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Article: Coca
- Article from:
- Plant Sciences
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Coca
Coca plants are the only natural source of the alkaloid cocaine and related compounds. For several thousand years, the leaves of the coca plant have been used by South American Indians as a mild stimulant, a remedy for medical problems, and for ritualistic or religious purposes. Coca chewing reduces hunger and increases endurance. It also eases the nausea, dizziness, and headaches associated with altitude sickness and relieves the symptoms of various stomach ailments. From
pre-Columbian
times coca has been an integral part of Andean cultures, and the commerce of coca leaves is still a legal and accepted practice in Peru and Bolivia.
The extraction and purification of cocaine ...
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An Andean priest chews coca leaves during the celebration ...
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June 24, 2008 ;
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... ... 06-24-2008 An Andean priest chews coca leaves during the celebration of ... Full Size JPG (2806 KB) An Andean priest chews coca leaves during the celebration of the Indigenous ... products. For the ceremony, they gather coca leaves, fruits, flowers, liquor and alpacas ...
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