posted
I've always been interested in Herbs and their healing potential. I wonder how extensively the AEs used them? Did they use herbs like Echinacea and Goldenseal?
Interesting BBC article:
quote: The Egyptian 'Lotus' - Nymphaea Caerulea, the Blue Water Lily
Called a 'lotus', the depictions of the floral symbol of Upper Egypt is actually known as a Nymphaea caerulea which is actually known today to be a water lily. This flower, along with the papyrus flower, was shown throughout Egypt in tombs and temples to symbolise the union of Upper and Lower Egypt, but the blue water lily had a much deeper significance to the Egyptian people.
In the beginning were the waters of chaos ... Darkness covered the waters until ... the Primeval Water Lily rose from the abyss. Slowly the blue water lily opened its petals to reveal a young god sitting in its golden heart. A sweet perfume drifted across the waters and light streamed from the body of this Divine Child to banish universal darkness. This child was the Creator, the Sun God, the source of all life.
So the Primeval Water Lily closed its petals at the end of each day... Chaos reigned through the night until the god within the water lily returned.
...
... the Creator ... knew that he was alone. This solitude became unbearable and he longed for other beings to share the new world with him. The thoughts of the Creator became the gods and everything else which exists. When his thoughts had shaped them, his tongue gave them life by naming them. Thoughts and words were the power behind creation.
-- The Waters of Chaos, Ancient Society
The Egyptians saw that the blue water lily opened up each morning, seeing the intense golden center set against the blue petals, seemingly an imitation of the sky that would greet the sun, releasing sweet perfume. Each afternoon, they would close again only to open again each day. The flower was therefor firmly linked with the rising and the setting of the sun, and thus to the sun god and the story of creation. The religious significance of the flower was great - many columns of the Egyptian temples had water lily capitals crowning them.
I am he who rises and lights up wall after wall, each thing in succession. There will not be a day that lacks its owed illumination. Pass on, O creatures, pass on, O world! Listen! I have ordered you to! I am the cosmic water lily that rose shining from Nun's black primordial waters, and my mother is Nut, the night sky. O you who made me, I have arrived, I am the great ruler of Yesterday, the power of command is in my hand.
-- Spell 42, The Book of the Dead
The god of the blue water lily was Nefertem, a god not just linked to the sun but to beautification and healing. It was he who brought a water lily to the sun god Ra, to help ease the suffering of his aging body. The perfume of this flower was not only pleasing to the Egyptians, but they saw it as healing as well. Scenes show women holding the water lily and people being offered the flower at parties, smelling its divine fragrance. Some people today believe that the Egyptians used this plant as a narcotic both for its healing qualities and as a recreational drug when soaked in wine, though this is a hotly debated topic.
Contemporary reference to the role of water lilies and mandrakes (Nymphaea and Mandragora, respectively) in ancient Egyptian healing ... suggest the possible importance of these plants as adjuncts to shamanistic healing in dynastic Egypt. Although the usual interpretation of the water lily and the mandrake has been that of a part of ritual mourning ... it is argued that the dynastic Egyptians had developed a form of shamanistic trance induced by these two plants and used it in medicine as well as healing rituals. Analysis of the ritual and sacred iconography of dynastic Egypt, as seen on stelae, in magical papyri, and on vessels, indicates that these people possessed a profound knowledge of plant lore and altered states of consciousness. The abundant data indicate that the shamanistic priest, who was highly placed in the stratified society, guided the souls of the living and dead, provided for the transmutation of souls into other bodies and the personification of plants as possessed by human spirits, as well as performing other shamanistic activities.
-- The Sacred Journey in Dynastic Egypt: Shamanistic Trance in the Context of the Narcotic Water Lily and the Mandrake, Dr William Emboden
A test was carried out to see if there were any narcotic effects of the blue water lily. There were no known psychotropic substance found in the flower itself. In The Mystery of the Cocaine Mummies Rosalie David ('Keeper of Egyptology, Manchester Museum') says that "we see many scenes of idividuals holding a cup and dropping a water lily flower into the cup which contained wine". The assertion by Dr Andrew Sherratt, based on these depictions, is that he believes that when the flower was infused with wine, that the chemical content might change and become the ancient Egyptian party drug or a shamanistic aid.
The lilies were flown from Cairo to England, and nineteen of them opened after the sun came out. The flowers were soaked in the wine, and after a few days, two volunteers - who claimed to know nothing about ancient Egypt - drank the lily-wine:
On August 24th 1998, on British TV, the last of a 4-part series called "Sacred Weeds" was broadcast ... This last programme investigated the blue water lily (Nymphaea caerulea) which had never before been scientifically tested for psychoactive properties.
... It contains a substance called nuciferine, soluble in alcohol but not known to be psychoactive.
Nineteen fresh flowers of the lily were soaked in wine for a few days. The flowers were then removed and the wine drunk by two volunteers, Marie and Robert. Their experiences proceeded as follows:
5.25pm They drank the wine.
5.40pm Rob: "I feel good, I feel quite excited now." Marie: "I feel fine...slightly flushed...a lot more relaxed. I do feel a bit giggly...a bit more chatty." Rob: "I feel very happy, very laid back...I feel good." Marie: "I never felt like this before."
6.00pm Rob and Marie felt restless and went out for a walk even though it was raining.
6.37pm They sit down in a porch out of the rain. Rob: "I'm certainly on something now, definitely." Marie: "I feel very chatty."
7.40pm Rob felt the effects were wearing off. Marie: "You do pick out things quite clearly to listen to...I keep going off and staring at things."
8.10pm Rob and Marie ate the flowers and the effects seemed to return.
8.37pm Rob: "It alters your perception for the better...you can notice more things."
At the end of the day they both felt very tired. The next morning they were quite well except for faint headaches.
Marie: "My mind felt very alert, yet at the same time I was very physically relaxed." Rob: "...contentment, relaxation, happiness, cheekiness, increased awareness."
A pharmacologist present summarised the effects as being "euphoria with tranquilisation." Another specialist claimed the effects were similar in some ways to MDMA (ecstasy).
-- The Blue Water Lily, Colin Byrne
Unfortunately the test was not up to scientific standards - there was no control group (where another set of volunteers would drink wine not infused with the lily, but told that it had been) - so it is rather difficult to know how much of the effects on the two were just from the alcohol and if any were from the lily infusion itself.
Nymphaea caerulea ... contains an anti-spasmotic called Nuciferin, and likely contains aporphine... Dosage: Probably about 3-5 flowers, or about 5g. Method: Eat (put in capsules; takes longer) or make "tea (use about 20-25oz of water to get maximum content)." Effects: The history of this species says that is appears to be a hypnotic sedative ... Everything seems to refute the idea of this being MDMA-like... It is much like cannabis, codeine or propoxyphene; maybe a little hallucinatory (at higher doses) - but mainly hypnotic like cannabis/opiods.
-- Blue Lily of the Nile: The Narcotic Lily
The blue water lily was possibly also a symbol of sexuality - Dr Liz Williamson says that the flower "has a sort of Viagra effect". Women were wooed with the blue water lily. In certain erotic scenes from the Turin Papyrus, women are shown wearing very little apart from the white lily as a headdress.
And I will say to Ptah, Lord of Truth: "Give me my fair one tonight." The river is like wine. The god Ptah is its tuft of reeds, The goddess Sekhmet is its bouquet of flowers, The goddess Yadyt is its water lily bud, The god Nefertem is its opened water lily. My love will be happy! The dawn illuminates her beauty.
-- 19th Dynasty Love Poem, Harris 500 papyrus
Qedeshet, the Syrian love goddess who the Egyptians married off to Min, was depicted as a naked woman who stood on the back of a lion, carrying snakes and water lily buds. The buds are likely linked with her role as a goddess of sexuality and fertility. Votive offerings to Hathor included bowls with water lily motifs, again alluding to fertility, the renewal of life and rebirth. (A water bowl was also the hieroglyph for a woman, which A.H. Gardiner in Egyptian Grammar believes to represent the vagina, linking the fertility sign of the water lily in the bowl to female fertility in this case.) The Egyptian idea of sexuality was identified with creation. Being a flower of creation, the flower became linked to human fertility and sexuality. The images of women holding the flower may be hinting at her ability to bear children or that she was sexually desirable, and images of men holding the flower may hint at their potency. It could also be a way to ensure that the person painted would be fertile - and sexy - in the afterlife.
When you look at its brilliance, your eyes become imbued with dynamic force. When you breath in, your nostrils dilate.
-- Horus, Talking about the Blue Water Lily, Graeco-Roman Temple of Horus at Djeba (Utes-Hor, Behde, Edfu)
The flower wasn't just used at parties, but it was used at funerals. As with many symbols of fertility, the blue water lily was also symbolic of rebirth after death. Tutankhamen's innermost gold coffin had blue water lily petals scattered over it along with a few other floral tributes. The Egyptians looked forward to their souls coming to life "like a water lily reopening", thinking that the deceased died as the water lily closed awaiting opening with the morning sun. The Book of the Dead has a spell to allow the deceased to transform into one of these flowers:
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith:- I am the holy water lily that cometh forth from the light which belongeth to the nostrils of Ra, and which belongeth to the head of Hathor. I have made my way, and I seek after him, that is to say, Horus. I am the pure blue water lily that cometh forth from the field [of Ra].
-- [The Chapter of] Making the Transformation into the Water Lily, The Book of the Dead
One of the items found in Tutankhamen's tomb is that of the boy's head emerging from the water lily. There are depictions of this in The Book of the Dead with the face of the deceased. It is probably a symbolic likening of the deceased to the creation myth as the water lily opened to reveal the sun god for the first time, giving the deceased new life as the flower opens each morning.
The four Sons of Horus who guard the canopic jars - Imsety, human headed protector of the liver, Hapy, baboon headed protector of the lungs, Duamutef, jackal headed protector of the stomach and Qebehsenuef, falcon headed protector of the intestines - are often shown standing on a blue water lily flower. They were thought to have, like Nefertem, come out of a water lily that rose from the waters of Nun. The four mummiform gods were rescued by the crocodile god Sobek, by the orders of Ra, and Anubis gave them funerary duties. They also attend the judgement of the deceased in the Halls of Ma'ati where they stand before Osiris on a half opened blue water lily.
The blue water lily was sacred to the ancient Egyptians, ornamental and sweet smelling. People who have had the pleasure described the smell as being similar to that of a hyacinth, a loquat and even of a banana. Whatever the fragrance is like, the Egyptians loved this plant that represented the sun and rebirth. It was presented at parties, and took on a sacred significance at death. There is little wonder that it became the floral symbol of Upper Egypt, and a flower enjoyed by all people throughout Egyptian history.
quote:Originally posted by H*O*R*I*Z*O*N^*^H*O*R*U*S: I've always been interested in Herbs and their healing potential. I wonder how extensively the AEs used them? Did they use herbs like Echinacea and Goldenseal?
Herbs played a major part in Egyptian medicine. The plant medicines mentioned in the Ebers papyrus for instance include opium, cannabis, myrrh, frankincense, fennel, cassia, senna, thyme, henna, juniper, aloe, linseed and castor oil - though some of the translations are less than certain. Cloves of garlic have been found in Egyptian burial sites, including the tomb of Tutankhamen and in the sacred underground temple of the bulls at Saqqara. Egyptians thought garlic and onions aided endurance, and consumed large quantities of them. Raw garlic was routinely given to asthmatics and to those suffering with bronchial-pulmonary complaints. Onions helped against problems of the digestive system. (Link)
The Pharmacy of the Ancient Egyptians
March 1, 2007
The investigation — one of the largest studies of its kind — represents a partnership between England's University of Manchester and the Egyptian Medicinal Plant Conservation Project in St. Katherine's, Sinai.
"Around 50 percent of the plants used in ancient Egypt remained in clinical use up to the mid 20th century, and some are still in use today," Metcalfe, a scientist in the university's School of Medicine, said researchers are even discovering "new" cures based on old remedies, such as eating celery to help curb inflammation associated with arthritis.
"The ancient Egyptians used a diverse range of plants for an equally diverse range of medical conditions," lead researcher Ryan Metcalfe told Discovery News. "Laxatives dominated the field, with bulk laxatives, such as figs, bran and dates in common use."
One ancient remedy, believed to relieve excess gas and indigestion, consisted of cumin, a hefty portion of goosefat and milk. All were boiled together, strained and consumed.
Metcalfe, added that the Egyptians used bowel stimulants such as the bitter fruit coloynth and castor oil, "which remained in clinical use until about 40 years ago."
The early Egyptians also seem to have recognized that stress could contribute to illness. They established sanitariums where people would undergo "dream therapy" and treatments with "healing waters."
"For example, acacia was used to treat coughs and eye complaints in ancient times and is still used for that to this day," explained Metcalfe. "Colic was treated with anti-spasmodics, such as hyoscymus, cumin and coriander, still vogue today."
The scientists believe Egyptians obtained their medical knowledge from nomadic tribes that united to form ancient Egypt, as well as from people in Mesopotamia and Nubia. Current medical practices by the Bedouin in the Sinai region and by some groups in parts of Egypt show similarities to Pharaonic medicine.
Taylor believes the ancient Egyptians mixed their medical knowledge with spiritual healing techniques, such as incantations and rituals. Metcalfe agreed, and said the Egyptians often prayed for healing, although they believed the gods were not always on their side.
"Some illnesses were thought to be the result of evil spirits or a god's displeasure," Metcalfe explained "and in these cases it may have seemed more sensible to use magic-religious techniques to treat the patient." ( Link)
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Posts: 1549 | From: California, USA | Registered: Jan 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Myra Wysinger: The plant medicines mentioned in the Ebers papyrus for instance include opium, cannabis, myrrh, frankincense, fennel, cassia, senna, thyme, henna, juniper, aloe, linseed and castor oil...
Myra, I can imagine positive uses for most of the herbs mentioned in the article you quoted. Myrrh, frankincense, thyme, henna, juniper, aloe, linseed and castor oil are currently staple members in my pharmacopeia. However, I don't know much about opium and it's something I've never researched since I concluded (an error perhaps?) from "hearsay" that it's a bad idea - I didn't think there was a way to use it in a constructive manner.
Please enlighten me if possible.
Cheers.
Posts: 3423 | From: the jungle - when y'all stop playing games, call me. | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
I remember a honey and acacia suppository in the misnamed Ebers Papyrus that prevented conception. Seems the two break down to form an effective spermicide in use today.
quote:Originally posted by alTakruri: I remember a honey and acacia suppository in the misnamed Ebers Papyrus that prevented conception. Seems the two break down to form an effective spermicide in use today.
posted
I think I came across it one of Josef Ben Jochanon's books like say Africa Mother of Western Civilization but it involved seed wool, acacia, dates and honey. The acacia's lactic acid being the active spermicidal ingredient.
Posts: 8014 | From: the Tekrur in the Western Sahel | Registered: Feb 2006
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quote:Originally posted by H*O*R*I*Z*O*N^*^H*O*R*U*S: However, I don't know much about opium and it's something I've never researched since I concluded (an error perhaps?) from "hearsay" that it's a bad idea - I didn't think there was a way to use it in a constructive manner.
Please enlighten me if possible.
The Ebers Papyrus (1550 BC) also contains details of a medication for a crying infant (EB. 782): Spn seeds and fly dung were made into a paste, strained and fed to the baby on four successive days. The crying was meant to cease instantly. The spn seeds may have come from a species of poppy, possibly Papaver rhoeats. The active principle, opium, is present in much higher proportions in Papaver somnifera, but this plant does not appear to have been used before the New Kingdom era.
Reference:
O'Dowd, Michael J. The History of Medications for Women, (2001), page 58
quote:Originally posted by alTakruri: I think I came across it one of Josef Ben Jochanon's books like say Africa Mother of Western Civilization but it involved seed wool, acacia, dates and honey. The acacia's lactic acid being the active spermicidal ingredient.
Two points
1. acacia gum. i.e. gum arabic does not contain lactic acid. gum arabic
quote: Technically, gum arabic (acacia senegal) is classed in a group of substances called, oddly, arabinogalactan proteins. More descriptively, it is essentially a very complex polysaccharide, comprised mostly of galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, and glucuronic acid. There is also a very small amount of protein: 18 different amino acids have been identified in acacia senegal, although only four of them comprise more than 10% of the protein, and altogether these amino acids comprise only around 1-2% of the total gum; the other 98-99% is made of the aforementioned sugars.
and 2. Even if there were lactic acid the concentration woud not be effective. [URL=http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/julsep96/sep3096/sexgel.html ]John Hopkins newsletter[/URL]
quote: The Gazette The Newspaper of Johns Hopkins University
Emil Venere Homewood On Research: New Contraceptive Gel Prevents Pregnancy and STDs
Although the concept of blocking the alkalinizing action of semen may seem intuitively simple, in practice it has proved to be a daunting challenge. For years other scientists had pursued a logical, but fruitless, approach: they tried to make spermicides from the same acids already present in the vagina, acetic acid and lactic acid. But those acids, if delivered at high enough concentration to be effective, become toxic. At such elevated concentrations, the acid molecules can penetrate cells in the mucosa--the lining of the vagina--possibly damaging the cells and causing irritation.
"I think the acidic approach had pretty much been abandoned by the time we got interested in it," Moench said.
posted
Thanks, lactic acid probably came from the sugars in the honey or dates. Lactic acid is only an inactive ingredient in today's contraceptive jellies.
I wouldn't bank on AE contraception but then I don't practice contraception in any form.
The AE practice
quote:Pessaries (vaginal suppositories): According to an ancient medical manuscript called the Ebers Papyrus (1550 BC), women were advised to grind together dates, acacia (a tree bark), and a touch of honey into a moist paste, dip seed wool into the sweet gel and place in the vulva. It was very effective, for Acacia ferments into lactic acid, a well know spermicide, it also could have sealed up the cervix. Women were also told to put into themselves cotton mixed with lemon, dried fish mixed with lemon, wool soaked olive oil (Aristotle's suggestion, various herbs or cow dung mixed with honey. The Kahun Papyrus (1850B.C.) refers to a pessary of crocodile dung and fermented dough.
Some commentary
quote:The Ancient Egyptians also developed a tampon-like object that contained lactic acid anhydride, a chief ingredient in modern contraceptive jellies. We can safely conclude that our ancestors were on the right path! According to an ancient manuscript called Ebers Papyrus, 1550 BC, women were advised to mix together dates, acacia bark and honey into a sugary paste and place it in the vulva. This method was often efficient because as the sugar ferments it is converted into lactic acid...
quote:In the human vagina, the ejaculated semen is deposited near the external cervical opening where the environment is very acidic due to lactic acid and thus hostile to spermatozoa (Harper 1988). The alkaline pH of the ejaculate protects spermatozoa in this acidic environment (Speroff et al. 1994).
quote:Originally posted by alTakruri: ...but then I don't practice contraception in any form.
Some people might get the wrong idea here lol Posts: 3423 | From: the jungle - when y'all stop playing games, call me. | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
^ Let's see. Honey is actually a good antisceptic and the Egyptians used that to treat open wounds.
Crocodile dung was also used as an effective contraceptive due to its alkaline properties.
And lettuce, especially the stalks were used as aphrodisiacs for men and to treat impotence. The white milky substance from the stalks looked like semen and the plant itself became associated with the god of fertility, Min.
I have also heard of Egyptians using scorpion venom and perhaps snake venome to treat certain ailments.
Posts: 26286 | From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
^Hey brother from another mother, how have you been?
ES is never the same without your banter. Thanks for the input. I think I'll be eating more lettuce from now on. Yep .
Posts: 3423 | From: the jungle - when y'all stop playing games, call me. | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
Ah, so that's why Hor was coached to use lettuce when he played that dirty turnabut trick on Set! Another DJ breakthrough.
quote:Originally posted by Djehuti: And lettuce, especially the stalks were used as aphrodisiacs for men and to treat impotence. The white milky substance from the stalks looked like semen ...
Posts: 8014 | From: the Tekrur in the Western Sahel | Registered: Feb 2006
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quote:Originally posted by H*O*R*I*Z*O*N^*^H*O*R*U*S: ^Hey brother from another mother, how have you been?
ES is never the same without your banter. Thanks for the input. I think I'll be eating more lettuce from now on. Yep .
Thanks, I've been better. I had a bout of the flu and missed 3 whole days school which I'm catching hell for!
By the way, the lettuce works best when eaten raw. Not that I've tried it or even needed it. LOLPosts: 26286 | From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
^Lol I don't particularly need it either, Yerba Mate checks all the boxes for me as far as "all round" healthful supplementation goes. The lettuce is extra-ammo needed for the fecundation process required in the making of the 'Herukhuti Bastards' Posts: 3423 | From: the jungle - when y'all stop playing games, call me. | Registered: Jul 2006
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WHAT IS MARIJUANA'S SIGNIFICANCE IN SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN BEINGS, IF ANY?
It appears to me that the whole world is pretty much getting high on this herb (secretly or openly, permanently or occassionally). Even I, like Obama and Clinton have inhaled the green monster on special trips with the boys to decadent Amsterdam.
Also, two notable Revolutionary musicians Bob Marley and Fela Kuti, who have inspired millions the world over pretty much SUBSISTED on this herb.
Why is it so popular and increasingly so?
Posts: 3423 | From: the jungle - when y'all stop playing games, call me. | Registered: Jul 2006
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