Hookah has indeed, come a long winding way through ages. It has an ancient history and its first trace can be found in the age of Shah Tahmasp of Persia. After many years, the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, (1542-1605 AD), witnessed the reinvention of the hookah with full fledged enthusiasm and vigor. The story so goes, that an ambassador from Bijapur, named Asad Beg, had encouraged the Emperor to try tobacco smoking and the then physician, Hakim Abu’l-Fath Gīlānī (d. 1588), considering the health hazards caused by tobacco smoking and invented the water pipe, or the hookah as we know it, that could cool down the smoke before it entered the human system. The cooling down of the smoke prevented scorching of the lungs and thereby, posed as a negligible threat to health. It was considered to be a ‘purifying’ process.  Soon, the nobility and the Mughal aristocracy welcomed the hookah with open arms and it soon became popular and a symbol of royal grandeur and aristocracy. Today, the hookah is gaining popularity all around the globe. There are innumerable number of Hookah bars, lounges and cafes found in all the major cities of the world. Some of the main reasons behind the growing popularity of this indulgence are:
• Hookah is much less harmful when compared to cigarette smoking. Cigarettes contain a mixture of Carbon monoxide and Nicotine, which raises the blood pressure suddenly, thereby making the smoker feel somewhat elated and perked up. A regular intake of tobacco smoke can strain the blood vessels and the heart. The arteries eventually get blocked and in extreme cases, it results in a heart attack. The tar that is deposited in the lung coats it just the way soot coats a chimney. This leads to lung cancer, or chronic bronchitis.
• Hookah, on the other hand, does not let in the hot smoke into your lungs. The smoke is purified to a great extent and thereby prevents the lungs from getting scorched.
• The nicotine present in cigarettes can lead to severe health damage and it is often the cause of addiction in men and women. Nicotine raises the blood pressure level and thus gives an illusionary feeling of relaxation and comfort, when in reality it is just the effect of the nicotine on the nervous system temporarily. As soon as the nicotine looses its effect, stress level rises than ever before and makes one want to smoke again. It is a long, eternal chain of getting addicted to something that kills one slowly and painfully. Hookah is much safer and less harmful.
• There are many people who have the misconception that hookah smoking cannot be without the involvement of tobacco or nicotine, and that it is as bad or as harmful as smoking a cigarette. The incorporation of herbs and aromas in hookah smoking has revolutionized smoking altogether. Herbal hookah comes without a trace of tobacco or nicotine. So, you can enjoy smoking, and still avoid the health hazards.
• Herbal hookah comes in a variety of flavors, ranging from Peach, Strawberry, Mint, Liquorices, Blackberry, Blueberry, Orange, Raspberry, Vanilla, Rose, white Grapes, Double apple, Sweet melon, Pine apple, Pina colada, Lime, etc. So, you can choose the flavor that would best suit your mood and your mind. You may stick to a traditional and classic flavor like mint, apple, peach or orange, or you may try something as new as coffee or even chocolate. Try blending two or more of your favorite flavors and essences. You would be introduced to a world of aromas and essences to invigorate your senses and your mood.
• It cannot be denied that smoking in any form has its ill effects but the effects can be reduced to a great extent by switching to herbal hookah and quitting tobacco and the nicotine present in the cigarettes.
• There are various types of hookahs available in the market. You can do an online research and choose the particular one for you.
• You can choose beer, milk, juices or wines to get a thicker and a better smoke and these are undoubtedly not even close to the damage done by tobacco smoke.
• Try and use the minimum amount of coal. This is an advantage in smoking hookah as opposed to cigarettes. You can control and adjust the amount of charcoal that you are putting in.
• An herbal hookah in particular is made of molasses and the flavoring agent, thus, it neither has the effects of nicotine, not tobacco. Take in the aroma that shall envelop you in the perfect fruity and oriental mood.  You can spend hours lazily smoking up in style and royal pleasure and socialize.
So, all of you who have not yet tried the enigmatic and magical experience of an herbal hookah indulgence, you should give it a try soon. You will experience something as never before and you shall also be safe from the threats to your health. You would no more be vulnerable to lung and heart diseases, or the number of types of cancer that are caused by tobacco. Try out the various oriental notes and flavors available and submerge your senses in the world of magical aromatic pleasures. Herbal hookah would be a royal, aristocratic and gratifying experience for you. Quit the tobacco and the nicotine and for a better, more pleasing and healthier option, try herbal hookah.