Catha edulis = Qat
Vergleich: Enthält: Phenethylamin + Cathinon ist ein Amphetamin und zählt zu den Stimulantia/ist Alkaloide Maytenus krukovii. Aus den Pflanzen wird die Droge „Kath“ gewonnen, die vor allem in Ostafrika und auf der arabischen Halbinsel verbreitet ist.
Cathinon besitzt neben der stimulierenden auch eine lokalanästhetisierende sowie anorektische Wirkung. Diese tritt etwa 20 Minuten nach Einnahme auf und hält ungefähr
2 - 4 Stunden an.
Diskutiert wird auch eine Monoaminooxidase-Hemmung. Hohe bis toxische Dosen verursachen Hyperaktivität, Verwirrtheit, Störungen des Blutkreislaufs mit teils erhöhten Blutdruck sowie Hyperthermie und Krämpfe;
Ecxtasy. Psid. (= Morph-ähnlich/enthält Catha edulis-ähnlicher Substanzen). Tab (verstärkt Wirkung)
Siehe: Celastrales + Drogen allgemein + Gemeinschafts- + Teagruppe
Morph ↔ Catha
↔
Coffn
Coca (> Außen/Bewegung) ↔ Catha (wird gekaut + Wirkung wie Cann-i)/Dubo-h (wird wie Coca gekaut + Wirkung wie Agar) ↔ Agar (> Wärme/Ruhe)
Stercula (Kola nut) promotes appetite and digestion and lessens craving
for liquor. It gives power to endure prolonged physical exertion without taking
food and without feeling fatigue.
= Ephe-/=
Amphetamin-
+ schwach/= Coca-/= Coff-/= Ritalin-ähnlich;
Vergiftung: Müde/benommen/Magenkrämpfe/Erbrechen/Kollaps;
Dauerkonsum: Schlafstörungen/Impotenz/antisozialem Verhalten;
Gebrauch: Um wach zu bleiben/Ausdauer erhöhend/in gesellschaftliche Begegnungen,
1.
Heiter/geschwätzig/gesellig/kribbeln Kopf/Wutausbrüche, 2.
Ermattung/stumm/zieht sich zurück;
Negativ: Erzeugt keine Visionen;
It is native to the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Among
communities from these areas, Khat chewing has a long history as a social
custom dating back thousands of years. Khat contains a monoamine alkaloid
called cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant, which is said to cause
excitement, loss of appetite and euphoria. In 1980 the WHO classified it as a
drug of abuse that can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence (less
than tobacco or alcohol), although the WHO does not consider Khat to be
seriously addictive. The plant has been targeted by anti-drug organizations
such as the DEA and is therefore a controlled substance in some countries, such
as the U.S., Canada and Germany, while its production, sale and consumption are
legal in other nations (Djibouti/Ethiopia/Somalia/Yemen). (as of writing this
article readers should not rely on this website). Amongst communities in the
Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia) and the Arabian
Peninsula, Khat chewing has a long history as a social custom dating back
thousands of years.
The Ancient Egyptians considered the Khat plant a divine food, which was
capable of releasing humanity's divinity. The Egyptians used the plant for more
than its stimulating effects; they used it for transcending into
"apotheosis", with the intent of making the user god-like.
There and in other parts of North Africa and the middle East (Yemen) the
chewing Khat predates the use of coffee and is used in a similar social
context. Its fresh leaves and tops are chewed or, less frequently, dried and
consumed as tea, in order to achieve a state of euphoria and stimulation; it
also has anorectic side-effects. The leaves or the soft part of the stem can be
chewed with either chewing gum or fried peanuts to make it easier to chew. Khat
use has traditionally been confined to the regions where it is grown, because
only the fresh leaves have the desired stimulating effects.
In recent years improved roads, off-road motor vehicles, and air
transportation have increased the global distribution of this perishable
commodity, and as a result, the plant
has been reported in England, Wales, Rome, Amsterdam, Canada, Israel,
Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. Traditionally Khat is used as a
socializing drug, and this is still very much the case in Yemen, where Khat
chewing is predominantly a male habit. Yemenis use traditional costumes and
chew the stimulating plant in the afternoons.
Chewing Khat is also part of the Yemeni business culture to promote
decision-making, but foreigners are not expected to participate. Some Yemeni
women have their own saloons for the occasion, and participate in chewing Khat
with their husbands on weekends. Khat is so popular in Yemen that its
cultivation consumes much of the country's agricultural resources.
Cathinone Chemical Structure
The stimulant effect of the plant was originally attributed to
"katin", cathine, a phenethylamine-type substance isolated from the
plant. However, the attribution was disputed by reports showing the plant
extracts from fresh leaves contained another substance more behaviorally active
than cathine. In 1975, the related alkaloid cathinone was isolated, and its
absolute configuration was established in 1978. Cathinone is not very stable
and breaks down to produce cathine and norephedrine. These chemicals belong to
the PPA (phenylpropanolamine) family, a subset of the phenethylamines related
to amphetamines and the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine.
In fact, cathinone and cathine have a very similar molecular structure
to amphetamine. Khat is sometimes confused with methcathinone (also known as
cat), a Schedule I substance that possess a similar chemical structure to the
Khat plant's cathinone active component. However, both the side effects and the
addictive properties of methcathinone are much stronger than those associated
with Khat use. When Khat leaves dry, the more potent chemical, cathinone,
decomposes within 48 hours leaving behind the milder chemical, cathine. Thus,
harvesters transport Khat by packaging the leaves and stems in plastic bags or
wrapping them in banana leaves to preserve their moisture and keep the
cathinone potent. It is also common for them to sprinkle the plant with water
frequently or use refrigeration during transportation. When the Khat leaves are
chewed, cathine and cathinone are released and absorbed through the mucous
membranes of the mouth and the lining of the stomach. The action of cathine and
cathinone on the reuptake of epinephrine and norepinephrine has been
demonstrated in lab animals, showing that one or both of these chemicals cause
the body to recycle these neurotransmitters more slowly, resulting in the
wakefulness and insomnia associated with Khat use. Receptors for serotonin show
a high affinity for cathinone suggesting
that this chemical is responsible for feelings of euphoria associated
with chewing Khat. In mice, cathinone produces the same types of nervous pacing
or repetitive scratching behaviors associated with amphetamines. The effects of
cathinone peak after 15 to 30 minutes with nearly 98% of the substance
metabolized into norephedrine by the liver. Cathine is somewhat less
understood, being believed to act upon the adrenergic receptors causing the
release of epinephrine and norepinephrine. It has a half-life of about
three hours in humans.
Comparison of physical harm and dependence regarding various drugs Khat
consumption induces mild euphoria and excitement, similar to that conferred by
strong coffee. Individuals become very talkative under the influence of the
plant. The effects of oral administration of cathinone occur more rapidly than
the effects of amphetamine pills, roughly 15 minutes as compared to 30 minutes
in amphetamine. Khat can induce manic behaviors and hyperactivity similar in
effects to those produced by amphetamine.
The use of Khat results in
constipation. Dilated pupils (mydriasis) are prominent during Khat consumption,
reflecting the sympathomimetic effects of the drug, which are
also reflected in increased heart
rate and blood pressure. Withdrawal symptoms that may follow occasional use
include mild depression and irritability.
Withdrawal symptoms that may follow
prolonged Khat use include lethargy, mild depression, nightmares, and slight
tremor. Khat is an effective anorectic (causes loss of
appetite). Long-term use can
precipitate the following effects: negative impact on liver function, permanent
tooth darkening (of a greenish tinge), susceptibility to ulcers,
and diminished sex drive.
Blätter geben beim Kauen das anregende Cathinon ab in die Mundschleimhaut.
Erzeugt Krebs in Mundhöhle/Kehle. Ähnlich wie Koffein regt der Wirkstoff den Kreislauf an. Außerdem mindert der Stoff das Hungergefühl. Lindert Diabetes, erhöhen die Konzentration und beruhigen die Nerven.
Die Blätter und jungen Triebe der Pflanzen im Jemen und in Teilen Afrikas als Alltagsdroge gehandelt.
Höhere Dosen: Müdigkeit und Schwindel. Statistiken haben gezeigt, dass Menschen, die lange Zeit regelmäßig Kath kauen, häufiger an bestimmten Krebsarten im Mundraum erkranken. Forscher gehen davon aus, dass das Krebsrisiko zum Teil durch die Pestizide steigt, die beim Anbau der Kathsträucher versprüht werden. Der langjährige Konsum des Rauschmittels schädigt zudem die Gefäße und erhöht das Risiko für Herzkrankheiten. Wenn Mütter während der Schwangerschaft den Saft aus den Blättern aufnehmen, kann das zu Frühgeburten führen und das Ungeborene schädigen.
Wirkung: aphrodisich/antibiotisch
Allerlei: Äthiopien/O. Afrika wird gekaut/= belebend
fördert Geschichten erzählen/Gemeinschaft