The evolution of drug abuse

[Moontanman]

The evolution of drug abuse

[Michaelangelica]

You wonder if we evolved because of the plants or the plants evolved because of us.

Many plants make themselves attractive to animals that will disburse their spores or seeds though a wider area. EG truffles -pigs, chilli -birds (& people) opium marijuana -people, many seeds -ants ( seeds often have a glob of something edible for the ants on them).

 

 

“our an*ces*tors were reg*u*larly ex*posed to plant neurotox*ins,”

And so are we today.

Our gut lining still sloughs off and is renewed every few days.

One allergy specialist I know feels that adverse reactions to solanacae come from them being available ALL year. Not just one or maybe two seasons. The traditional 'eating ofseasonally available ' foods gives the body time to eliminate the toxins in the plants eaten. Nowadays we can have tomatoes 365 days a year if we wish.

 

Also an interesting throw away tiny box/article in New Scientist on why some can't "just say 'no' "

". .in cocaine addicts a network of frontal lobe regions involved in impulse control seem less active than normal.

The ability to hold back all sorts of impulses was impaired, not just the desire to take drugs.

When addicts took cocaine, though, it raised their brain activity and performance to normal levels."

P43 New Scientist 13 September 2008