Benjamin holds a Master's degree in anthropology from University College London and has previously worked in the fields of psychedelic neuroscience and mental health. Benjamin holds a Master's degree ...

Ancient rituals and customs often leave behind obvious archaeological evidence. From the impeccably preserved mummies of Egypt to psychoactive substance residue that remained at the bottom of a clay ...

Betel nut is chewed by roughly 600 million people worldwide, making it one of the most widely used psychoactive substances on the planet after caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Despite being classified ...

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (Reuters) - For centuries, hundreds of millions of people across Asia, from Pakistan to Palau, have chewed the spicy date-like fruit of the betel palm for a quick buzz. Sign up here.

Long before Ethiopian monks in the 9th century discovered that coffee tree fruit helped them stay awake during evening prayer (according to legend, anyway), communities in Southeast Asia have been ...

In south-east Asia, betel nut chewing has been practiced since antiquity. The plants contain compounds that enhance the consumer's alertness, energy, euphoria, and relaxation. Although the practice is ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Betel nut prices fluctuate frequently. In this stall in Port Moresby they sell for one kina per nut (20 pence) - Torbjörn ...

This is the second in a two-part series on the past and present of the areca, better known as the betel nut. Part one can be found here. In my last article, I analyzed how the betel nut missed its ...

New methods make the ‘invisible visible’ to find evidence of deeply rooted cultural practice which otherwise might have been lost in the archaeological record In south-east Asia, betel nut chewing has ...