See gallery 3 photos
Coca leaves are widely eaten by South Americans, especially those who live in the Andean countries. Coca leaves also help tourists survive mountain hikes at higher altitudes as they alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. Check what properties coca leaves have and how much they have in common with cocaine.
Coca leavescome from a plant called Erythroxylum coca Lam., Also known as cocaine shrub or common cocaine. Dwarf wood grows in its natural state in South America in the humid forests of the eastern slopes of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia and Colombia at an altitude of 600-2000 m above sea level, where it is considered a sacred plant.
Coca leaves - he alth benefits
People in South America treat coca leaves as a rich source of nutrients and a substance that improves mood. Especially the inhabitants of Andean countries reach for coca, who live in the unfavorable, high-mountain climate, where there is a small amount of oxygen in the air. Chewing coca leaves or drinkingmate de coca , tea made from fresh coca leaves, thins the blood, which is essential for living in such conditions. It is worth knowing that La Paz, the capital of one of the Andean countries - Bolivia, lies at an altitude of over 4,000 meters.
The Inca sacred plant also helps tourists during mountain breaks, as it soothes ailments related to altitude sickness.Mountain sicknessis a symptom complex resulting from the lack of adaptation to conditions prevailing at high altitudes - above 2,500 m above sea level. Then, the oxygen content in the air decreases due to the dilution of the atmosphere. Then there is a headache and severe dizziness, nausea and vomiting as well as lack of apatite, general weakness of the body and impaired motor coordination.
Coca leaves like a drug
In most countries, including Poland, coca leaves are banned because they contain approx. 1-2 percent. cocaine and are treated like a drug. The cocaine content depends on the height of the bush. It has been shown that the higher the position of the coca bush plant above sea level, the higher the cocaine content in its leaves (however, scientists do notcan explain why). The maximum may be 2 percent. this drug. It is worth knowing that 45 kg of dried coca leaves are needed to produce 1 kg of cocaine.