The Truth About Wellness Vapes: Risks + A Safer Option

Wellness vapes, especially vitamin vapes, are the latest craze taking over the ever-evolving vaping scene.

These vapes boast benefits like mood enhancement and increased energy levels. However, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not verified any wellness claims. In fact, the agency warns such unregulated products might actually do more harm than good, posing several side effects and health risks.

So, why are wellness vapes so popular?
And what’s the truth behind their marketing?

In this article, we’ll answer all those questions and more. We’ll also give you a safer alternative to wellness vapes — Cyclone Pods nicotine-free vapes.

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What Are Wellness Vapes?

Wellness vapes are electronic smoking devices that deliver vitamins and supplements — like vitamins B12 and C, CBD oil, and melatonin — directly into the lungs.

Just like regular e-cigarettes and vapes, they may also contain other ingredients and chemicals to facilitate the vaping mechanism, enhance flavor, or provide stimulation. These ingredients may include diacetyl, vitamin E acetate, and propylene glycol.

How Are Wellness Vapes Different From Other Vapes?

Unlike regular nicotine vapes, wellness vapes don’t typically contain nicotine. Instead, they contain vitamins, minerals, and supplements as their main ingredients.

However, unregulated vape brands are known to exclude ingredients from their labels – so there’s a possibility that there's some nicotine in there, too.

And, unlike nicotine vapes, wellness vapes emphasize that they promote “healthy habits” in a convenient form. This is a key aspect of their marketing.

But note that there are nicotine-free vapes as well. The best-quality ones (like Cyclone Pods’ nicotine-free vapes) are guaranteed to be free from nicotine and other harmful chemicals.

How Do Wellness Vapes Work?

In a vitamin vape, for instance, vitamins, minerals, and supplements are infused into e-liquid (composed of vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol). This e-liquid is then vaporized and inhaled directly into the lungs.

When vitamins and minerals in vape juice are manipulated, heated, and inhaled (especially when they're not intended to be), they might lose their benefits and could end up posing severe risks instead. (We’ll tell you about that in a bit.)

Now, the irony is that despite sounding too good to be true, wellness vapes have been selling like wildfire since the introduction of vitamin vapes into the US market in 2014.

Let’s find out why.

Wellness vapes have surged in popularity thanks to their highly effective marketing tactics.

The strongest target market for wellness vape companies is people with vitamin deficiencies (or at least those who think they do, thanks to clever marketing tactics).

Consider this:
92% of adults in the US have at least one vitamin deficiency - usually in calcium, iron, vitamin D, vitamin A, magnesium, and iodine. Other common deficiencies are vitamin C and Vitamin B12 (Incidentally, these happen to be best-seller product lines in the wellness vape market.)

Most of these deficiencies can be rectified with simple diet changes or a simple over-the-counter dietary supplement or two from your local pharmacist. These methods of vitamin and dietary supplement delivery are FDA-approved and don’t usually pose any public health risks.

But, everyone is looking for new, creative, and convenient ways to elevate their health.

Wellness vapes promise to do just that, which is one big reason why they’re so popular.

With a few quick puffs, you would be able to inhale a multitude of vitamins, minerals, and supplements that cure a wide range of deficiencies and conditions – if all their claims were true!

Low energy levels?
There’s a vitamin B12 vape for that.

Can't sleep?
Yep, melatonin vapes have got your back.

Anxiety?
“Try our CBD oil or chamomile vapes!”

Quick fixes like these are sure to seem enticing, especially to the young adult market who increasingly suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and insomnia.

But here’s the deal:

The marketing behind these so-called “wellness” vapes focuses mainly on creating a sense of fear or urgency around vitamin deficiencies — instead of addressing them in a medically safe manner.

Let’s look at the risks that come with this unhealthy trend.

Risks & Side Effects of Wellness Vapes

While the benefits of supplements like vitamin C, vitamin B12, and melatonin are well-known, inhaling them directly (and at extremely high dosage levels) can pose severe risks and side effects.

Let’s take a closer look.

A. Vitamin B12

Commonly found in animal meats and some dairy products, vitamin B12 plays a significant role in overall brain function and brain cell development.

The recommended daily intake limit of Vitamin B12 is 2.4 micrograms (MCG) and up to 2.6 mcg for pregnant women. There’s no debate that when ingested via animal products or FDA-approved supplements at the recommended doses, vitamin B12 can have some incredible benefits.

However, inhaling Vitamin B12 in vape juice, especially in repeated sessions, can lead to acute levels in the body. While there is no toxic threshold for vitamin B12 in the body, acute levels of it can lead to:

  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Anxiety
  • Increased risk of blood clots
  • Increased risk of bone fractures

This applies to supplements approved by the FDA. Synthetic or hyper-concentrated vitamin B12 levels used in these vapes can have more severe side effects.

Not convinced yet? Don’t take our word for it.

The FDA itself has already called out industry-leading wellness vape brands for violating the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA also declare their products unsafe and state that their marketing tactics are deceitful and misguiding.

In the FDA’s review, they mention that these vitamin B12 vapes pose the risk of laryngospasm or bronchospasm and may be toxic to the airways and organs of users.

B. Vitamin C

Another staple in every diet, vitamin C helps boost the immune system and enhances brain function. Found largely in citrus fruits, berries, and many vegetables, a well-balanced diet should leave you with sufficient levels of vitamin C.

The average daily limit of Vitamin C for adults is 2000mg a day (1,800 mg for young adults). While an additional supplement of Vitamin C is proven to be beneficial, taking too much vitamin C can lead to several unpleasant side effects, such as:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Heartburn
  • Stomach cramps or bloating
  • Fatigue and sleepiness, or sometimes insomnia
  • Headache
  • Skin flushing
  • Kidney stones

To make matters worse, acute levels of vitamin C have been shown to increase mortality rates in those with sepsis — a life-threatening medical condition caused by the body's extreme response to an infection.

The problem is: When it comes to e cigarette use, there's no proven way to measure how much of the ingredients in the vape you inhale and at what levels. This poses the likely risk of ingesting vitamins and minerals far above the daily recommended limits.

C. CBD & THC

CBD and THC — the two common compounds found in the cannabis plant, are popular ingredients in wellness vapes for their natural ability to reduce pain and inflammation and help reduce the severity of mental health conditions like anxiety.

However, these compounds are highly regulated or even illegal (in THC’s case) in the US. Unsurprisingly, the sale and purchase of products containing these compounds are strictly regulated or prohibited in many states.

That aside, the risks of vaping THC or CBD oil (often mixed with thickening agents like diacetyl or vitamin E acetate) can be detrimental to your health.

Common side effects of vaping a THC or CBD vape include:

  • Popcorn lung
  • Weakened immune system
  • Lung damage and infection
  • Chronic lung disease
  • Heart disease
  • Bronchiolitis obliterans

In rare cases, deaths have been reported from the use of unregulated cannabis vape products.

D. Essential Oils

Essential oils have a wide variety of functions and benefits, from relieving stress and encouraging sleep to even treating fungal infections. Being distilled concentrations of plant matter, essential oils are very potent and typically used topically or in air diffusers.

When in air diffusers, essential oils are diluted with water, and they aren't heated or burned but pressurized into a fine mist.

However, when heated and inhaled directly into the lungs, they produce less-than-beneficial results.

Studies have shown that vaping essential oils can cause:

  • Coughing
  • Increased aggravation of asthma
  • Itching
  • Throat swelling
  • Bronchospasm
  • Bronchiolitis obliterans
  • Lung infection

E. Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant and addictive. In small doses, caffeine can make you focused, increase alertness, and, to a moderate degree, improve cardiovascular health.

However, in larger doses, caffeine poses multiple health risks. The dangers of vaping caffeine lie not only in its extreme concentration but also in the difficulty of gauging how much you’ve ingested.

This drastically increases the risk of acute caffeine levels in the body, which can lead to:

  • Restlessness
  • Shakiness
  • Insomnia
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Fast heart rate
  • Dehydration
  • Anxiety
  • Addiction

F. Melatonin

Melatonin vapes allow you to inhale vaporized melatonin — a natural hormone that your brain produces to regulate your sleep-wake cycle.

The body releases melatonin in dark conditions (like post-sunset) to prepare you for better sleep, and melatonin helps to kick this process into gear faster. In other words, melatonin influences your body’s natural circadian rhythm and plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy sleep cycle.

So, when do you actually need a melatonin supplement?

Doctors usually prescribe external melatonin supplementation to treat sleep disorders and insomnia. These melatonin supplements typically include a melatonin gummy, pill, or patch and are often fortified with additional vitamins.

However, melatonin vaporizer products are not approved by the US FDA as a dietary supplement or sleep aid and are largely unregulated. This makes it difficult to gauge the quality of these sleep aid products and the ingredients they contain.

You could end up with a low-quality product with sub-par or even harmful ingredients. It can worsen your sleep problem, and excessive use of melatonin in high doses can invite other side effects, such as:

G. Other Harmful Chemicals

Being largely unregulated, wellness vapes possess the risk of containing nicotine and many other harmful chemicals, such as:

  • Diacetyl: A thickening agent typically used in buttered microwave popcorn, which was solely responsible for the “popcorn lung” epidemic of recent years.

  • Vitamin E acetate: Another compound found in low-quality vape products that has been found to be toxic when ingested and causes lung damage, even in low concentrations.

  • Formaldehyde: Often a by-product of overheating vaping e-liquids, formaldehyde is a known carcinogen.

It’s clear that without legitimate testing and regulation, wellness vape companies are putting volatile and dangerous product ranges on the market.

It’s easy to understand why the FDA has declared wellness vapes not only ineffective but also unproven in their claims.

In fact, the agency is making an active effort to debunk the unproven health claims made by wellness vape companies, such as them being “free from side effects” and “beneficial for overall health.”

Now, what if you want to vape without the unnecessary side effects of these unregulated ingredients or nicotine addiction?

A Healthier Alternative to Wellness Vapes: CyclonePods Nicotine-Free Vapes

Go for a high-quality, non-toxic, nicotine-free vaping product from Cyclone Pods.

Cyclone Pods is a US-based vape company specializing in high-quality vapes, which are free from harmful substances like:

  • Nicotine
  • Diacetyl
  • Vitamin E acetate
  • Formaldehyde

The best part?
0% Nicotine vapes are a perfect introduction to the vaping experience and an effective aid for quitting cigarette and tobacco product use.

While Cyclone Pods vapes won’t affect your sleep directly, you’ll surely have a worry-free vaping experience — knowing you’re not exposed to substances like nicotine and vitamin E acetate.

You could start with the Gust Super disposable vape from Cyclone pods! It has a massive 5000 puff tank capacity and nine mouth-watering flavors, like mango, watermelon raspberry, guava passionfruit, and more!

nicotine free vape


Prefer a pod kit?

Try out the Cyclone Pods’ Surge collection. The reusable, environment-friendly vape is available in five yummy flavors. Plus, you also have the flexibility to pair the Surge device with 13 tantalizing Surge Pod flavors, including blue razz, mint, and watermelon raspberry.

Still have questions about melatonin vapes?

Let’s tackle them.

FAQs About Wellness Vapes

Here are the answers to some common questions about vapes.

1. How Do You Spot A Dishonest Vape Brand?

Simply put, look out for:

  • Unsubstantiated Claims: Vaping device brands making unrealistic life-changing claims like “fight off tumors and cancer” or “cures X medical condition” are likely to be false claims and should not be trusted.

  • No Age Verification: Reputable brands will have strict age verification processes to prevent sales to minors — both on their website and store.

  • Lack of Transparency: Honest brands typically provide detailed information about their ingredients. An absence of this information is a clear red flag.

The truth is that the only way to mitigate the risk of vaping is to limit the number of harmful ingredients in your vapor.

2. Do Health Vapes Help in Quitting Smoking?

There’s hardly any evidence that wellness vapes can help you quit smoking cigarette products. Besides, some of them might contain nicotine, which will keep you hooked.

In theory, non-nicotine wellness vapes might help with oral fixation, but their unregulated nature and harmful ingredients may offset the benefit completely.

Even NRTs (nicotine replacement therapy) are likely to keep you hooked, as they, too, contain high levels of nicotine (which could likely worsen nicotine addiction.

Your best bet to quit cigarette use?

Give nicotine-free vaping a shot.

3. Can Wellness Vapes Interact With Other Prescription Medications Or Supplements?

Although research on wellness vapes is limited, initial studies suggest these devices may interact with certain prescription medications and medical treatments.

For instance, vapes containing nicotine are known to interact with 31 known drugs and supplements, including Klonopin, Prozac, and Tenor.

CBD has also been known to interact with other prescription drugs. According to a study from the NCBI, CBD (and the terpenes within it) can reduce the efficiency of anti-epileptic drugs, opioid analgesics, and antidepressants.

The main compounds in cannabis (CBD, THC, and terpenes) have also been found to interact with common substances like alcohol and acetaminophen.

4. Are There Any Age Restrictions For Using Wellness Vapes?

Vapes of all kinds have a strict age restriction of 18 years and older. This applies even if vapes do not contain any nicotine.

Play It Safe, Bet On Nicotine-Free Vapes

While the unproven health claims made by wellness vaping device brands seem like a dream come true, the facts declared by the FDA confirm them actually to be nightmares.

The fact is that wellness vapes are untested, unregulated, and unapproved. They expose you to other harmful and addictive chemicals — like nicotine, diacetyl, and concentrated vitamin B12.

Instead, go for a supplement and nicotine-free vaping product for worry-free vaping sessions. Taking the precautions to expose yourself to as few chemicals as possible when vaping ensures you get the most out of your vaping experience.

So what are you waiting for?

Head to Cyclone Pods and explore their wide range of incredible nicotine-free vape products.

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