A Brief History of Drugs. 7 Ways Our Ancestors Got High. Shocking Facts

Summary

This episode delves into the ancient world's seven main drugs, exploring their roles in religious rituals, medicine, and daily life. From marijuana's use in China's Yangshao culture to Egypt's dominance in opium trade, the video uncovers how psychoactive substances were integral to civilizations. It also discusses the potential substances behind the mythical soma, the stimulant effects of Southeast Asia's betel nut, and the legendary ferocity of Viking berserkers possibly fueled by henbane. The episode serves as a historical journey through the use and cultural significance of drugs across different ancient societies.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Hemp was one of the first plants domesticated by humans, with its seeds used for food and oil, and its fibers for making ropes and textiles.
• 🍃 The psychoactive properties of cannabis were known in ancient cultures, with evidence of its use found in ancient China and Egypt for medicinal purposes.
• 🔥 Ancient people in the Pamir region smoked cannabis, as indicated by the discovery of braziers containing cannabinol, a byproduct of THC, in an ancient graveyard.
• 🌾 Opium has been known to humanity for thousands of years, with early evidence of its use found in Neolithic settlements and detailed in ancient texts like the Ebers Papyrus.
• 🌼 Egyptians were major exporters of opium, trading it with Phoenicians and Minoans, spreading its use across the Mediterranean and into Europe.
• 🌱 The use of stimulants like betel nut and leaves was prevalent in Southeast Asia, with evidence of its consumption dating back thousands of years.
• 🍄 The identity of the sacred drug soma, mentioned in ancient Hindu and Zoroastrian texts, remains a mystery, with several plant candidates proposed.
• 🌱 Coca leaves were used by ancient Peruvians, with evidence of its consumption dating back 8,000 years, and it was integral to the Inca Empire.
• 🌵 Native Americans used hallucinogens like peyote for spiritual rites, with archaeological findings supporting its long history of use.
• ⚔️ The legendary berserkers of Scandinavian sagas may have used substances like henbane to induce a fierce, battle-ready state, although the exact substances remain debated.

Q & A

What are some of the earliest plants known to be used for their psychoactive properties?

Some of the earliest plants known for their psychoactive properties include marijuana, opium poppy, and coca leaves.

How was hemp used in ancient cultures?

In ancient cultures, hemp was used for various purposes such as cooking and making oil from its seeds, using its stems for ropes and textiles, and its blossoms for medicinal recipes and smoking.

What is the significance of the discovery of wooden braziers with cannabinol in ancient Pamir graves?

The discovery of wooden braziers with cannabinol in ancient Pamir graves suggests that ancient people of Pamir knew how to select cannabis with higher psychoactive properties for smoking.

How did the Scythians use cannabis?

The Scythians used cannabis by fumigating their tents with cannabis smoke and drinking a poppy brew, as indicated by the discovery of gold bowls with traces of opium and cannabis in their tombs.

What is the history of opium use in ancient Egypt?

In ancient Egypt, opium was used as a painkiller and sedative. It was also exported to other regions such as Carthage, Greece, and Europe, making Egypt a significant exporter of opium.

What is the significance of the Sumerian clay tablet in the context of opium?

The Sumerian clay tablet, dating back to over 2,000 years BC, is one of the earliest known records of opium poppy, indicating the plant's long history of use.

What are some of the potential ingredients of the ancient beverage soma?

The ancient beverage soma, mentioned in Hindu and Zoroastrian texts, could have been made from ingredients such as toadstools, poppy flowers, hemp plant, or ephedra.

How did Native Americans use coca leaves?

Native Americans used coca leaves for its energizing effects, often chewed by couriers and soldiers to help them endure long journeys and to measure the distance traveled.

What is the significance of the discovery of a shaman's tomb in Bolivia containing traces of various psychotropic substances?

The discovery indicates the use of multiple psychoactive plants in ancient rituals and ceremonies, including the components of the hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca.

What is the theory behind the ferocity of berserkers in Scandinavian sagas?

The ferocity of berserkers might have been due to the consumption of substances like toadstools or henbane before battles, which could induce intense strength and fearlessness.

Why did Roman authors mention cannabis in their texts?

Roman authors were familiar with cannabis, acknowledging its use for both recreational and medicinal purposes, as well as its potential to induce laughter.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Ancient Drug Use: Marijuana and Opium

This paragraph delves into the historical use of marijuana and opium in ancient cultures. It discusses how marijuana was one of the first plants domesticated by humans, with its seeds used for cooking and oil production, and its stems for making ropes and textiles. The psychoactive properties of the hemp blossom were used in ancient Egyptian medicine to treat inflammation. Evidence of cannabis smoking dates back 2500 years, found in ancient Chinese tombs with braziers containing cannabinol. The paragraph also explores the use of opium, detailing its cultivation since the early Neolithic Age and its medicinal use in ancient Egypt as a painkiller and sedative. The trade of opium is highlighted, showing Egypt as a significant exporter during the reign of Pharaohs, with its use spreading to Greece and Europe.

05:00

🌺 Opium's Ancient Trade and Southeast Asia's Stimulants

This segment continues the exploration of opium, noting its trade from Egypt to Phoenicians and Minoans, and its presence in Carthage, Greece, and Europe. It mentions the poppy goddess statue from Crete and the discovery of opium inhalation devices in Cyprus. The narrative then shifts to Southeast Asia, discussing the use of stimulants like betel nut and palm, known for their red-staining properties and widespread chewing tradition. The paragraph also introduces 'soma', a mystical substance from Hindu and Zoroastrian texts, believed to have hallucinogenic and medicinal properties. The identity of soma remains a mystery, with theories ranging from toadstools and poppy flowers to the ephedra plant, which contains a psychostimulant similar to amphetamine.

10:01

🍃 Coca and Hallucinogens in Ancient America

The final paragraph shifts focus to the New World, discussing the ancient use of coca leaves in South America, with evidence dating back 8000 years. It details the use of coca by Inca Empire couriers and soldiers for its energizing effects. The paragraph also covers the use of hallucinogens by Native American shamans for spiritual communication, with a focus on peyote, a cactus containing mescaline. Archaeological findings, such as a shaman's tomb with drug consumption tools and traces of psychotropic substances, are highlighted. The segment concludes with a discussion on the legendary Scandinavian berserkers, fierce warriors possibly fueled by substances like henbane, which aligns with their described ferocity. The paragraph serves as a cautionary note on the historical context of drug use and the importance of not misusing this information.

Keywords

💡Charmin

Charmin is not directly defined in the script, but it seems to refer to a historical or cultural figure associated with the use of drugs. The script mentions 'Charmin smoked,' which could imply a person from history known for their use of psychoactive substances. The context suggests that Charmin is part of the narrative to illustrate the historical use of drugs, possibly in religious or medicinal practices.

💡Opium

Opium is a narcotic drug derived from the opium poppy. In the script, it is highlighted as a significant export of Egypt, indicating its economic and cultural importance. The script also discusses the various ways opium was used, such as for pain relief and as a sedative, reflecting its historical role in medicine and society. The mention of opium in the video underscores the ancient world's reliance on natural substances for both pleasure and treatment.

💡Cannabis

Cannabis, also known as marijuana or hemp, is a plant with psychoactive properties. The script describes its early domestication and various uses, including for its seeds, fibers, and psychoactive flowers. It was used in ancient cultures for both medicinal purposes and possibly recreational use, as evidenced by the discovery of cannabis residue in ancient artifacts. The video emphasizes the long-standing relationship between humans and cannabis, highlighting its historical significance in different societies.

💡Psychoactive substances

Psychoactive substances are chemicals that affect the mind, altering perception, mood, or consciousness. The script discusses several such substances used in ancient times, including cannabis and opium, which were part of religious rituals, medicine, and daily life. The video's exploration of psychoactive substances illustrates the deep historical roots of drug use and its integration into various aspects of ancient societies.

💡Religious rituals

Religious rituals are formal acts or ceremonies with religious or spiritual significance. The script mentions that drug use became part of religious rituals in many cultures, suggesting that psychoactive substances played a role in spiritual practices. This reflects the belief that these substances could facilitate communication with the divine or induce mystical experiences, highlighting their multifaceted roles in ancient societies.

💡Hemp

Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant that is grown for its fibers, seeds, and non-psychoactive properties. The script describes hemp's use in ancient China for making ropes and textiles, as well as its psychoactive flowers being smoked for medicinal purposes. The mention of hemp in the video underscores the plant's diverse uses and its significance in ancient economies and industries.

💡Ancient Egyptian pottery

Ancient Egyptian pottery refers to the clay vessels and artifacts created in ancient Egypt. The script mentions that recipes for hemp medication can be found inscribed on these pottery pieces, indicating their use in medical practices. This serves as an example of how ancient cultures documented and preserved knowledge related to the use of psychoactive substances.

💡Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia, often referred to as the cradle of civilization, is the region of the Tigris-Euphrates river system in modern-day Iraq. The script notes that cannabis was used in Mesopotamia for medicinal purposes, suggesting the widespread use of psychoactive substances across different ancient cultures. This highlights the interconnectedness of ancient societies and their shared knowledge of medicinal plants.

💡Pamir

The Pamir, also known as the 'Roof of the World,' is a high plateau in Central Asia. The script discusses the discovery of ancient smoking equipment in the Pamir, indicating the use of cannabis for psychoactive effects. This find provides physical evidence of the historical use of cannabis for recreational or spiritual purposes, enriching our understanding of ancient drug use.

💡Soma

Soma is a mythical plant or drink mentioned in ancient Indian texts, particularly the Rigveda, and is believed to have psychoactive properties. The script explores various theories about the identity of soma, including the possibility that it was a type of mushroom or a plant like ephedra. The discussion of soma in the video emphasizes the mysterious and enigmatic nature of ancient psychoactive substances and their role in religious and cultural practices.

Highlights

Ancient people used drugs like marijuana and opium for various purposes, including religious rituals and medicine.

Hemp was one of the first plants domesticated by humans, with both practical and medicinal uses.

Ancient Egyptians called hemp 'Shem shamit' and used it for treating inflammation and various other medical conditions.

Archaeological evidence suggests cannabis was smoked for its psychoactive effects as early as 2500 years ago.

The Scythians, an ancient nomadic group, smoked cannabis in tents and used it for both celebratory and religious reasons.

Opium has been known to humanity for almost as long as cannabis, with evidence of its use dating back to the Neolithic Age.

Egypt was a major exporter of opium, trading it with Phoenicians and Minoans, spreading its use across Europe.

Opium was used as a painkiller and sedative in ancient Egypt, and its cultivation was a significant part of their economy.

Archaeological findings in the Mediterranean region suggest opium was inhaled for its psychoactive effects.

In Southeast Asia, stimulants like betel nut were chewed for their mood-enhancing and confidence-boosting effects.

The identity of the ancient drug 'soma' remains a mystery, with theories ranging from mushrooms to ephedra plants.

Native Americans used coca leaves for their energizing effects, dating back 8,000 years.

Peyote, a cactus containing mescaline, has been used by Native Americans for spiritual rites for thousands of years.

Berserkers, legendary Scandinavian warriors, may have used substances like henbane to induce a ferocious battle state.

The use of drugs for various purposes has been a part of human history for thousands of years.

The fight against drug use is a relatively recent development in human history, compared to the long-standing relationship with psychoactive substances.

Transcripts

in this episode how it was we will tell

you what exactly Charmin smoked why

Egypt was the main exporter of opium in

the world and what drug made you braver

on the battlefield let's go

[Music]

seven main drugs of the ancient world

drugs they've been part of our lives

throughout the history of humankind

maybe there is something about the

nature of homo sapiens that makes us

seek that hi just imagine how impressive

hallucinations would seem to ancient

people in many cultures drug use became

part of religious rituals everyday life

and even medicine it isn't easy to

research ancient peoples hobbies

revolving around psychoactive substances

since the integrity of organic matter

leaves something to be desired it's hard

but not impossible

there's still some information let's

start with light drugs marijuana hemp is

one of the first plants domesticated by

people hemp seeds which do not contain

psychoactive substances were cooked and

used to make oil the stems were used for

ropes and textile for instance this is

an amphora from the yangshao culture

which existed in China around 5,000

years BC the patterns on its sides are

made using a hemp rope the blossom on

the other hand was smoked and used in

medication recipes for hemp medication

can be found in ancient Egyptian pottery

it was meant to be used to treat various

inflammatory processes in the body

Egyptians called hemp Shem shamit they

recommended smoking it eating it rubbing

it into the skin and eyes and douching

the vagina and the anus with hemp brew

Mesopotamia with another location where

cannabis was used in medication yet

written records don't specify if those

recipes were ever actually used in real

life some physical evidence of smoking

in the ancient world was found in 2019

while digging an ancient graveyard on

the Chinese side of the Pamir

in range 8 out of 40 Toombs had wooden

braziers filled with stones in them

radiocarbon dating was used to find out

the age of the artifacts it turned out

to be 2500 years old the sides of the

braziers and the stones were covered in

cannabinol this is a product of the main

psychoactive substance in cannabis known

as tetrahydrocannabinol or THC for short

the amount of cannabinoid C content it

was higher than in wild cannabis plant

which contains almost no psychoactive

substances to put it simply when the

ancient people of Pamir wanted to smoke

they knew how to pick cannabis which

would get them really high Sid Ian's

smoked in much the same way father of

history Herodotus describes the

procedure in detail SID Ian's would make

a tent around red-hot stones get inside

put seeded buds on the stones and the

smoke would make them shout aloud for a

long time there was no other evidence of

severe and smoking cannabis but in the

30s car chief archaeologist sir Jay

rudenko found a hole smoking set in some

ancient ruins near the Altai Mountains a

felt and never tempt a bag filled with

hemp seeds sensors designed for inhaling

smoke and a bronze cauldron with some

burned seeds rudenko assumed that silly

UNS used marijuana not only for

celebratory or religious reasons but

also as a recreational activity digging

into Cillian tombs in Stavropol Krai in

russia in 2013

archaeologists found gold bowls the

sticky dark traces on the bottom was

sent to forensic experts and they

identified them to be a mixture of opium

and cannabis archaeologists believed

that Sid Ian's would fumigate their

tents with cannabis smoke and drink

poppy brew the things that must have

gone on in that tent

the fact that the artifacts were made

from gold and were found in the tombs of

people belonging to a high rank in the

society shows that smoking was if not

sacred then at least prestigious among

the Sevilla Nolita regular civilians on

the other hand probably used the method

described by Herodotus Roman authors too

were familiar with cannabis clearly the

elder calls it

laughing leif all while answering the

eternal question what do you do to ease

off the high the recipe goes like this

you have to mix pine cones with pepper

and honey in palm wine and drink the

mixture you obtain we take no

responsibility for the safety and

efficiency of this recipe

opium Humanity has known opium poppy

plant for almost as long as the good old

cannabis in Europe its seeds were found

in settlements dating back to early

Neolithic Age one of the earliest poppy

artifacts dates back to the 6th

millennium BC traces of poppy youths

were found in a flooded settlement in

llama matzah in modern Italy the

analysis of poppy seeds found on that

site showed that the plant was different

from wild poppy this means that it was

actually grown on purpose as soon as the

first writing systems appeared ancient

authors started telling the world about

opium the first known record of opium

poppy was found on a Sumerian clay

tablet dating back to over 2,000 years

BC detailed guidelines on using opium

poppy can also be found on babel

cylinders with wedged writing or in

ancient Egyptian papyri Egyptians used

poppy juice as a painkiller

and a sedative they would drink it all

squirt it into the anus the author of

the oldest known medical work for so

called Ebers papyrus dating back to the

16th century bc recommended giving poppy

juice to young children so they wouldn't

scream fight as much

ancient Egyptian poppy was known for its

remarkable quality during the reign of

Pharaoh's Hut Mo's the forth Akhenaten

and Tutankhamun Egypt would sell poppy

to Phoenicians and Minoans this way

opium from the Nile River Valley ended

up in Carthage Greece and then further

in Europe one thing attesting to the

importance of opium poppy back then was

a statue from Crete the poppy goddess

the poppy capsules on their head have

distinctive cuts on them precisely the

type of cuts made to get poppy milk

containing opium next to the statue

archeologists found a cylinder shaped

vars used for inhaling opium vapors a

similar one was also found in Cyprus

beetle while the Mediterranean region

was doing its own thing with opium in

Southeast Asia people preferred

stimulators in the doyeong cave site of

Palawan Island in the Philippines

archaeologists found a skeleton with

distinctive red stains on its teeth the

age of the find is estimated to be about

four and a half thousand years such

traces are typical of cures of Erica

nuts and leaves of beetle a close

relative of pepper in many countries of

Southeast Asia palm that's what the

combination is called here is widely

chewed today which is easy to notice

looking at the ground covered in red

spit Huracan nuts contain a stimulant

called a Rekha line it makes a person

feel stronger lighter more confident

more at ease but there is a problem the

preparation is addictive and it also

causes gum inflammation darkens teeth

and may even lead to cancer soma holy

books from the 2nd and 1st millennia BC

Erich Vader of the Hindu and a Vesta of

Zoroastrians

are filled with mentions of soma or

hyoma an iconic drug in three forms no

less first off it is mentioned as an

ingredient but there are also mentions

of it as a beverage and as a deity

praise be to thee o hyoma for he makes

the poor man

thoughts as great as any of the richest

whom so ever said

Zoroastrianism onus indian brahmins

would call soma a master of the world

dear to gods a companion to gods our God

for God's the beverage was believed to

have respiratory catting Hallucigenia

and medicinal properties it helps you

live longer Ward's off poverty and worry

helps the poor to feel rich inspires

singers to sing and grants inspiration

to poets to obtain the drink the plant

would be soaked in water strained with

the help of pressing stones filtered and

then milk and honey would be added

sacred books describe the process of

preparation but don't name the main

ingredient directly in the Rig Veda

hymns soma is described as a red child

of the earth without any leaves flowers

or fruit and with a head that looks like

an eye say what was this miraculous

drink made from researchers are still

debating that the possible options for

what soma wars include toadstools poppy

flowers hemp plant and a federal bush

there are a lot of reasons corroborating

each of those versions famous psychonaut

an ethnologist Terence Mckenna

personally verified all of the recipes

of Rig Veda and claimed at soma was the

psilocybin or magic mushroom growing on

cowpats there's some logic in that the

sacred drink would be created using the

feces of an animal highly respected by

the Hindus another viable candidate is

the ephedra plant ephedra contains an

alkaloid called

f redeem a psychostimulant similar in

its properties to amphetamine by the way

in the 20th century f adrene was used to

treat asthma how about some evidence in

the 1970s archaeologists dug up an

ancient settlement of GaN or deep on the

territory of present-day Turkmenistan

some researchers believe it was

inhabited by ancient indo-iranians and

was one of the earliest centres of

Zoroastrianism in the town temple

archaeologists found dishes with

traces of ephedra and cannabis in the

temple of toga Locke another settlement

of that time they found vessels with

traces of ephedrine and opium poppy may

be soma contained a mixture of various

substances we don't know that for sure

yet

Native Americans also knew how to get

into an altered state of consciousness

let's start with good old coca the

earliest record of coca leaf consumption

was found in the nan choc valley in the

north of Peru traces of leaves were

found in excavations of ancient

settlements with pieces of calcite a

mineral helping extract alkaloids from

the leaves and thus strengthening the

effect those artifacts are about 8,000

years old

it seems that coca was used everywhere

in South America for instance it was

common in the Inca Empire Butler's

couriers and soldiers wore small bags

with saltbush ash chalk stone and leaves

of this energizing plant to measure the

distance they've walked in one day they

would refer to the amount of coca that

was chewed mescaline Native Americans

were also familiar with hallucinogens

shamans would use them to communicate

with spirits there are many plants in

the new world that can get you high for

instance there are a few types of cacti

containing mescaline one of the

best-known kinds is peyote which grows

in Mexico and translates from the Aztec

language as glisten orb listening the

earliest records of its consumption date

back to the 4th millennium BC Spanish

conquistadors wrote quite a lot about

rites where the cactus was used they

considered its effects to be devil's

work and put a lot of effort into making

people quit the habit safe to say they

didn't succeed peyote is still used for

spiritual rites in numerous Native

American communities to this day in 2019

archaeologists found a tomb of a shaman

from about a thousand years ago in the

southwest of Bolivia in his bag he had a

full set for drug consumption small

wooden platforms for blending the leaves

and inhaling

a carved tube decorated with human

braids tiny llama bones spatulas which

were possibly used for mixing two pieces

of the actual plant and the most

precious thing a pouch from three Fox

nuts in the pouch they found traces of

four different psychotropic substances

two of which are the primary components

of the hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca

which is still being used in rituals and

ceremonies the secret of the battle

booster now let's talk about berserkers

the legendary warriors featured in

Scandinavian sagas Snorri Sturluson

described ferocious warriors in his in

linga saga they rushed forwards without

armor were as mad as dogs or wolves bit

their shields and were strong as bears

or wild bulls and killed people at a

blow but neither fire nor iron told upon

themselves berserkers strength and

invincibility may well have been

exaggerated by saga authors but there is

no doubt but they existed what made them

so fierce them there are still

discussions going on about that the most

popular version of course is that

berserkers would take something before a

fight

what then for a long time toadstools

were considered the most likely product

but in 1977 during a dig into a Viking

tomb in the modern Denmark

archaeologists found henbane seeds it

turns out the symptoms it causes a much

closer to the description of berserkers

ferocity in Scandinavian sagas than

toadstools or alcohol however

archaeologists need more information to

decide which version is actually the

most likely to be true people have

consumed drugs for thousands of years

but only started fighting against them

about a hundred years ago that's going

to be a tough battle more importantly

please don't try to use any of this

information at home it will not turn you

into a shaman or the zurka stay safe

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