Ayahuasca has been gaining a lot of attention over the past decade. In its native Amazonian regions, it is known as a herbal concoction consumed during religious ceremonies. In the West, the term has become associated with a kind of spiritual retreat, where the psychoactive component of the drink is believed to promote mental clarity …
Betel nut chewing which is commonly practiced in Asia, Micronesia, Island Melanesia, and the Caribbean is often associated with cancer due to its carcinogenic nature. But a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that the muscarinic drug could have positive effects on schizophrenic symptoms. A study carried out at the Behavioral Health …
Studies Suggest Betel Nut Chewing May Help With Schizophrenia Symptoms Read More »
Betel nut is often used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat diseases, various gastrointestinal disorders and jaundice. Modern pharmacology has also shown that betel nuts can be harmful and increase the risk of cancers, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. A recent study conducted by scientists in Hainan, China focused on microbiota in …
Long-term Betel Nut Chewing Found to Affect Gut Microbiota Read More »
Poppy seeds are an oilseed obtained from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and infamously linked with the psychedelic opium. That substance however is only derived from the seedpods of unripe poppies through a dried extraction method. Otherwise the kidney-shaped seeds are safe for consumption and widely used around the world, especially in bread and pastry, …
Betel nut chewing is a highly addictive and narcotic substance that is consumed by more than 600 million people worldwide. Despite much research revealing its carcinogenic effects, the practice is still prevalent, especially in parts of Southeast Asia, Micronesia, South Asia, and parts of southern China. Many cite cultural and religious ties as reasons for …
A Comprehensive Review Of Adverse Effects of Betel Nut Chewing Read More »
Betel nut chewing has significant cultural relevance in Guam and other parts of Micronesia. In an effort to raise awareness about the harmful effects of consuming this carcinogenic substance, scholars started looking towards social media to examine how betel or areca nut depictions are perceived. Focusing primarily on Instagram, the study found that images uploaded …
Instagram Depictions Of Betel Nuts May Encourage Usage Read More »
Mescaline is a naturally-occurring alkaloid which causes hallucinogenic effects similar to those of LSD and psilocybin. It has been used for religious rituals by North American Natives as far back as 5700 years ago and has been claimed to be a viable treatment for depression, anxiety, headache, obsessive compulsive disorder and addiction to certain substances, …
Mescaline Less Addictive Than Cannabis, Scientists Conclude Read More »
Scientists are calling for a re-evaluation of psychodysleptic plants in the context of research and taxonomy. Psychoactive plants such as peyote and cannabis are staple ingredients in Native American rituals. However the effects and intensity of each compound greatly depends on its preparation, therefore scientists are proposing a framework for several classification groups: Hallucinogens – …
Call For More Accurate Classification of Psychodysleptic Plants Read More »
Ayahuasca is a plant concoction from South America ritually used by Amazonian shamans during various rituals and ceremonies. It is prepared by cooking leafs from the Psychotria viridis bush mixed with the liana Banisteriopsis caapi. Nowadays the word is more often associated with a type of spiritual retreat where participants ingest the concoction to improve …
Validating The Effects of Ayahuasca With Placebo Controlled Studies Read More »
Papaver somniferum or opium poppy is highly prized by the pharmaceutical industry as a source of alkaloid compounds. The plant also produces poppy seeds, a common ingredient in baked goods. Morphine and other alkaloid compounds can be obtained during the flowering stage of the plant’s life cycle when the petals have fallen and the dried …
Scientists Looking At Reducing Opium Alkaloids In Poppy Seed Food Production Chain Read More »
