Dan Carlin of Hardcore History, podcaster extraordinaire, did a podcast on the influence of alchohol on history. It was a fascinating program.
Catch it if you can.
In my own readings, which are conducted at Borders while sipping on a medium Awake ‘black tea’ on Saturday Mornings, I came across several references on the influence of ‘spirits’ on the warrior.
Years ago the TV show Star Trek “the next generation” had an episode of 21st Century soldiers fueled by drugs that they sucked in by a hose attached to their armor. If something was too hard to take, they t9ok ‘a hit’ on their drug hose and everything was al’right as they let out a burst from their automatic weapons.
Nonsense you say…OK…but as always reality is much more interesting.
BY SPEAR IS KNEADED THE BREAD I EAT,
BY SPEAR MY ISMARIC WINE IS WON,
WHICH I DRINK, LEANING UPON MY SPEAR.
–Archilochos sang
Or this…
AND DIONYSUS ALSO HAS A CERTAIN SHARE OF ARE’S DOMAIN.
–Euripides from the Bacchae
Or this…
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE RUM RATION I DO NOT THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE WON THE WAR.
–A medical officer of a BLACKWATCH battalion
Many of these quotes came from a brilliant book titled THE WESTERN WAY OF WAR by Victor Davis Hanson. If you want an understanding of what it is like to stand in a Greek battle line – read this book.
By the way, soldiers in War War II were given speed to keep them going under the stresses of war.
Now for anyone that thinks my Star Trek analogy was pushing it, read the following excerpt from WIKIPEDIA.
Propranolol is often used by musicians and other performers to prevent stage fright. It has been taken by surgeons to reduce their own innate hand tremors during surgery.[11]
Propranolol is currently being investigated as a potential treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.[12][13][14] Propranolol works to inhibit the actions of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that enhances memory consolidation. Studies have shown that individuals given propranolol immediately after a traumatic experience show less severe symptoms of PTSD.
Make your own conclusions.