Introduction
Tobacco has been part of human societies since pre-Columbian times. There are reports of pre-Columbian civilizations using tobacco for ceremonial purposes, as a stimulant to sharpen the mind and as a substance that acted as an appetite suppressant. Moreover, tobacco has also evolved, from traditional methods of consumption to new methods such as vape juice with nicotine.
For most of the contemporary history, tobacco smoking has been the preferred intake method. However, tobacco smoking produces carcinogenic substances such as tar. Therefore, tobacco smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer.
As a result of that, anti-tobacco policies started to appear in the middle of the XX century. However, there were attempts to ban tobacco centuries before. For instance, China forbade tobacco in the late 17th century. Furthermore, believe it or not, the first researches relating tobacco smoking and cancer, were conducted in Nazi Germany.
Tobacco plant
Substances or drugs have been part of humanity since prehistoric times. For instance, we have used drugs for medical and spiritual purposes. In old times, the shaman was responsible of taking psychoactive substances and conducting spiritual rituals. For example, Amanita Muscaria or Fly Amanita, is a mushroom that was commonly used as an entheogen in the northern hemisphere and it’s still widely used in Siberia.
Tobacco, among other substances such as peyote, was widely used in the Americas. For example, a statue of Xochipilli, the Aztec god of flowers, music and other earthly pleasures, was found on the foothills of the volcano Popocatépetl with a representation of a tobacco flower.
In addition, we know that tobacco was considered the most sacred plant in the Americas. Its use was extended from the Mississippi Valley to Tierra del Fuego in South America.
The first European who smoked tobacco was the Spaniard Rodrigo de Jerez, one of the crewmen of Christopher Columbus on the Santa Maria ship. In fact, they continue smoking after they landed in Spain. Additionally, believe it or not, tobacco smoking was considered satanic by the Spanish Inquisition. Nevertheless, the practice of smoking tobacco was rapidly acquired by the Spaniards.
Tobacco Intake Methods
There are many forms of tobacco usage. For instance, the Shuar people, indigenous people of Ecuador and Peru, induce a state of deep “drunkenness” by smoking huge amounts of strong tobacco and also drinking tobacco concoctions.
Chewing tobacco
Nowadays, it’s still very common to use chewing tobacco. This practice is now generally associated with baseball. However, chewing tobacco was one of the first and oldest methods of consuming tobacco.
Snuff
It’s another method to consume tobacco. Usually the tobacco leaves are pulverized and sniffed. However, snuff tobacco isn’t very common nowadays.
The practice of snuffing tobacco became the preferable tobacco intake method by the European elite. On the other hand, the working class used to smoke tobacco instead.
Tobacco smoking
By far, tobacco smoking has become the most popular method to consume tobacco. In addition, tobacco smoking, especially cigarettes, is still consumed by millions of smokers worldwide.
There are many scientific studies that link tobacco smoking with serious health issues.
Consequently, many alternative methods have emerged in recent decades. For instance, nicotine gums or vape juice with nicotine. Vape juice with nicotine has been proved to be an efficient method to quit smoking tobacco.
First tobacco smoking bans
I have mentioned that China was the first country to ban tobacco in the 17th century. In addition, there were many cities or countries that ban tobacco smoking in public places as early as 16th century. However, tobacco smoking bans due to health reasons are more recent.
The first attempt to ban smoking was promulgated in Nazi Germany. Nevertheless, in the early 20th century, the Republic of Weimar had started to link tobacco smoking to health issues.
However, the WWI, the interwar period and then WWII stagnated the investigations of the negative effects of tobacco smoking.
By the 1930s and 1940s, the rates of patients with lung cancer drastically increased. As a matter of fact, lung cancer was an extremely rare disease prior to the popularization of tobacco smoking.
Nazi Germany was the first state to promote heavy anti-tobacco campaigns. For instance, Nazi Germany prohibited tobacco smoking in public transportation and they even rationalized cigarettes in the Wehrmacht (the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany).
The tobacco industry invented alternative smoking products to balance the negative view of tobacco smoking. For example, the industry created menthol cigarettes (which are even more addictive than normal cigarettes).
Other tobacco consumption methods
There are many other consumption methods. For instance, in Sweden snus is more consumed than cigarettes. Snus is a moisturized tobacco powder that is generally placed under the upper lip. However, there is much controversy about the health effects of snus and there is no consensus about its health effects.
In addition, there are many other forms of smoking tobacco. For example, in Indonesia is very popular a type of aromatic cigarettes called “kretek”. Kretek is a cigarette that mixes tobacco with spices such as clove.
Vaping nicotine: vape juice with nicotine
Finally, it’s time to mention vaping nicotine. Vape juice with nicotine has become widely popular as an alternative to tobacco smoking. In addition, vape juice with nicotine allows the vaper to have a better control of the nicotine consumption.
Furthermore, recent studies have proved that vaping is a successful smoke cessation treatment. Moreover, it has been proved its effectiveness compared to other smoking cessation products such as nicotine gums. For instance, recent studies have shown that 18% of patients treated with e-cigarettes quit smoking. On the other hand, those using nicotine replacement therapies only 10% had quit.
It doesn’t sound like many smoking quitters, but this study was conducted with vape juice with nicotine concentrations lower than normal nicotine e-juices.
In this blog, we have written about the importance of using the right nicotine concentration to avoid craving for tobacco.
Vape nicotine levels
Vape juice with nicotine helps the vaper to control the nicotine intake. In addition, nicotine e-juices come with different nicotine concentrations. For example, if you are a heavy smoker, you should start with concentrations raging from 12 mg/ml to 18 mg/ml or higher.
This is the main advantage of vaping juice with nicotine. The vaper can control the nicotine intake and gradually reduce it.
Furthermore, the vaper can switch to non-nicotine vaping or even completely quit vaping.
It’s true that vaping is relatively a new thing. However, there are not studies that link vaping to any serious health problems. As a matter of fact, vape juice with nicotine allows the vaper to intake nicotine, but without the combustion of plant material. In other words, nicotine without tar and other carcinogenic substances.
Apparently, nicotine may reduce or protect against cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, it is apparently helpful in the treatment of attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity (ADHD). Nonetheless, these are hypothesis or preliminary studies and by no means we are stating that nicotine is an effective treatment for these two conditions.
Conclusion
Nicotine consumption has evolved over history. From primitive ritual uses to vape juice with nicotine.
Moreover, vape juice with nicotine has become very popular as a smoke cessation therapy. As a matter of fact, it has helped more smokers quit than any other nicotine replacement therapy.
Tobacco has always been part of human civilizations. A sacred plant in pre-Columbian era that has evolved as a stimulant and relaxant. However, the real challenge is consuming nicotine but without the negative effects of smoking. For this purpose, vape juice with nicotine is the most effective and healthiest way.
In conclusion, vape juice with nicotine is an effective alternative for smoking cessation. Definitely, a much better option than smoking cigarettes.
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This post was originally published on September 3, 2019. It was most recently updated on September 15, 2020.
