Retrohaling, Inhaling, and Definitions

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Monssen13

Might Stick Around
Oct 12, 2023
64
133
North-ish Georgia
I enjoy the occasional retrohale, but I’m curious what exactly separates it from “light” inhaling on a technical level? I assume retrohaling involves some certain amount of inhalation proper?
 

sardonicus87

Lifer
Jun 28, 2022
1,506
14,856
37
Lower Alabama
No.

Inhalation in this context means drawing the smoke into your lungs. Retrohaling is not inhaling, it just goes from your mouth to up the back of your nose.

Of course no matter what, some small amount of smoke is bound to wind up in your lungs whether you retrohale or not, but at no point are you ever "inhaling" (as in, drawing the smoke into your lungs) with pipe tobacco, again regardless of whether or not you are retrohaling.

Inhaling is specifically drawing air (or other whatever) into the lungs. There's no "inhaling proper" whatsoever, or at least there shouldn't be. Simply drawing air (or other substances) into the mouth isn't inhalation.
 

Richmond B. Funkenhouser

Plebeian Supertaster
Dec 6, 2019
5,506
24,912
Dixieland
The problem with saying retrohaling isn't inhaling is that if you don't get all of the smoke out on the retrohale, your next breath will become an inhalation of smoke.

And it's pretty hard to get all the smoke out of your sinuses.

The only way I can avoid inhaling pipe smoke is to breathe through my nose and let pipe smoke trickle into my mouth, then back out of my mouth.

I still let smoke out of my nose (retrohaling), but I realize I am taking quite a bit of smoke into my lungs when I do it.

I smoke cigarettes too, which I know I'm inhaling... But pipe smoke is harsher. A whole day of inhaling that shit will have my lungs fatigued.
 
Jan 28, 2018
14,386
166,216
67
Sarasota, FL
My definitions. Inhale, draw the smoke into your lungs. Retrohale, let smoke slowly out of your mouth and draw it into your nose. Obviously, some amount is inhaled into your lungs.Throat inhale, which I believe is often referred to as snorking. Softly inhale smoke into your throat and exhale it out your nose. I find this the best method for enjoying Cigars and pipe. Takes some experimenting for most but once you get it, it's easy. Some small amount of smoke is inhaled into the lungs but not much in my experience.
 

bullet08

Lifer
Nov 26, 2018
10,409
42,108
RTP, NC. USA
Inhale in pipe smoking basically means drawing the smoke into the mouth, no further. Retrohale, blowing out of your nose. Don't really want the pipe smoke in your lung, but some do inhale deep.
 
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proteus

Lifer
May 20, 2023
1,732
2,824
54
Connecticut (shade leaf tobacco country)
To me retrohale is blowing smoke out your nose - either all or some. Inhaling can be mouth or nose first. Nose creates a vacuum and draw smoke from a pipe with closed lips around the stem. Mouth is like using a straw. You can half use mouth and half open lip to reduce the draw and make it lighter. The nose method is already fairly light. Each creates different flavors. There is no hard and fast rule. Try them all out. I find myself randomly and without thinking using each method throughout smoking.

I find having a pipe that has been opened up a bit makes it easier to use nose. I've opened my pipes up to 11/64 and 9/64 in the stem side and about 1/8 at the mouth side.
 

elvishrunes

Can't Leave
Jun 19, 2017
442
897
Nicotine is better absorbed via mucous membranes (lining of your mouth, nasal cavities and sinuses) than if swallowed.

Hence when using nicotine gum, the instruction is to chew for some seconds, then park the gum between your teeth and cheek.
And NOT to swallow.

So whether you retrohale or inhale, you will be absorbing nicotine

Not to be a pr—k who nit picks, ok a touch😄, but while it is absorbed through your mouth quite well, not sure better. When I used to smoke cigs, almost an instant nic hit inhaling. But with pipes or cigars it takes a while, maybe 3/4 of a cigar before I feel it.

As for flavour and retrohaling, I get far less as it chemical burns my sinuses, but I do really enjoy it, and always practice it.