Originally from Central and South America, tobacco appeared in Europe only after the discovery of the Americas, specifically in Spain in 1519. Initially it was used for ornamental purposes, but it was its use as a medicine that determined its success.
Tobacco, in fact, was used as a pain reliever for earaches and toothaches, and occasionally as a poultice for skin wounds. Some indigenous populations of California used tobacco as an ingredient in smoking mixtures to treat colds, mixed with the leaves of the small desert sage or the root of Indian balsam or cough root, whose addition was considered particularly useful for asthma and tuberculosis. Tobacco owes its introduction into Europe to its supposed medicinal properties.
It was Jean Nicot, the French ambassador in Lisbon, who in 1559 sent the first samples of tobacco to Catherine de’ Medici with instructions to use it to cure King Francis II. According to reports, the king’s recurring headaches were “wonderfully cured” by tobacco, although Francis II nevertheless died at the age of seventeen, after a reign of less than two years. Thus tobacco use spread to every continent. It was only many years later that the hypothesis arose of a correlation between tobacco use and certain diseases.
The first anti-tobacco campaigns
However, it would be necessary to wait until 1941 for the first modern anti-smoking campaign, in Nazi Germany, where the National Socialist government condemned the use of tobacco and prohibited its use in various public places as a health hazard.
In the 1950s tobacco companies engaged in an advertising war over cigarettes, emphasizing the low tar content in cigarettes, which became known as the “tar derby.” In order to reduce the potential disease burden, in 2003 the World Health Organization brought together 168 countries to sign the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and companies were forced to reposition their brands.
Negative health effects of tobacco
Tobacco is a substance that has a significant impact on human health and is indeed one of the main causes of preventable death and disease worldwide. Tobacco smoke is responsible for over 7 million deaths a year, and this number continues to grow.
Other negative effects
In addition to its negative health effects, smoking also has negative social and environmental effects. For example, tobacco smoke can cause hygiene problems, including bad breath and stained teeth, which can negatively affect a person’s social and professional life. In addition, tobacco smoke can also cause environmental damage, including air pollution and the production of toxic waste.
Does tobacco have any positive effects?
On the positive side, tobacco has certain properties that can have beneficial effects on health. For example, tobacco contains nicotine, which can increase concentration and short-term memory. In addition, nicotine can also have a calming effect on the nervous system, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.
However, it is important to note that these positive effects are extremely limited and are far outweighed by the health risks associated with tobacco smoking.