Snuff
Snuff is a tobacco leaf that has been dried and crushed to a powder consistency for smokeless use. Snuff is made by grinding the tobacco leaf and stem into powder. The powder mix can be supplemented with various flavors: lavender, orange blossom, peach, cinnamon, etc. As a rule, snuff is consumed in the traditional way - by inhaling a small, secreted portion of tobacco through the nose. Snuff tobacco blends have the same effect on the human body as traditional cigarettes.
From the history of snuff
The first mentions of snuff are found in American literature describing Indians inhaling powder. The first documented descriptions of the use of snuff date back to the 15th century: the monk Raymond Payne first described the procedure for using snuff. Snuff quickly gained popularity around the world. Doctors of that time emphasized the healing properties of tobacco snuff. It was believed that with its help it was possible to cure ulcers, as well as many diseases of the respiratory tract.
The name of Jean Nico is closely related to the history of the development and popularization of snuff. The curious researcher and scientist was engaged in the cultivation of tobacco and conducted various experiments, studying its healing effects. So, he used shredded tobacco leaf to treat skin diseases, inflammatory processes. It was he who recommended to Catherine de Medici, who suffered from migraines, to inhale snuff as a remedy. At the direction of Jean Nico, the queen was to put a pinch of powder in her nose, and the resulting sneezing and mucus secretion were supposed to have a "relieving" effect, thereby relieving the queen of a headache. She liked snuff to her liking. It is this fact that contributed to the significant spread of the tradition of sniffing tobacco to “lighten the head”. The fashion for snuff lasted almost two centuries. The opinion that snuff has a number of medicinal properties still exists today. Scientists are currently looking for ways to use nicotine in the treatment of certain diseases. Thus, the main area being developed is the delivery of nicotine to the smoker's body by alternative routes for the treatment of nicotine addiction. The effect of nicotine as a pain reliever, an adjuvant in the treatment of psychological disorders and diseases of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, attention deficit disorder and others is also being studied.the main area under development is the delivery of nicotine to the smoker's body by alternative routes for the treatment of nicotine addiction. The effect of nicotine as a pain reliever, an adjuvant in the treatment of psychological disorders and diseases of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, attention deficit disorder and others is also being studied.the main area under development is the delivery of nicotine to the smoker's body by alternative routes for the treatment of nicotine addiction. The effect of nicotine as a pain reliever, an adjuvant in the treatment of psychological disorders and Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, attention deficit disorder and others is also being studied.
Snuff: effect on the human body
In recent years, snuff has been positioned as a means of smoking control. The new terminology "smokeless tobacco", "smokeless tobacco" is misleading the consumer. Tobacco remains tobacco, regardless of the form of its use: chewing, smoking, inhalation through the nose.
Tobacco is a source of nicotine, which in turn belongs to potent psychoactive substances and is a powerful neuro- and cardiotoxin. Studies conducted in various countries of the world have established that snuff is just as toxic as smoking tobacco mixtures, it forms the same nicotine addiction in humans, having a severe effect on the body.
It is believed that the use of snuff, the effect of which is several times stronger than inhalation of smoke while smoking a cigarette, is less harmful than the traditional "smoking" way of using it. Due to the fact that snuff does not lend itself to heat treatment, in the process of its use, tar is not formed, which cause additional damage to the body.
In fact, to regard the effect of nicotine on the body as less damaging or dangerous is fundamentally wrong. Nicotine, absorbed into the bloodstream through the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and carried with the bloodstream throughout the body, quickly enters the brain. Snuff, the effect of which occurs within 1-2 minutes after inhalation of the dose, is dangerous not only by its effect on the central nervous system, but also by damage to the mucous membranes. The constant use of snuff, the effect of which is longer than that of the traditional smoking of tobacco mixtures, leads to chronic inflammatory processes of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx. The effect after a dose of snuff is consumed for 15-20 minutes.
Snuff: harm, the formation of nicotine addiction
Snuff is mistakenly considered a palliative for smoking cessation. Indeed, the use of snuff reduces a person's desire to smoke a cigarette, but the mechanism remains the same. The body receives the same dose of nicotine, only in a different way.
Snuff, the harm from the use of which is no less than from traditional cigarettes, develops the same nicotine addiction in the body, which is characterized by the following signs:
- Manifestation of an irresistible desire to use the next dose of tobacco to achieve an invigorating effect;
- Change in the psychological state of a person;
- Development of withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of substance use.
Continuous use of snuff increases the risk of oral and nasopharyngeal cancers. Regular exposure to nicotine exacerbates the course of chronic diseases, reduces the therapeutic effect of certain drugs. Constant irritation of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx with small particles of tobacco dust contributes to the formation of polyps and their degeneration into malignant forms. Tobacco dust settling on mucous membranes causes allergic reactions in the body.
Particles of snuff not only get into the mucous membranes of the nose and the respiratory tract, but also penetrate the esophagus, stomach, reaching the intestines. In rare cases, the use of snuff can cause enteritis, duodenitis, gastritis.
No less dangerous is snuff, the harm from which is obvious, and for non-smokers around. Thus, tobacco dust spreading in the air leads to passive inhalation. The result of this use of a snuff mixture is:
- Deterioration of respiratory function;
- Irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes;
- Increased heart rate;
- Increased blood pressure;
- Nasal congestion or rhinitis;
- Irritability, headache, sleep disturbance;
- Loss of appetite, nausea;
- Sore throat, cough.
In rare cases, passive inhalation of tobacco dust by non-smokers can lead to the development of heart disease, asthma, and emphysema.
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