I did a project that involved cocaine induce cardiac disease and one of the
things that I discovered in the course of my research (not self
experimental) was that chewing coca leaves apparently did not significantly
impact serum levels of cocaine (or its metabolites), was not associated with
addiction and provides a mild boost in "energy" to increase ones work
performance.
David Alter, MD
Clinical Pathologist
Spectrum Health Grand Rapids MI USA
-----Original Message-----
From: M.J. Pearson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 8:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Coca Leaves
Piscator, in the newest issue of Annals, comments on a case from NEJM in
which a German tourist climbing in the Andes developed acute myoglobinuric
renal failure. One of the possible causes for the rhabdomyolysis is given as
consumption of coca leaves and coca tea to prevent altitude sickness.
This interests me as I drank several litres of coca tea - mate de coca -
last year in Peru and Bolivia. Not my favourite drink - like infused spinach
with a hint of privet, but it was strongly recommended (by guidebooks and
local people) for prevention/alleviation of altitude sickness (soroche),
which you're virtually guaranteed if you fly straight to Cusco, at 11,500 ft
or so, from Lima, at sea level. The major hotels all have hot water urns and
bowls of coca leaves available free in their lobbies, and you can buy leaves
everywhere for a few coppers. I didn't develop rhabdomyolysis, as far as I'm
aware, but then I didn't dash up any mountains - climbing a few steps is bad
enough at that altitude.
Unfortunately, you can't be sure how much worse you'd feel if you didn't
drink mate de coca, as the sources I consulted before travelling generally
said that susceptibility to altitude sickness varies from person to person,
with no apparent relationship with age or physical fitness and can also vary
within one person on different trips. Designing the control experiment would
therefore be a bit of a challenge, cerebral hypoxia or not.
The Indians (mainly Quechua in Peru and Aymara in Bolivia) traditionally
chew the leaves with alkaline substances to release the alkaloids and it's
said that the Conquistadors tried to stop this because of the religious and
ritual aspects of coca use, but changed their minds when they saw how much
the work tolerance of the Indians increased if they were allowed to chew the
leaves. Chewing with an alkali is more effective at releasing the active
alkaloids than drinking mate, but I didn't try it.
A visit to the little Coca museum:
http://coca-museum.magicplace.com/
in La Paz was fascinating. There were claims that coca inhibits platelet
aggregation (useful in polycythaemia), stimulates respiration (helpful when
atmospheric pressures are over 30% lower than at sea level), and "increases
work tolerance". This research was apparently done by the Universidad Mayor
de San Andres in Bolivia. Is anyone aware of any published research in
English on this?
________________________________________________
Dr MJ Pearson
Department of Clinical Biochemistry & Immunology
Old Medical School
Leeds General Infirmary (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Tel 0113 392 3945
Fax 0113 233 5672
http://www.leedsteachinghospitals.com
------ACB discussion List Information--------
This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical
community working in clinical biochemistry.
Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed
via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and
they are responsible for all message content.
ACB Web Site
http://www.acb.org.uk
List Archives
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html
List Instructions (How to leave etc.)
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/
------ACB discussion List Information--------
This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical
community working in clinical biochemistry.
Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed
via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and
they are responsible for all message content.
ACB Web Site
http://www.acb.org.uk
List Archives
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html
List Instructions (How to leave etc.)
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/
|