best way to light?

OK, so I noticed the other day that as my stash starts to run out, I start to toke differently with different crazy schemes to get out all the cannabinoids i can out of some bud :stoned:... like not actually lighting the stuff, cause i heard that it torches the thc and such, but just sucking the lighter close so the heat lit it. Also tried getting a fat cherry going and getting 2-3 hits or more off a single light. Experimented with different sized cherries (ie glowing red or cracklin hot :dance:) to get the most out of a bowl as a whole...

Anyways... do any of you have any methods you use to get the most out of your bud, especially for pipes? And does anyone have any details on like, activating the cannabinoids at a certain temperature or something, and/or the flame of the lighter destroying some thc?