Coca

species of plant, coca

Italian neurologist, physiologist, and anthropologist (1831-1910)

species of plant

Coca refers to any of the four cultivated plants in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America. It is known worldwide for its psychoactive alkaloid, cocaine. The leaves contain cocaine, which acts as a mild stimulant when chewed or consumed as tea; this traditional use involves slower absorption than purified cocaine, and there is no evidence of addiction or withdrawal symptoms from such natural consumption.

thumb|Coca leafCocaleros () are the coca leaf growers of Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. In response to U.S.-funded attempts to eradicate and fumigate coca crops in the Chapare region of Bolivia, cocaleros joined with other grassroots indigenous organizations in the country, such as unionized mine workers and peasants to contest the government. Evo Morales, who became president of Bolivia in 2006, was a leader in the national cocalero movement.

thumb|Ceramic bowl with a "volador" with ball of coca in their mouth Acullico, chacchado, akulliku, acuyico (quechua word akullikuy), acusi, ' or mascada' is a social, ritual and medicinal practice where a small bolus of coca is placed in the mouth between the cheek and jaw. It is a practice of various regions in South America, such as Northwest Argentina, Western Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia to reduce altitude sickness due to the lack of oxygen in the atmosphere in high altitudes, and reduce fatigue, hunger and indigestion.

thumb|150px|The Quimbaya Poporo, gold, attributed to the pre-Columbian [[Quimbaya civilization in the Andean region of present-day Colombia, ca. 300 CE]] A Poporo is a device used by indigenous cultures in present and pre-Columbian South America for storage of small amounts of lime produced from burnt and crushed sea-shells. It consists of two pieces: the receptacle and the lid, which includes a pin that is used to carry the lime to the mouth while a person is chewing coca leaves. Since the chewing of coca is sacred for the indigenous people, the poporos are also believed to have mystical powe

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