Khat Scratch Fever

(with apologies to great American, Ted Nugent.)
Man Jailed After 'Khat' Attack

"A man who attacked and killed his wife after “chewing khat” was jailed for life at the Old Bailey today. Omar Saleh, 32, was found guilty of murdering 24-year-old Hodan who was found collapsed with stab wounds, including a fatal one to her neck at their north London home in April, last year...

The plant is popular in Africa and the Middle East and causes hallucinations and paranoia."

Great: Just what these jihadis need - more hallucinations and paranoia.

About Khat:
For centuries, khat, the fresh young leaves of the Catha edulis shrub, has been consumed where the plant is cultivated, primarily East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. There, chewing khat predates the use of coffee and is used in a similar social context. Chewed in moderation, khat alleviates fatigue and reduces appetite. Compulsive use may result in manic behavior with grandiose delusions or in a paranoid type of illness, sometimes accompanied by hallucinations. Khat has been smuggled into the United States and other countries from the source countries for use by emigrants. "

Khat and Black Hawk Down:
"In 1991, the U.S. sent soldiers to Somalia to aid in calming social and political unrest. Following several heated encounters with local forces in 1993, news stations aired video of rebels dragging dead U.S. soldiers through the streets Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. Reports at the time suggested that the rebel forces were users of khat and that the drug somehow made them violent. Prior to this incident, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) paid little attention to khat. However, following the Somalia debacle and based on inconclusive reports, the Agency designated khat as an illegal substance..."

Muslims are the most avid chewers. Some believe that chewing facilitates contact with Allah when praying and it is commonly referred to as the Leaf of Allah. It is also believed to boost sexual performance and potency. Although in Yemen it has been determined that the chemicals used in propagation cause smokers to become infertile.