Here's another westerner's take on betel nut, a popular recreational stimulant in Southern Asian and Pacific countries.
What is it like to chew betel? Enthusiasts recognize three delightful aspects of the experience: the exhilarating lift; the mysterious flavor; and the cleansing, compelling salivation.In the rare instances where scholarly literature mentions its subjective effects, the news about betel is uniformly good: "It imparts the… repeatedly described sensation of well-being, good humor, excitation, and comfort…The consciousness, of course, remains unimpaired, and the chewer's capacity for work is in no respect affected." (Hesse). "It creates a feeling of energy, appeases hunger and assuages pain." (Henry Brownrigg, Betel Cutters from the Samuel Eilenberg Collection).
These authors don't lie: betel makes you feel strong. Your chest feels broader, your inhalations deeper, your back straighter; and an almost electric invigoration seems to run through your bones. This is a good, healthful, and positive sensation.
More Boing Boing betel coverage here:
Taiwanese betel nut vendor girls told to put clothes back on
