The Hookah Buzz

[dizzing]

Just saw on another thread about hookah smoke content a discussion of
what exactly causes the hookah buzz - nicotine was ruled out, as
studies apparently indicate that one bowl of hookah tobacco containes
the same nicotine as 2 cigarettes, and the water filters 80% - 90% of
this.

Well, my friends and I have wondered the same thing, and we've come up with a theory.

Tobacco is made up of organic matter, and molasses is very heavy on
simple carbohydrates - sugar.  When burned, this mixture releases
a concentrated amount of Carbon Dioxide - much more than a cigarette
due to the high content of simple sugars.  My knowledge of
chemistry is pretty shoddy, but I believe this to be true - if not,
feel free to correct me.

Anyway , inhaling a constant amount of Carbon Dioxide mixed with oxygen
(what happens when you smoke a hookah) is recognized as psychoactive,
and has in fact been used in psychotherapy since the early part of the
20th century.  Here's a link: [url="http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/carbogen/carbogen_basics.shtml"] [url="http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/carbogen/carbogen_basics.sht"]http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/carbogen/c...ogen_basics.sht[/url][/url] ml

It's our theory that hookah smoke contains such a high steady
concentration of CO2 that the sustained inhalation of it causes a
buildup of CO2 in the bloodstream - not a high amount, but enough to
cause a definite shift in consciousness.

Well, that's about it.  Any comments/suggestions/flames are welcome, I am glad anyone took the time to actually read this

[NERV]

possible, but it seems the dryer tobacco gives me a stronger buzz,
especially zagloul, so unless they dehydrate syrup off the zagloul,
leaving more concentrated suger, it dont sound right

[yashman19]

What about just a lack of oxygen to the brain. You're taking deep breaths of something other than oxygen. Your theory is interesting, and I'm not saying its not true, but I simply thought the buzz was from lack of oxygen.

[hookaman]

but isnt it bad to have CO2 in the blood stream. Me being a high school I might not know more about you guys but from common sense, isnt it bad to have carbon dioxide in ur blood? isnt taht why ppl inhale and exhale to release CO2 and inhale sweet, sweet oxygen lol

[NERV]

its probly a combinaiton of increased c02 a byproduct of the burning
coal, decreased ogygen, eaten up by the ocmbusting coal, a bit of co
from the coal, and the other nice tihngs burning off of the tobacco
that fills the air with things other than oxygen

[cypress]

[quote name='hookaman']but isnt it bad to have CO2 in the blood stream. Me
being a high school I might not know more about you guys but from
common sense, isnt it bad to have carbon dioxide in ur blood? isnt taht
why ppl inhale and exhale to release CO2 and inhale sweet, sweet oxygen
lol[/quote]

We don't inhale pure O2. Most of the air we breath is mostly nitrogen.
It is composed of Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), and other gases (1%).

Inhaleing CO2 isn't poisonous but if you inhale pure CO2 you get sick because of a lack of O2 in ur body.

Also, inhaleing too much pure O2 you get that temporarily buzz from a hyperventilating.

[NERV]

anyone here been to an oxygen bar? theres one near i been thinking of trying

[Nathalie]

I think the Carbon Dioxide Theory does hold: I experimented with breathing techniques and hyperventilating for altered states of conciousness for a while (I have a philosophical and psychological interest in the topic) and what you get from hyperventilating the right way is very similiar to what my hookah gives me. But most of the carbon dioxide I think is from simple hyperventilation since you breathe so frequently and deeply with hookah in my opinion while the burning molasses only add a bit at the most. In my theory, the reason you don't get the same from cigarettes is because smoking a cigarette takes 10-15 minutes tops while a hookah easily lasts 45 minutes: therefore you inhale and hyperventialte for 45 minutes which obviously has significant effects. That would also explain why smoking alone with a one hose hookah gives you more of a buzz then smoking with mroe people with a one hose...because when passing it around, yoru body gets time to recuperate and breathe normally while others are smoking....

[Highpockets]

If it's just from abnormal breathing patterns, what would explain the
variation of buzz from different tobaccos? Nakhla has very little
lasting power but packs a big punch. There's gotta be more to it.

[MR Bubble]

Yes, a big difference between brands. The ones that use honey in the mix don't do me in like the molasses based brews. Since the smoke is typically sweet, is it possible there are trace ammounts of sugar in the vapor? And if taken by our bodies in an unusual manner (lungs) is it possible it is just some different form of sugar high? There have been studies that suggest sugar doesn't necessarily make one energized, but fatigued. Then that doesn't really explain why nerv gets buzzing better from dried Zagloul.
Screw it, I need a Nakhla apple.[img]http://hookahforum.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif[/img]
MR Bubble

[alen]

sugar in the wapor mr B ? and now you telling me ! -im a diabeticgodammit

[piperdown]

Alen,

I'm diabetic as well - have not noticed any change in BG levels before
and after smoking my hookah, but:  It has greatly reduced my
cravings for carbs and sweet stuff.  I'd rather smoke the hookah
than eat something I shouldn't have in the first place (f*cking
diabetes - I miss pasta).  How's that for positive spin doctoring?


More on-topic, most people I've introduce to smoking hookah find they
do get a bit of a buzz or high from it ("Hey man, I thought you said
there was no dope in this...")

[alen]

what can i say it works the same way for me no more snacks for me either i just light up the hookah and i stay away from the sweets - great it works for you too-myself have been buzzing on other stuff earlier in life so i guess thats one of the reasons i got this sh*t -but i also have some friends that dont belive its only tobacco and all i can say to them is -you lucky bastards !!
take care and stay well
 

[Ghaleon]

i'm still not convinced that the buzz is from anything other than nicotine.

1) nicotine is known to upset your stomach; that's why you feel the decrease in appetite

2) the buzz, though not identical, is similar to a regular cigarette buzz

3)  ALL of the side effects of nicotine are still there
 &nbs p; -occasional headaches
 &nbs p; -increase in blood pressure
 &nbs p; -increase in heart rate
  -shakyness of muscles

it's odd that all of these things are associated with 'mellowing out'
or 'relaxing' but this is what nicotine does to you and it's what the
hookah does to me.  A smoker will puff a cigarrette when he's
stressed even though it increases his heart rate and BP.  Test
your heart rate before and after you smoke a hookah.  and, if you
have proper equiptment, check your bp; I gaurentee you they'll go up.

[NERV]

lol, definitely shaking muscles, there are times when i cant even stand
up after hookah, one time i fell down the stairs, one time i dropped a
glass of water after some hookah, and another time i went to piss but
all my musles were twitching and i ended up getitng half of it on
myself, it was terrible, had to take a bath (couldnt stand for a
shower, lol)

[cypress]

[quote name='NERV']anyone here been to an oxygen bar? theres one near i been thinking of trying[/quote]

This was in our local news the other night here in Houston.

OXYGEN BARS---YOU CAN BUY BOTTLED WATER. NOW, YOU CAN EVEN PURCHASE AIR FROM A TUBE.

CITIES IN THE EAST AND ON THE WEST COAST HAVE BEEN SELLING PURE OXYGEN
FOR YEARS.
NOW, YOU CAN ALSO BUY IT IN HOUSTON. YOU'LL FIND IT AT AN OXYGEN BAR, A
PLACE WHERE SOME SAY, IT'S GOOD TO INHALE. THE WB'S ELIZABETH LEE HAS
THIS SPECIAL REPORT.
----------------

SMOKE, SKIN, AND SINGLES; AT A NIGHTCLUB, THEY'RE AS COMMON AS THE AIR
YOU BREATH. BUT THIS BAR IS ALSO SERVING UP SOMETHING ELSE.
(("It's like a whole different high."))

IT'S ALMOST PURE OXYGEN. JUST OVER 20% OF THE AIR YOU BREATHE CONTAINS
OXYGEN. AT THE O2 BAR, A SMALL TUBE CAN BRING 95% PURE, PERFUMED OXYGEN
STRAIGHT TO YOUR NOSE. WHAT IT'S SUPPOSE TO DO DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.
(("It cures a hangover that's for sure."))
(("Besides an allergic reaction maybe to the strange smell of it,no."))
(("I don't think there's much to it."))
(("It's pretty cool. All things considered it's not quite euphoric but
you definitely get a sense of well being."))
(("This may sound like fun but doctors say if you breathe pure oxygen
in for too many hours, it could cause you some problems.")) (("A
normal, healthy person breathing oxygen begins to injure their lungs
100% after 6 hours."))

DOCTOR ARNOLD GORIN RUNS THE OXYGEN THERAPY PROGRAM AT THE VA HOSPITAL.
HE SAYS IF YOU INHALE PURE OXYGEN FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT WON'T DO MUCH
TO YOU PHYSICALLY.
(("Not enough to make any difference."))

IN FACT, THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION SAYS PURE OXYGEN IS A
PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND SELLING IT WITHOUT A DOCTOR'S NOTE IS ILLEGAL.
(("The FDA however chooses not to enforce their regulation on this and
leaves it up to the states. And the states adopt varying attitudes of
whether they are going to enforce it or not."))

CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA TURN THEIR NOSES UP AT THE FDA RULE. OXYGEN BARS HAVE BEEN AROUND L.A. AND LAS VEGAS SINCE THE MID-90's.
(("In most of the world this is something that's like sort of a fad that's sort of passed through."))

IN TEXAS, THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS IT STRICTLY FOLLOWS THE
FDA'S GUIDELINES. THAT'S WHY THERE HAVEN'T BEEN MANY OXYGEN BARS AROUND
HERE. BUT THE OWNER OF THE O2 BAR SAYS THE OXYGEN HE SELLS IS FOR
RECREATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
(("It's not really oxygen oxygen machine the one they use it for
medical."))

THESE PATRONS SAY COMPARED TO THE SMOG OUT THERE AND THE CIGARETTE
SMOKE IN HERE, THEY'LL INHALE O2 ANY DAY. ELIZABETH LEE, WB 39 NEWS

[Ghaleon]

i've never been to an o2 bar, i've done a whip-it though.  It's the same thing; really not all that pleasent.

I wouldn't be suprised at all to see these bars getting shut
down.  Cali might have been looking the other way, but I doubt the
mid west will be so lenient.

[E.G.]

[quote name='Ghaleon']i've never been to an o2 bar, i've done a whip-it
though.  It's the same thing; really not all that pleasent.[/quote]

Uhm, no.  Quite different, really.  Whip-its are NO, not O2.

Having done both, I agree that whip-its aren't worth the brain cells
you kill.  I didn't take huge hits, but vaguely dizzy and woozy
for 10 seconds or so was all I felt.  Try forcing yourself to hold
your breath for a long time -- similar effect.

The O2 bar I went to gave the O2 via a nasal canule, complete with
"flavors" that you could add on.  It was nice and relaxing, but if
you kick back in a dimly lit room with ambient music breathing deeply
for 15 min, I hope you'd be a little more chill.  As most healthy
people are have an O2 blood sat of 98-99%, breathing additional O2
isn't going to have any notable effects in and of itself anyway.

E.G.

[NERV]

thanks for the info, wont waste my time

[ApoC]

[ApoC]

whipits dont kill brain cells, contrary to popular belief... however,
chronic and extended use of nitrous oxide will deplete vitamin b12,
which will result in damage to fine nerve endings... this only occurs
in extreme chronic use for months on end (of course, if you fill a room
with it you could suffocate, but otherwise its safe in big quick doses
or long low doses). As for oxygen, its also safe if you use it for a
short while, but will cause damage over extended use. oxygen IS a good
feeling assuming its quite pure (not mixed with normal air).



As for the rush/buzz from shisha: I do not believe the water filters
that much of the nicotine, unless there is some other chemical besides
co2 which gives the tobacco buzz. I've felt the same head rush from
other means of tobacco, including tobacco mixed with ganja, "tai bud",
which gives a very simmilar head rush to shisha smoke, and it is also
water filtered. so, either nicotine is NOT filtered by the water, or
the co2/other chemicals give the rush/buzz.

[Ghaleon]

there's an o2 bar about an hour from where I live.  I'll try to
give it a shot this week.  thanks for the info, everyone.

[HookahCulture]

Sugar in the
vapor DOES exist. If you chronicly smoke, you'll have a glucose buildup
in your lungs! There have been studies about this. I'm gathering info.
About the buzz, I don't get one. I HAVE gotten a massive oxygen
deprivation headache before though, and I was OUT of aspirin, and the
stores were closed till 5am! It hurt so badly that I couldn't sleep, I
had to SUFFER!!
 So please people, BREATHE plenty between puffs. It's nice to puff
all the time, and you don't NOTICE that your body isn't getting the
oxygen, but you'll pay for it later.

NO is way different from O2.  The Nitrogen bonded with the O, so
you're not getting the O. The gas is prepared commercially by the
thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3, at about 240°C to
produce nitrous oxide and water; the reaction must be carefully
controlled to prevent explosive decomposition of the nitrous oxide.
And I DO MEAN CAREFULLY.

"Killing Yourself To Live" --- Black Sabbath

[HookahCulture]

(AS IF you can get ammonium nitrate without raising eyebrows......)

[Ghaleon]

thanks for the info, and please keep us posted on the info you gather