ArnieH

1.0 gram l-ascorbic acid (1/4 tsp)
20 ml warm water (1 tbsp + 1 tsp)
20 ml glycerin (VG) (1 tbsp + 1 tsp)

Add l-ascorbic acid to warm water (I use distilled water brought to boil in microwave and then allowed to cool). Stir or swirl until completely dissolved. Add glycerin, stir until homogenous. Store extra in refrigerator.

I have vaped this many times, and I have discovered that it is remarkably helpful when I have a cold with a bad cough. Take big drags and inhale deeply. During the first few puffs, I cough up a lot of mucous. The vitamin C seems to break up the mucous in my lungs and makes it easier to cough it up. Take more big drags and inhale deeply. After a short while, coughing subsides and for a very relieving period of time, the urge to cough is completely suppressed. This lasts an hour or two, and the amount of time seems directly related to how many big puffs I inhale. Also helps with sinus congestion if I exhale through my nose.

Myths and Facts:

I’ve seen a few threads about vaping Vitamin C and invariably there are statements claiming that it is dangerous because Vitamin C is too acidic, or that Vitamin C will all be oxidized by the heat and therefore can’t do any good. Sometimes people state the opinion that this is a politically bad idea because it will lead the FDA to further regulate or ban E-cigs. None of these statements have been supported by any evidence however, so I decided to do some research and experiments.

Is inhaling Vitamin C dangerous? This appears to be a myth. In addition to my own personal experience, inhaling Vitamin C in amounts much greater than I use has been reported in many clinical studies without any reported significant side effects. For example, in this study Clinical Trials Using Ascorbic Acid Aerosol to Aid Smoking Cessation subjects inhaled up to 300 mg each day for 5 weeks without any reported problems. In this study Evaluation of a New Mucolytic Agent 119 patients with diseases like emphysema, bronchitis and asthma inhaled Vitamin C 3 or 4 times each day for up to 6 months without any side effects. This study, Oxidants, Antioxidants, and Respiratory Tract Lining Fluids shows that ascorbic acid is a normal component of respiratory tract lining fluids. And in regard to acidity, subjects in this study Citric Acid Aerosol as a Potential Smoking Cessation Aid inhaled 15% citric acid (a stronger acid than ascorbic acid) without any reported problems. It appears that the small amount of acid provided by inhaling ascorbic acid is something the body handles easily, and I figure if people with emphysema and other lung diseases can inhale Vitamin C without problems, that I probably can too.

Is Vitamin C destroyed by the E-cig vaporizer? This appears to be partially true. I couldn’t find any literature, so I decided to test it myself. I’m a lab scientist with both the knowledge and access to the equipment and supplies needed to measure ascorbic acid in solutions. I prepared the solution described above, and put it through my current E-cig (an ECG Model “Element-E” with a 1.6 ml cartomizer). I collected the vapors by drawing them through tubing into a Pyrex condenser until I had collected sufficient fluid to test (which took about 2 hours!). I measured the absorbance of ascorbic acid in the fluid before it had been through the E-cig as well as after, using a published method that utilizes UV spectroscopy at 260 nm wavelength. The measurements indicate that about 70% of the ascorbic acid was oxidized by the E-cig vaporizer, since about 30% was still measurable in the collected vapors. Although a large amount is lost, it appears that sufficient Vitamin C is still available to be useful.

Will posting instructions about how to inhale Vitamin C cause the FDA to ban E-cigs? This appears to be speculation that isn’t supported by rational thinking or knowledge of the FDA's regulations or purpose. The FDA’s stance on the E-cig industry is clear and posted on their website. They have concerns, and like it or not, some of those are valid. Their concerns range from whether or not inhaling nicotine is actually effective for smoking cessation to whether the solutions and devices deliver controlled doses of nicotine, and include concerns about the purity and potential contamination of the multitude of nicotine solutions and flavorings being marketed today. They have not turned a blind eye to this industry, and do not think it’s “OK” that you inhale nicotine so long as you don’t inhale something else with your E-cig. Frankly, whether or not some people choose to inhale something else, be it a vitamin or something illegal, is so far down on their list of concerns that it isn’t even on the radar screen. And, it appears that there is a least one brand of vitamin solutions distributed in a vaporizing device for inhalation that is currently being marketed completely legally in this country.

I would recommend you try Koolada, High desert carries it, It is also known as "W3" is used specifically to give that "cold" feeling at the back of the mouth.

I remember when cell phones came out, talking about to much cell phone use could cause cancer. Something about the radio waves to close to your brain but there was never a ban on cell phones.

Hey Arnie

Yeah I was hoping to make it clear that i wasnt attacking you personally for your point if view but merely commenting in your awesome topic. I agree with many of your points and you make intelligent arguments. As pleasure vapirs leading a healthier lifestyle we simetimes forget there are moral issues with what we do and so therefore responsibilty increases with our choices.

Yea the problem is many of their first experiences are when a news story of a battery exploding hits the air waves like the new post in Health and Safety sub forum. Its just like anything else, the story about the millions of people living healthier lifestyles now never gets told, but let one battery explode from being charged improperly and its all over the news.

Thanks for the reply (and to all). I agree with much of what you are saying. Please, understand I am not talking about "pushing" or promoting it on the general non-smoking public. I just think that the general public needs to be exposed to ecigs more. They need to see and believe as we do, that it is very likely a healthier alternative to smoking..They need to see that we are not a subculture or a ":bunch of nuts", or at best "pathetic nicotine addicts" (which we probably are. Ha).

Now, if an adult of legal age wants to vape, that is there choice. And if they asked me, whether they should smoke or vape I feel confident in telling them and would encourage them to vape rather than smoke. And being a non-smoker I would also promote or encourage them to use a 100% nicotine free juice.

For those underage (and many people start smoking as teens). I would generally not recommend vaping, as we are not certain of the long term health effects. There's just not enough data. HOWEVER, if I learned that my teenage daughter was smoking without my knowledge (not uncommon) or if thought she might want to start smoking, I'd rather her come to me and get educated about vaping and I would prefer her to vape a zero nic juice than to see her sneek and smoke regular cigs with her friends without my knowledge. Nicotine should certainly be kept from minors.

While, I beleive it is generally polite to ask permission before vaping in public or private establishments, and especially in confined spaces, I think the public needs to be exposed to e-cigs more. We need to get out there and use our devices where people can see it and we can explain and answer questions. So many people are simply not used to seeing anyone using an electronic cigarette. I am constantly getting stares and questions when I pull out my PV and start puffing some place. They look at me like I'm from another planet..

I can understand why some may think it can have negative effects on the impression the general public has of e-cigs (and lead to bans and such) when you just whip it out and vape, but I think it also has positive effects. The general public needs to see these devices in use on a regular basis so that they can become educated and accustomed to them, and understand that it is not smoking.