Psychology 2020A/B Chapter Notes -Cocaine Paste, Ephedrine, Ephedra

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2020A/B
• Professor: Riley Hinson

Document Summary

Number of naturally occurring plant substances that have psychomotor stimulating. Stimulants effects (one group = methylxantines: caffine, theophylline, theobromine) Earliest recognized and used naturally occurring plant psychostimulants ma huang (ephedra sinica) Mormon tea (used by mormons) Whorehouse tea (thought to treat syphilis and gonorrhea) Main active ingredient is sympathomimetic ephedrine: plant also contains pseudoephedrine fewer adverse effects on blood pressure than ephedrine. Found in herbal ecstacy (deliberately misspelled: sold as safe alternative to ecstasy, now banned. Isolated by german chemist in 1887. Nonprescription inhalant for asthma sufferers. Ephedrine is a bronchodilator still occurs in over the counter (otc) medications for asthma and nasal decongestion. Ephedrine banned from products in canada and us. From the catha edulis plant has been chronicled in africa since at least. Early use was in the form of a beverage called abyssinian tea. Today main use by chewing the leaves: typically takes place in afternoon or evening social party.