How Do Bongs Work?
A bong is a water pipe popularly used to consume marijuana. Proponents of the device say it provides a smoother hit and allows for a higher degree of intoxication. Opponents point out that a bong isn’t any better for the lungs than other smoking methods.
It is an implementation with a long history. Today’s bongs are complicated pieces, but they ultimately perform the same function as their ancient counterparts. This article provides an outline of how bongs work and highlights their benefits and drawbacks
What Is a Bong?
It is a device designed to filter and cool the smoke that comes from the combusted cannabis. You can find a variety of bong types on the market. These range from basic bongs with a chamber and bowl to aesthetic masterpieces. It is a common method of consuming dried marijuana flower. However, you can use it for various herbs.
The variety of bongs on the market range from basic bongs with a chamber and bowl to aesthetic masterpieces.
Bongs tend to have a small bowl that holds the cannabis and a section for holding water. When lit, the marijuana combusts. As the user inhales, the water in the bong percolates. This causes the smoke to rise through the water and bong chamber. Eventually, it reaches the mouthpiece, where the user inhales the smoke.
In the modern era, most bongs are made from glass. However, you can buy ones made from wood, plastic, and bamboo. Also known as a water pipe, the bong is now front and center of cannabis culture. Some users even give their bongs names! It is also possible to purchase bongs encrusted with precious gems like rubies and metals like gold.
While the bong is often associated with the counterculture era, it has been around for a very long time.
A Brief History of Bongs
The word ‘bong’ comes from the Thai word, baung. This term relates to a cylindrical wooden pipe or tube made from bamboo. It can also refer to the bong used for smoking marijuana.
There is evidence of bong usage from approximately 2,400 years ago. Archaeologists found gold bongs in a Russian kurgan. They believe that Scythian tribal leaders used the gold bongs to smoke opium and cannabis. The historian Herodotus has also written about marijuana use amongst the Scythians of that era.
Water pipe usage spread to China during the late Ming Dynasty in the 1500s. Along with tobacco, the device traveled along the legendary Silk road via Persia. There is a suggestion that Empress Dowager Cixi used the water pipe. However, its usage was typically associated with commoners.
During the Qing Dynasty, farmers and villagers tended to use a bamboo bong. Meanwhile, Chinese merchants were more likely to use a more sophisticated metal version.
Modern-day usage spiked in the 1960s during the ‘Hippy Era.’ Bob Snodgrass, an American glassblower, became famous for creating the contemporary water pipe. His pieces laid the foundation for the glass bongs that populate the market today.
Post time: Oct-28-2021