This is the first in a two-part series on the past and present of the areca, better known as the betel nut. When you think of the frequently addictive substances so many of us use to make it through ...

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 ...

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 ...

(CNN) — For the first time, archaeologists have used advanced scientific techniques on 4,000-year-old dental plaque to confirm traces of betel nut chewing in ancient Thai communities. Betel nuts are ...

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 ...