How to Alleviate a Sore Throat from Smoking Cannabis

Throat irritation from smoking is a common issue experienced by those who indulge in cannabis consumption. Whether you’re smoking tobacco or cannabis, it’s natural to experience irritation in the throat. If you’re curious about reducing this irritation and preventing long-term throat problems caused by smoking, you’ve come to the right place.

Fortunately, a sore throat from smoking cannabis should not last long, and with the tips we will discuss below, you may be able to avoid it altogether. So, you may be wondering how long it takes for a sore throat from smoking cannabis to go away. Generally, a sore throat resulting from smoking cannabis should subside within 24 hours. However, there are steps you can take to significantly reduce your recovery time.

Why Do You Experience Throat Pain After Smoking?

There are ways to prevent a sore throat from smoking, as well as ways to alleviate throat irritation after smoking. So, if you’ve ever asked yourself, “How can I stop my throat from hurting when I smoke,” read on for some insights.

Before learning how to avoid a sore throat from smoking or how to treat it, it’s crucial to understand what causes throat irritation from smoking cannabis. When you smoke cannabis, you inhale hot smoke, which can irritate and dry out the throat. Additionally, THC inhibits saliva production, resulting in dry mouth, throat, and nasal passages. Combine a dry throat and mouth with hot, irritating smoke, and you have a recipe for a sore throat.

How Do You Determine if Your Throat is Damaged from Smoking?

Smoking cannabis can result in a sore throat. People who consume cannabis regularly may wonder how to tell if their throat is damaged from smoking. Minor irritation to the throat caused by cannabis consumption will subside relatively quickly. However, signs of long-lasting damage include a constant sore throat, difficulty breathing, a lump in the throat, pain when swallowing, regular earaches, and a hoarse, croaky voice. If you notice these signs, you may be concerned about whether your throat can heal from smoking.

Throat irritation from smoking can persist even without actual damage to the throat. However, frequent and consistent irritation could indicate long-term damage. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help your throat heal from smoking and minimize the potential damage. The fastest way to improve throat damage caused by smoking is to quit smoking altogether. Other remedies to aid in throat healing include warm saltwater mouth rinses, Chloraseptic sprays, throat lozenges, and staying well hydrated.

Methods to Reduce Throat Pain After Smoking

Now that we understand why throat irritation occurs after smoking and how to recognize and address long-term damage, let’s explore ways to alleviate throat pain when smoking cannabis.

Stay Hydrated

Hydration is crucial when consuming cannabis for various reasons. Staying hydrated is also one of the best ways to prevent throat irritation from smoking cannabis. The primary cause of throat irritation is cannabis-induced dry mouth and the hot smoke irritating the throat. By staying hydrated, you keep your mouth and throat moist, reducing irritation from smoke exposure.

Use a Humidifier

Moistening your airways is essential in preventing a sore throat from smoking cannabis. Consuming cannabis in a room with a humidifier helps keep your airways moist. Alternatively, you can create the same effect by creating steam in your bathroom. Close all doors, windows, and vents, turn on the shower to hot, and allow the steam to fill the room like a sauna. Spending a few minutes in this environment before and after smoking cannabis can help relieve or prevent throat irritation.

Hot Soup or Tea

Consuming a bowl of hot soup or a cup of hot tea can provide relief and prevent throat irritation. You might consider trying a cup of cannabis-infused hot cocoa or a warm chamomile tea. Chamomile tea is often consumed with honey, which has numerous health benefits. Chamomile is also high in the terpene Bisabolol, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties!

Gargle Warm Saltwater

Warm saltwater rinses have been used for decades to relieve sore, inflamed throats caused by various irritants. Saltwater acts as a disinfectant and can help relieve discomfort caused by smoking cannabis. For the best results, mix a teaspoon of salt with an ounce of warm water and gargle repeatedly. You can also add lemon for added flavor and benefits!

Try Throat Lozenges

Throat lozenges provide quick relief to soothe your throat. These lozenges contain local anesthetics that help relieve irritation and speed up the healing process. Sucking on a lozenge or hard candy stimulates saliva production, keeping your throat moist and reducing irritation from smoking cannabis.

Reduce Smoking

If throat irritation persists after smoking cannabis, it’s advisable to reduce your consumption to minimize further irritation and prevent long-term damage. The less your throat is exposed to smoke, the less likely it is to become irritated. Decreasing the frequency and amount of cannabis smoked is made easier by the multitude of consumption methods available. If you experience throat pain after smoking, try alternative methods such as edibles, topicals, vaping, or tinctures.

Key Takeaways

While cannabis is generally considered safe for consumption, there can be side effects depending on the method of consumption. Throat irritation is one such side effect experienced by many cannabis users. By staying hydrated and keeping your airways moist before, during, and after consumption, you can prevent and mitigate throat irritation caused by smoking.

If you would like to learn more about responsible and intentional cannabis consumption, schedule an appointment with one of our medical marijuana doctors today.