Earliest Use of Psychoactive and Medicinal Plant 'Harmal' Identified in Iron Age Arabia

An Austrian-German research team analyzed residues for archaeological finds – and proved the earliest use of the plant on the Arabian Peninsula 2700 years ago.

Earliest use of psychoactive and medicinal plant 'harmal' identified in Iron Age Arabia

New research published in Communications Biology has uncovered the earliest known use of the medicinal and psychoactive plant Peganum harmala, commonly known as Syrian rue or harmal, in fumigation practices and inhaled as smoke.

A study published in Communications Biology has discovered the oldest known use of the medicinal and psychoactive plant Peganum harmala, commonly known as Syrian rough or harma ...

Earliest use of psychoactive and medicinal plant 'Harmal' identified in Iron Age Arabia

In an old oasis remains of the plant used for incense have been found. It may have been used for healing and not for rites.

The steppe diamond has long been used in traditional medicine, household and ritual incense in the Middle East and West Asia. A team of researchers from Austria and Germany has now analyzed 2,700 years old incense utensils found during excavations in Saudi Arabia. As reported in the journal "Communications Biology", the psychoactive plant was already used in the Iron Age - it is the earliest proof of its use.