Chewing Khat and its other uses

Catha Edulis, popularly known as Khat is a flowering plant local to the Arabian Peninsula and Northeast Africa. In these regions, Khat is chewed by individuals to achieve the stimulating effect similar but less intense than that caused by the usage of Methamphetamine or Cocaine. Khat is also dried and drunk as tea. But more commonly, the fresh leaves of Khat are chewed by people until the stage of euphoria is achieved.

Uses of Khat

Originally, the leaves were chewed by the people to suppress appetite and reduce fatigue. Earlier, it was mainly a spiritual aid used in many ceremonies. Historical records prove that the leaves were also used for other health and medicinal purposes. In short, Khat has been a socio-cultural edible substance in Arabia and Africa for centuries.

With time, it was introduced to the western world and its socio-cultural and medicinal usage gave way to illegal recreational misuse. Recently, it was discovered that Khat contains an alkaloid known as Cathinone which causes similar side effects like that of amphetamines.

People chewing Khat develop a euphoric effect which has often forced them to develop psychological dependence on the drug. Moderate intake of Khat may not cause addiction, but may have bad effects on different parts of the body. Chewing Khat can have adverse effects on the brain, heart, stomach and liver. When mixed with alcohol or other illegal substances, qat can be fatal to the body.

Chewing Khat gives a pleasurable experience, but regular usage can cause physical and psychological dependence on the drug. These conditions should be treated at addiction treatment centers. It is often believed by experts that qat is just another plant that is greatly misused.

Khat in Yemen

Khat is so popular in Yemen that nearly 40% of the country’s irrigation goes to the cultivation of the crop. Another reason behind the cultivation of Khat in Yemen is the high income it provides to the farmers of the country.

Studies in 2001 have shown that the income from cultivating Khat was about 2.5 million Yemeni Rials per hectare whereas it was only 0.57 million Rials per hectare when fruits were cultivated.

Khat is more then just a plant!