What can be done with coca leaves. The effect of coca leaves

For many centuries, the indigenous peoples of the Andes in South America have consumed coca leaves, a plant that contains vital nutrients and vitamins, numerous alkaloids, including cocaine alkaloids. The use of coca leaves is especially common in Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. The cultivation and consumption of coca in these countries is as much an integral part of the national culture as wine in France, beer in Germany, tequila in Mexico. This plant is an important symbol of the cultural and religious identity of the indigenous peoples of the Andes in South America.

The centuries-old tradition of drinking coca leaves has absolutely nothing to do with cocaine. The use of coca leaves suppresses the feeling of hunger, thirst, fatigue, causes a surge of strength, improves digestion and physical endurance. Coca leaves contain many vitamins and trace elements, help relieve pain, serve as a natural dietary supplement, have important medicinal properties, such as combating altitude sickness, so it is especially useful for people living high in the mountains. There is no better means of acclimatization to the rarefied air of the highlands of Bolivia than coca leaves.

How to chew coca leaves

Traditionally, coca leaves are either chewed or drunk as a tea (mate de coca). The word "chew" is a popular term, but the leaves are not actually chewed the way a cow chews grass or a man chews his cud. They are simply placed under the cheek and kept for an hour. The petiole of the leaf is preliminarily removed, because, being rigid in structure, they cause discomfort and can injure the mucous membrane.
Saliva begins to envelop the leaves, they significantly decrease in size and roll into a small lump, which is not chewed, but held behind the cheek. But the alkaloids contained in the leaves in this form are not absorbed. To do this, alkaline substances must be added to the leaves, only then the cocaine alkaloids will become activated and absorbed into the blood through the mucous membrane of the mouth and stomach. The most common alkaline substance in La Paz is lejía dulce, made from quinoa ash mixed with anise and cane sugar. In order not to complicate your life, use regular baking soda. The alkali softens the tart taste of the leaves and activates the alkaloids.

A few minutes after the addition of an alkaline agent, the effect of mucosal numbness begins to be felt. This means that the split alkaloids of cocaine began to penetrate into the blood through the mucous membrane of the cheek; part of the secreted juice is absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract.

The maximum effect of chewing coca leaves lasts about 60 minutes, then the numbness in the mouth disappears, which means that the alkaloids contained in the leaves have already been absorbed. To resume the effect, you must use a new batch of leaves.

Coca leaf tea

While chewing coca leaves is common only among the indigenous population, the use of tea made from coca leaves (mate de coca) is characteristic of all sectors of society in Bolivia and other countries of the Andean region. Greenish-yellow in color, it has a mild, slightly tart taste similar to green tea. Coca leaves are sold in tea bags in most grocery stores in Bolivia, and tourist establishments also offer coca leaf tea. It is widely believed that the use of such tea is beneficial for health, mood and activity. Tea is often recommended to tourists to prevent altitude sickness, reduce fatigue and increase physical activity. However, the effect of drinking tea from coca leaves is significantly less than chewing.

Coca leaves - health benefits

The coca bush is a well-known plant in the world due to its content of cocaine alkaloid. However, coca leaves are not cocaine, just like grapes are not wine. Chewing coca leaves is as much "drug use" as eating poppy seed patties. The content of coca alkaloids in coca leaves is very low, somewhere between 0.25% and 0.77%. Therefore, the traditional chewing or tea drinking of coca leaves does not cause a state of excessive euphoria or high, that is, does not cause a state of drug intoxication - which people feel after using cocaine.

A cup of tea made from one gram of coca leaves (typical contents of a tea bag) contains approximately 4.2 mg of coca alkaloids. For comparison, the dose of cocaine is 20 to 30 milligrams. Due to the presence of these alkaloids, coca leaves are a mild stimulant, its consumption can be compared to the consumption of coffee or tea. Coca leaves do not pose a danger of addiction, and do not cause dangerous consequences of addiction. You will feel a slight increase in energy that lasts for an hour, that's all.

Interesting Facts

Bolivia is the world's third largest coca producer after Colombia and Peru.

The cultivation and sale of coca leaves accounts for 2% of Bolivia's GDP.

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Coca bush (lat. Erythroxylum coca), from the Quechua word "kuka" - a type of shrub plant from the coca family. Homeland - the north-west of South America, but the plant is now artificially cultivated also in Africa, India and on about. Java. Coca plays a significant role in the cultural traditions of the Andean people. In the last century, coca has become widely known as a raw material for the manufacture of cocaine, a drug from the class of stimulants.

The coca bush looks like a blackthorn. Plant height 2-3 m. The branches are straight, the leaves are thin, green, oval in shape, tapering at the tip.

Coca flowers are small, arranged in small groups on short stems, the corolla is composed of five yellow-white petals, the anthers are heart-shaped, the pistil consists of three carpels united to form a tripartite ovary chamber. The flowers ripen into red berries.

Pharmacology

The pharmacologically active component of coca is the alkaloid cocaine, which is contained in an amount of ~ 0.2% in fresh leaves. In addition to cocaine, the coca leaf contains many other alkaloids, including methylecgoine cinnamate, benzylecgoine, truxillin, hydroxytropocaine, tropocaine, ecgoine, cuscohygrin, dihydrocuscohygrin, nicotine, and hygrin. Some of these non-psychoactive alkaloids are still used as an additive to Coca-Cola. Coca is also rich in vitamins and trace elements. When chewed, the coca leaf acts as a stimulant, suppressing hunger, thirst, and fatigue. Some anesthetics, such as novocaine, are derived from coca. The LD50 of dry coca leaves is 3450 mg/kg, however this figure is based on the cocaine content of 31.4 mg/kg.

Cultivation and use

The coca shrub is traditionally grown in the foothills of the Andes or highlands, depending on the variety grown. Since ancient times, its leaves have been used as a stimulant by the indigenous people of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. In the mountains, when the oxygen content is low, drinking coca helps to keep active. Coca also has religious and symbolic significance. In the United States, despite the legal manufacture and use of cocaine, which is necessary for medical purposes, since the 1980s, due to the mass sale on the illegal market, unlimited cultivation of coca has been prohibited.

Good fresh examples of dried leaves straighten, have a strong, tea-like aroma, the mouth gradually becomes numb when chewed, and the taste is pungent and pleasant. Old leaves acquire a specific smell, brown color and not sharp enough in taste.

Traditional use

In the Andes, local peoples have been using coca leaves for thousands of years. They traditionally carry a pouch called chuspa or huallqui, which contains a daily portion of coca leaves, along with a small amount of ilucta or lipta powder (quechua llipt "a), quicklime or quinoa ash. A small amount of powder is chewed along with coca leaves; this softens their astringent aroma and promotes the extraction of alkaloid. The names of the powder in different countries are different. In Peru, it is usually called lipta (Quechua llipt "a) and lejía (Spanish lejía). Many of these substances have a salty taste, but there are exceptions. In the area of ​​La Paz, Bolivia, a substance known as lejía dulce (sweet click) is used, which is made from quinoa ash mixed with anise and sugar cane, forming a soft black mass with a sweet taste and a pleasant aroma of licorice. Some places use baking soda called bico in Spanish. bico.

The practice of chewing coca leaves was essential for survival in the harsh mountain conditions. Coca leaves contain many nutrients in addition to mood-altering alkaloids. Rich in protein and vitamins, coca bushes grow in places where other food sources are scarce. Coca has also been used to suppress feelings of drowsiness and headaches associated with low pressure in the mountains. Coca was so commonplace and central to the Andean worldview that distance was often measured in units called cocada (Spanish: cocada) or sharks (Quechua akulli) and meant the number of mouthfuls of coca leaves that could be chewed from one point to another. another. Kokada was also used to measure time, meaning the time it takes to chew a mouthful of coca leaves before losing its flavor and effect.

sacred use

Coca was considered a sacred plant and was used in the religious ceremonies of the peoples of the Andes, both in the pre-Inca era and in the Inca Empire. During the entire time of religious ceremonies, the Indians used coca smoke as a sacrifice to the Sun. Coca is still used for religious purposes, like huaca (quechua wak "a," object of veneration ") among the peoples of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, northern Argentina and Chile. Coca leaves are also used for divination.

In Santa Marta, on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, coca is consumed with a special device called a poporo. Poporo is a symbol of masculinity, but at the same time a sexual symbol of a woman. The device is shaped like a uterus and the stick inside is a phallus. The movement of the stick in the poporo symbolizes sexual intercourse. For a person poporo is a talisman meaning "food", "woman", "memory" and "thinking". It is important to emphasize that the poporo is a symbol of masculinity. But it's the woman who gives men their masculinity. Women are forbidden to use coca until their son is ready to marry.

Titles

Chewing coca is called mambear, chacchar (Quechua chaqchay) or acullicar (Quechua akulliy), or in Bolivia, picchar. The Spanish verb masticar is also used frequently, along with the slang "bolear", a word derived from the word "bola" which means "chewing a ball of coca behind the cheek". In modern times, chewing coca leaves is common among the Andean population. It is especially common in the mountains of Bolivia, where the cultivation and consumption of coca is part of the national culture. Coca serves as a powerful symbol of the local cultural and religious identity of South American tribes. Coca leaves are sold in bags in local markets and street vendors.

coca tea

Coca tea (Spanish: Mate de coca) is made from coca leaves. Commercial production of tea from coca leaves has become widespread, such teas are freely sold in all shopping centers and shops in the Andean countries. The consumption of coca tea is common in South American countries. Coca tea is also used for medicinal purposes, as well as for religious rituals by the peoples of the Andes. On the "Inca Trail" (tourist road to Machu Picchu), guides and tourists drink coca tea to relieve altitude sickness. When officials visit La Paz, it is customary to treat guests to coca tea. According to information agencies, tea from coca was drunk, including Princess Anna and Pope John Paul II, Hugo Chavez.

Colombian police destroy coca plantations by dropping pesticides on them from the air, and Bolivian President Evo Morales, chewing coca leaves, advertises it at almost every international conference he attends.

Coca is a traditional and almost ritual plant for the inhabitants of the Andes, which has been grown for at least five thousand years, and at the same time the raw material for one of the most expensive and popular drugs - cocaine, whose transit through Mexico led to a destructive war of drug cartels. So what is coca, is it evil or good? Magazine MagMen's I decided to conduct my own investigation and find out what coca is and along the way to dispel the stereotypes that there are a huge number of coca.

Where there is cocaine but no coca

Who from U.S never heard of mexican drug cartels and their shipment to the USA a tone of cocaine ? Because of this many people seriously believe that this cocaine is produced in Mexico , from the coca grown there. There is a jungle in southern Mexico, so why not coque? In fact nothing like this , Just Mexico is located next to an important consumer of an expensive drug - the United States, which is why it has become an important transit country for cocaine from Colombia.

Transit because of which a bloody war broke out in the country. Nevertheless, cocaine itself is not produced there and coca is not grown.

Where coca grows

Many coca strongly associated with the jungle, but in fact it does not grow everywhere - it's creepy demanding plant. Coca, or coca bush, in many ways resembles a tea bush and requires similar care. grows not in any jungle, but only in the mountains , on the eastern slopes of the Andes , at an altitude of 500-1500 meters above sea level, higher places are no longer suitable for it - the plant is very sensitive to even the slightest frost.

Coca plantations in the Andes

For these reasons, The coca growing region is a thin, broken strip that stretches along the eastern slopes of the Andes in South America.

How coca is grown

For protection from the bright sun and patrol planes, coca bushes are planted in the shade of taller plants. Coca bush, growing up to 3 meters, is grown from seeds, and then, when the seedlings grow to a height of 40-60 cm, they are transplanted, carefully and regularly weeded. Picking coca leaves is similar to picking tea leaves: they collect fresh tender shoots, dry them under the sun, and this is given that coca grows in humid places where it often rains.

coca plant

Outside the 21st century, but caring for coca is mostly manual labor. The crop is harvested several times a year, and it the amount depends on care.

coca harvest

For this reason, even venerable drug lords prefer to leave coca cultivation to small farmers , which can provide the plant with thorough care, and buy their crops .

Coca - Indian Traditions

You can often hear that coca is not a drug , And between its leaves and the white narcotic powder lies a great abyss; that drugs are bad Chewing coca leaves is an ancient and healthy Native American tradition.

coca in south america

Really, coca leaves contain the alkaloid cocaine, but in small amounts , And when chewing coca leaves, a person’s fatigue decreases, the feeling of hunger is dulled, cheerfulness and slight intoxication appear. It's easy to die from a cocaine overdose, but here, to die from chewing coca leaves, you need to consume more than a kilogram, and in one sitting which is simply unrealistic.

However, everything is not so simple. Before the arrival of Europeans, coca was grown and consumed, but under very strict control, and in of the Inca Empire, coca was chewed by soldiers on difficult campaigns, by nobility and priests. And it's not every day. A for an ordinary peasant, coca was not available.

coca in colombia

The use of coca became a universal tradition under the Spaniards. , at first they banned the plant, due to the fact that it was actively used in pagan rituals, but then, seeing the commercial potential of coca, they actively undertook to grow and sell it. Andean Indians enthusiastically hooked on a previously forbidden fruit , and this is unlikely to have benefited them, because coca was often combined with strong alcohol imported by Europeans.

coca drink

On the basis of alcohol and coca, variants of completely vigorous moonshine were created. And also you can smoke coca (dried), and add to food.

Chewing coca leaves

If you decide to chew coca leaves, it is unlikely that you will like it. The fact is that To they chew the eye for a reason, but by adding a handful of lime, or soda, or even ash or quinoa ash, for better juice extraction. All in all, dubious delicacy, which, by the way, almost all centenarians of South America chew .

Tea is also made from coca leaves. , but this is more for tourists - the locals are used to chewing coca, and so much so that even the distance is measured by pedestrians in cocads, that is, in the number of chewed servings of coca.

Everything in our world is relative. Therefore, none of the existing plants on earth can be called absolutely harmful. You will be surprised, but even the coca plant has its own beneficial properties. It is still used in medicine today. However, this does not mean at all that it can be used. After all, the cocaine contained in this plant is highly addictive and poses a serious danger to life. Today we will talk about the beneficial and harmful properties of this bush, and also tell you what to do if it is poisoned.

The use of the coca plant in medicine

Coca leaves are world famous for the cocaine alkaloid they contain. It is considered a potent narcotic substance that negatively affects the psyche and is highly addictive.

Do not try to grow cocaine at home. This is a criminal offense for which you can get an impressive term.

Despite the huge list of negative properties, the coca bush has found its use in medicine. Let's see what effect this plant has on the body.

The beneficial effects of coca on the body:

1. Despite the fact that coca leaves contain a lot of narcotic alkaloids, one of which is cocaine, this plant is rich in useful trace elements and vitamins.
2. Previously, coca leaves were used in folk medicine for the preparation of various drugs for diseases.
3. Until now, cocaine is used as a local anesthetic for oral and eye surgery.
4. Plastic surgery on the eyes is also rarely done without the use of an anesthetic based on coca leaves. This drug, in addition to anesthesia, is able to constrict blood vessels.
5. Coca leaves are a powerful energy drink. It improves performance and mood. It also reduces the feeling of hunger and thirst.
6. Some asthma medications contain coca leaf extract.
7. Also, this tool copes well with ailments of the gastrointestinal tract.

Coca leaves cannot be unequivocally called a harmful product. When used correctly, they can only bring benefits.

Addiction and coca bush

The ancient Incas lived from ancient times the seeds and leaves of coca. This plant acted as a natural energy booster and was a great mood booster. Such a product acts much softer than pure cocaine.

Despite the fact that the use of coca leaves is called chewing, in fact this term is not entirely accurate. In fact, coca greens are placed in the oral cavity and softened and absorbed there, due to which the alkaloids are slowly absorbed into the palate.

Cultivation of coca leaves has been practiced by African tribes for a very long time. There, this plant has not so much medical as religious significance. In addition, the tribes that use it often experience nutritional deficiencies, and coca leaves can overcome hunger and thirst. In addition, such chewing guarantees a surge of energy and uplifting mood.

Preparation of coca leaves for chewing in different ways:

1. The Indians chewed coca leaves mixed with lime. To do this, they took greenery and cleaned it of veins, after which they rolled it into a ball and placed it under the sky. Next, a stick dipped in lime was placed in the mouth.
2. In the Andes, growing coca is half the battle. You need to prepare a special catalyst for it. To do this, the plants are fired in a special pot until they turn into a fine powder. It is moistened with corn beer, schnapps or lemon juice and shaped into pyramids and dried in the sun. When the mixture hardens, it breaks into pieces that are chewed along with the coca leaves.
3. Coca leaves can also be chewed with various flavorings. For example, in Peru, roasted pea leaves and marigolds are used.

In African countries, the coca plant is very popular. It is rich in narcotic substances, therefore it is able to cheer up and stimulate the efficiency of the brain. However, do not think that this is useful.

Dangerous effect on the body of coca leaves

Coca leaves are used for medicinal purposes. They anesthetize the face and have a beneficial effect on brain activity. In addition, they cheer you up and are a natural energy booster. However, at the same time, they have a lot of side effects.

You know that Stephen King and Sigmund Freud used cocaine. However, they soon felt all the consequences of such a hobby, and "got off" this drug, which was not easy to do.

A plant like coca is very dangerous to health. Despite all its medicinal properties, this tree has terrible side effects.

Harmful properties of coca:

1. The main side effect of cocaine is rapid addiction. In this case, the psychological attachment occurs faster than the physical one.
2. Heavy "withdrawal" appear only after a few doses of cocaine. However, they are present in a lighter form and with the usual chewing of the leaves.
3. Over time, previous doses of cocaine do not have the desired effect. They have to be increased. In the case of coca leaves, they have to live constantly.
4. When sniffing cocaine, the nasal septum collapses. First, bleeding wounds appear on it, then holes, and in the end, both nostrils are connected, due to the death of this very septum.
5. Soon, without the support of coca leaves, the person begins to experience depression. Psychoses appear. Many commit suicide.
6. Heart attack and stroke are two other side effects of eating products made from coca leaves. These alkaloids adversely affect the state of the heart, blood vessels and brain.
7. An overdose of cocaine often results in death. However, with coca leaves, this effect is difficult to achieve.

Cocaine addiction is treated. However, for this a person needs to make a great effort on himself. After all, the main rule of recovery from coke addiction is the rejection of cocaine. Also, the patient may be prescribed drugs that relieve the intensity of "waste" and a visit to a psychologist.

What to do in case of poisoning with coca leaves and seeds

Coca grows in African countries. However, they bring it to us. In addition, there are "craftsmen" who grow this plant at home.

Unfortunately, cocaine addicts are not so few. Such a hobby often leads to overdoses, and as a result, death. Therefore, it is necessary to know what to do in case of cocaine poisoning.

What to do in case of cocaine poisoning:

1. First of all, the stomach is washed with a one percent solution of carbolene. However, this method is effective only when chewing the leaves.
2. A few drops of nitroglycerin are also injected inside. Warm drinks are used.
3. You may need a heart massage. This is when it stops.
4. With severe psychosis, drugs used to treat schizophrenia are prescribed.

Of course, if you see that a person has an overdose of any drug, then you must immediately call an ambulance. Self-medication can only hurt.

The impact of coca leaves on humans (video)

Coca leaves are used in medicine. They are good for local anesthesia of the face and mouth. However, if used incorrectly, they can cause great harm.

Encyclopedic YouTube

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✪ 20 SHOCKING FACTS ABOUT COCAINE

Subtitles

Cocaine is one of the most insidious drugs known to mankind. Usually cocaine is used with sugar, novocaine, amphetamines and other drugs similar to novocaine. As soon as you start taking cocaine, it becomes almost impossible to get rid of its power. I present 20 facts about one of the most dangerous drugs of the 21st century. Cocaine is a narcotic substance obtained from the leaves of the coca bush (Coca), which grows in the Andean highlands of South America. Cocaine comes in two main forms, powder form and crystal form. In the crystalline form, cocaine is sold by wholesalers, then it is brought into a sales form. Cocaine is almost always diluted by dealers in order to increase the total quantity and maximize profits. Common cocaine additives include lactose, lidocaine, cornstarch, talc, and sugar. Cocaine is the most powerful central nervous system stimulant found in nature. After using cocaine, a person has vasoconstriction, fever and increased heart rate. People begin to experience a surge of strength, self-confidence, and there is also a feeling of euphoria. The average retail price per gram of pure cocaine in the US currently ranges from $80 to $100. It is cocaine that kills three times as many people as all other illegal drugs. The combination of cocaine and alcohol releases toxins and kills about 75% of addicts. Every day, 2,500 Americans try cocaine for the first time. Coca leaves, the source of pure cocaine, have been chewed and swallowed for thousands of years to produce a narcotic dope. Men feel the effects of cocaine faster than women. Cocaine was first extracted from coca leaves in 1859 and added to fortified wine in France as early as 1863. And since 1880, it began to be used as an anesthetic. Cocaine hydrochloride, a purified chemical from coca leaves, was the main active ingredient in tonics and elixirs made for various ailments in the early 1900s. Until 1903, Coca-Cola soft drinks contained nine milligrams of cocaine per serving to create a powerful stimulant effect. Sigmund Freud recommended cocaine as a useful drug to his patients and was himself addicted to powerful drugs. Babies born to mothers who used cocaine during pregnancy tend to have low birth weight and suffer from brain damage. After cocaine was banned in the US in 1914, the demand for it dropped dramatically. But since the 1960s, the popularity of cocaine has risen again and by the end of the 1970s, cocaine was already widely used by many Americans from the middle class and above. Approximately 10% of people who start using cocaine immediately move on to more serious and difficult drugs. Cocaine can be found in many countries around the world. The only region where almost no cocaine is used is Asia, because local drugs are much cheaper there. More than 800 tons of cocaine are produced annually in the world.

Botanical description

Varieties and classification

Several varieties of coca are known:

• Erythroxylum coca var. ipadu Plowman, 1979
• Erythroxylum coca var. novo-granatense D.Morris, 1889
• Erythroxylum coca var. spruceanum Burck, 1890

Erythroxylum coca variant Lam. var. ipadu Plowman is almost indistinguishable from regular coca (Erythroxylum coca Lam. var. coca), the other two varieties are usually considered synonymous Erythroxylum novogranatense (D.Morris) Hieron.

History of coca

Archaeological remains associated with the chewing of coca leaves have been found in northwestern Peru in cultural layers dating back to 6000 BC. Subsequently, it was found everywhere in various Andean cultures.

The first acquaintance of Europeans with coca

For the first time, Europeans, presumably, encountered it at the discovery of the New World - on October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus was presented with " dry, very valuable leaves”, which were either tobacco or coca.

Use of coca by the Andean Indians

There were several uses of coca among the Incas:

The first two methods were the main ones. Accordingly, the main consumers of coca were the ruler of the Sapai Inca and his entourage, as well as temples and shrines, in connection with which the bulk of the population did not use coca.

Discovery of coca by Europeans in Peru

When the Spaniards arrived in the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco, they discovered two varieties of coca: mamox coca (Erythroxylum coca Lamarck), which grew on the eastern slopes of the Andes, and tupa coca (Erythoxylum novograntense, later identified by D. Morris), smaller and intended for the Inca ruler, delivered to Cusco from the Pacific coast of northern Peru, also used by messengers and travelers for encouragement. By the Second Council of Lima in 1567, chewing coca was recognized as a pagan rite and forbidden. To which the well-known lawyer Juan de Matienzo (a supporter of the harsh exploitation of the Indians and a lobbyist for coca cultivation) stated in the same year: “ Do not be coca- no Peru”, since coca was one of the most important sources of income for the Viceroyalty of Peru and, accordingly, the Spanish Empire. As Diego de Robles reported in his report on Peru (1570s): “ coca The Andes is very harmful to the Indians ... a lot of people died from it, ”meaning the extremely high mortality in the collection of coca, which grew in unfavorable conditions for human life, which was caused by the massive defeat of the Indians by infectious diseases, as a rule, the peddlers of which were mosquitoes. This is also stated in his report to the King of Spain by the official Fernando Santillan, who also provides information that under the Incas, coca cultivation was not widespread everywhere, it was only harvested for the Inca himself and a number of senior officials, and only the Encomendero Spaniards began to drive the Indians into places where coca grows for its collection and harvesting.

A number of Spanish chroniclers mention coke as an object of worship and sacrifice:

• Juan de Betanzos () is one of the first historians to tell in detail about coca: “ And then he ordered that all the inhabitants of the city, both men and women, come to make their sacrifices to the house of the Sun; these sacrifices, when all the people gathered together, were burned: a certain amount of maize and coca on a fire, each one entering one after another, barefoot and with lowered eyes» .
• Cieza de Leon, Pedro de in the Chronicle of Peru () left numerous information about the plant and its dried leaves: “ Everywhere in the India where I passed, I noticed that it was a great pleasure for the local Indians to carry roots in their mouths, like twigs or grass. So in the area of ​​​​the city of Antiocha, some used small coca, and in the provinces of Armagh, other herbs. In Quimbaya and Anserma - the soft core of the trees, and they are always very green, cut off a few veins, which they chew with their teeth so as not to get tired. In most villages subordinate to the city of Kali and Popayan, the already named small coca is carried in the mouth and a special mixture or composition is obtained from small gourds, prepared by them and placed in the mouth, and carried there, doing the same with a special earth similar to lime. Throughout Peru, it was in fashion, and even now, to carry this coca from morning to night without throwing it away. Asking the Indians why their mouths are always occupied with that grass (which they do not eat, but only chew), they say that they feel less hungry and that they find in themselves a lot of strength and vigor.» .
• Monk Juan de San Pedro () reports on the nature of the narcotic effect of coca: “ They also worshiped Ataguh in a different way, namely: by burning coca(this is a herb that the Indians greatly appreciate and say that by holding it in their mouths without swallowing, they gain great strength and become cinchami [leaders; brave], which in their language means brave). With the help of this herb they perform great sins and sacrifices, and a certain amount of it is found in vakas.
• Polo de Ondegardo, Juan (): " Such a tax or tribute was collected by the Inca as King and ruler, and not as a private person. This is where the big misunderstanding comes from. It was stated that all fields coca belonged to the Inca, which was true, and for that reason they belong to His Majesty» .
• Molina, Cristobal de (): " There were others, called Wiraypirikuk, who burned the brisket of a sheep on fire and coca and predicted what would happen by certain signs while those things were burning...»; « They also offered certain large baskets to the same vakas. coca, called pavkar-runku, and others called pavkar-kintu, like coke, and a little fried maize, and red and yellow sea shells, called mulyu, in the form of maize ...»; « Then they went out to sing and dance in the square now called Limapampa by the Spaniards, which is located behind the square of San Domingo. Here in the morning the Priests of the Creator sacrificed a white sheep, maize, coca, multi-colored feathers, sea shells, called mule; begging the Creator to grant a prosperous year and that, after all, He created all things from nothing and gave them existence, therefore he would deign to satisfy their request» .
• Avila, Francisco de (): " And when they had to start some hard work, they prayed to him, throwing sheets coca on the ground, saying: “Make me remember this, which Kuniraya Viracocha foresaw,” and so that they could not see Viracocha, the ancient [residents] spoke to him and prayed.»; « But at that very moment, the woman turned to stone. And to this day she is there, with her human legs and distinguishable sex; it is located above the road, where Vathiakuri put it. Yes, and today even she is [worshipped and] sacrificed coca for any reason» .

The first scientific information about coca in Europe

The first scientific information was published in Europe by the Seville physician Nicholas Monardes in 1565, presumably from material brought by Cieza de Leon. The translation into Latin was made by Carl Clusius, botanist and director of the Imperial Botanical Gardens in Vienna (Austria), and this is his most cited work on coca issues.

The second scientist who described coca in detail was the naturalist, Jesuit Jose de Acosta ().

The history of the dissemination of information about coca in Europe

• - a physician, as well as the President of Peru, Hipólito  Unanue, reads a report in New York on the properties of coca.
• - Dr. Weddell suggested that the effect of coca is due to the presence of theine (the active ingredient in tea), shortly before it was discovered, but it could not be found.
• - from the concentrate - essential oils - small needle-like crystals were obtained, called " Erythroxyline».
• - a concentrate was created on the basis of oxidized alcohol (the alcohol then evaporated), and on the basis of an alkali solution from sodium carbonate. But the experiment failed, and the unusual properties of coca were declared legendary.
• - coca becomes known in Europe thanks to the essay by Paolo  Mantegazza.
• Then I received from Dr. Scherzer, who was traveling in Peru, in Göttingen, Albert Nieman(German: Albert Niemann) [ remove template] extracts from it a special component - the alkaloid C 32 H 20 NO 8, and calls it cocaine. Was also received cocaine wax- C 66 H 66 O 4 and a number of other products. The studies of Maisch and William Lessen (Maisch, William Lessen) brought the formula to the current C 17 H 21 NO 4 .
• - production of a wine drink with cocaine "Vino Mariani" begins.
• - Sigmund Freud supports the use of cocaine.
• - Kohler, a physician from Vienna, discovered the beneficial properties of cocaine when used during surgical operations.
• - Emil Erlenmeier considers cocaine " third scourge».
• - Coca-Cola appears as a medicinal drink.
• - In the Royal Botanical Gardens of the London suburb of Kew (Great Britain), D. Morris identified as Erythroxylum novogranatense, the so-called Colombian coca or Trujila coca .
• - American medicine learns about the properties of coca in Mortimer's fundamental work "The History of Coca".
• - Cocaine falls under the Opium Convention.
• - In Peru, the Hague Convention is signed, which begins the rejection of the use of coca, supported by Peruvian psychiatrists.
• - WHO committee decides that millennial coca chewing should be considered substance abuse.
• - The General Convention on Narcotic Drugs decides to eradicate coca.
• - The US government began imposing sanctions against states cultivating coca.

Titles

	Wikinews on the topic of chewing coca:

Chewing coca is called mambear, chacchar(Quechua chaqchay) or acullicar(quechua akulliy) - chew for a short time; chew constantly - Castuni, or in Bolivia, picchar. Spanish verb masticar also used frequently, along with slang " bolear" is a word derived from the word " bola", which means " chewing a ball of coca behind the cheek».

Most of the names of coca were left by the compiler of the Quechua-Spanish dictionary Diego Gonzalez Olgin (). So, "coca seeds" in Quechua were originally called Mucllu, "basket of coca" - Runcu. "There is coca" - Accullini acullicuni acuni.

Other original historical names of the XVI-XVII centuries:

It is noteworthy that the word husband" sounded like " coca”, but perhaps somewhat differently, given that the Spanish Catholic missionaries did not always clearly distinguish between aspirated and non-aspirated consonants. There was also a personal name for Inca princesses and wives of rulers - “ Coca", for example in the name Chuki Vip Koka, the wife of the ruler of the empire Vaskar Inca (" Message kipukamayokov", 1542 ).

Pharmacology

The pharmacologically active component of coca is the alkaloid cocaine, which is contained in an amount of ~ 0.2% in fresh leaves. In addition to cocaine, the coca leaf contains numerous other alkaloids, including methylecgoine cinnamate, benzylecgoine, truxillin, hydroxytropocaine, tropocaine, ecgonine, cuscohygrin, dihydrocuscohygrin, and hygrin. Some of these non-psychoactive alkaloids are still used as an additive to Coca-Cola. Coca is also rich in vitamins and trace elements. When chewed, the coca leaf acts as a stimulant, suppressing hunger, thirst, and fatigue. The LD50 of dried coca leaves is 3450 mg/kg, however this figure is based on the cocaine content of 31.4 mg/kg.

• Some synthetic anesthetics, such as novocaine, are named after cocaine but have nothing to do with coca alkaloids.

Cultivation and use

The coca shrub is traditionally grown in the foothills of the Andes or highlands, depending on the variety grown. Since ancient times, its leaves have been used as a stimulant by the natives of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. In the mountains, when the oxygen content is low, the use of coca relieves the symptoms of altitude sickness, helps to keep active. Coca also has religious and symbolic significance. In modern times, chewing coca leaves is common among the Andean population. It is especially common in the mountains of Bolivia, where the cultivation and consumption of coca is part of the national culture. Coca serves as a powerful symbol of the local cultural and religious identity of South American tribes. Coca leaves are sold in bags in local markets and street vendors. Scientists do not find evidence of chronic poisoning and addiction due to chewing coca leaves :186:290 . Good fresh specimens of dried leaves flatten out and have a strong, tea-like flavor. When they are chewed, the mouth gradually becomes numb, the taste is sharp and pleasant. Old leaves acquire a specific smell, brown color and not sharp enough in taste.

Contrary to popular belief, North American climate conditions are favorable for coca cultivation. In the United States, due to the "War on Drugs" that began in the early 1970s, which made it difficult to ship cocaine from traditional sources of cocaine, some cocaine users began to grow coca bushes at home (at first in greenhouses, and soon in large sizes in the open soil). There is evidence that a market for coca seed and plant technology existed in the US as early as 1977. Government agents have discovered coca plantations in Florida, Puerto Rico and Hawaii :302. Since the 1980s, due to mass distribution on the illegal market, unrestricted cultivation of coca has been banned.

Seeds are planted from December to January separately from young shoots in a place protected from the sun. At a height of 40-60 cm, the seedlings are transplanted into carefully weeded soil. Coca blooms better in hot, humid areas, in open areas; in tropical forests. The best leaves are grown in hilly, dry areas. Only fresh shoots of leaves are collected. Leaves ripe for assembly break when bent. The first, most abundant harvest is in March, after the rainy season; the second - at the end of June, the third in October or November. The collected leaves (matu) are laid out in a thin layer on a coarse woolen cloth to dry in the sun. Dried leaves are stored in bags, protected from moisture.

Traditional use

Everyday use

In the Andes, local peoples have been using coca leaves for thousands of years. The process of eating coca leaves consists of chewing the leaves, absorbing the juices that are released during this, and swallowing the leaves themselves:289. Indians traditionally carry a pouch called chuspa or huallqui which contains a daily portion of coca leaves along with a small amount of powder. ilucta or lipta(quechua llipt "a), quicklime or quinoa ash. A small amount of powder is chewed along with coca leaves; this contributes to maximum extraction of the alkaloid and softens the astringent aroma of the leaves. The names of this alkaline additive are different in different countries. In Peru, it is usually called lipta(quechua llipt "a) and lejia(Spanish) lejia). Many of these substances have a salty taste, but there are exceptions. In the area of ​​La Paz, Bolivia - a substance known as lejia dulce(sweet click), which is made from quinoa ash mixed with anise and sugar cane, forming a soft black mass with a sweet taste and a pleasant aroma of licorice. Some places use baking soda called Spanish. bico .

The researchers suggested that the average daily dose of coca leaves that an individual could consume was about sixty grams. Thus, taking into account the alkaloid content in cocaine leaves (only 0.5-0.7% of their mass), the daily dose of cocaine, evenly received by the body for a long time, was at the level of 200-300 (according to other sources - up to 500: 289) milligrams . Since the bioavailability of cocaine by oral route of administration is quite low - 20-40%, chewing coca leaves could not have a significant effect on health. Eyewitnesses described their own sensations from chewing coca leaves as similar to those after drinking two cups of coffee.

The practice of chewing coca leaves was essential for survival in the harsh mountain conditions. Coca leaves contain many nutrients in addition to mood-altering alkaloids. Rich in protein and vitamins, coca bushes grow in places where other food sources are scarce. Coca has also been used to suppress feelings of drowsiness and headaches associated with low pressure in the mountains. Coca was so commonplace and central to the Andean worldview that distance was often measured in units called cockada(Spanish) cocada) or sharks(quechua akulli) and meant the number of mouthfuls of coca leaves that could be chewed while going from one point to another. Kokada was also used to measure time, meaning the time it takes to chew a mouthful of coca leaves before losing its flavor and effect.

Superstitious use

coca tea

International use

Coca has been smuggled for a long time. The legal export of processed coca is well established, coca leaves are exported as tea, were an integral part in the preparation of Coca-Cola (before substitution for caffeine) and for medical use.

Industry

Coca is used to make cosmetics and in the food industry. In the pharmaceutical industry, coca is used in the manufacture of anesthetic drugs.

Legality

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the use of coca is regulated under Schedule 1 of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, Chapter 134. Only healthcare professionals for university research are allowed to use coca. The substance can be used by pharmacists as prescribed. Anyone who supplies a substance without a prescription can be fined HK$10,000. For trade or manufacture of the substance - a fine of $ 5 million and life imprisonment. Using cocaine for consumption without a license from the Department of Health is illegal and punishable by a $1 million fine and/or 7 years in prison.

Russia

In Russia, the coca leaf is included as a narcotic in List I of the List of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors subject to control in the Russian Federation (traffic is prohibited).

Notes

1. For the conditionality of indicating the class of dicotyledons as a higher taxon for the group of plants described in this article, see the section “Systems APG” of the article “Dicotyledonous” .
2. Erythroxylum novogranatense(eng.): information about the name of the taxon on the site The Plant List (version 1.1, 2013) 11/20/2011.
3. Humans started chewing coca leaves 8,000 years ago (indefinite) . Russian service BBC (2010-12-2). Retrieved March 9, 2017.
4. Cocachasqui - Coca y Mundo Andino Cocachasqui coca Perú Peru coke cocaine drugs drogas cocaína drug peace
5. Juan de Matienzo de Peralta. "Gobierno de Perú"
6. Coleccion de Documentos ineditos de Indias. Tomo XI. - Madrid, 1869, p. 40
7. Relacion del origen, descendencia, politica y gobierno de los inca (1555) (indefinite) . Archived from the original on July 10, 2012.
8. Juan de Betanzos. Narration about the Incas and their total number (indefinite) . Archived from the original on July 13, 2012.
9. Chronicle of Peru. Part First (per. A.Skromnitsky)”, - Kyiv, 2009 (indefinite) .