Coca Is Not Cocaine

Posted by Gez in Health, Natural Medicine, Popular

Last year our family spent 10 months living in Bolivia where the altitude of the cities we stayed can reach as high as 4,500m above sea level (approx 15,000 ft).  Although we lived in Cochabamba we often traveled to the (de facto) capital La Paz which is approx 3,640 m (or 11,942 ft) above sea level; as you might have guessed the oxygen is a bit thin. For those who have no experience of high altitudes it means that when you walk, go up stairs or do any form of physical exertion there is not enough oxygen being passed into your body. The effects of altitude, otherwise known as Altitude sickness, can result in a variety of symptoms including being light headed, headaches, excessive tiredness, vomiting and in extreme cases it can be fatal. The airport international airport Bolivia has a oxygen room for those people adversely affected ed by altitude. Even the locals from Cochabamba (which isn’t exactly low…) complain about the altitude in La Paz.

The locals, who chew coca for a variety of reasons, advise you to drink mate (tea) of Coca to fix altitude sickness but our experience is that it takes a fair amount of tea and to tell you the truth my bladder cannot take it, between the altitude and then need to run to the toilet – it’s not a good combination. My partner a Homeopath suggested a Homoeopathic medicine for altitude, which is, surprise surprise, made from coca. It worked a treat and saved my bladder – phew!!!