Opium In The Illiad
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
Since times immemorial drugs has been employed for treatment of patients and for ritualistic ceremonies. The Greek writer Homer had written about opium in his great epic ‘The Illiad ‘in 8th century B.C .Hippocrates spoke about the medicinal of opium more than 25 centuries ago. The use of cannabis sativa, the “Indian Hemp”,is mentioned in Atharva Veda and its derivatives-bhang, ganja and charas are traditionally used by some followers of Lord Shiva and have become part of Indian heritage and culture. Opium which was brought to India by Arab traders in 17th century, established its roots in Indian Society very firmly and it was considered panacea for all the diseases. Opium was given to wounded soldiers
Since times immemorial drugs has been employed for treatment of patients and for ritualistic ceremonies. The Greek writer Homer had written about opium in his great epic ‘The Illiad ‘in 8th century B.C .Hippocrates spoke about the medicinal of opium more than 25 centuries ago. The use of cannabis sativa, the “Indian Hemp”,is mentioned in Atharva Veda and its derivatives-bhang, ganja and charas are traditionally used by some followers of Lord Shiva and have become part of Indian heritage and culture. Opium which was brought to India by Arab traders in 17th century, established its roots in Indian Society very firmly and it was considered panacea for all the diseases. Opium was given to wounded soldiers