Ancient Cannabis Indulgence in India

ed the head · Post by **ed the head** » Tue 6th Jan 2009 09:21 pm

Roots of Aryan

I saw a fascinating show (BBC?) about the history of India.

According to this program, the early inhabitants of the Indus Valley in India were 'Aryans'' ... not the skinheads, but a group of river dwelling, city building peoples who essentially brought 'civilization' to mankind (if you define 'civilization as city dwelling people who live in an organized society and have a writen language) Proto Indo Iranians

Anyway, their priest class drank a sacred tea to enable them to be more receptive to divine truths.

Can you guess what herb they used? Anyone on this site should be able to.

Twitch · Post by **Twitch** » Tue 6th Jan 2009 10:11 pm

Could it be Bhang ?

The tea, not the herb.

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Tue 6th Jan 2009 10:12 pm

interesting. Wonder if I can get that special over here.

SoulRider · Post by **SoulRider** » Tue 6th Jan 2009 10:47 pm

Bhang was later used as a tea for the labourers in India to help them deal with the heat, of course that came well after that mentioned above.

Here is a Recipe for Bhang, as described to the labourers in a booklet produced by the Indian Government.

Recipe:

- Milk (Quart) and sugar to taste
- Dried Marijuana leaves and flowers - 10grams
- Poppy Seeds, Pepper, Dry Ginger, caraway seeds, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg (all according to taste)

Boil vegetation in water for 5 minutes, mash/mush as it boils.
Strain and discard liquid. This can be done a few times to cut back on astringent taste. Remaining plant material, milk, and seasoning to taste is to be simmered for 20 minutes. Strain liquid well, discard plant material (carefully - it is potent), add sugar. Color is greenish. Refrigerate. (Mixture enough for 2 men in one day or 1 woman for 2 days).

sh@dy · Post by **sh@dy** » Wed 7th Jan 2009 12:17 am

crack?

ed the head · Post by **ed the head** » Wed 7th Jan 2009 12:29 pm

Damn, I wish I could remember the name, but it was a hot tea
made from cannabis, poppy and ephedra.

Bhang sounds very similar and is maybe a direct desendant?

Anyway, this 'tea' goes back to about 2000 BC, it's good to feel a part of an ancient tradition!

Twitch · Post by **Twitch** » Wed 7th Jan 2009 01:35 pm

As a student of Martial Arts it would also appear that many of the Martial Arts may have also originated in India, the bed of civilization.
At the way they and China are going with technology they may be the next supper powers., as they have been before in their histories.

Twitch · Post by **Twitch** » Wed 7th Jan 2009 04:33 pm

I am watching what I think may be the same show on our PBS station. It's in two parts.
The drink I saw him do was not Bhang, but Soma, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma

It's a show made for London television .Very interesting

ed the head · Post by **ed the head** » Wed 7th Jan 2009 04:38 pm

Twitch wrote:I am watching what I think may be the same show on our PBS station. It's in two parts.
The drink I saw him do was not Bhang, but Soma, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma

It's a show made for London television .Very interesting

YES! That's it ... THANKS!!

Interesting, no mention of cannabis in the Wiki link, but the Russion Acheologist uncovering the discovery was pretty adament that it was an ingredient.

Thanks Twitch!

Twitch · Post by **Twitch** » Wed 7th Jan 2009 04:40 pm

May come up later, but this was discussed as the drink the Brahmin's used.

Twitch · Post by **Twitch** » Wed 7th Jan 2009 05:00 pm

And it did come up later, further north in the country they found another site where it was made with poppies, marijuana, carmedon, and other herbs, including soma

rks0 · Post by **rks0** » Thu 8th Jan 2009 09:56 pm

Twitch wrote:As a student of Martial Arts it would also appear that many of the Martial Arts may have also originated in India, the bed of civilization.
At the way they and China are going with technology they may be the next supper powers., as they have been before in their histories.

Anyone that uses the words 'supper', 'India' and 'China' in the same sentence should be knighted in my opinion!

Twitch · Post by **Twitch** » Thu 8th Jan 2009 11:19 pm

Sorry super
Must have been hungry when I posted that

SoulRider · Post by **SoulRider** » Fri 9th Jan 2009 12:34 am

Twitch wrote:Sorry super
Must have been hungry when I posted that

It's those damn munchies again eh twitch

ed the head · Post by **ed the head** » Tue 13th Jan 2009 08:28 pm

Speaking of Chinese history, any of you read '1491', the book about the voyages of the Chinese who circumnavigated the globe both north and south BEFORE the Europeans?

http://www.amazon.com/1421-Year-China-D ... 591&sr=8-5

Great read!