#4.Cobras
The cobra, or naja, family of snakes are renowned for deadliness and are one of the only non-Australian species to regularly show up on "deadliest snake" lists. And for good reason; the venom of the cobra contains several separate active components, including a powerful neurotoxin and a compound that attacks the respiratory system. Essentially, a cobra bite will suffocate you and rape your brain. Obviously it was just a matter of time until someone tried to do some on purpose, to get high.
"COBRAAAA!"
Some of the proteins in cobra venom effectively block acetylcholine receptors in the brain, producing a state referred to by science as "spaced the crap out, man." Iranian-American, new age author, Jamshid Hosseini
described his experience with a drink made from tea, milk and cobra venom whilst traveling with Hare Krishna and Hindu monks:
"Oh, my God, why did I do this? I'm a fool. This is the stupidest thing I ever did."
- Jamshid Hosseini
He then went on to re-experience his childhood before embarking on a cosmic journey through time.
Hosseini barely survived the cobra tea party, and recommends that those seeking spiritual enlightenment substitute meditation for almost dying from deadly snake venom. Still, his experiences haven't deterred our eastern brothers, as many Asian cultures have been bottling "snake wine" for years, jamming cobras into bottles of rice wine and straight grain alcohol to dilute them into the mixture.
Not pictured: snake-induced agony
Spiking alcohol (which is a poison) with cobra venom (which is a poison) is the type of trailblazing genius that painted the Sistine Chapel and brought
The Flintstones to prime time television, so knock back another cold glass of death juice in the name of progress.
Also, there's sometimes scorpions in it, which adds a delightful bouquet of more poison.