Guest guest Posted January 5, 2008 Report Share Posted January 5, 2008  Alternative medicine: Coca Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:48:47 By Khashayar, MD., Press TV, Tehran Coca leaves are used as a traditional treatment for gastrointestinal disorders and respiratory ailments as well as altitude sickness. Botanical: Erythroxylon Coca (LAMK.) Family: N.O. Linaceae Synonym: Cuca. Cocaine. Habitat: Coca is native to South America especially Bolivia and Peru. Description: Coca is a 2-3 meters high shrubby tree with straight branches and green tinted leaves with small flowers which turn in to red berries after ripening. Part Used Medicinally: Leaves. Constituents: Coca leaves contain cocaine, methylecgonine cinnamate, benzoylecgonine, truxilline, hydroxytropacocaine, tropacocaine, ecgonine, cuscohygrine, dihydrocuscohygrine, nicotine and hygrine alkaloids. In addition, it also contains water, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium and vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C. The cocaine alkaloid is the active coca ingredient found in its fresh leaves. Medicinal Uses: Andeans considered coca to be a messenger from the gods. Today, it is most commonly used as the stimulant drug cocaine which is extracted from fresh coca leaves. In Andean countries, it is used to make an herbal tea with mild stimulant effects similar to strong coffee. It is believed to have mild astringency. Andeans believed chewing coca leaves was good for health and helped high altitude adaptation. It also helps suppress hunger and thirst and relives fatigue. Atrophine, an amino alcohol found in coca, increases contact time between carbohydrates and intestinal mucosa therefore coca is often chewed before and after meals in order to relax the small intestines and facilitate absorption. Coca influences heat production and helps individuals feel warm in cold environments. Coca leaves are used as a cerebral and muscle stimulant, especially during convalescence, to relieve nausea, vomiting and stomach pains. Coca is a good tonic in neurasthenia and debilitated conditions. Chewing coca causes consumers to feel a tingling and numbing sensation in the mouth, similar to Novocaine. Gargling a coca leave infusion has a good analgesic effect in mouth and throat diseases. Mate de coca or coca tea is a tisane made from coca leaves which is used for medicinal and religious purposes by many indigenous tribes in the Andes. Coca tea is also served with every meal in special regions because it is believed to alleviate mild altitude sickness symptoms. Cocaine is a general protoplasmic poison with special affinity for nervous tissue; it is a powerful local anesthetic which paralyses the sensory nerve fibers. When applied to the eyes it dilates the pupils and is a complete local anesthesia. It is a general central nervous system excitant especially in the motor areas and may cause a sense of exhilaration. Cocaine ointment is used to treat eczema, pruritus, urticaria, hemorrhoid pains and severe facial neuralgia. Cocaine has bacteriocidal effects on gram negative bacteria. Cocaine has sedative, analgesic and anesthetic effects and is prescribed in psychiatric disorders as well as dyspepsia and eye diseases. Preparation: Powdered coca leaves should not be used more than 8 grams a day. Cocaine is used as cocaine-chloridate in medication. It is a strong analgesic used to treat ear, mouth, throat and urethrogenital pains. It should be noted that its effect wears off after 5 to 6 minutes. Caution: The use of coca in any form is associated with severe risks and may cause addiction. Chewing coca is associated with an inferior nutritional state (weight-height ratio, skin fold thickness, serum albumin and cholesterol), increased frequency and severity of hookworm anemia and inferior personal hygiene. Arthropodborne diseases and infections as well as pinta and cutaneous leishmaniasis are more prevalent among coca chewers. Cocaine and its products are poisonous and should only be prescribed by a physician. Habitual cocaine users suffer from emaciation, memory loss, sleeplessness and delusion. When used in large doses, cocaine can cause hallucinations, restlessness, tremors and convulsions. Its long term use can cause mild cognitive defects. PKH/HGH L Home | About Us | Feedback | Contact Us © Press TV 2007. All rights reserved. Our privacy Policy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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