Ancient Drugs - Historum

**markdienekes** · May 8th, 2012, 06:50 AM

What sort of recreational drugs were doing the rounds in the ancient world?

I've heard that traces of cocaine were found on a mummy... is there any truth to this? If so, how is that possible, isn't that from ingredients only found in America!?

What drugs were employed in medical treatment?

Frossard · May 8th, 2012, 06:52 AM

I would think in general alcohol. If we count that as a drug.

caldrail · May 8th, 2012, 07:00 AM

Some tribal peoples used herbal substances that induced a beserk rage (the scandanavians later adopted the same thing). According to a researcher of my acquaintance, Roman soldiers also copied this behaviour having observed its effects on ferocity and immunity from pain. I don't know how widespread this behaviour was or whether it persisted into the empire for long.

As for medical treatment, although there were always people with some supposed knowledge of such things, there was very little formal prescription and what there was was mostly way off. Although the Romans became adept at healing combat injuries, a psychician (assuming you could afford one or find one who wasn't a con-man) would just as likely prescribe prayers as mysterious substances.

**markdienekes** · May 8th, 2012, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caldrail

Some tribal peoples used herbal substances that induced a beserk rage (the scandanavians later adopted the same thing). According to a researcher of my acquaintance, Roman soldiers also copied this behaviour having observed its effects on ferocity and immunity from pain. I don't know how widespread this behaviour was or whether it persisted into the empire for long.

Interesting, do you know what ingredients were used?

@Frossard - yes mate, alcohol would count as a drug! (great avatar by the way and welcome to the forum!)

**Clemmie** · May 8th, 2012, 07:04 AM

Marijuana - The First Twelve Thousand Years

Marijuana - The First Twelve Thousand Years - 1. Cannabis in the Ancient World

Cornelius · May 8th, 2012, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdienekes

@Frossard - yes mate, alcohol would count as a drug! (great avatar by the way and welcome to the forum!)

Because it's Hannibal?

Regarding alcohol, wine was often served mixed with water so as to lessen the effects of the alcohol.

**Von Ranke** · May 8th, 2012, 08:14 AM

Apparently the blue lotus flower was used by the ancient Egyptians for its aphrodysiac properties and the mild feeling of well being its aroma gave off :

Shapur · May 8th, 2012, 08:31 AM

Opium was used both medicinally and (one would assume) recreationally by the Romans.

Frossard · May 8th, 2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clemmie

Marijuana - The First Twelve Thousand Years

Marijuana - The First Twelve Thousand Years - 1. Cannabis in the Ancient World

Yes I was originally was going to put marijuana, but then I wondered if many of the European nations would have access to it.

@markdienekes Yeah I love Hannibal. I took a personality test and got the same personality as him which advances my fascination for him, although I wonder how they would speculate his personality.

**okamido** · May 8th, 2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdienekes

I've heard that traces of cocaine were found on a mummy... is there any truth to this? If so, how is that possible, isn't that from ingredients only found in America!?

The original paper only contained one paragraph on this I believe, and nobody buys it. The general consensus is one of three things:

~ Fake (the mummies, not the data)
~ Alkaloids misidentified
~ Samples were contaminated

A second paper was written concerning the phenomenon, but since no team outside of those involved in the paper can corroborate the data, or reproduce the findings in any other mummies, it has basically been disregarded by everyone except for the media....who loves a good tale.

The whole thing reminds me of Liani Souvaltzi and Alexander's tomb.