Surprising Study on Snuff

[toekuttr]

I've really taken to adding snuff to my daily intake along with snus. While I enjoy both immensely, I find snus to be far more satisfying in the 'nic hit' dept than snuff. I decided to live with the subtle effects of snuff and simply enjoy it for the flavors and ritual aspect of it, that is until I read this report: http://www.smokeless.org.nz/nasalsnuff.htm

I was surprised by the results of this study which claims that snuff actually delivers a dose of nicotine on par with smoking. If I'm getting this amount of nicotine from snuff, I wonder how much I'm getting from snus, which can cause hiccup's and other signs of mega-dosing?

In any case, I appreciate knowing I can get this much nicotine from a habit I really enjoy and can now see why some claim it's an effective aid in smoking cessation along with snus. I only wish I had more exposure to both of these habits years ago.

[toekuttr]

Evidently noone else found this as surprising as I did. I was under the impression that although snuff is an enjoyable way to use tobacco, many people didn't take it as the significant source of nicotine it is. I just get so much more of a buzz off snus than snuff. I've been told that the more often I take snuff, the more I'll be able to feel it, time will tell.

Do any of you get an appreciable buzz from snuff or do you just do it for the flavors, rituals, habit? Oddly, it does seem to be clearing up my sinuses, opposite of what I would have expected. Regardless, it looks like I've added yet another enjoyable habit to my routine and with no regrets.

[chainsnuser]

Snuff can have up to 70mg/g of nicotine, simply because it's so dry, which means it's up to 10 times stronger than snus or other oral moist snuff. A dedicated nasal-snuff-user certainly has no problems to reach the same blood-nicotine-levels that a snuser or smoker has.

With that said, for me it's much easier to put 2g of snus in my mouth than it would be to put 0.2g of nasal snuff in my nose (which sounds little but in fact would be a ridiculously large amount, though I guess some absolute nasal-snuff-fiends indeed use that much).

For me, snuff use just adds a little to the nicotine I already get from snus, which sometimes is very enjoyable, besides the nice smell.

Cheers!

[airwoodstock]

I found it interesting toekuttr. So interesting that I deceided to run an experiment this weekend on snuff. I spent this past Sunday using nothing but snuff. I picked Gawith's Apricot since we were going to be outdoors all day and, some here have said that the best way to experience it was to be outside with it.

Well, snuff did, in fact quell my nicotine urges but, I had to use it every 30 to 40 minutes. I went thru about 5g of it in 5 hours. When we got home, I used my Brutons Scotch and Toque Raspberry until bed. By the time 10pm rolled around, I was so stuffed up that nasal decongestant spray wouldn't open me up. Not due to about 7g of snuff up there (blew my nose after 15 minutes each time) but, the menthol in the Gawith's.

Monday, I used only Toque Raspberry and Bruton's Scotch, nothing mentholated. Used about 7g total all day and the same thing happened. Clogged sinuses and, this time, couldn't sleep due to being clogged so bad.

I knew I got the nicotine though. If I oversnus on strong snus, I get a stomach ache. I got it with the snuff too. My conclusion with this experiment is this, I couldn't use snuff as a replacement for snus or use it to quit smoking like I did with snus, due to something in it clogging me up. If it wouldn't get me stuffy, it definately delivers enough nicotine to curb smoking. Myself, I'll just stick to the occasional pinch each day in addition to my beloved snus. Sorry for the long post.

[lxskllr]

You must use a lot at one time. 5g(1/2 Gawith Apricot tin) is ton if you're only using it every 40 minutes.

[airwoodstock]

Yea, I was using the finger around the thumb method because it was a bit windy. Part of the snuff went in my nose and, part went to the wind. If I had to say how much exactly went in, I'd guess 3/4 of each sniff so, about 3 to 3 1/2g in 5 hours. TBO, Gawith's always stuffs me up as does Crumbs of Comfort. Don't get me wrong, I like snuff and, am not downtalking it, it''s just if I use it exclusively (all day long for example) I tend to get plugged up.

[bondzai]

I think the mentholateds make you the stuffiest.

[lxskllr]

I think the mentholateds make you the stuffiest.

I agree. They're my favorite style, but they do stuff up my nose, and make it run.

[bmwgsa]

This may not be the perfect place to ask this, but here goes....

I'm completely new to snuff. I got some Ozona President and a few others, and I've been using the back of my hand method.

No problems in getting the snuff into the nose, and I sneeze as I should and all - but my question is how long do you leave the snuff in?

In the cause of snus, I know to pop out a portion or pris when the flavor goes, but in the case of snuff how do you "pop it out" and how long do you leave it in until you pop it?

And finally - how do you clean up after? Use saline spray and a q-tip?
I figure if you don't do something the the nasal passage, you'd get a buildup.

[lxskllr]

I leave it in until it wants to come out :^P I only blow if my nose starts running, otherwise I don't bother. I don't do anything special to clean my nose either. I blow it out in the shower when the hot water makes my nose run, but that's it.

[sentry103]

Thats an interesting experiment woodstock. I find snuff does a little plugging too. If I use a neti pot to clean me out i'm clear as a bell. Even clearer than when not snuffing at all. I think it irritates enough to get the mucosa flowing so that when you flush it out you're squeaky clean due to the already flowing mucous. So I try to clean out once at night before I go to bed. I've never had such good airflow through my sinuses than when I started snuffing & cleaning it out.

[airwoodstock]

Well, I think I know what the issue is. I came home early today because I didn't feel too well. I went to my doctor ( just got out) and, I have the flu. It was going around my store the past 2 weeks and, I got it. I'm thinking, it takes about 7 days for it to come on full force and, I started snuffing regularly 2 weeks ago and the stuffyness began about then. I'd use Dr. Metha's Sinus Rinse every other day and the stuffyness would go away as sentry said. The past couple of days, the test included, it didn't work and now I have the flu. Once I get better, I'll have to do the test over to get an unbias result. I'm glad it's the flu and, not something else! I really like my snuff and, would not be happy if I had to give it up!

[toekuttr]

Thanks fellas, appreciate all the replies, especially Woodstock for the ongoing test's....hope you feel better soon!

It does appear that the more I use snuff the more I can appreciate the nicotine I'm getting from it. I'm using a little over 5g a day myself and have noticed a marked reduction in snus use.

The thing about the nicotine 'buzz' I get from snuff as compared to snus is that the snuff's is so quick and needs a replenish soon after. Snus on the other hand gives me a 'body-high' even better than cigs that lasts for as long as I care to keep the pris in. Basically I just prefer the buzz I get from snus, at first I couldn't even tell I was getting nicotine from snuff.

I'm definitely glad I started snuffin and intend to continue but I highly doubt it could replace snus for me. It does make a great partner with snus and definitely adds to my enjoyment of nicotine. Snuff should take me quite a while with experimentation too with the 32,000 varieties available. And I thought snus had overwhelming choices!

[bakerbarber]

bmwgsa

Don't worry about cleaning out. Just do what comes naturally. If you need to blow your nose do it. Usually heavily medicated, menthol, snuffs get my nose running so I give her a good honk or two and I'm fine. Other snuffs don't do this to me. I just keep snuffing and don't blow my nose unless I need to.

I do, like lxskllr said, get most of it out naturally in the shower.

I think the first few times I did snuff I blew my nose too much and ended up inflaming my sinuses from the recurring pressure of trying to get everything out that I had just put in.

I also know I definitely get a bit of drainage eventually after snuffing. So I ultimately swallow some of it. Don't worry too much. I worry more about random bits around my nostrils and on my lip than extricating the snuff after I've insulfated it.

Has anyone else noticed that snuff "smells" better outside. I'm going with an hypothesis that there are more oxidizing components in natural air outside (unfiltered by modern climate control operations) that mix and react more readily with the organic substances in snuff making the aroma more noticeable.

[snusbear1]

I wonder if snuff has the same unintended side effect as nasal decongestants? I mean, decongestants do a great job of clearing up your sinuses, but many people find that extended use of them actually causes them to be MORE chronically congested, requiring more frequent use of the decongestants (much to the delight of the manufacturers!). It's as if your body becomes used to the decongestant "crutch" and begins to rely on it, and congestion then occurs more frequently and severely in its absence. Snuff is well-known for its decongestant effects, and perhaps the same problem can occur as with medicinal decongestants.

At all events, just practice good daily nasal hygiene of whatever method you prefer. Nothing better, or simpler, then inhaling deeply through your nose in the steam of a hot shower, and then giving the schnozz a good honk. (Sorry, but I have an innate phobia of drowning, and any form of nasal irrigation like a neti pot feels to me like some form of waterboarding.) If you still find yourself getting congested, then don't use so much snuff, or use on alternate days and switch up with some good strong snus.