Banana blazing refers to the act of smoking banana peels to get high. It involves drying out banana peels, usually by microwaving or baking them, and then rolling them up into joints or pipes and smoking them. Some people believe that banana peels contain chemicals that can have psychoactive effects when smoked. However, there is limited scientific evidence to support the notion that smoking banana peels produces a high.
What gave rise to banana blazing?
The concept of smoking banana peels dates back to the 1960s and the counterculture hippie movement. During this time, people experimented with various unconventional methods to get high, including smoking banana peels. In 1967, the Berkeley Barb, an underground newspaper, published an article claiming that bananas could get people high if smoked. This sparked interest in smoking banana peels to achieve psychoactive effects.
The idea gained more traction when The Anarchist Cookbook, a controversial book published in 1971, included instructions on how to extract chemicals from banana peels and process the extracts to smoke them. The book claimed that banana peel extract contained a compound called bananadine that had psychedelic effects similar to LSD when smoked. However, later analysis found that bananadine does not actually exist in bananas.
What is the supposed science behind banana blazing?
The notion that smoking banana peels can cause hallucinations or a high is primarily based on the presence of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in bananas. When a banana is unripe, it contains higher levels of serotonin and dopamine. As the banana ripens, the serotonin converts into the compound N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, also known as bufotenine.
Bufotenine is a mild psychedelic compound that activates the serotonin receptors in the brain. It is found naturally in some plants and animals. Some proponents of banana blazing believe that drying and heating banana peels may convert the serotonin into bufotenine, making the peels psychoactive when smoked.
However, various studies have found little to no bufotenine present in banana peels. Most scientists dispute the claim that smoking banana peels can cause hallucinogenic effects. While bufotenine has mild psychedelic properties, the small amounts present in banana peels are unlikely to be enough to cross the blood-brain barrier and induce perceivable effects when smoked.
Does banana blazing actually work?
Despite the purported scientific explanations, there is little evidence that smoking banana peels produces any discernible psychedelic or intoxicating effects. Attempts to replicate the supposed psychoactive effects of banana peels have had inconsistent results.
A few anecdotal reports suggest some people may experience very mild relaxant effects from smoking banana peels, similar to a placebo. However, natural bananas do not contain high enough quantities of any known psychoactive compounds to induce hallucinations or anything beyond a placebo effect.
In double-blind experiments, subjects who smoked dried banana peels did not report any noticeable intoxicating effects compared to the control group. This suggests compounds in banana peels are not psychoactive at the doses present when smoked.
Does banana blazing have any risks?
While smoking banana peels is unlikely to get you high, it does come with some potential risks and downsides:
- Banana peels contain fiber and starch that can irritate the throat and lungs when smoked, causing coughing.
- Combusting and inhaling plant matter can irritate lungs and airways.
- Chemicals used in growing and ripening bananas may be present in small amounts on peels and get concentrated in smoke.
- Smoking banana peels may be perceived as using illicit drugs and carry legal risks.
- The act of procuring, drying, and smoking banana peels could be seen as odd behavior.
Overall, smoking banana peels appears more likely to cause negative effects on respiratory health compared to any potential psychoactive effects. There are also no benefits to smoking banana peels over safer, proven medicinal uses of bananas.
What does science say about supposed banana hallucinogens?
Over the decades since smoking banana peels was first experimented with, scientists have analyzed bananas to determine if they contain any compounds that could cause a high or hallucinations:
- A 1967 paper analyzed banana peel extracts and did not find elevated levels of serotonin, dopamine, or norepinephrine compared to the pulp.
- A 1969 paper identified trace amounts of bufotenine in banana pulp, but much less than other natural sources.
- A 2008 paper found no bufotenine in banana peels, only trace amounts in the pulp.
- Multiple studies found little to no bufotenine in banana peels, not enough to cause psychoactive effects when smoked.
In summary, extensive scientific analysis has concluded that bananas and their peels do not contain high enough levels of bufotenine, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, or any other known hallucinogenic compounds to induce psychedelic effects. Any effects from smoking banana peels are likely psychosomatic in nature.
What do bananas contain that is medically beneficial?
While smoking banana peels is not an effective way to harness any beneficial compounds, bananas do contain ingredients that can have positive health effects when consumed:
- Potassium – Bananas are high in potassium, an electrolyte mineral that supports heart health and muscle/nerve function.
- Magnesium – Bananas contain magnesium which aids bone strength, muscle and nerve function, immunity, heart health, and anxiety reduction.
- Vitamin B6 – Bananas are fairly high in vitamin B6, which helps the body metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
- Fiber – Banana flesh and peels contain fiber that helps regulate digestion and bowel movements.
- Antioxidants – Bananas contain beneficial plant antioxidants including dopamine and catechins.
The most evidence-based medicinal uses of bananas are to consume the flesh raw or cooked, or blend the peeled fruit to create a healthful smoothie. The peels can also be consumed after thorough washing or added to smoothies.
Are there any legal implications to banana blazing?
There are no laws specifically prohibiting smoking banana peels, given that bananas are not a controlled substance and do not contain high enough levels of any psychoactive compounds to be regulated or illegal.
However, in some cases, smoking banana peels could carry some legal risks:
- Minors could potentially face discipline at school for imitation drug use.
- Smoking banana peels may violate tobacco-free campus policies at schools or workplaces.
- Law enforcement officials may perceive and prosecute banana blazing as marijuana use.
- Banana blazing paraphernalia could prompt investigation for illicit drug paraphernalia.
- The act of procuring, preparing, and smoking banana peels may justify holding charges or psychiatric evaluation.
While banana peels are legal, authorities and institutions may still frown upon smoking them. Anyone experimenting with banana blazing should be aware of the potential perception and risks involved.
What are some bizarre myths about smoking banana peels?
Over the years, some creative myths and urban legends have sprung up around supposedly getting high smoking banana peels. These include:
- Scrape white residue from inside the peel, dry into a powder, and snort it.
- Inject banana peel extracts for intense psychedelic effects.
- Smoke bananas harvested at night and under a full moon for maximum potency.
- Dry and smoke the dark brown strings on the banana peel instead of the yellow parts.
- Smoke peels from green rather than yellow bananas.
- Boil peels to extract bananadine then smoke the residue.
These supposed techniques for enhancing the psychoactive effects of banana peels through preparation methods are completely unfounded. Banana peels simply do not contain any known compounds that induce hallucinogenic or intoxicating effects regardless of preparation method.
What are some creative uses for banana peels?
While smoking banana peels may not give you a high, the peels still offer many creative uses aside from blazing. Here are some constructive ways to use banana peels:
- Add peels to compost piles – They decompose into a rich fertilizer.
- Polish leather shoes – Run the inside of peels over leather to add shine.
- Make banana peel tea – Boil peels to extract nutrients then remove peels.
- Repel aphids and other pests – Place peels around plants plagued by bugs.
- Feed to livestock – Chickens, cows, pigs, and goats enjoy banana peels.
- Create banana vinegar – Ferment peels in water and sugar to make vinegar.
- Extract fibers for fabric – Banana fibers can be woven into sustainable textiles.
The possibilities are endless when you harness the nutritional benefits of banana peels rather than attempting to smoke them. By composting or consuming peels, the nutrients are recycled rather than wasted.
Conclusion
While smoking banana peels became an intriguing experimental technique among hippies and psychedelic enthusiasts in the 1960s, scientific evidence does not support any psychoactive effects. Consuming bananas or their peels may offer some medicinal benefits, but smoking them appears only to risk harmful side effects.
If you come across someone attempting to smoke or prepare banana peels to get high, the best advice would be to educate them that it is ineffectual, carry potential health and legal risks, and promotes an unfounded myth. However, if they insist on experimenting with banana blazing, advise them to at least research safer extraction and consumption methods to harness any nutritional benefits of banana peels.