Sunday, December 16, 2012

Hookah - Safer Smoking

By Hookah Joe


Hookahs are commonly used devices to smoke flavorful tobacco. A hookah features a water basin, which purifies the smoke before inhalation. The components of a hookah are rather basic and straightforward, but the craft of constructing hookahs has been perfected over centuries in and around the Middle East, and the best quality hookahs continue to be produced in this area.

Structure

Basically, smoke produced by the burning tobacco is passed down via the body, the end of which is immersed in the water jar. When the smoke exits the base of the body, it is purified by the water and stored in the air chamber directly above the water. As the smoke goes through water, the temperature of the smoke decreases and becomes more suitable for the lungs. The hose can be found on the top left section of the water jar. It isn't shown in the diagram, but the length of the hose is around one meter. As the smoker puffs on the hose, the purified smoke exits the air chamber and is inhaled by the smoker through the hose. The end result is a very satisfying, aromatic, thick, and clean smoke exhaled by the smoker. Hookahs are usually smoked in a social, group setting where smokers can enjoy each others' company.

What Do You Inhale from a Hookah?

Hookahs are customarily used to smoke flavored tobacco often called "shisha". Modern-day shisha is made up of some or all of the following: tobacco, treacle (uncrystallized syrup produced in refining sugar), honey, sugar, molasses, glycerin, nicotine, dried fruit and distilled water.

Shisha flavors normally have a fruity base for example Apple, Banana, or Mango. But, nowadays many of the well-known manufacturers are testing with off-shoots of these fruity flavors, for instance Peaches 'n Cream, or Banana Split.

The tobacco flavors have become more and more versatile because of the convenience of flavoring during production. Any ingredient can be mixed in dried tobacco during the production to make unique flavors.

The Origin of Hookahs

The first hookah was designed by a Persian physician called Abul-Fath Gilani in the 1500's. The term hookah originates from the indian name of this device "huqqa." After growing worried about the health hazards of smoking, he developed a system whereby he passed the smoke with a water basin in order to 'purify' it. It is argued, however, that the hookah already existed in other parts of Persia, so the exact origin is not clear. Regardless, the recognition of the hookah grew throughout India and Pakistan, westward into Iran, Turkey, and Lebanon. When the hookah arrived at Turkey, its fame surged among the Turkish elite, and it swiftly spread through Lebanon and Syria to the rest of the Middle East and into northern Africa. It is now gaining popularity among the rest of the globe.

As the hookah reached different countries, it picked up different names.

Nargile (also pronounced Argilee) - Mostly used in Mediterranean countries

Narguile - used in Spain

Lula (or lulava) - used in Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina

Sheesha - used in northern African and Arab nations

Qalyan - used in Iran

Karim Khan - used in Russia, Belarus

Chillim - used in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan

Huqqa - used in India and Pakistan

Gudugudaa - used in Maldives

Marra Pipe - used in the UK

I Wish To Buy a Hookah, Where Should I Go?

Just like a lot of consumer products in the 21st century, hookahs can be purchased in-person or online. Hookah shops have grown with the rise in popularity of hookah bars across the U.S. since the turn of the century. If your home is in or close to a more populated urban environment or college town, your odds of finding a hookah shop are far better. Hookahs are gaining acceptance in the U.S., but they are not as popular here as in the Persian Gulf.

If you don't want to wander around in search of a hookah, then you a buy one on the web from a number of shops online that provide top quality hookahs and shishas.

Are There Any Health Hazards Associated with Smoking Hookah?

The controversy rages on about whether hookah smoking is less hazardous than smoking cigarettes. People who are in favor of smoking hookah express that the smoke that comes from hookah is cleaner since it is purified through water and that the temperature of the smoke is also mild. Critics claim that hookah includes more harmful toxins in comparison with cigarettes. It contains compounds such as tar, carbonmonoxide and heavy metals. Another factor is that a hookah session can last as long as 60 minutes and sometimes even longer whereas a cigarette goes for only 3-4 minutes. On the other hand, hookah smoking is considered to be less addictive than cigarettes, and many hookah smokers do it on a much more casual or social basis, rather than many cigarette smokers who typically smoke several cigarettes daily.




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