The First Drug Ever known to a Man

Introduction The discovery of the first drug is a very interesting story. This discovery is made at the start of human civilization. In the old days people mostly relied on plants for the treatment of wounds and anything that would be accidentally discovered or give them therapeutic effects. Though later on, through several laboratory trials, it is evident that “opium,” derived from a plant named Papaver somniferum, or poppy plant, is the first drug ever known to man. Before digging deep, I really wanted to share some mythical stories related to this drug. When laboratories, the FDA, and researchers were not established and nobody knew anything about research, drugs were discovered only by their therapeutic effect and used repeatedly out of curiosity and in moments of desperation (e.g., If I have this drug, I feel out of this world,; which opium usually does to you). Untold story of a RED FLOWER that changed the fate of pharmacology forever. The story starts when a hunter needed a medication for its wounded leg. There was Sumerian hunter around 34000 BC in the deep lands lies between Tigris and Euphrates rivers. during his hunt, his leg was wounded badly; he clutched his leg to stop the bleeding. In the meantime a wild boar gored him, and his infection increased so much that the pain was unbearable. He chewed leaves and roots from different plants just in order to minimize the pain. While cutting different plants, suddenly he saw a crimson flower with the bulbous seed pod. He slit open the bulb and licked the oozy, milky, and thick material. Moments after licking the material, the pain magically went away, and he slept deeply and peacefully. Although the wound didn’t heal properly, the furious pain was gone. This news spread like wildfire, and Sumerians started to cultivate fields of poppy plants; moreover, secret chemists also worked on this drug to unveil its secrets. After its discovery, the OPIUM drug is subjected to so many myths After watching its effects, Sumerians believe that it is a gift from gods. Though the beliefs in different religious ideologies are different, e.g., In the dominant religion of that time, it is believed it is a gift from Nisaba (the goddess of grain and wisdom); she is one of the goddesses that ruled over plants. We can also get a reference from a Disney movie, TANGLED, in which the crimson-colored magical flower is responsible for healing and keeps the witch forever young, healthy, and strong. In Christianity the priests mixed it with wine and created an early form of laudanum (a modern form of alcohol).   Since every regime has its own beliefs, as you have seen earlier, in the same way, the Assyrians, the dominators of Mesopotamia, think that opium is a killer plant and fear its power. So, they ordered, “Do not linger in the fields of Hul Gil, lest you never wake up from sleep.” But kings still used these plants to heal the wounds of warriors in battles and to enjoy them as a form of wine, as they also played the role of mood uplifter and cast a euphoria.   Egyptian Opium (Drugs and Myths) The pharaohs use this drug as a painkiller. History knows that Egyptians are the smartest regime; they developed the world’s first book of medicine named Ebers Papyrus (published near 1550 BC). It includes 700 remedies in which opium is the highlight. They used opium with so many other substances to use it for medical purposes. Such as “They mixed poppy plant with fly dung,” laughable, but that also made sense back then. Even human urine is also used to heal the snake bite The Origins of Drug Discovery In the prehistoric era, plants were used as drugs, and different types of herbs, such as chamomile and yarrow, were used for healing. They discovered this herb as a medicine with observation and experimentation. The archeological evidence suggested that Neanderthals used chamomile while in Mesopotamia; Sumerian and Egyptian history is the first to document opium. Use of the poppy plant in different ways.   HUL GIL, or the joy plant, is one of the oldest and most widely cultivated plants in Sumeria and Mesopotamia, back in 3400 BC. It is also known as the poppy plant.   Evidence from Ancient Texts

1. Sumerian Clay Tablets (2100 BCE)

– Archeological studies confirm that Sumerian civilization used opium in the form of cuneiform tablets; these were used as a painkiller and sedative. – The Assyrians and Babylonians also adopted the same method and used it accordingly.  

2. The Ebers Papyrus (1550 BCE, Ancient Egypt)

– This Egyptian medical text states that it is used to stop children from crying. – It was also used to treat pain, insomnia, and digestive disorders.  

3. Ancient Greek and Roman Medicine

– Hippocrates (460–370 BCE), the father of medicine, acknowledged opium’s benefits for pain relief and internal diseases. – Dioscorides, a Greek physician in the 1st century CE, described opium extraction in De Materia Medica, a foundational pharmacological text.   Use of Opium in the Ancient Era Methods of Administration – Oral Consumption: Mixed with wine or other liquids. – Smoking: Introduced later in history, particularly in Asia. – Topical Application: Used in ointments for pain relief.   Therapeutic Uses – Pain Relief: For headaches, injuries, and surgical procedures. – Sedation: To induce sleep and calm anxiety. – Gastrointestinal Relief: For diarrhea and dysentery.   The Spread of Opium Across Civilizations   From Mesopotamia to the World – India (1000 BCE): Mentioned in Ayurvedic texts as “Ahiphena.” – China (8th Century CE): Introduced by Arab traders; later became a major trade commodity. – Europe (Middle Ages): Used in laudanum (an opium-alcohol mixture) as a universal remedy.   Ethical and Societal Impact Opium is a revolutionary drug that is used to manage pain, but ancient physicians, e.g., Galen, indicate that its overuse is dangerous. Conclusion This is the story of the first drug discovery, which laid the foundation of pharmacology. From its emergence in Mesopotamia to the modern world, it develops insights into pharmacology. Nowadays the derivatives of these drugs, e.g., morphine and codeine, are used in a number of different medicines and can be used as painkillers in modern-day healthcare systems. Stay tuned to this BatoolPharmaceuticals.com for more insights and interesting stories about the discovery and development of different drugs.