If you think that the only thing that stoners can accomplish is demolishing a bag of chips when they get the munchies, then get ready to have your mind blown. In fact, illicit substances have led to some rather enduring eureka moments and creativity bursts throughout history.
The following guide lets you in on some of the most amazing discoveries made under the influence of psychedelics.
The Personal Computer
DNA and PCR
The Pythagorean Theorem
It seems a contradiction that the schools that teach us “drugs are bad,” à la Mr.Mackey-style, fail to mention that an important classical geometry discovery came from a man who used a lot of psychotropic drugs.
That man was the Greek thinker Pythagoras, and he is the founder of many scientific and mathematical discoveries, including the Pythagorean Theorem. The Pythagorean Theorem is used in architecture, construction, woodworking, and many more applications.
Pythagoras envisioned drugs as a gateway to better understanding. He also had many followers and influenced Aristotle, Plato, and, through them, much of Western Philosophy
Coca Cola
Developing Coca Cola may not be as groundbreaking as discovering DNA or math theorems, but to enthusiasts of the fizzy beverage, itis an amazing discovery, bar none. It’s also an unarguable fact that caffeinated drinks are an excellent way to pick you up by delivering your daily allotment of the stuff. You may not know it, but caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug. And, it’s completely legal, too.
On the other hand, when Coca Cola was first invented in 1886 by Atlanta Georgia pharmacist, John S. Pemberton, the secret formula contained cocaine, an illegal and power stimulant by today’s measures. Although it stimulates the central nervous system, cocaine’s mental effects include happiness and a loss of contact with reality. Heavens, that sounds an awful lot like tripping, y’all! For Coca Cola’s beginnings, the odds are probably good that the secret formula was perfected while pharmacist Pemberton was under the psychedelic influence of blow
Literary Creativity
Starry Night
Starry Night, Sunflowers, and other paintings were created by the famed impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh, whose chronic infatuation with alcohol, particularly the green fairy (absinthe), became almost as legendary as his masterpieces. The wormwood-derived drink most likely gave him flights of fancy that resulted in some of his trippier works of art since one of the effects of absinthe is hallucinations. It’s not too hard to suspend belief and see that those renowned whorls in Starry Night probably were birthed from someone under the influence of psychedelics. Unfortunately, Van Gogh, who was plagued with numerous health problems throughout his life, probably exacerbated by him being an alcoholic.
Absinthe has adverse psychotropic effects such as psychosis and mania. People with these conditions exhibit violent and erratic behavior, and the painter was described as acting in this manner. Chronic alcohol use also leads to hallucinations so it’s up to debate as to which of his choice of poisons, if any, led to his end when he committed suicide. Vincent Van Gogh died a pauper, but not before he made the world richer with his lovely and enduring works
Diabetes Therapy
Salvia officinalis has gained notoriety as a potent hallucinogenic that is typically smoked for recreational use. However, Salvia, like many other psychedelics, is being studied for its potential therapeutic applications. Salvia is a plant from the mint family that grows naturally in Oaxaca, Mexico. It has long been used as traditional “herbolaria” or treatment by medicinal herbs. Salvia has also been used for some time in Mexico as an alternative to pharmaceutical treatment for Type II Diabetes.
Natural antioxidants are often plentiful in herbs, and, as seen in clinical studies and animal models, they effectively act as reducing agents on blood glucose levels. One clinical study on diabetic patients indicated that Salvia officinalis might be effective in reducing glucose and cholesterol. The researchers also said that higher doses of Salvia might be needed to decrease glycosylated hemoglobin and fasting blood glucose
