Combat and the use of performance enhancing substances

[ganulv]

Does Russian vodka […] count, too?

Though in all seriousness I do understand the role of alcohol as a coping mechanism, even if it is not the optimal choice. I have always assumed that all of the drinking in Beowulf had something to do with anxiety over the possibility of Grendel showing up.

The Incas chewed coca a lot

The Quechua still do, as well as consume coca tea. It’s supposed to help with life at altitude. I don’t know that there have been any good studies about that, though.

IIRC the Zulus and other extremely foot-mobile African tribe armies made use of some chewing stuff, too.

There’s kola nut in West Africa.

Also worth noting that the nicotine content of Nicotiana rustica (the “wild tobacco” traditionally used by American Indians) is around 9% as compared to the 1%–3% of cultivated tobacco.