3851  Cocaismo and cocainism0 - Not a tango subject.

Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 16:35:23 +0000
From: Sergio Vandekier <sergiovandekier990@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Cocaismo and cocainism0 - Not a tango subject.

Christian says:

"Also a lot coca-chewing in Argentina. [the drivers of our recent safari in
the andes around the town of Salta used it every day".

I remember that when I traveled by plain (1 hour trip) from Lima (Peru) at
sea level to Cuzco (about 4000 feet above sea level) as I arrived in the
hotel a waiter appeared with a tray with cups of Coca tea. This was supposed
to prevent or alleviate high altitude sickness (apunamiento). I was advised
to have a long nap as well. As I looked outside the window I saw a very
colorful indian market and could not resist going outside to investigate and
to take pictures; the following day on my way to Machu Pichu, I had
terrible headaches, nausea and vomiting, all of them symptoms of high
altitude sickness.

Coca-chewing is known as "cocaismo" the use of cocaine by inhalation or IV
is known as "cocainismo".

The first practice (cocaismo) does not seem to cause addiction or any
disruption of personal or social life. A small number of coca leaves are
put together and mixed with some ashes and then placed inside the mouth
between the gum and the cheek. This little bulk is called "acullico". The
cocaine alkaloid is hydrolyzed by the saliva and the alkaline action od the
ashes into another alkaloid the ecgonina. This last one has positive
effects in the Indians that live at high altitude. It has an action similar
to caffeine, it is stimulant, decreases hunger and increases work capacity.

This practice has been in use by the indians throughput the Inca Empire
(Colombia down to Northern Argentina) for more than 4000 years.

There is an archaeological collection of ceramic figures representing men
chewing coca. They have in their mouths one or two rolls of coca revealed
externally by a globular protuberance in one cheek.

I had myself replicas of a collection of ceramic figures crafted by indians
thousands of years ago representing many diseases such as a woman with
hemiplegia, a man with gouty arthritis, different deformities such as hare
lip, obesity, etc.

At a certain period of the Inca Empire, the use of coca by the common people
was strictly prohibited; it was a mystic plant, reserved for the use of the
Inca and for religious ceremonies; later the shaman used it in the treatment
of sick people; it was only during the decadence of the Empire that the use
of coca spread to the people as a whole, and it was for that reason that the
Spanish conquerors found that this had become a daily habit with the
aboriginal inhabitants of the Andean regions.

Early reports from catholic priests sent back to spain said"

"Coca is a small shrub, light green in color, with leaves somewhat
resembling those of the orange tree; they are extremely strengthening and
provide a food of incredible virtues, since the Indians, with no other
provisions beyond these leaves, make journeys lasting for weeks, and appear
to grow stronger and more vigorous every day."

As to tango and chewing gum I must confess that I have cero experience. I
have never danced with anyone chewing gum. This reminds me of my
grandmother than when she was once asked by a gentelman " would it bother
you if I smoked in you rpresence?" she replied - " I would not know because
so far nobody has ever done that". :))

Have a nice day, Sergio