Psychology 2020A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter stimulants: Neural Pathway, Sodium Bicarbonate, Hallucinogen
18 Dec 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Earliest recognized and used naturally occurring plant of psychostimulants is ma huang (ephedra sinica). Ma huang is the name for a chinese herb that comes from a leafless, desert shrub known as horsetail plant. Use documents back as far as 3 000 bc. This is why merchants are required to report any large scale purchases of such medications. The use of khat form the catha edulis plant has been seen in africa since at least 1300s. Early use was in the form of abyssinian tea. Today, the main form is chewing leaves and typically takes place in the afternoon or evening at a social party. Use is very extensive in many immigrant countries. Chewing the leaves is characterized by mild mental stimulation, feelings of contentment, mild psychomotor excitation, suppression of fatigue and the need for sleep, and anorexia. Khat became illegal under controlled drugs and substances act in canada in 1997.
