Vaporizer recommendation for person with limited dexterity

[ChillyWilly]

My in-laws have a close friend who suffers from a debilitating disease that has left her wheelchair bound, with limited dexterity and frequent attacks of tremors. Herbs help her tremors a great deal, but right now she is combusting, and I'm advising her to look into vaporizing instead, for the sake of her lungs (though she does not medicate frequently, as I understand it).

I am thinking it would be best if she had a portable vaporizer, but mostly she needs one that would be easy for her to use, given her limited dexterity. She would probably get some help grinding and loading, but it would be best if she could just use the thing on her own. I personally have very limited experience with vaporizers, though I have a Palm 2.0, and she would not be able to use that, due to the pressure required to push the battery into the unit and start the heating.

My friend has a Volcano, and I may borrow that so she can try it with a bag, though long-term, I think a portable vaporizer would be better, so she could take it with her. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ChillyWilly]

OK, so I found another thread about someone with a similar need, and it looks like there were a few reco's:
Thermovape Cera
Inhalater INH004
Arizer Solo

At this point, the Cera looks like a really interesting option due to the ease of use. Any thoughts?

 

[lwien]

I really think a bag vape would be the best option.

With a vape like the Solo mentioned above, she would need to mate the glass stem to the vape, and for someone who really lacks dexterity, that would pose a problem, as would loading the Cera and Inahalter also mentioned above.

I think it's a great idea for her to try out the Volcano. Could very well be the best choice.

 

[ChillyWilly]

Thank you. I think with regard to the Cera and other vapes, she would probably get some help grinding and loading. The bag seems like it would be really easy for her to use once it's filled up, but she might ultimately get more use out of a portable. She's never tried vaporizing, and as far as I know, didn't enjoy herbs before she needed them to combat tremors. Up to now, those helping her obtain herbs have simply been rolling cigarettes for her, and although it's worked fine, I think vaporizing would be a healthier and safer option. Also, she needs a method of getting her medicine that's more self-sustainable.

I really think a bag vape would be the best option.

...

I think it's a great idea for her to try out the Volcano...

 

[JJSeattle]

Are edibles possible for her?

 

[ChillyWilly]

I was thinking about that as well, obviously a very easy delivery system for medicine, but we are located in a non-MMJ state (that's about to change on 1/1/14) so obtaining edibles is not easy, and converting raw material into edibles isn't something she can do, and not something I can really help with. If you have some reco's for simple conversion of raw material into edibles, I'll certainly take a look. I've looked at recipes for butter, though, and not sure it's really a feasible option for her. Maybe after the law takes effect, things will change. Although now that I look at the law, it's strict as hell, I wouldn't be able to get a card, but she certainly could.

Are edibles possible for her?

 

[Medivape]

The easiest vaporizer for her to use would be the Extreme Q or V-Tower in whip mode.

That vaporizer can be used by a person with gross arm movement and zero hand function (providing somebody loads the bowl). The buttons are easily accessible and can be depressed by a simple tap with the edge of a hand or an adaptable tool should that be necessary. Hell, if it is turned on, a person with zero upper body movement can hit it as long as the mouthpiece on the whip is positioned in such a way that it can be reached by mouth when driving the wheelchair up to it. Fastening the hose to a wire hanger and creatively positioning it should do the trick in extreme situations.

The problem with a portable is if it's dropped, the person in the wheelchair may not be able to reach it or pick it up, depending on the circumstances, of course. And the issue of any removable parts can introduce more problems.

Whip mode is the way to go because she can take as much or as little as she wants without wasting any vapor.

The reason I suggested the EQ or VT over any other hands-free vaporizer is because of the design of the unit with the bowl position being straight up-and-down. Stirring the cyclone bowl isn't really necessary as the material can get tossed around inside the cyclone bowl by short quick draws – or – shook around by carefully tapping the side of the unit.

I hope this helps!

mod note: Please avoid back-to-back posts, use Edit instead. Two posts merged.

 

[JJSeattle]

I think the EQ would be good as well also maybe you can make/repurpose some sort of funnel thing to help load the bowl without having to get it exactly in there.

I have also heard of people sucking herb up into the elbow screen to load so that would be a good option.

 

[pakalolo]

If the EQ is a good option then the Herbalaire is even better. Roughly the same price, can do bags too, but the biggest advantage for someone with limited dexterity is that it does not require ground material. It is also much more rugged than the EQ. If there is potential for dropping or knocking over the unit, the EQ is far more vulnerable.

 

[JJSeattle]

The Herbalizer looks really promising and from the videos could work? It's due in October.