Vaporizer
A vaporizer (or vaporiser) is a device used to release the active ingredients of plant material, commonly cannabis, or tobacco, and also to release therapeutic compounds from herbs ( phyto-inhalation; see also: aromatherapy ). Vaporization is an alternative to smoking. Rather than burning the herb, which produces numerous harmful by-products, a vaporizer heats the material, ideally to 180°C (356°F), so that the active compounds contained in the plant boil off into a vapor. This new gas is not smoke from combustion, but an evaporated vapor that has the appearance of light smoke. The vapor ideally contains virtually zero particulate matter (tar) and reduced noxious gases such as carbon monoxide. Vapor may be filtered and cooled further using a water pipe or an inline water/ice attachment. The vapor is then inhaled directly through a hose or pipe, or stored for subsequent inhalations in a container such as a "dome" or "balloon." With little to no smoke produced, cooler temperatures, and less material required to achieve the same effect, the irritating/harmful effects of smoking are greatly reduced or eliminated along with second hand smoke by using a vaporizer. This makes vaporizers useful in places where there are public bans on smoking.
