The key to vaporization is temperature: digitally precise, accurately maintained temperature. Vaporization is also known as volatization because it releases the volatile elements in a substance. In herbs, these are mostly the oils.
Scientists discovered the temperature at which the active elements in a plant will evaporate and aerosolize can be lower than the temperature at which that plant will combust. If correctly applied, a lower temperature will cause the release of an herb’s essential elements into an inhalable steam and provided the heat source remains at the lower temperature, the substance will never be burned. No smoke. No smoky odor. Just pure vapor from the botanical mixture of your choice.
From Plant to Vapor
Let’s take a moment to discuss what’s actually happening with vaporization. We all understand the concept of liquid to solid or liquid to gas, boiling water and freezing ice are examples we see every day. But solid to gas is a bit more difficult to picture. All plants are imbued with oils that hold many of the desired elements for a medicine or homeopathic remedy.
For example, in the case of aromatherapy, a chamomile leaf contains a center layer of essential oils. In fact, these oils contain the aroma and therapeutic benefits of the herb. The oils in each plant type will boil at a temperature specific to that plant. Boiling points depend mainly on the density of the oil. When the liquid within the leaves reaches a certain temperature the oil begins to boil, the molecules will move more quickly, and spread farther apart.
It is this action which thins the density of the oil from a heavier than air liquid, to a lighter than air gas. The substance can then be pulled by air and inhaled into the lung. In mist form, the particles of the oil are small enough to be absorbed into the alveoli (tiny air sacs that cover the surface of the lower lung) where they are almost immediately taken into the blood stream. As the vaporization continues, the essential oils are lifted from the plant and it becomes curled, and withered. It may darken in color and will often leave behind only a clean, dry, and crumbled substance.