‘Natural’ doesn’t mean safe: Study details why ‘herbal cigarettes’ may be more toxic than regular smoking

For years, herbal cigarettes have occupied a skeptical-but-curious corner of the wellness market. After all, they do promise a safer alternative to tobacco, without cutting down much on a regular habit. Besides, people see words like “natural,” “tobacco-free,” or “chemical-free” and assume these products are harmless, just like picking organic apples instead of junk food. For smokers trying to quit or cut down on risks, it’s tempting to believe you’ve found a guilt-free solution.But a recent study just tore that idea apart.The new study revealed that herbal cigarettes, widely sold as natural, tobacco-free, and even therapeutic alternatives to conventional cigarettes, are not safer than regular tobacco cigarettes — in fact, they produce emissions that can be comparably or even more damaging than tobacco smoke.Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), discovered that herbal cigarettes can produce harmful pollutants at levels just as high, or sometimes even worse, than regular tobacco cigarettes. Turns out, swapping tobacco for herbs doesn’t automatically make things safer. The danger lies in the act of burning, no matter what you’re burning.The research was published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, right before World No Tobacco Day. The scientists compared smoke from herbal cigarettes (popular brands in India) with smoke from traditional tobacco cigarettes. Instead of cleaner, safer air, they found all kinds of toxic stuff.Some herbal cigarettes had ingredients like basil, clove, cinnamon, mint, chamomile, green tea, and water lily. Brands went as far as claiming to support a “healthy lifestyle” or suggesting therapeutic benefits, like easing anxiety, helping sleep, or helping smokers quit. But the marketing is misleading.One of the study’s central points? It says that the real risk comes from what happens during combustion. Burning any plant, whether it’s tobacco, basil, or mint, creates smoke packed with fine particles, toxic gases, heavy metals, and chemical byproducts. That smoke can hurt your lungs, blood vessels, and heart.To dig into the details, the researchers used a sealed chamber that mimics human smoking habits. They measured the size and makeup of the airborne particles, along with the smoke’s oxidative potential, which is how likely it is to cause inflammation and cellular damage.Their results were pretty shocking.Herbal cigarettes released around 20% more ultra-fine particles (under 500 nanometres) compared to tobacco smoke. Those tiny particles can get deep into the lungs, slip into your bloodstream, and raise the risk for respiratory and heart problems. On top of that, herbal cigarette smoke had much higher oxidative potential, meaning it triggered more cell-damaging molecules associated with chronic diseases like lung disorders and heart disease.Leaf-wrapped herbal cigarettes, especially those using tendu leaves (like in bidis), were even more problematic, showing nearly a 50% higher oxidative potential than paper-wrapped ones. So, the wrapper itself actually matters.What’s more unsettling is that a basil-based herbal cigarette advertised as “100% natural” and “chemical-free” had the highest lead concentration of all products tested, outpacing even regular tobacco cigarettes. Lead is notorious for causing neurological and cardiovascular issues.All this to say that the label “natural” doesn’t always mean safe. Tobacco itself is a plant; so is poison ivy. Even arsenic is found naturally. It shouldn’t come as a shock that nature can be dangerous, too.Earlier research already showed that herbal cigarettes aren’t much better, producing tar, carbon monoxide, and various cancer-causing chemicals at levels similar to regular cigarettes. Benzene, formaldehyde, PAHs, and carbon monoxide all show up in herbal cigarette smoke. Sometimes, tar and carbon monoxide levels are even higher than in tobacco products.Where herbal cigarettes do differ is in nicotine, as they usually don’t have it. That means they aren’t addictive in the same way. But it doesn’t mean you’ve dodged the toxic bullet. The harmful compounds are still there from burning the herbs.The bottom line here? “Less addictive” doesn’t mean “safe.”Surveys show a lot of people buy into the idea that herbal cigarettes are safer, thanks to the wellness branding. But, as science keeps pointing out, burning herbs changes everything. Once you inhale that smoke, you’re exposing yourself to plenty of harmful compounds, tobacco or not.Meanwhile, regulators are set to face another headache here. Conventional tobacco products are tightly controlled in many countries, but herbal cigarettes often slip through regulatory cracks. Manufacturers get away with health claims that aren’t backed by evidence, leaving consumers wrongly convinced these products are healthier simply because they sound “plant-based” or “organic.”Clearly, the bigger message is tough but unminced: there’s really no such thing as a harmless cigarette or harmless smoking.The industry may keep rebranding smoking: “light,” “mild,” “organic,” “natural,” and now “herbal.” The packaging keeps changing, along with the ingredients and the promise. But in the end, the problem is always the smoke.