Tag: Erythroxylum coca

For over 8,000 years, Andean peoples have chewed or brewed the leaves of the *Erythroxylum coca* plant for medicinal, social, and religious purposes. But what do coca leaves do, and how does this traditional use differ so profoundly from its notorious derivative, cocaine?

For over 4,000 years, the coca plant (Erythroxylum coca) has held deep cultural, religious, and social significance for Indigenous peoples in the Andean region of South America. Historically, it has been one of the most important traditional crops in the region.

Used for thousands of years in Andean medicine, people often wonder: are coca leaves a diuretic? Traditional use suggests benefits for digestion and fluid balance, prompting an investigation into what scientific research reveals about this ancient practice.