But, more generally, thujone is considered a poison. In small doses, thujone is rumored to inspire high spirits and a good mood. The plant also produces a unique chemical compound called thujone. Most recently, analysis of old bottles of absinthe from 19th century Europe show that the drink contains 140-proof alcohol, which is substantially stronger than the 100-proof found in gins, vodkas, and whiskeys. Although, the source of this hallucinogenic quality is highly debated. Wormwood is an ingredient once used to make the alcoholic drink absinthe, which is long associated with hallucinogenic properties. Although, she likely didn’t eat the plant. In Genesis 30, Rebecca, Jacob’s wife, uses mandrake root to address infertility. Ingesting too much mandrake can cause death by asphyxiation, but it will also cause blurred vision, stumbling, vomiting, hyperactivity, and hallucinations. The plant is most famous for its human-like roots, but it’s also a powerful hallucinogen, sedative, and potentially deadly poison. Mandrake is a plant with long-held mythology in cultures around the world. Take this passage from the Talmud as an example: “It is only where there is no wine that drugs are necessary.” (Mas. Needless to say, wine and its various preparations were the most prominent and esteemed psychoactive concoctions in biblical history. Archeological excavations in Israel upturned biblical-era wine jugs laced with residues of juniper, cinnamon, mint, cedar, Cyprus, and many other plants. In medical and spiritual practice, wine may not have been used alone. Wine was also was one of the most important economic crops in the biblical era of the Old Testament. Its uses were many: medicine, food, intoxicant, commerce, ceremony, among other things. Wine is featured predominantly throughout the bible as well as in other ancient Babylonian texts. Grapes may not be psychoactive in and of themselves, but they produce one of the most popular intoxicating brews on the planet: wine. Here are a few examples: Grapes Illustration from the 1897 Bible Pictures and What They Teach Us: Containing 400 Illustrations from the Old and New Testaments In others still, plant oils may have been used to facilitate divine healing. In others, a plant may not have been used expressly for its psychoactive properties but maintained some mystical relevance. In some cases, certain essential oils may have unintentionally inspired the optimal mood for worship. Still, even amidst this transition, some plants retained a special place in the new biblical society. Additionally, the plants named in the Bible may feature different names from the same modern-day plants, making it difficult to figure out which plants the Holy book specifically references. Rather, these plants were perhaps more familiar to European readers. Many translations of the Bible, for example, were not made directly from the Hebrew and Aramaic texts.Īs such, some of the older translations, such as the popular King James translation, include passing references to plants that were not native to the ancient Holy Lands. But, differences in translations, lost botanical history, evolving language, and changing climates make identifying particular plants challenging and a topic of much debate. Biblical scholars recognize up to 206 distinct plants in the Bible, with overarching agreement on 96 total plants. Identifying the plants mentioned in the Bible is no easy task. Indeed, every major spiritual text reserves some special plants for divine purposes, including the Holy Bible. Plants and civilization are so intimately connected that some scholars believe that the seeds of modern religion come from prehistoric relationships with psychoactive and medicinal plants. Indeed, the need to control plants is what led to one of the greatest human inventions of all time-agriculture. Not only are plants vital for food, shelter, and warmth, but their influence in trade, medicine, and spiritual practice predates the advent of society. If (slot) slot.addService(googletag.Human civilization is impossible without plants. (function (a, d, o, r, i, c, u, p, w, m) Biblical herbs and spices make a comeback in Israeli culture - The Jerusalem Post
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