History of hookah: interesting facts

Today there is no person who does not know what a hookah is. The secret to the success of the hookah is that it is beautiful and exotic. The history of the hookah is interesting and entertaining. Smoking hookah harmless and gives pleasure. More and more often it is chosen as a gift or a souvenir, because it can serve as an ornament of the interior, become an individual favorite of its owner and present a pleasant pastime for the company.

Origin and history of hookah

No one can say exactly where and when the hookah appeared. Evidence and written references to the Kalyanokureniya are enough in ancient manuscripts. The history of hookah in the world is divided into several versions, and each is reasoned enough. We will briefly consider them.

Indian version

The most common is the version that the hookah and the traditions of its smoking originated in India. Hindus used this device for therapeutic and meditative purposes. In medical practice filler - hashish and various herbs - acted as an anesthetic. Traditions of meditation for smoking hookah also provided filler hashish.

Externally, the ancient Indian hookah consisted of a shell of coconut palm Narghile. Hence one of the names of hookah - nargile. The flesh was removed, two holes were made. In the middle there was cannabis and resin, which provided the process of burning. In one of the holes was inserted a bamboo stick.

And today in the markets of India it is possible to buy hookahs with bowls from coconuts.

From India, a hookah with its traditions has spread to the regions of the Middle East and Egypt. The history of the hookah in the eastern countries continued, he improved and acquired new features.

The American version

The second, rather interesting version is related to the Aztecs and Maya. Some researchers associate the emergence of a device for smoking that became the prototype of a hookah, with a tube of the world of American tribes and claim that they started using a pumpkin to pass smoldering smoke. There is a fairly strong opinion in scientific circles that the history of hookah, tobacco and its smoking came to India and Africa long before the Europeans discovered the American continent.

Hookah smoking in Russia

To the great pleasure, our country does not struggle for primacy in the invention of hookah. The history of hookah in Russia begins in the 90s of the last century, when a massive tourist visit by our fellow citizens of the Middle East, Turkey and Egypt began.

Of course, before that, the Arabs and Syrians, who had come to the USSR to study, brought hookahs with them. The very name is the proof that the Russians were introduced to this device by the Iranians and the Pakistanis. The word "galyan" means "boiling" and sounds by ear like a hookah. By the way, this is the name of this device only for residents of the countries of the former USSR. In Egypt, he will be called nargil, Arabs - shisha, and Indians - narghile.

What you need to know about the device

The history of the hookah, the rules of smoking changed, but the form remained the same. Modern hookah - the device is the most universal and compact. There are three main parts:

• A flask with a liquid;
• The upper part, which includes saucers, mines and bowls;
• Hose and mouthpiece.

The materials that are used for making hookahs are different and diverse. Usually from copper, there are gold and even author's original from clay.

Another major component is soaked tobacco. It is called maasel, contains not many components, glycerin and various additives.

Do not do without special coal - chemical or natural.

The flask connects all components of the hookah and can be filled with water, alcohol, milk or juice.

Harm or benefit?

To begin it is necessary that a hookah, a pipe or a cigarette is absolutely not important. The history of hookah, when the filler was hashish in the past, but tobacco has become well established in this tradition. When smoking mixtures containing nicotine, a person develops a physical and psychological dependence. Physiologically, this is the "nicotine hunger" of a smoker, when the body gets used to a certain level of nicotine in the blood and requires its replenishment. About the psychology of the emergence of dependence we will not write - it's all and so know.

In addition to nicotine, any tobacco contains various resins that settle in the pulmonary glomeruli and blood vessels. They become the cause of atherosclerosis and act as carcinogenic agents capable of provoking oncological diseases.

Compared with smoking cigarettes or cigars, the hookah makes the smoker increase the "cravings". Accordingly, the smoke penetrates deeper into the lungs and more likely harms.

Although the specific device of the hookah with the passage of smoke through the aquatic environment reduces the amount of tar in the inhaled air. In addition, the smoke becomes wet and not hot - it does not irritate the respiratory tract so much. It is these facts that give the hookah smokers a reason to claim that it is not as harmful as smoking cigarettes.

Smoking hookah in public places is fraught with infection with a huge number of diseases transmitted by airborne droplets. And this is from herpes to hepatitis. Sterility of all parts of the hookah is difficult to achieve, if not impossible. And a sterile disposable mouthpiece is not a guarantee of safety.

For a Russian feast a hookah is a companion entertainment. If smoking a hookah is accompanied by the acceptance of alcoholic beverages, then there can be no question of any benefit or security.

Passive smokers on their own experience can make sure that smoking hookah does not change the smoke in the room. So, passive smoking in this case is as harmful as in other types of tobacco burning.

There is an opinion that the hour of smoking a hookah is equal to one smoked cigarette. If so, then the hookah, of course, is not so harmful.

It is believed that tobacco for hookah is not so harmful. In fact, any tobacco contains nicotine. Therefore, if you smoke a mixture that does not contain tobacco, then it's really not harmful to smoke. And it does not matter if you use a hookah or something else. Just the ceremony of smoking a hookah in this case is more attractive and fascinating, as is the story of the hookah itself.

And interesting facts

Fans and fans of hookah consider it impermissible to smoke cigarettes from the coal of the working hookah. This breaks the rhythm of burning coal.

So, popular in Russia fruit hookahs - an invention of Europeans. In the Muslim countries, smoking hookah "on the bowl", and fruit - only for Russian tourists.

The fashion industry has not lost sight of the new fascination of Europeans. There were brands with futuristic forms of the bowl and offering various gadgets and devices for hookahs (universal strainer, original valves and mouthpieces, diffusers to reduce noise and much more).

And more recently the Swedish designers have offered a novelty hookah Desvall, in cost of 60 thousand dollars. Of course, it is made of the best materials and is encrusted with precious stones. But the bulk will be spent by the buyer for chic and brand.

To smoke or not to smoke?

Each individual takes this decision on his own. If smoking a hookah for a smoker is a ritual and a sacrament, with a long preparation and its traditions, this is one thing. If the unusuality is lost and the ritual becomes a commonplace habit, it is another.

The main thing, remember - in everything you need to know the measure and be guided only by your feelings.