Coca Bush - Useful Properties And Use Of Coca Bush, Growing Coca Bush, Contraindications

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Cocaine bush

Useful properties and uses of coca bush

Description of the coca bush

The coca bush is an interesting oval plant with small flowers that are arranged in small groups on short woody stems. The corolla of the flower includes five dainty white or yellow petals. In addition, there are heart-shaped anthers, and the gynoecium consists of three small leaf leaves in the amount of three pieces. Heterostyle flowers, when ripe, turn into bright red berries. The alternate short-petiolate leaves are rather thin, they are always glabrous and have a solid edge.

For medicinal use, you should collect fresh shoots of the leaves of this shrub. If the leaves break easily when bent, then they are ripe. As a rule, the first bountiful harvest occurs in the month of March. The second harvest can be expected at the beginning of July, and the last third at the end of October. The collected casting plants must be laid out in a thin layer on a coarse woolen cloth and thoroughly dried in the open sun. Then it is advisable to store them in a dark place that is protected from moisture.

Such an evergreen shrub grows up to five meters. The fruit of the coca bush is a common oval drupe. The length of a single-seeded fruit does not exceed 2 cm. The homeland of the plant is tropical America. Today it is widely cultivated in India, Africa, America and Java.

Useful properties of coca bush

The main active ingredients of coca bush are the alkaloids of cocaine. They are found in fresh leaves in an amount of approximately 0.2%. Other alkaloids are methylecgoin cinnamate, truxillin, benzylecgoin, tropacocaine, ecgoin, hydroxytropacocaine, dihydroxcogigrin, hygrin, and cuscogigrin. It should be noted that some non-psychoactive alkaloids are still used as the main additive to the well-known Coca-Cola drink. In addition to alkaloids, the plant is very rich in all kinds of trace elements and vitamins.

It has been proven that with prolonged chewing, an ordinary coca bush leaf perfectly quenches thirst, suppresses hunger, relieves fatigue, since it is a natural stimulant. When applied topically, preparations based on this shrub paralyze the endings of the nerves, which causes a significant dulling of the senses of touch and pain. It is excellent at stimulating the central nervous system when absorbed into the bloodstream.

Coca bush is capable of causing a state of euphoria due to its unique properties of suppressing sensitivity to any unpleasant sensations. It should be mentioned that with a sufficiently long-term use, addiction may appear, which quickly develops into cocaine dependence.

The use of coca bush

For the use of coca bush, the main value is the effect of local anesthesia. The plant molecules easily interact with important neurons of the main peripheral nervous system, due to which the neurons are excited, and a certain part of the body is numb. However, cocaine affects the central nervous system in a slightly different way. It was this herb that became the first local anesthetic that made a huge step forward in modern surgery.

Today, various derived drugs from the coca bush are often used. But in operations on the face, it is cocaine that is used, since it perfectly narrows the blood vessels. Thanks to this, bleeding is significantly reduced and pain is reduced. Other synthetic anesthetic agents have absolutely nothing to do with cocaine alkaloids. In traditional medical use, the main properties are the stimulant qualities of the coca bush-containing products.

Such drugs are designed to reduce hunger and thirst, as well as relieve fatigue. Eating the leaves is effective in combating severe headaches, altitude phobia, migraines and apathy. Concentrated drinks made from fresh coca leaves help fight the side effects of asthma, malaria, and respiratory problems. To prevent serious digestive problems, it is recommended that you regularly take remedies from the leaves of the wonderful coca bush.

This herb will help improve overall health and also promote longevity. In the form of pain relievers, cocaine is prescribed not only to relieve headaches, but it is also effective in treating rheumatism and arthritis. During various surgical procedures or during childbirth, cocaine alkaloids constrict blood vessels. The plant has been proven to have excellent anti-hemorrhagic properties, stabilizing blood flow and stopping bleeding in a minimal amount of time.

Previously, coca bush seeds were used to quickly stop nosebleeds.

The miraculous cocaine extract of the leaves of the plant is used to make the famous Coca-Cola soft drink in the United States. Cocaine in this case is used to enhance the taste and as a tonic element. Moreover, bush leaves are often included in many tonic and energy drinks. In addition, the leaves of the plant are used in the production of elixirs, alcohol, as well as creams and soaps for gentle care of sensitive skin.

To prepare a tincture from a coca bush, you will need 10 grams of leaves and a bush per 100 ml of 70% alcohol. The product must be infused for at least 30 days, after which it is recommended to strain it carefully. The tincture can be taken diluted with water, 1-5 ml. It is indicated for pain relief and persistent vomiting. To obtain the extract from the plant, fresh leaves should be infused in 96% alcohol for about 20 days. The proportion of raw materials and alcohol is taken at the rate of 1: 1. After insisting, the extract is filtered and taken in no more than 2 ml diluted with a small amount of water.

Growing a coca bush

For planting in the soil, only fresh coca bush seeds should be taken. When dried and stored for a long time, the seeds lose their germination. Vermiculite is considered the best substrate today. This ideal sprouting medium is a major factor in the rapid emergence of sprouts. Seeds are planted to a depth of no more than three cm. The presented plant does not like high humidity. When replanting sprouts, the root system must be kept together with a lump of earth.

If all conditions are met, the first coca bush sprouts can appear in about three weeks. After the emergence of the very sprouts of the bush, a special fluorescent device must be placed above them, since the plant requires a lot of light to grow quickly. Additional light sources never hurt. When the vermiculite is completely dry, watering the seeds is very important. Air humidity and drainage should be good. Dangerous fungus may appear due to high humidity.

For additional fertilization of the coca bush, you can use special organic mixtures. For watering plants, experts advise choosing melt or rainwater. The coca bush is very resistant to the effects of various mites and insects, but it is afraid of such malicious pests as mealy worms. It should be noted that old leaves on mature specimens should be removed regularly. Growth can be negatively affected by sudden changes in temperature or humidity, intense watering or drought.

Young coca bush is extremely sensitive, so it is not recommended to touch it often. When regenerating in the second year of life, do not be afraid if the plant begins to shed its leaves. The optimum plant age for seed production is considered to be three to five years. Maintaining a constant temperature allows such an extraordinary plant to fully develop and grow.

Coca bush contraindications

The main contraindications to the use of coca bush are afebrile seizures in history, progressive diseases of the nervous system, various allergic reactions to yeast, as well as severe reactions and complications to the administration of vaccines.

The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist

Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).