This Ancient Smile Hid a Psychoactive Secret for 4,000 Years

SciTechDaily ^ | August 7, 2025 | Frontiers

[SunkenCiv]

Red liquid produced after chewing betel quid.

Credit: Piyawit Moonkham

DOI: 10.3389/fearc.2025.1622935

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks for the link, although I think I got a contact buzz from reading it, and also need to brush my teeth.

[ifinnegan]

I’d quibble on psychoactive being the accurate term for betel nut chewing.

[Red Badger]

Betel Juice!...Betel Juice!...Betel Juice!.....................

[SunkenCiv]

Stoner! Oh, sorry. 😉

[ifinnegan]

Stoner?

I never chewed betel nut so I don’t have first hand experience, but it’s more like a nicotine or caffeine. Kind of a mild stimulant. Popular among truck drivers to keep alert. No psychoactive properties.

[beef]

What does betel nut chewing do for you? I know it is popular in that part of the world.

[ifinnegan]

Like smoking or drinking coffee.

I’m sure most betel nut chewers smoke too.

It doesn’t make them trip or get high.

[SpaceBar]

It’s basically a mild buzz that corrodes your teeth into nubs due to the lime admixture.

An absolutely filthy third-world habit.

[ifinnegan]

And turns them red.

I remember seeing what looked like pools of blood on the sidewalk or street, but it was spit from betel nut chewers.

It’s not so different than chaw.

[Mogger]

A lot of the locals on Guam chew the stuff.

[Hyman Roth]

I think it cures the mange.

[ifinnegan]

It seems to be a Pacific island thing.

[ifinnegan]

Your pointing out the lime admixture part is key.

[Bullish]

Dude, can ya’ score me some?

[SkyDancer]

You called?

[ifinnegan]

Interesting question.

Is there a market for it in the US?

I never heard of it being sold or used here.

But then again, I never looked.

[Bullish]

Just kidding you know? I’ve had all the ‘substances’ in life I’ll ever need.

[Veto!]

.......... “Stoner?”

LMAO

[Vaduz]

Looks like a California driver somebody has to keep the crash quota up.