Cinnamon concentrates are just rough ingredients period. They can crack plastic tanks, and eat o-rings. It is no surprise that they can also be a lung tissue irritant as well. Especially, with extended/chronic use.
I am afraid, that I DIY my own e-liquid, so I don't have any commercial recommendations for you. I am also not much of a cinnamon fan.
That disclosed; I too have had issues with chest congestion, phlegm, and morning coughing, that was reminiscent, of smoking. This all after exclusively
vaping for 3+ years.
I am not medically trained in
any fashion; and I am
not recommending health advise to anyone. But, this is what I tried; and it has helped
me:
----- First, I have read repeated comments that VG (not PG) was a contributor to the "heavy chest" sensation, and may contribute to the phlegm factor. I was routinely vaping 30PG/70VG to 20PG/80VG mixes. I decided to reduce the VG. I tried a 60PG/40VG; but it was much too harsh for me. Then I tried 50PG/50VG... still too harsh, but not as bad. So I tried a 40PG/60VG; and found this I could do.
I vaped this new ratio for a couple of months, and decided this change helped a little bit, but not enough.
----- Next; I looked at
how much e-liquid I was vaping every day. I was regularly going through 10-15mL of liquid each and every day. I was vaping at 6mg/mL nicotine strength, and using larger dual coil, DTL, cloud checking, types of set-ups; taking deep fill-up-the-lungs type puffs.
I figured it would likely be helpful to reduce the amount of vapor I was exposing my body to; so I decided to try increasing my nicotine level, and thereby reduce my need for as much vapor, and (hopefully) not vape as often.
With that thinking, I bumped my nicotine from 6mg/mL to 18mg/mL. Almost immediately, I found that I could not vape as much/often as I had with the lower nicotine level... my body was self regulating. I couldn't even draw in as deeply, as the vape was now more harsh, and the nicotine sensation was unpleasant. My usage (as expected) dropped by two thirds. Hooray!
I vaped this for a couple of months; and I felt less of the congestion, phlegm, and coughing, than I had previously. The only downside, is my flavor now suffered. With the shallower inhales, I was not getting the taste, that I had before. I was also still drawing the vapor deeper into my lungs than I wanted.
----- So, now I decided, it was time to change up my hardware. I wanted to return to a tight drawing MTL style of tank... preferably one using a single coil. I wanted something that would closely replicate the restricted inhale of a cigarette filter. My logic being; inhale using the cheeks initially, followed by a more shallow/natural secondary inhale on into the lungs, would be less likely to encourage the deeper direct-into-the-lungs inhaling of the DTL tanks.
I researched tank options that met my criteria (restricted draw, good flavor, single coil, easy to build), and picked one.
This was the final piece to the puzzle. Now I was vaping less VG, consuming less vapor/e-liquid,
and had flavor I enjoy. My daily consumption is now down to 2mL/day or less. All the heavy chest issues I had; no longer bother me.
I don't know it this would work for anyone else. I only share
my experience, to encourage ideas, and maybe get someone thinking outside the box.
Unrelated... one other "revelation," for
me, was discovering I don't mind vaping unflavored e-liquid (just PG, VG, and nicotine; at my usual 40PG/60VG 18mg/mL mixture). It doesn't have any particular "wow" factor to it; but I don't grow tired of it. I don't ever suffer the dreaded "vapers' tongue." And, I still satisfy my nic cravings. Flavored e-liquids, are now more of a "treat" experience for me. Such as, at the end of the day.
I have no idea how much of this is merely in my head; and I really don't care. It works for me.
I wish you all the best,
@kimwantstoquit; in finding the solution that works best for you.
.. if anyone has more thoughts....
