KHAT

Description

Evergreen tree 2-15 metres with one trunk, or a cluster of many close, upright trunks and willowing branches, often with dark red stems, carrying opposite forming, dark-green, smooth, glossy, elliptic-shaped leaves to 10cm long. Leaf margins are finely toothed, and the veins can be red, in fact, whole leaves can be red, particularly on new flushes of growth. Small clusters of flowers, 2mm diameter, form along leaf axils. Flowers have 5 cream-coloured petals that stay as a cup-formation. Seed capsules 1cm long, turn brown and split into 3 parts when ripe, containing up to 6 small, winged seeds.

Khat

Constituents:

volatile oil, ephedrine, cathine, cathinone, cathidine, celastrin, katine, d-nor-iso-ephedrine, nor-pseudoephedrine, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides

Action:

astringent, cerabral stimulant, sedative, appetite suppressant, aphrodisiac, mental alertness, euphoria

Medicinal Uses

Traditional herb of Arabic countries, Somalia, Ethiopia, and East Africa, where it is a ritual to chew the leaves. The folklore on ‘khat’ (which is one of its most used common names) is highly variable, as the lore has been handed down orally, for hundreds of years. Tradition has it that the name means sustenance or driving principle. One folklore tradition which originated in Yemen, tells of how khat was discovered by a goat herder named Awzulkernayien, who observed that when the goats ate the leaves they were very alert, and he decided to try them himself. He experienced wakefulness and added strength, took some home and ate a few leaves before retiring for the night. He found that sleep eluded him, and he was able to pray and meditate for long hours. There is also a legend that tells of two devout people who often spent the entire night in prayer, but frequently found themselves dropping off to sleep. They prayed to God to give them something to keep them awake. An angel appeared and showed them the khat plant, which would keep them awake. Probably because of this legend, khat is considered a holy plant, and people often pray before they begin to chew it.

The most common way of deriving the effects of khat is the chewing of the fresh leaves and twigs or using the leaves, either fresh or dried, as a tea infusion or decoction. It has a stimulating alkaloid principle, much like caffeine. Taste of fresh leaves is slightly sweet, but of no real identifiable flavour, however the tannin’s astringent action is immediately felt, in the mouth. Dried leaves are smoked. Khat owes its therapeutic uses to several constituents that stimulate the brain, spinal cord, and create a relaxing effect on the lungs. Uses have included: coughs, bronchial asthma, hayfever, appetite suppressant and for weight loss, stomach upsets, fatigue, diabetes, malaria and to give a feeling of alertness and well being.

Dose:

An infusion is made with 5-6 chopped leaves per cup of boiling water, taken 1-3 times a day. Research has found that leaves have a thermogenic like action, causing the body to burn fat faster. Stimulants are also known to have an appetite suppressing effect. Young fresh leaves have a stimulating action, similar to caffeine, but is said to possess sustaining and recuperative properties. Leaves need to be used within 3 days of picking or they lose much of their desired effect. However, having stated this, excess produce not sold in the markets, is dried, ground to powder and sold. The powder is mixed with water into a paste and then used by people too old to chew, signifying that some benefit must still be experienced by consuming the dried leaves. Khat made as a flower essence is said to improve cranial communication with the rest of the body, stimulate the endocrine and immune system and regenerate neurological tissue. The essence aids in the assimilation of vitamin E and all B vitamins, and it is believed to retard the ageing process by helping to take waves of vital energy to the cells. For many people in the Middle East and Africa, khat chewing is a way of life. The amount chewed is variable, depending on the consumer and the social gathering. The average amount chewed, per person, may be as much as 500 grams a day. It is purchased as a marduuf; a bundle of leaves and twigs tightly wrapped in banana, sorrel or castor oil leaves to keep them fresh, which ensures the main constituents are not lost. Chewing is a social custom when friends gather, mainly after work, at religious rites, weddings, funerals and business gatherings. Some people casually chew, while others may chew from dawn to dusk, with some even chewing all night long! For others, the daily ritual may be breakfast with khat, a light meal at noon and khat chewing for the rest of the day. Khat farmers value their crops, which are of considerable economic importance, but their social life is governed by the crop they tend. Their day starts with a breakfast of unleaven bread. Then they go into the field to gather some khat, and sit under a tree with a gourd filled with water, to suck and chew for 2-3 hours, until there is a feeling of stimulation. It is said rural chewers use the leaves to give them energy to work, repress the appetite, and keep them from feeling drowsy. Farmers may chew for half a day, which they say then gives the body such a spurt of energy, they can do in the second half of the day, a full day’s work! They say that if they don’t chew khat in the morning they cannot think straight. Farmers also say that if khat chewing is not followed by hard work, it serves as an irritant, rather than a stimulant.

A large wad of leaves and soft stems is placed in the mouth and chewed, for periods up to ten minutes, until the juices are extracted, swallowed, and washed down with copious drafts of cold water, as khat’s astringent action produces a thirst, and dryness of the mouth. The residue is not spat out immediately, but gathered in the cheek and kept usually for the whole period of chewing; the bolus thus accumulated making a characteristic bulge in the cheek of the chewer. The effects consumers desire, in khat, are generally psychic in nature, and generated by stimulation of the central nervous system. Euphoria, increased alertness, general excitement and hyperactivity can be experienced. Some say that, as a mild stimulant, it is comparable to several cups of coffee. Others say it gives tremendous reserves of energy for work, inducing a pleasant euphoria, but with no more serious side effects than insomnia and temporary loss of appetite. For some, khat makes them contented, of good humour, happy, cheerful, enhances libido, frees expression and oral eloquence, clears thinking and enlivens imagination.

Following a TV program on khat, I had a young inventor call for the plant and fresh leaves. He has found that by blending the fresh leaves and squeezing out the juice to drink, he has experienced more energy. Maybe it has also spurred on his inventive mind! This morning I picked some fresh leaves to chew while writing at 6am. Then, with breakfast at 7am, I brewed a tea with 5 leaves steeped in 1 cup of boiling water. Now, at mid-morning, I am still waiting for the "khatspurt- of-energy" and enlightenment! Maybe I have not had enough leaves to create the desired effect.

Unfortunately, the desired effect, for some people in the countries of customary use has become addictive. Some regular users may chew over 2kg of leaves a day. Although it is a low toxicity plant, regular use, or rather abuse of the plant, may result in constipation, anorexia, oesophagitis, gastritis, myocardial insufficiency, withdrawal syndrome, depression, malaise and insomnia. Since increased heart rate and blood pressure may be a side effect, the plant should be avoided by individuals with hypertension and heart disease; and also by nursing mothers.