Khat - Catha
edulis is an
drought-tolerant
evergreen
shrub thats
leaves contain
cathinone and
cathine. These
leaves are
traditionally
chewed by people
of E. Africa and
the Middle East
as a stimulant.
It has a long
history of human
use.
Khat contains
the alkaloid
called cathinone,
an
amphetamine-like
stimulant which
is said to cause
excitement, loss
of appetite, and
euphoria. khat
as a drug of
abuse that can
produce mild to
moderate
psychological
dependence
(less than
tobacco or
alcohol).
Khat is a
slow-growing
shrub or tree
that grows to
between 1.5
metres and 20
metres tall,
depending on
region and
rainfall, with
evergreen leaves
5-10
cm long and
1-4 cm
broad. The
flowers are
produced on
short axillary
cymes 4-8 cm
long, each
flower small,
with five white
petals. The
fruit is an
oblong three-valved
capsule
containing
1-3 seeds.
History
:
Catha
edulis
appears
to have
originated
in
Ethiopia.It
spread
early on
to
Somalia,
Djibouti,
Eritrea
and the
Arabian
Peninsula.
Today,
it is
also
grown
secondarily
in
Kenya,
Uganda,
Tanzania,
the
Congo,
Malawi,
Zimbabwe,
Zambia
and
South
Africa.Sir
Richard
Burton
suggested
that
khat was
introduced
to the
Yemen
from
Ethiopia
in the
15th
century,
although
this
probably
occurred
much
earlier.
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
as a
metamorphic
process
and
transcended
into
"apotheosis",
intending
to make
the user
god-like.
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. Due to the
availability of
rapid,
inexpensive air
transportation,
the plant has
been reported in
England, Wales,
Rome, Amsterdam,
Canada,
Australia, New
Zealand, and the
United States.
The
international
community has
become more
aware of this
plant through
media reports
pertaining to
the United
Nations mission
in Somalia
(where khat use
is widespread).
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,
however,
improved roads,
off-road motor
vehicles, and
air
transportation
have increased
the global
distribution of
this perishable
commodity.
Traditionally,
khat has been
used as a
socializing
drug, and this
is still very
much the case in
Yemen, where
khat chewing is
predominantly a
male habit,
although not
exclusively so.
Note: Chewing khat
is also part of the Yemeni
business culture to promote
decision-making, but foreigners
are not expected to participate.
khat is commonly used in
social situations, although it
is often condemned on religious
grounds.
Khat chewing is predominantly a
male activity, though women are
occasionally involved and,
according to some reports, this
is increasingly the case in
Australia. For example, some
women who did not chew khat in
their former homeland began to
use khat after their arrival in
Australia.
Khat is not considered to be a
"street drug", but in the United
States illegal laboratories have
been discovered using a
synthetic form of khat's most
active ingredient, cathinone,
which is called "methcathinone"
and known on the street as
"Cat".
Although khat is most
commonly chewed, it is sometimes
taken as a tea or smoked.
Khat must be chewed while it is
fresh (within 48 hours), so it
is usually wrapped in banana
leaves or plastic after picking,
to preserve its potency.
Khat is generally used by
individuals as a recreational
drug. Historically, khat has
been used for medicinal purposes
and as an aphrodisiac, though it
has also been used for
recreational purposes.
References to khat use can be
found in eighteenth century Arab
journals describing how
physicians prescribed khat to
treat depression and lack of
energy.
Khat is usually chewed in
company, but may be used by
individuals to enhance their
working capacity. In some
countries, such as in Yemen, "khat
parties", also known as majlis,
have a long history as part of
formal social customs, for
example, to encourage discussion
of community issues. The majlis
had their own traditional rules
about the appropriate age, time,
style and quantity of use.
Khat is a stimulant. A
typical chewing session is
thought to be the equivalent of
ingesting five milligrams of
amphetamine sulphate. Usually 50
to 200 grams of the leaves are
chewed. The onset of effect is
within 20 minutes.
Following feelings of mild
euphoria, talkativeness and
suppression of their appetite,
users have reported calming
effects after a few hours. Other
pleasurable effects reported
include increased alertness and
excitement. Unpleasant effects
include impaired concentration
and judgement, mood swings,
confusion, disorientation and
increase in nervousness and
tension.
WARNING:
Unwanted physical and
health effects associated with
regular khat chewing include:
* Sleeplessness
* Nervousness
* Impotence
* Nightmares
* Irritability, feelings of
anger and violent outbursts
* Gastro-intestinal tract
problems such as constipation
* Reduced appetite
* Reduced birth weight in babies
and inhibited lactation in khat-chewing
mothers
* Inflammation of the mouth and
other parts of the oral cavity
* Oral cancer.
khat chewing can lead to
dependence (addiction),
but heavy khat chewers have been
shown to experience withdrawal
symptoms such as extreme
tiredness and lack of energy,
difficulty performing normal
daily activities and slight
trembling several days after
having stopped chewing khat.
Prolonged and excessive use can
lead to psychological problems
such as depression, anxiety and
irritation, sometimes leading to
psychosis.
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. Due to the
availability of
rapid,
inexpensive air
transportation,
the plant has
been reported in
England, Wales,
Rome, Amsterdam,
Canada,
Australia, New
Zealand, and the
United States.
The
international
community has
become more
aware of this
plant through
media reports
pertaining to
the United
Nations mission
in Somalia
(where khat use
is widespread).
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,
however,
improved roads,
off-road motor
vehicles, and
air
transportation
have increased
the global
distribution of
this perishable
commodity.
Traditionally,
khat has been
used as a
socializing
drug, and this
is still very
much the case in
Yemen, where
khat chewing is
predominantly a
male habit,
although not
exclusively so.
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