Over thousands of years, bongs have been used all over the world. Tobacco, opium, medicinal concoctions, salvia, and many other herbs and substances were smoked in ancient cultures using bongs fashioned of gold, gourds, and other materials. Without a doubt, cannabis continues to be the substance most closely associated with the smoking device. It should be legal for you to obtain marijuana in your state if you want to use it for medicinal purposes. Applying online for the cheapest medical marijuana card has never been easier, and you can do it from the comfort of your home.
Nowadays, steel, ceramic, and glass are used to make the majority of bongs. While each provides a different experience, they all occasionally deliver an abrasive hit for various reasons. Many believe that adding ice to a bong can counteract that effect by easing the throat hit and enhancing the smoking experience.
But is it really effective to put ice in a bong?
How Does a Bong Function?
In short, bongs are designed to release a significant amount of smoke into the user’s lungs. A few necessary parts and accessories are needed to make this feasible in order to maximize the bong’s performance. Depending on the bong, the following parts might be present:
- Bowl piece
- Base/Tube
- Ash catcher
- Joint
- Down stem
- Percolator
- Splash Guard/Ice Catcher
- Mouthpiece
As smoke enters the downstem and seeps through the base’s water, smoking from a bong helps cool your hits. More advanced down stems frequently have a large number of tiny holes to aid in increasing smoke aeration and producing a smoother hit.
Why Use Ice Cubes in a Bong?
In many bongs, a high-quality down stem contributes to a smoother, colder hit. But when it comes to cleaning, these elaborate designs can give customers serious headaches. Many times, it can be nearly impossible to reach some of the resin that builds up in specific areas of the piece due to the holes and intricate percolator designs.
Many people prefer a simple device because of the hassle of cleaning these more complex bongs. Selecting a simpler bong has disadvantages because more complex downstems and percolators generally result in a smoother smoking experience. If you want a smooth hit without a difficult cleanup, you might want to consider adding ice to your bong.
Inhaling hot smoke can cause irritation, but this can be lessened by adding a few pieces of ice to a bong for a cooling effect. Ice can also enhance the flavor of your smoke because terpene content, which is essential to a cultivar’s flavor, aroma, and plant effects, is preserved in colder climates.
All you need to do to try smoking from an ice-filled bong is grab your favorite piece and a couple of decent-sized ice cubes. Verify that the cubes slide easily through the tube. It is not a good idea to smash ice into your bong, as this could cause the base to break. A splash guard or ice catcher in the tube is a common feature of bongs that helps keep ice from falling into the water below. Smokers can drop the cubes directly into the water below since many tubes lack an ice catcher or splash guard. You do, however, have a higher chance of breathing in some bong water with this arrangement.
You can even go one step further and freeze-chill your bong for extra coolness in specific situations, such as steel or specific ceramic bongs. However, steer clear of doing this with glass, as the temperatures could cause the pipe to break and crack.
Is Putting Ice in Your Bong a Bad Idea?
Ice can usually be a good addition to a bong. However, there are some situations in which you should think about whether using ice or even a bong is a good idea.
Your water might be the main issue. Poor quality or contaminated water can cause harmful effects, including the spread of bacteria, when it comes to ice. A patient is said to have once come into contact with a bacteria known as pseudomonas NP through the water used in a filtered bong.
There might be more health issues, such as increased bronchitis risks and permanent lung damage. This irreversible condition, known as “bong lung,” has been connected in some cases to chronic coughing and lung tissue destruction. Heavy smoking has been connected to other serious health issues like pneumonia because cannabis is known to weaken the lungs.
How to Use a Bong with Ice
An ice bong only takes a few simple steps to operate.
What You’ll Need
- Bong
- Ground cannabis
- Lighter
- Water
- Ice
Steps to Use an Ice Bong
Step 1: Fill the down stem with water until it is submerged.
Step 2: Add the ice to the bong and slowly insert it into the mouthpiece (this works best in bongs with “ice catchers,” so you don’t have to remove the down stem). Remove the down stem if necessary to prevent breakage.
Step 3: Fill the bowl with the ground flower.
Step 4: Press the mouthpiece to your lips. Light the flower in the bowl after that. Inhale slowly as the smoke starts to fill the tube.
Step 5: When you’re ready, take out the carb and inhale the smoke through the tube.
Prior to using your bong again, don’t forget to clean it. Ice melts quickly, filling the tube with a lot of water. You’re going to get a mouthful of resin-y H2O on your next pull if you don’t clear the water. Although it probably won’t stop some from hitting your lips, a splash guard might be helpful.
Maximizing the Benefits of Using Ice in a Bong
Making the most of your bong smoking experience depends on a number of variables. However, the two most important elements of a satisfying smoking experience are the cleanliness and quality of the flowers.
Smoke from bongs with more intricate downstems and percs will probably be smoother. The same applies to adding ice—whether it’s cubed, crushed, or even made specifically for bong smoking. However, a clean device and high-quality flowers will always win out over these factors.
The flower is important because the flavor, scent, and effects are determined by the plant profile. You can be certain that you’re smoking only the freshest flower when using a clean bong—not some residual resin or toxins from past smoke sessions. Any strain you attempt to smoke from an unclean bong is likely to give you what some refer to as a “spicy” hit—a strong, scorching inhalation that is generally harsh on the lungs.
Make sure your gadgets are clean and enjoy the best cannabis you can, whether you’re using an ice bong or a conventional setup. Once you have those foundations in place, you are free to smoke your bong anyway you choose.
One thing to keep in mind is that, in your state, it should be legal for you to use medical marijuana. If not, you should speak with an MMJ card doctor who can determine whether marijuana is the best option for you and provide you with a medical card that gives you the legal right to use marijuana in your state.
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