The Coca Plant is most well known for one thing: Cocaine.  But it's history as a medicinal and beneficial plant for many people in South America, might hint to a different set of uses.  Join us as we talk about the Coca Plant and it's use throughout our history as an upper and a bargaining chip.

For almost 3000 years, the native people of South America have used this plant as away to stave off altitude sickness and cure a variety of ailments via traditional medicine.  In fact, it wasn't until the mid to late 1800s that cocaine was extracted from the plant and distributed to the Western World as part of a miracle tonic.  Ever wonder about the story of Coca-Cola after all those rumors of it containing cocaine?  We hope you'll enjoy our conversation about the story of the Coca Plant including both what we do and don't know about it and how it has made a big impact on the world.

Thanks again to Krista for all of her editing work!  Be sure to like our Facebook page (PlantStories) and our Instagram (PlantStoriesPodcast)!

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/