yes, but it's a traditional southeast asian ceremonial plant, so of course it's use has been misinterpreted in the west.
here, it's purported to induce a mellow, euphoric state or to help with sleep. but it's usually consumed as a powder, liquid, or tincture. the problem is that the whole plant is rarely available here, and using only the processed plant material removes most of the phytochemicals that potentiate its effect. it's also fat-soluble, not water-soluble, so consuming it as a tea or as an extract in a beverage is useless, except that prolonged consumption may cause photosensitivity similar to prolonged st. john's wort consumption.
traditionally, and disturbingly, it's consumed by an entire community, who will harvest the plant along with coconuts, chew the leaves (to break down the fibers) while consuming coconut (to help with solubility), then spit the macerated pulp and saliva/liquid into a communal drinking vessel, to which coconut milk/water may or may not be added, before the resulting mixture is passed person to person, usually as the community gathers around a fire at the beginning of ceremonies intended to strengthen the tribal bond. they don't consume it regularly, certainly not daily, and not having light skin, they don't have issues with photosensitivity either.
