Why does coca tea help to fight altitude sickness? What is altitude sickness? What is the dose that should be consumed without affecting our health? Join us and get to know the answers to these and other questions about the consumption of coca tea in high altitude areas.
What is Coca leaf?
In its natural form it is a mild stimulant, like coffee or tea. One of its fourteen alkaloids is essential for the production of cocaine. The bush grows easily in tropical areas. It reaches up to 2-3 meters in height and is a low, bushy bush.
The branches are thin with dark-colored leaves and the small flowers grow in clusters on short stems. The leaves are cut four times in fourteen months, the growers dry them in the sun and then place them in the shade to continue the drying process without losing their color.
The coca leaf belongs to the Erythroxylaceae family. The species whose leaves are used is called Erythroxylum novogranatense var novogranatense, common in the Andean region, especially in the Amazonian Andes of Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia.
What is altitude sickness?
Altitude sickness, mountain sickness, or soroche is an alteration related to the decrease in oxygen pressure that occurs progressively in the environment. In other words, altitude sickness is caused by a lack of oxygen at high altitudes. Cusco, located above 3330 meters/10925 feets, presents a challenge for many world travelers coming from regions at sea level.
If you plan to visit the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman, Choquequirao, Rainbow Mountain, Puno or many other high mountain areas of the Andes, you should be aware of and prepared for altitude sickness, especially if you come from very low altitude areas.
So, it is called altitude sickness to a set of symptoms that occur due to low oxygen levels when you are more than 3000 meters above sea level. Therefore, chewing coca leaves, as well as drinking coca tea or coca infusion, increases the absorption of oxygen in the blood.
At what altitude does altitude sickness start?
As we ascend, the atmospheric pressure and oxygen pressure decrease, therefore, the oxygen inspired by a hiker is less. It is around 2,400 meters when the lack of oxygen begins to occur, to which an organism living at sea level is not accustomed. This lack of oxygen in the blood or hypoxia is the cause of mountain sickness.
Altitude Sickness (Soroche) symptoms
Symptoms will depend on the rate of ascent to high altitude and how much effort is made. Inca case of altitude sickness on the Inca trail, you should acclimatize a few days before starting the trek, and hike nearby in the city of Cusco.
Symptoms mainly affect the nervous system, lungs, muscles, and heart. Symptoms of soroche or altitude sickness occur in about 25% of people who travel to places above 2500 masl and 75% who travel above 4500 masl. Some of the symptoms:
Some signs of altitude sickness are the following:
- Dyspnea, or shortness of breath.
- Dizziness, headaches.
- Fatigue, tiredness.
- Sleep disorders or difficulty sleeping.
- Indigestion, loss of appetite or vomiting.
- Nausea or vomiting
- Swelling of the face, arms, and legs.
- Diarrhea.
- High heart rate, rapid pulse.
Coca tea against altitude sickness (soroche)
One of the main benefits and the reason for the fame of coca tea is its properties to alleviate the soroche, and this is due to globulin, according to a study published five years ago by the magazine “Ecological Option”. This compound is a natural alkaloid that regulates the lack of oxygen in the environment.
However, there are other reasons why drinking coca tea can be beneficial. “It has been proven that it regulates blood pressure, body temperature, is a great antidepressant and helps burn fat,” explains nutritionist Maritza Vera.
All this will be perceived depending on the amount ingested. In general, it is recommended to drink a cup in the morning or five minutes after meals so that it does not inhibit the absorption of calcium. It is also advisable to consume it as soon as you set foot in high altitude cities such as Cusco.
Other benefits of coca tea
Some doctors suggest consuming three cups a day to fight depression. Dr. Teobaldo Llosa, researcher of the properties of coca leaf, suggests boiling it for 10 to 15 minutes if you want to get more energy.
On the other hand, anyone from the age of 4 years old can take this infusion, but it is preferable that hyperactive people or those with serious heart problems avoid it.
Is it legal to drink coca tea?
As you may already know, cocaine is not legal and you are probably wondering if coca leaves are. The answer is that coca leaves are legal, with them you will not suffer any side effects to your health if you take them in the right doses.
In addition, the uses given to coca leaves are mainly for the reinforcement of the immune system, as a digestive or to combat altitude sickness.
In addition to its health benefits, its cocaine content is very low, as mentioned above, which means that it does not produce any dependence or toxicity if taken in adequate or normal amounts, so it is completely legal to possess and consume.
How to consume coca leaf to avoid altitude sickness?
The most common ways of consuming the coca leaf today are two. The first, as the inhabitants of ancient Peru did, was to chew it, an action also known as “chacchar”, which was considered a sacred practice by the Peruvian ancestors. A small handful of leaves is chewed between the cheeks and jaw area, here the coca leaf serves as a mild stimulant to combat some everyday ailments such as hunger, thirst, tiredness, muscle pain or combat the terrible altitude sickness.
The second most commonly used form of coca leaf consumption to combat soroche is through a mate or tea, an infusion of coca leaves. You can add a handful of the leaves directly to a cup of hot water or use filtered water. The taste may be a little bitter at first, but, once you get used to it and notice its effects on your body, you will know that it will be worth it.
How to take coca tea: forms and dosage
As we saying, yhere are different ways to ingest coca tea. If you are wondering how to drink coca tea, take into account these recommendations.
- Coca leaves can be found in the form of flour, filtered tea or in its natural form, they can even be used to season dishes.
- In its presentation as a filtering tea, simply add boiling water and let it steep for a few minutes before drinking it.
- In the case of having coca leaves, coca tea can be prepared with dried or fresh leaves, the only thing to do is to add a handful to a cup and then add the boiled water. In both cases you can or can not add sugar or any sweetener, although it is advisable not to add anything else.
The usual dose of coca tea for an adult is a maximum of 2 or 3 cups a day, being convenient to drink less. On the other hand, you can chew coca leaves.
All this said, in Auri Peru we also indicate that the usual doses and the time when it is convenient to take it or not and the way to ingest it should be indicated by a doctor in each particular case, since each person may have different needs and other health aspects to take into account.
Where to get coca tea or coca products to treat soroche?
Nowadays, coca leaf is extremely easy to find in cities where tourists suffer from altitude sickness such as Cusco or Puno. Practically, you can find it in every corner and in different presentations: from tea filters to candies, chocolates and various products.
Peru is a whole world to explore. In every nook and cranny of its vast geography there are places waiting to be discovered by your eyes. With many years of experience in the travel industry, the professionals at Auri Peru are ready to help you plan and realize your dream trip in every detail. Come and enjoy your adventure in Machu Picchu and other extraordinary places in Peru!
