Weapons of Mouth Destruction

1. Weapons of Mouth Destruction Every dugout in major league baseball shares the same salty smell of a "dip" but did you know that nearly 10% of the world population chews betel nut? Or that Yemen uses 40% of its water supply to grow a leaf the people chew on like cows? For thousands of years people from across the globe have chewed on various plants for their mind altering properties, at a cost Kratom shop. The chemicals responsible for the sought after buzz can cause addiction where the user develops a compulsion to constantly cram gob after gob of toxic material into their mouths. Our team of scientists has been able to show that the majority of long term users of any of the following substances, more often than not, hate their teeth. Kratom Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) contains the alkaloid mitragynine which has the unusual property of acting as a stimulant and as a depressant, depending on the dosage. Like all the other plants on the list it is often used by the laboring class to make the burden of manual labor seem lighter. Native to South East Asia, the usage of the leaf is old enough for its true origins to be lost in folklore. While there have been reports of addiction and oral problems stemming from prolonged use, Kratom is perhaps the least hazardous plant listed here. Confined primarily to South East Asia, the habit follows immigrants around the world gaining popularity. Only fairly recently introduced into the west, little is known about Kratom although there have been online reports and historical evidence that it may be effective in the treatment of opiate addiction Kratom products. The user chews the de-veined leaves of this small tree swallowing the juices and occasionally the entire plant mass. Betel Nut Practically one in ten human beings on Earth chews Betel Nut. The addictive alkaloid Arecoline (responsible for the stimulating effect) is unable to dissolve in the saliva without a strong base added. Usually caustic lime is added to extract the alkaloid so that it may be absorbed into the mucus membranes of the mouth. The lime can cause serious damage to the lining of the oral cavity while the betel nut itself stains the teeth red and even black over a period of years. Paan (shown right) is a mixture of Betel Nut and other ingredients like clove or tobacco. It is wrapped in a betel leaf smeared with lime paste. There are entire streets in Thailand and Malaysia stained red from the spit of betel chewers. Tobacco Tobacco use is the leading cause of cancer worldwide. Though recent studies have shown that the use of smokeless tobacco is not as harmful as cigarettes there is still a potential for oral cancer, tooth loss, gum disease, and genuine hate for ones teeth when you pack a "charch". Chewing tobacco has long been associated with the south and a general lack of refinement but its popularity amongst young men in America has been steadily increasing for a number of years in large part because of its use among professional baseball players and aggressive marketing. Tobacco contains nicotine, possibly the most

2. addictive drug in the world, which the plant uses as a natural insecticide. Drop for drop nicotine is more lethal than strychnine and rattlesnake venom, three times more deadly than arsenic. Native to the Americas, tobacco use and the health issues resulting from subsequent nicotine addiction have become a major health epidemic in countries around the globe. Khat The origin of people chewing the leaves of Catha edulis is lost to history but we have evidence that the practice dates back at least as far as the 13th century Kratom store. Native to the Arabian Peninsula and tropical East Africa the leaves have not spread far beyond these areas due to the fact that they must be used fresh, though modern transportation has allowed the plant to follow immigrants from its native home. Modern science has isolated the alkaloid cathinone in Khat that gives the user an amphetamine- like rush. Unlike some other "chews" Khat does not need additional condiments to release the active alkaloids. The user simply chews the deveined leaves by themselves, spitting when necessary. Extensive research has not been performed on the long term health effects of Khat but the economic distress caused by it is becoming increasingly apparent to Yemen which uses nearly 40% of its water supply to grow the shrub. It's safe to say that Khat is addictive, seeing as Yemen is a desert. Coca Cocaine was first isolated in 1855. The use of coca goes back at least three thousand years. Once reserved for royalty, the practice of chewing coca can be found throughout South America despite international efforts to curtail its growth. Native to the Andes, the fresh leaves must be mixed with lime to activate the alkaloids. While it is unclear at this time whether or not coca leaves themselves cause oral degeneration, the lime added to release the cocaine from the leaves is undoubtedly hurtful (and hateful) to teeth. The user experiences numbness of the mouth and a strong mental stimulation but runs the risk of addiction. Our team of archaeologists speculates that Machu Picchu may in fact have been built entirely from lost teeth.