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Khat Herb - Uses And Side Effects

Khat leaves contain psychoactive ingredients known as cathinone, which is structurally and chemically similar to d-amphetamine, and cathine, a milder form of cathinone. Fresh leaves contain both ingrediants, much experimental evidence indicates that cathinone is the main psychoactive constituent of the khat leaf and that, in fact, this alkaloid is a natural amphetamine.Those left unrefrigerated beyond 48 hours would contain only cathine, which explains users' preference for fresh leaves.

Chewing khat is a popular form of drug abuse in East Africa, where it's consumed in daily social gatherings and is deeply rooted in cultural tradition (especially among men in Yemen). East Africans consider the red form of the herb superior to the white, which contains less of a component called cathinone.

Khat's effects reportedly are more intense than caffeine's but less intense than those of "speed" and other amphetamines. The sweet-tasting leaves cause dryness of the mouth and throat, usually creating a thirst for large amounts of fluids.

Khat comes from the raw leaves and tender twigs of Catha edulis. A member of the staff-tree family (Celastraceae) native to East Africa and the highlands of the Arabian peninsula, the tree grows to a height of 80 feet.

Common doses of Khat

Khat comes as raw leaves. Some experts recommend the following dose:

• 100 to 200 grams of raw leaf chewed at a time.

Uses of Khat herb

Specifically, Khat may help to :-

• Depression
• Fatigue
• Obesity
• To improve the appetite
• Ulcers

Side effects of Khat

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of khat:

• decreased sex drive (in men)
• migraine
• mouth sores
• fast pulse
• overheating and sweating
• irregular heartbeats
• reduced appetite
• large pupils

This herb also can cause:

• bleeding in the brain
• decreased pressure within the eye
• gum disease
• heart stoppage
• high blood pressure
• liver damage
• low spenn count and reduced spenn motility
• oral cancers
• pulmonary edema
• stomach and esophagus inflammation.

Chronic khat use may impair perfonnance on perceptual-visual memory and decision speed tests. Khat overdose may lead to hyperactivity, aggressiveness, mania, psychoses, and hallucinations.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Don't use khat if you're taking:

• decongestants
• drugs for irregular heartbeats
• drugs that lower blood pressure
• drugs used to relieve depression called MAO inhibitors (such as Marplan and Nardil)
• heart drugs called beta blockers (such as Inderal).

Important paints to remember

• Don't use khat if you have heart or blood vessel disease, kidney disease, or high blood pressure.
• Avoid this herb if you're pregnant or breast-feeding because it may cause birth defects.
• Know that if you use khat for a long time and then quit, you may experience with drawal symptoms, such as depression and sedation. However, researchers doubt that people can become physically dependent on or addicted to khat.
• Be aware that medical experts warn against chewing khat leaves or khat products because the herb may impair nutrition, disrupt the digestive system, and lead to oral cancer.
• Know that elderly people are more likely to have side effects from khat.

What the research shows

Medical experts believe khat has little, if any, medicinal value. What's more, researchers have gathered many reports of side effects stemming from khat abuse and overuse. On the positive side, though, khat seems less likely than amphetamines to cause addiction, tolerance, and psychological dependence.

Other names for Khat

Other names for khat include cat, chat, gad, kaht, kat, miraa, and tschut.