Catha edulis

Catha edulis
Family: Mereschatsya
Genus: Cat
Other names: cat edible, katha, plant cat, flower Paradise, Arabic tea, Somali tea

Forms and varieties of plants cat
Farmers in Ethiopia, which for centuries grown cat, there are two types of plants: ahde, "white", and dimma, "red". The main difference of kata is the color of the leaves of plants. Red leaves have more powerful stimulant properties.
In addition to this difference of Kusturica cat, no more species and forms of plants were not botaniCally described.

History of the plant cat

The use and consumption of psychoactive leaves Arabic tea has the oldest story, because certainly preceded by a history of using the world-famous coffee. It is likely that leaves Arabic tea initially chewed in Ethiopia as a stimulant. In 1222, Arabic tea was included in the list of medicinal plants. The plant cat also mentioned in the book "The Wars of'Amda Syon I (Amda Syon I was a Christian king, who ruled in the beginning of the fourteenth century). Historical book that was written in 1364 and supplemented in 1442, describes Bush as how Abyssinian plant: "Among the Abyssinian plants can be distinguished interesting tree that does not bear fruit. People eat the leaves of this plant, which resemble small orange leaf. Among the effects of the leaves of khat is possible to allocate memory expansion, decrease appetite, sexual needs and sleep".
Supporters of Sufism played a big role in the early spread and use of plants cat. They regarded the reception leaves Arabian tea in Food as a sacred activity. Of khat has been used to achieve the mystical events.
The name of the plant "khat" ("cat") obviously derived from the Arabic word "kut", that in translation means "daily bread". The majority of scientists and researchers suggests that the Bush cat, and the practice of chewing of the leaves of khat is from Yemen. MythologiCally is that the shepherd is Salterain watched as his goats ate the leaves of a Bush, and then they were too playful. The shepherd tried fresh leaves of a Bush, after which he immediately cheered, drowsiness and fatigue instantly gone. Before sleep, the shepherd have chewed a few leaves, which he brought home. He was unable to sleep, and spent the whole night in prayer and meditation.

After this incident, the plant kat started to count the sacred tree, and was regarded as a striking medicine.
According to another legend, two saints who prayed a lot during the night and strongly fought to avoid sleep, turned to God with the request that he sent them a tool that would Help to prevent sleep. Thanks to the prayers of one day an Gel appeared and showed them a plant that will Help them to remain asleep and pray during the night.
Charles Muses proposed and substantiated the theory that the cat was used in ancient Egypt in psychoactive purposes and was regarded as the "Food of the gods, divine Food", or "Food existence."
Arabic tea was botaniCally described in 1775 by the Swedish botanist Bahrom Forsskal (1732-1763 biennium), who lived in Yemen for many years. Pharmacological and chemical studies of Arabic tea began in the German-speaking regions in the late nineteenth century. In the 1920s and 1930s, many pharmaceutical preparations were created on the basis of the leaves of khat and sold in London. Ethnographic research Bush cat began in the 1970s with the innovative work Armin Chopin (1978). Only during the early 1980s Swiss scientists have found the actual psychoactive element that is similar to Амф, cathinone.

Appearance of the plants cat

Arabic tea - evergreen, a fast-growing shrub that can turn into a tree as large as oak (15 to 20 meters high). In the artificial cultivation Bush cat usually grows no more than 3 to 5 meters in height, in rare cases, 7 meters. The more Bush cat trimmed, the faster appear young branches and shoots.
On blossoming branches of a Bush leaves are always facing each other. Of khat are characterised by jagged edges, and also brilliant, slightly leathery upper part of the sheet. Young leaves of khat at the ends of the branches have a light green color, older leaves are dark-green. Sometimes the leaves of khat have a red tint. Little, star shaped white flowers kata grow in groups. Flowers produce fruit capsules 7 - 8 mm in length. When the capsule Mature, they appear as small flowers, thus throwing the seeds of kata.


Preparation and dosing plants cat

Fresh leaves of khat need to chew maximum soon after harvest. They should be no more than two days. They require no further preparation, and should not be mixed with any other substances. People just takes as many leaves in your mouth, then chew the leaves for about ten minutes. After chewing the leaves you can swallow or you can spit out. The more juice going to stand out from the leaves and be absorbed through the mucous, the more evident will be the effects of the chewing of the leaves of khat. The juice that stands out from the leaves, you need to swallow.
In Yemen, before chewing the fresh leaves of khat are ground in a mortar. After that the mixture absorbed in the mouth. This process of eating the leaves of khat reduces the period of chewing the leaves and accelerates the process of feeling effects.
There is one more pleasant way of cooking and eating leaves of khat. Fresh leaves (sometimes the tips of the branches Arabic tea cooked or boiled. Thus prepared the tea from the leaves of khat. In Yemen leaves fried kata once used to prepare local "coffee". Of khat can also be mixed with honey or sugar, thus transformed into a kind of lollipops. In Somalia of khat are dried in the sun, and then crushed into powder. Next to the powder from leaves of khat are added cardamom, cLovers, water. Thus prepared mixture, which is used as for chewing tobacco. Fresh or dried twigs Bush cat often added Department for tea for flavor. In Ethiopia, Arabic tea for production of brown, Gorky, honey-like Drink with moderate intoxicating effects.
In Yemen, the dried leaves of khat Smoked in some form or mixed with other plants (substances), especially Канабис. Thus prepared Smoking blends based on the leaves of khat. The dried leaves are still green, are used as medicinal) of incense.
The leaves that were damaged by frost, have a dull-ashy color and should not be used because it is believed that such lists have no effect, but a headache.
Of khat often Smoked with tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), because tobacco can enhance the effects of the Bush cat.

Only kidneys, the young leaves and the ends of branches plants cat contain psychoactive elements. The main psychoactive component instantly destroyed in case drying plants. On the contrary, the active elements may remain unchanged for many months, if fresh leaves were frozen.
During the ritual ceremonies associated with the plant cat, one person, usually consumes about 100-200 g of leaves of khat.
The cathinone, the main active element, about three times less toxic than Амф. One gram of leaf kata contains 3.27 mg of cathinone.

Effects of plants cat

The main effects of khat - an increase in energy and insomnia. Leaf chewing of khat causes a cheerful mood, euphoria, together with a certain talkativeness. Approximately in two hours after the consumption of khat, the effects are significantly reduced. The incentive effects of khat usually begin with a light tingling sensations throughout the body, especially on the head. The effect of leaves of khat is often compared to the effect of this combination as caffeine and morphine.
The Sufis and the dervishes use cat to achieve this state.
The cathinone, the main active element of a cat, was described as a "natural Амф and accordingly has similar effects. The cathinone interacts with the neurochemistry of dopamine, and frees the catecholamine in the synapses. The cathinone is identical, or at least very similar pharmacological properties, and causes the same sympathomimetic effects as Амф.
In addition to the psychoactive effects, cat also has anti-diabetic effect. Long-term chronic use of leaves of khat may cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract and nervous.

Legality of use of the plant cat

In Ethiopia, Arabic tea is divided on three commercial grade, depending on the size, age and taste of the leaves: kudda (best quality), uretta (medium quality), and kerti (low quality). In Kenya there are 2 differences between the leaves of khat: botnu (best quality) and kangeta (low quality). Of khat botnu't even reach the market because the owners of the plantations consume them. About two hundred different kinds of leaves of khat recognized in Yemen. All attempts to suppress the use of khat in Yemen, or even replace it with chewing gum, not had any success.

Today, the leaves of khat are used in all regions of the world where settled ethnic groups connected with traditional use of Arabic tea (France, Italy, England, Switzerland, and even the United States). Worldwide, approximately from 2 to 8 million meals leaves of khat are used every day. The average cost of bundles of 50 g is about ten dollars.
In Arabia dried leaves of khat sold in supermarkets for use as a tea.
The cathinone, the main active element kata, in its pure form was included in the UN list of "Psychotropic Substances".