Medicinal and Alternative Uses of Coca

The traditional medicinal uses of coca focus on its stimulant qualities, which help overcome general fatigue, hunger, and thirst. Since ancient times, the use of the coca bush, and in particular coca leaves and coca seeds, for medicinal purposes has been an important part of folk treatment. Consuming coca leaves is said to be particularly effective in combating height phobia, headaches, and even migraines. Concentrated drinks made from coca leaves are a good treatment for the side effects of malaria, asthma, and respiratory problems. It has long been believed that regular consumption of coca leaf drinks helps prevent digestive problems, as well as improve overall health and longevity. As previously mentioned, coca is very often used as a general pain reliever to relieve headaches, arthritis, rheumatism, etc. Concentrated medicines made from coca leaves have also been used for more serious problems requiring anesthesia. For example, during childbirth or surgery. Coca, and later cocaine, contains precisely those types of alkaloids that can constrict blood vessels. It is for this reason that coca-based drugs have anti-hemorrhagic properties and are used to stabilize blood flow and stop bleeding. An interesting fact is that before the advent of coca-based medicines, coca seeds were often used to stop nosebleeds. Western Medicine Early in the 16th century, the medicinal properties of the coca plant were first discovered in Europe, and coca-based medicines were mass-produced. The coca plant (not cocaine) has been used to make a variety of pharmaceutical drugs such as wines, tonics, syrups, elixirs, etc. Mentions of the medicinal use of coca plant preparations can be found in Western codices before the 1940s. However , the use of the coca plant for medicinal purposes then disappeared due to a new discovery in the 19th century. This discovery was the “miracle drug” cocaine, the immoderate use of which led to a stir around the world. Due to the abuse of cocaine, the coca plant has become one of the banned plants. For this reason, the use of the coca plant in medicine abruptly ceased. Other Uses for Coca Some anthropological literature speaks of alternative uses for the coca plant. One such method of consuming coca is smoking coca leaves. However , this use of coca is more ritualistic than effective, since coca leaves set on fire lose absolutely all of their beneficial properties and subsequently become non-psychoactive. Under the influence of temperature, the psychoactive substances contained in coca leaves evaporate instantly. And, of course, it is impossible not to mention the use of the coca plant as the manufacture of cocaine. Coca leaves are intensively and carefully processed in order to extract the essential HCl alkaloid known as the cocaine alkaloid. Another non-standard method of using coca is chewing mate de coca (coca mate ) (tea bags made from coca leaves). Because mate de coca sachets are pre-processed and ready to use, they will therefore be more effective than fresh coca leaves. The process of chewing tea bags made from coca leaves (coca mate) is quite interesting. As a rule, 3 to 8 tea bags are used. Each of which opens, and a pinch of sodium bicarbonate is placed inside the bag. The sachets are then closed with saliva and placed in the mouth for absorption. After 15 minutes, the first signs of the action of coca leaves appear, that is, the effect of numbness. In fact, this method of chewing mate de coca is more effective than chewing whole leaves. Since, thanks to the crushed coca leaves in the bag, the reaction of alkali and the leaves themselves is faster, therefore, the effect of consumption will be stronger. Industrial Uses of Coca The industrial uses of the coca plant are, oddly enough, very diverse. In the food industry, the coca plant is commonly used as a flavoring or food additive because coca leaves contain beneficial vitamins and minerals. In the cosmetic industry, the coca plant is used as a natural additive in cosmetic medicines. In the 19th century, coca leaves or the medicinal extract from coca leaves were used in the production of medicinal wines, syrups and tinctures. The use of the coca plant in this way was the beginning of the mass production of commercial “coca” drinks and “coca” products in general, such as Coca-Cola.

Medicinal and Alternative Uses of Coca Traditional The industrial tradition of using coca leaves as a flavoring agent in soft drinks originated from the use of coca as a tonic in drinks. Cocainized coca leaf extract is used to this day as one of the flavoring ingredients in the soft drink Coca-Cola. Despite a UN ban on the industrial use of coca leaves, within the United States, coca leaves are used industrially as a flavor enhancer, as well as a tonic in soft drinks. Coca leaves are also used as a natural ingredient in Red Bull Cola, an energy drink launched in March 2008. Many world-famous and large-scale companies (such as Enaco SA (National Company of Coca), a state-owned enterprise in Peru, and other major brands such as Herbie, Inca tea, Windsor, Lupi, MacMatte, etc.) are mass-producing simple or mixed tinctures from coca leaves, as well as mate de coca (tea bags made from coca leaves). The production of drinks based on coca leaves does not end there. An interesting fact is that there is an underground production of wines from coca leaves. However , most producers of coca wines are not aware of this fact, and as a rule, such drinks are produced for their own use. Therefore, coca wines are not sold in supermarkets. The only place where you can buy such a mysterious drink are street vendors, or specialized shops. However , in shocking news, the Peru-based company has announced plans to market a modern version of Vin Mariani that will include the use of coca leaves. In the context of South American traditions, the coca plant has many uses ranging from the food industry to commercial products containing coca extract (candy, chocolate, toothpaste, etc.). expanded significantly . The coca plant is used in the production of alcohol, elixirs, skin care creams, soaps, honey, chocolate, and energy drinks. And now it is more difficult to list those elements of world production in which neither coca leaves, nor coca extract, nor cocaine alkaloid are used.