alkanes. The qualitative and quantitative composition of this fraction has been compared with the alkane fraction obtained by extraction of the herb.

 

[Hippie Dickie]

if prepared properly

the best advice i ever received, many, many years ago ... know your chemist.

 

[weedemon]

I am not sure i 100% understand, but form a bunch of your posts similar on this topic I think you surely already know much about it than I.

pure vapor isn't supposed to be in our lungs naturally either, but we put it there in place of smoke. I think it's a better of 2 evils type thing.

If there is a way to concentrate it and make it safer though I am all for it.

personally though I honestly believe that if you use iso/butane/alcohol to extract there are going to be trace elements of these things we added. (water extraction is the only one I would have faith in to be sure i'm not adding any extra nasties)

not heard of this wax that you are talking about though. where did you read it?

 

[Nycdeisel]

Vaping concentrates? I know smoking them is usually preferred with them but wouldnt vaping it also help to extract the good stuff and leave behind some substance like vaporizing herb does?

I dont know a ton about hashes like waxes and budders, but I do know what you are getting at.
I would be interested in some better answers from the 'experts' on this subject

 

[VWFringe]

i re-wrote the OP

 

[willieR]

Maybe I'm mis-understanding, but you're thinking that low-level heat is volatilizing wax?

 

[VWFringe]

or the waxy substance pictured, yes

IMO I believe this is why i can keep vapor higher up in my throat now than a month ago without getting a cough reflex

the stuff that differentiates ear wax and waxes from more highly refined oil, and the process article says its not active

 

[willieR]

I'm not a waxologist, but waxes that I'm familiar with only melt at the temps we vape at. Solvents extract wax, and perhaps solvent-extracted wax behaves differently. I'm not seeing how plant wax in plant material (not solvent extracted) can vaporize at these relatively low temps.

Paraffin melts, flows to a wick, where a flame combusts it. Otherwise it's simple melted Paraffin.

I feel I'm still missing something but would like to understand. Thanks

 

[Spiderman]

SCIENCE!

 

[willieR]

Maybe this is a discussion about vaping oil? Not the dried herb?

 

[vtac]

Cannabis oil is full of wax and it coagulates when extremely cold. It should look like its snowing inside the jar. That's wax.

Is the author saying that naturally occurring cannabis resin (the stuff inside the trichome) is full of wax?

I don't think it's much of a stretch to suggest we're getting a lot of that wax in our lungs when we vape herb. And, though it's probably much better to vape a wax than the hundreds of compounds created and released by combusting, it's also good to know our process isn't perfect.

also, I am guessing that waxy build-up is also something we love, because I believe that waxy build-up is responsible for our "tolerance" to vapor touching our air-ways. Without that waxy build-up we'd be noobs at vaping again, and I think I've noticed it cleaning itself off after a few days t-break in the past.

That's definitely an interesting theory, but "Dangers of Vaping - A Wax Coating in Our Lungs" makes me uneasy. Can you add a question mark?

 

[willieR]

So we're talking solvent-extracted waxes here?

 

[VWFringe]

i have to explain my logic, hmmm,

I'm thinking if there are non-psychoactive compounds in extracts like "ear wax" and we know we can vape ear wax completely down, then if follows whatever was in the bud to make the ear wax is also getting into our lungs when we vape herb...but, it's not all bad because there's a side-effect of mitigating irritation.

tell me i'm wrong, but at least tell me the logic isn't faulty.... I think the only stretch is the idea that there's something in lower grade extracts that's not active.

 

[crawdad]

its also possible that what you have left (the wax) is there because that is the "left over" to what we are getting...if i come close to torching a bowl (gets super dark brown) i dont assume what i see there is what i just inhaled, its just what is left from extracting other things. i hope i said that right, i just re-read and im not 100% myself.

 

[AGBeer]

Ummmm, Marinol FTW?

(Kidding)

 

[VWFringe]

its also possible that what you have left (the wax) is there because that is the "left over" to what we are getting...if i come close to torching a bowl (gets super dark brown) i dont assume what i see there is what i just inhaled, its just what is left from extracting other things. i hope i said that right, i just re-read and im not 100% myself.

I get what you mean, but when I see people vaping dabs of wax on a Ti nail I don't see the wax getting left behind on the pad.

I think we all know that THC and CBD are only a percentage of the resin we take in.

I was thinking of the guy who cured his skin cancer with hash oil, and wondered if my lungs were getting the same treatment. I don't think so, but I don't know. i think the waxy alkanes or whatever might gum things up a bit.

I wish they'd do some studies on it. If vaping has health benefits or causes a load to be placed on the body, I'd like to know.

 

[Nycdeisel]

Im sure it has its risks, inhaling a hot, concentrated gas and holding it in your lungs for long periods of time, over however long you do it, does add a lot of strain, the healthiest way in that sense would be edibles, of course, which shouldnt put very much strain on your body to digest.

I have noticed during breaks that after a couple weeks my throat was much better then it had been in terms of the built up gunk.

 

[willieR]

Pardon my unfamiliarity with some of these terms, but "ear wax" is some sort of solvent extracted product? The thought is that the waxy material extracted vaporizes completely, so maybe these waxes in un-extracted bud would vaporize also?

This is interesting.

 

[VWFringe]

thanks, willieR, that's what i'm thinking, yep

I'm also thinking this would apply to full-melt hash (again, we all know it's not pure THC so there's other stuff in it)

now, since posting I found mention online that the waxy fraction are Alkanes, which are hydrocarbons, so I don't know what to think now.

 

[FLskwat]

OK big vaped hash consumer. Very rarely waxes, sometimes oils...

Very interesting theory WWF. What I can say about fully vaped hash:

the leftovers are "plantmatter" organic dried hydrocarbons...

For oils/waxes: Yes pure wax or oil disappears totally, leaving only some sort of coloration... confirming everything is vaped!
And yes, every day my lungs are getting more and more immune to the expectoration effect of pure THC and I can 100% control my caughing reflex! I really think this has to do with ratio of thc in your inhale (90% for vaping VS. 15% with combustion- correct?) and the fact our lung cells capacity to process THC raises with your consumption habits...

 

[technique]

Hi Fellas, great topic.

So ive been wondering something very similar lately myself.

If when we vape the vapor passes our glass wands and whips and turns to vapor condensate(wand hash) it stands to reason that the vapor would have cooled significantly in my lungs making wand hash in my lungs.... gona start gargling iso and see what i get lol.

 

[sal69]

Hmm i think that there is no Wax buildup in our lungs.
Lungs are very efficient at getting rid of inhaled particles.
After all that is why we do not die from Smoking quickly.

I think If there is Wax inhaled it is also removed.

But you should ask a doctor about this to be sure.
If your theory is correct there should be a Way to see the Wax coating.

 

[Nosferatu]

EDIT: posted wrong pic, heres the right one.


I think this is the build up you are talking about. It always collects in my pieces after about 3 or so days of use. This is from using the cloud, I noticed it start to build up faster after I started using the cloud on a much higher temp. I get this build up as well when only vaping waxes with my Eclipse vape. I don't think there is a smokable form of cannabis that has ZERO leftovers. Even these high grade lab tested waxes leave exactly what you are takling about in my waterpipes.
I think you are spot on because I have never felt vaping to be completely healthy. When I vape all day everyday and don't excercice i certainly feel this build up, even though I always use water filtration. Vaping certainly isn't harmless, but still its obviously miles better than inhaling smoke.

Question: Has anyone who doesn't smoke at all ever coughed up this vapor wax, do we know its really there?

 

[Nosferatu]

Apparently when this resin builds up on your lungs they break it down into pure cannabinoids, which are then absorbed.

 

[CentiZen]

When I used to smoke I would cough up phlegm with chunks of black in it. With vaping I cough out a little mucous once in while, never with any color in it. So I'd say it's either being completely absorbed, or all in the bongwater.