The secret of the dead.

Hi all
May be the key of the courage of the Zulu Warriors ?

Of course, the Zulu might never have vanquished the British at Isandlwana without the help of traditional Zulu medicines.

Some scholars have suggested that Zulu pharmacopoeia provided more of a psychological boost than any real physiological effect.

But recent scientific studies show that the medicines contained some very potent drugs.

For example, warriors were given a cannabis (marijuana)-based snuff to take during battle. Analysis of the snuff has revealed that it contained extremely high levels of THC, a powerful hallucinogen, and yet no detectable levels of the chemicals that cause the sedative effects of marijuana.

Also in the Zulu war medicine chest: the bulb of a flower in the Amaryllis family, called Boophane disticha, or the Bushman Poison Bulb.

Studies have shown that the bulb -- which was also used by southern Africans to help mummify bodies -- contains buphanidrine, an alkaloid, like codeine and morphine (although it is not related to them) with hallucinogenic and pain-killing properties.

According to botanist Ben-Erik van Wyk of Rand Afrikaans University in Johannesburg, South Africa, the dosage of buphanidrine necessary to reduce pain is very close to the toxic dose, "but in a very experienced traditional healer's hands it should be safe.

They usually assess the strength of a bulb by testing it on themselves."

In addition, warriors sometimes ingested a hallucinogenic mushroom containing a toxin called muscimol.

The chemical, present in fly agaric -- a mushroom that can attract and kill flies -- is said to induce a state of expanded perception in those who ingest it.

Warriors who consumed those mushrooms, researchers speculate, might have been utterly without fear, believing themselves impervious to British bullets.

Cheers

Pascal the Rascal

All covered here.

https://www.1879zuluwar.com/t5504-secrets-of-the-dead-day-4-of-the-zulu#33108

Hi 24th

That was last year, so who cares :p;: , it's just history to discuss, among us ...

The subjects go and come back on a forum, this is normal ...

Otherwise, the forum would not be long fires :p;:

Cheers

Pascal

Pascal
Before going into the effects of the various 'Muti' used by the healers you would need to decide if the battle was planed for the 22nd or not. And indeed if it was triggered early by Raw or not.
All those points would decide if the Zulu regiments did actually take any drugs. If the battle was planed for the 23rd, then the final doctoring ( Minister Gatsha Butelezi maintains the doctoring would have happened before the impi left Ondini ) would have theoretically only taken place on the 23rd, or possible late evening on the 22nd.
However if the battle was planed for the 22nd its possible that doctoring had taken place, there are though accounts that suggest it didnt.
Dont confuse the taking of 'Daga' ( Happy Weed ) with ritualistic issues. Daga was smoked or taken as snuff on an ongoing basis.
Credo Mutwa has talked extensivly on the subject.

Cheers

Hi Mat

And you Mat ? What do you think? The use of such or such drugs can indicate whether the attack was planned on 23 camp, as I think and intrusion Raw triggered the attack on the 22 as I think or so that the Zulus had provided the attack for the 22 ?

This question on the use of such or such drugs can be just getting things done ... on other things ...

Regards

Pascal