Coca leaves are very different from cocaine. The leaf of the coca bush or tree is a natural medicine in South America. Coca leaves are used to be chewed. That’s not addictive. Cocaine, on the other hand, a substance isolated from the leaves, is addictive. The paste base of cocaine that is smoked, also called crack, is even more addictive. Coca tea can be drunk as a medicine for toothache. Traditionally, people chew the leaves for pain. In addition, physical fitness is increased by coca leaves. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.
Coca plant / Source: Darina, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)
Contents:
- Coca leaves are used medicinally
- The whole plant is something other than an isolated substance
- The effect of coca leaves
- Traditional use of coca leaf
- Do flavonoids help coca leaves work?
- Availability of coca tea
- Drug testing
- Coca leaves against obesity
- Coca leaves against coke addiction
Coca leaves are used medicinally
Indians, mainly from Peru, Chile, Bolivia and southern Colombia, have chewed coca leaves for centuries. The Aymara and Quechua Indians in particular used this natural medicine. In Chile, mummies have been found in the Azapa Valley. It turns out that these mummies still respond positively to testing whether they have consumed coca leaves. The mummies date from approximately 1000 BC. Coca leaves are scientifically well known as a non-addictive drug. Cocaine is a dangerous drug because it is a synthesized form of the plant that destroys the body and is highly addictive.
Dried coca leaf / Source: LoggaWiggler, Pixabay
The whole plant is something other than an isolated substance
Scientists who study coca leaves state at the beginning of their research that coca leaves are something completely different from cocaine, although the substance cocaine occurs in small quantities in coca leaves.
The effect of coca leaves
When you chew coca leaves, you will notice the effect within a minute. The mind and body are strengthened. Pains disappear. One side effect is that your lips become somewhat numb.
Traditional use of coca leaf
Coca leaves are traditionally used for stomach problems, depression, pain such as toothache and headaches and travel sickness. These effects have only been used by traditional medicine in countries such as Peru and Bolivia because they always give the desired result. Unfortunately, hardly any scientific research has been made public about the medicinal effects of coca leaves. Coca leaves are always used practically by Indians and not as a recreational drug. A practical use is chewing coca leaves during a mountain hike. If you do this, climbing a mountain becomes somewhat easier. The Spanish used the effect of coca leaves to make Bolivians who were used as slaves work harder than is naturally possible.
Do flavonoids help coca leaves work?
The above research also shows that if people eat 30 grams of coca leaves, there is only 0.000000098 grams of cocaine in the blood. According to the researchers, chewing coca leaves only leads to a minimal release of cocaine, the substance in coca leaves that is so notorious as a hard drug. Because this amount is so small, the researchers raise the possibility that other flavonoids are responsible for the effects of coca leaves.
Availability of coca tea
Coca tea can be sold in the US. The tea or the leaf of the coca plant is also sold in many South American countries. However, coca leaves are not allowed to be sold in Mexico, although there are coke dealers hawking near the toilets in many entertainment venues. Coca leaves are also illegal in the Netherlands, although some shops sell them.
Drug testing
Coca tea can be sold in the United States. It is easily available in this country. In 2006, a study was published showing that people who drank coca tea responded positively to a test to see whether they had used cocaine. Two hours after drinking coca tea, there were residues of cocaine in the urine. In some people, this effect was even measurable after 36 hours. This means that coca leaves can work for a long time. Argentinian research from 2015 shows that hair analysis can provide a solution. Hair analysis can show the difference between cocaine users and coca leaf users, even if people who use cocaine also ingest tea from the leaves.
Coca leaves against obesity
Research from 1978 reports that coca leaves can be used against obesity and to bring the body into optimal condition. This same study states that coca leaves are not addictive. Energy management is normally carried out by glycolysis; burning blood sugars. Because this mechanism is stopped after chewing coca leaves, the body switches to lipolysis; burning fats. That is why coca leaves can be used for weight loss.
Coca leaves on the bush / Source: Darina, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)
Coca leaves against coke addiction
Cocaine addiction ensures that you can no longer maintain your social life and your work. Managing the household also becomes difficult. In 2000, a study was published into the use of coca leaves to cure a cocaine addiction. This research was conducted by a Bolivian doctor who has been working with coke addicts since 1981 by treating them by chewing coca leaves. His therapy consists of chewing 100 to 200 grams of coca leaves per week. According to this doctor, patients can cope better in social life if they chew coca leaves. According to the study, 30% more people were able to maintain their social lives when they used coca leaves as a substitute for cocaine.
