Not Just a Drug. The Other Side of Cocaine

Cocaine is the drug of the rich and famous, it symbolizes success, fame, and fortune. There are so many artists and successful people throughout the last century that surrendered to the white powder and even today, with the awareness of cocaine’s possible damage, it is one of the most desirable and demanded products in the world.

Cocaine (coca leaf) has some other hidden benefits. Yes, there have been some really cool people that used and use cocaine just for fun or to escape the harsh reality, but what about Hitler? There are pieces of evidence that Hitler used cocaine during WW2. It’s hard to believe that Hitler used cocaine to get high right?? He probably used cocaine because he had to operate the biggest war in history and had to be focused. Remember this word, focus. 

While Hitler’s cocaine use is questionable, Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, had a passion for cocaine and a strong belief that the drug can be used as a medical treatment to fight depression. In 1884, Freud released a medical analysis called Uber Coca in favor of cocaine usage as a medical drug. However, even Freud failed to integrate cocaine as a medical drug.

A brief history of cocaine

As a matter of fact, archeological findings prove that cocaine in its pure form, meaning coca leaves were used in South America since ancient times. The Inca Indians respected the plant and used coca leaves for sacred ceremonies. The use of coca leaves was forbidden and was given to the community’s leaders only. Once the Spanish and the Portuguese arrived in South America, they immediately reported about the coca plant. The Europeans realized that the coca leaves prevent hunger and stimulate the body and therefore used it to increase slave’s work stability. Cocaine was first extracted from the coca leaves in 1859 and in 1880 cocaine was at the center of the medical community owing to the behavior, fast heartbeat, and nervous system effects.

Cocaine (coca leaf) medical uses

So it has been more than a hundred years since modern medicine discovered cocaine and it is fair to conclude that cocaine’s negative effects outweigh the positive. Yet, what are the new/old discoveries and benefits that cocaine, or more accurately coca leaves, can offer these days in a legitimate way?

Anesthesia – Cocaine main medical use is for anesthesia, usually in surgeries. The fact that cocaine blocks nerve impulses cause the anesthetic effect and due to its vasoconstrictive quality, cocaine creates less bleeding at the time of incision.

ADHD – Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder with symptoms of hyperactivity, low attention, and impulsivity. The connection between ADHD and cocaine (also methamphetamine) is not certain but one research shows that 10%-30% of those who are addicted to cocaine have ADHD.

We said before that cocaine (coca leaf) helps with focus. There are some who use the expensive drug for the purpose of succeed in their career, sports, music, and him again, to win a war. Another research shows that cocaine increases the brain’s ability to absorb new information and take decisions but in a way that involves addiction.

Wound Healing – As we mentioned, cocaine has the ability to reduce bleeding and therefore is recommended as a treatment for children with wounds without toxic side effects.

Stomach, Bowel, Asthma, Indigestion, and Malaria – Cocaine is a stimulant substance and therefore creates a healthy metabolism which cleanses the body. The Andean tribes use to chew coca leaf as a medicine for various diseases that contain bacterias.

Prevents Altitude Sickness – Well, the Andeans were mostly located in altitude locations and had to solve altitude sickness. There are many studies that approved the effects of coca leaf as a cure to altitude sickness.

Weight Loss – Another cocaine’s effect is weight loss. Apparently, models know what they do as cocaine prevents hunger and thirst. However, the implications for body health are not clear and can also harm the body and of course, you would not suggest any person with an overweight problem to start sniffing cocaine.

Cocaine changes the way your body stores fat and for the long term creates a weight loss. Again, although nowadays you would not recommend any person to use cocaine for the benefit of losing weight, we could not know what the future might bring us – same as weed companies that discovered medical qualities of the plant, perhaps someone might discover a healthy way for overweight treatment using cocaine.

Bottom line

No, we do not support cocaine as it is an addictive drug and has a damaging effect on the human body and mental health. Yet, every plant in nature has two sides of a coin, even heroin has some positive effects and might contribute to the human body. Similarly to the process of cannabis and the extraction of CBD, perhaps cocaine will be used as healthy medicine in very small doses to help people. Until then, the use of coca leaf tea can be the most legitimate way to consume cocaine and enjoy its benefits.

The chemist Albert Hoffman, who was the creator of LSD, argued until the end of his life that LDS can be beneficial if used in small doses. Perhaps coca leaves have some unknown magic besides the high feeling that yet to be discovered.