Coca Plant Benefits, History, and Why It’s Wrongly Demonized

The discussion highlights the profound misunderstanding and demonization of the coca plant, contrasting its traditional, beneficial uses with the global "War on Drugs" and the illicit cocaine trade. Despite a trillion dollars spent on drug campaigns, customs agents still struggle to differentiate between coca and cocaine, akin to mistaking potatoes for vodka.

The Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Significance of Coca

Coca has been used for 8,000 years by virtually every culture in the Andean and Northwest Amazon regions, with no evidence of toxicity or addiction. Its importance is deeply rooted in cultural, religious, and medicinal practices.

Personal Encounters and Traditional Uses

One speaker recounted his first experience with coca in 1965, after his first year of medical school, under the guidance of his mentor, Dick Schulties. He was advised to chew coca in Peru, and has used it ever since. His initial interest was in its medical applications by indigenous peoples.

Another speaker shared an anecdote about severe altitude sickness in Chile, which was alleviated within hours by coca leaf tea, a stark contrast to the several days it typically takes for Diamox to work.

Medicinal Properties Beyond Cocaine

Coca is a major medicinal plant in the Andes, comparable to peppermint and chamomile in European medicine. Its primary indications include:

• GI Disorders: It is considered a remedy for all gastrointestinal issues, treating both diarrhea and constipation. This paradoxical effect is attributed to the complex mixture of 14 alkaloids in the whole plant, which allows the body to select the appropriate action based on its needs. Cocaine itself is a gut stimulant, while other alkaloids structurally resemble gut paralytics like atropine and scopolamine.
• Energy and Physical Work: It provides sustained energy for physical labor.
• Altitude Sickness: Helps alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness.
• Mood Enhancement: Boosts mood and provides a sense of well-being.
• Metabolism and Blood Sugar Regulation: Improves metabolism and has a normalizing effect on blood sugar. Studies have shown that coca chewing can normalize blood sugar levels in Andean Indians after a glucose load, suggesting potential for preventing or treating type 2 diabetes, especially given the high incidence of genetic predisposition to the disease in these populations when they abandon traditional diets and coca use.
• Nutrient Utilization: Indigenous populations believe it helps them utilize the nutritional qualities of food, particularly high-starch meals.

Nutritional Value

A study in 1975 by Tim Plowman and Jim Duke, with contributions from Andy, revealed that coca is not only a mild stimulant but also rich in vitamins and proteins, containing more calcium than any other plant studied. It also contains enzymes that may enhance carbohydrate digestion at high altitudes.

The "Stimulant That's Not a Stimulant"

The subjective effect of coca is described as very mild, far less intense than coffee, and without the subsequent crash. It provides a "slight lightness of being," a "skip in your step," and a sense of well-being, allowing for focus and concentration on tasks without feeling "drugged." It also aids in weight management by reducing hunger and increasing the desire to move.

The Demonization and Misunderstanding of Coca

The demonization of coca began in the 1920s, long before a "cocaine problem" existed. This was driven by cultural and political motives rather than pharmacological concerns.

Historical Context and Pseudoscientific Basis

• Cultural Identity: Efforts to eradicate coca fields started 60 years before the rise of cocaine, targeting the cultural identity of indigenous peoples who revered the plant.
• Colonialism and Racism: Physicians in Lima viewed coca use as a symbol of indigenous backwardness, attributing social pathologies like illiteracy and poverty to the plant, rather than addressing issues of economic injustice. This led to a "war" between the white European culture (with alcohol as its preferred psychoactive) and the indigenous population (reliant on coca).
• UN Commission (1940s): A UN commission, led by a pharmaceutical executive, concluded that coca should be eradicated even before conducting its study. The commission interviewed military officials, government officials, and priests, but not a single traditional user of the leaf. The language used in their conclusions was described as "dark" and "racist," reflecting a conqueror-and-conquered mentality prevalent in Latin America.
• 1961 UN Declaration on Narcotic Drugs: The condemnation of coca, based on pseudoscientific studies and racist language, shaped international drug policy to this day. Coca leaf is currently scheduled alongside fentanyl and heroin as one of the most dangerous drugs in the world, despite its benign nature.

The "Green Cocaine" Incident

In 2020, customs agents at Philadelphia International Airport seized 15 pounds of "green cocaine," which was later identified as mambbe (an Amazonian form of coca). This incident highlighted the continued ignorance of the difference between coca and cocaine, even after decades and trillions of dollars spent on the War on Drugs. The trivial amounts of cocaine in mambbe would make snorting it unpleasant and ineffective.

The "Potatoes to Vodka" Analogy

The comparison of coca to cocaine is likened to potatoes to vodka, or a peach to the cardioactive glycosides in its pit. The whole plant is distinct from an isolated component, and the demonization of coca based on cocaine is a fundamental misunderstanding.

The Path to Rehabilitation and Legalization

There is a strong argument for rehabilitating coca, not only for its potential health benefits but also for social justice, economic development, and environmental protection.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Illicit Market: The current prohibition drives up the cost of coca, making it inaccessible to many indigenous communities and contributing to deforestation as cultivation is pushed to remote areas.
• Economic Impact: Legalizing coca could provide legitimate income for 250,000 families in Colombia who grow it for survival, and generate tax revenue for nations like Colombia to fund peace efforts.
• Research: There is a significant lack of research on coca due to its scheduled status. More studies are needed to demonstrate its therapeutic applications, particularly for GI disorders, substance abuse, ADHD, and metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes.
• Consumer Demand: Creating consumer demand for coca in North America could drive change.
• Policy Reform: Efforts are underway to deschedule or reschedule coca within the UN system and in the US. While the UN recently maintained its scheduled status, there is growing momentum for drug policy reform, particularly with cannabis and psychedelics, which could open doors for coca.

Specific Actions and Stakeholders

• Scientists: Coca presents a rich subject for investigation in medicinal plants, medical botany, and natural products. Its Schedule II status in the US (due to cocaine's limited medical uses) makes research easier and less expensive than Schedule I substances. Dr. Chris McCurdy at the University of Florida is currently researching whole coca, focusing on carbohydrate metabolism.
• Entrepreneurs: The potential for commercializing coca as a natural stimulant, comparable to coffee but more benign and effective, is enormous. The person who successfully navigates this could achieve significant wealth.
• Storytelling: A film project is underway to celebrate coca's positive aspects, including its cultural significance, spiritual illumination, and historical context, while also highlighting the human rights violations associated with its demonization.
• Advocacy: The Beneficial Plant Research Association (bpra.org) is working to conduct research and raise awareness about lesser-known medicinal plants, with a focus on coca.
• Education: Educating the public about coca's benefits and distinguishing it from cocaine is crucial to shift perceptions and create demand.

The Role of History and Culture

Coca is deeply intertwined with Andean culture, serving as a symbol of social contract, spiritual connection, and belonging. To deny people coca is considered an act of cultural genocide. The plant has been domesticated three times in pre-Columbian history, each time becoming the "plant of all plants" or the "sacred plant."

Conclusion

The narrative surrounding coca is a powerful example of how misunderstanding, racism, and political agendas have demonized a beneficial plant. The speakers emphasize the need for a paradigm shift, advocating for research, education, and policy reform to recognize coca's true value and allow all people to benefit from this "incredible gift."