May
20
/ 2020
For two centuries archaeologists and anthropologists have uncovered evidence of the ritual and medicinal application of mind-altering drugs which were central components in ancient human cultures. While much has been written about the use of ‘ magic mushrooms’ and other hallucinogenic fungi in prehistoric cultures, less is said about the use of opium (heroin) and coca (cocaine), which have both developed from being ancient healing and ritual plants to social poisons, but modern societies can learn much from man’s ‘primitive’ ancestors’ use of these two highly abused substances. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"73944","attributes":{"alt":"Papaver somniferum, commonly known as the opium poppy is native to the eastern Mediterranean but is now naturalized across much of Europe and Asia. (Public Domain)","class":"media-image","height":"700","style":"width: 480px; height: 700px;","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"480"}}]] Papaver somniferum, commonly
