Coca leaf as an antidote for altitude sickness

Are you planning to visit us and you are worried about suffering from altitude sickness? Don't worry! Today we tell you all about the coca leaf, known as one of the most effective remedies to combat this condition. Stay and learn everything from the characteristics of this plant to the details of the disease.

What is coca?

Coca is a plant that contains a series of mineral nutrients, essential oils and other components with certain pharmacological effects, one of these being the alkaloid cocaine, which in its synthesized form functions as a strong stimulant with highly addictive properties.

However, in its natural state, specifically the coca leaf, it acts as a mild stimulant that helps fight thirst, hunger, fatigue, pain, and is even ideal to alleviate altitude sickness.

Coca leaf and altitude sickness: Is it really effective?

Using coca leaves to avoid altitude sickness in high altitude areas of Peru is a practice that has been used for hundreds of years. It has proven effective in most cases, both for the locals and for those who visit us.

Among the traditional ways of consuming it to alleviate symptoms is by chewing it or making tea with coca leaves.

The first way, and as the inhabitants of ancient Peru did (considered a sacred practice), is to chew it, an action known as chacchar. A small handful is taken to the mouth and chewed between the jaw and cheeks.

The second way, and the most common nowadays, is through a mate, an infusion of coca leaves. As we were saying, the coca plant contains alkaloids (which function as the base of cocaine when extracted chemically); however, in the raw leaves the amount is minimal.

For example, a cup of coca tea prepared with one gram of coca leaf contains about 4 mg of organic coca alkaloids. Therefore, it only causes an increase in energy levels, very similar to the effect of a cup of coffee.

It should be noted that the coca leaf is extremely easy to obtain in those cities where altitude sickness is most prevalent. In Peru, we can find it in different presentations: filtering, candies, chocolates, among others.

However, there is no scientific support that sustains its property to alleviate the symptoms of this disease. But, locals and a wide tradition support that its use has served as an antidote for this disease.

Treatment as a whole

In the event that you begin to experience symptoms of altitude sickness, it is best to begin your descent to a lower altitude and rest. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe medication such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve headache and general discomfort.

Now, if you have more severe symptoms, in addition to descending, it is important that you go to a place where oxygen can be administered. You can also choose to take other drugs such as acetazolamide or dexamethasone, so that you can breathe better.

In more worrying situations, a good alternative is to use a hyperbaric bag to gain time, to simulate a descent while the symptoms disappear.