"The Divine Origin of Tobacco"

Tobacco was a powerful medicine for the first people of the Americas. Native California tribal legend traces the origins of tobacco to sacred immortals that they believed first inhabited the land. The immortal ancestors gave tobacco to the humans to heal and guide them from the ancient past to the present and beyond; tobacco was an important part of creation. Native medicine doctors and shamans relied upon tobacco for guidance, a source of strength, and healing rituals. Tobacco was sacred, not to be rapidly consumed in the doorway of a back alley. As Native American author Julian Lang suggested, the warning on a pack of cigarettes should be "Use of this product should be restricted to prayerful or religious activity, or social activity which reflects aspects of the Creation." (Lang, 1997)

Green Tobacco Sickness

Green tobacco sickness (GTS) afflicts workers harvesting tobacco when nicotine is absorbed through the skin from handling wet tobacco leaves. Workers report symptoms of nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, headache, and, depending on the amount of exposure, decreases in heart rate and blood pressure. These are the classic signs of nicotine poisoning. This illness often lasts for several days, and some workers require hospital treatment. Workers that used tobacco products were less like to suffer from GTS because they developed a tolerance to the effects of nicotine. In addition, longer-term workers are less likely to report GTS, possibly because younger workers who are sensitive to nicotine tend to drop out of the work force. The incidence of GTS would be reduced by appropriate worker education about the absorption of nicotine through the skin and the use of protective clothing. For more information, see the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on GTS. (Image: Native American Tobacco flower and buds, by William Rafti of the William Rafti Institute.)

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