Extraction Initiation

I woke up to the rising sun this morning and the crisp chill mountain air:

The sun rises in the east

Today's activities include grinding up coca leaves, performing an ethanol extraction of the spectra of alkaloids, reducing the volume to the thick extract, and making altitude sickness tinctures and candy lozenges. Before you jump to any conclusions, there are many therapeutic health benefits to be found in the lesser known alkaloids present within the coca leaf. These alkaloids work in concert with one another to produce an overall health tonic used by the Andean indigenous peoples for millenia, especially beneficial at high altitudes due to the increased oxygen flow in the bloodstream. Below is a list of the known bioactive alkaloids found in the coca leaf, as well as their effect on the body (the most infamous of which is listed first, but is the one of least interest to me in this process; and yes, this is legal here in Peru):

Cocaine	Stimulating, euphoric, painkiller.
Ecgonine	Gives stamina, regulates the burning of carbohydrates and increases fat burning.
Quinoline	Prevents caries and strengthens the gums.
Globuline	Stimulates blood circulation, against altitude sickness and low blood pressure.
Papaine	Promotes digestion, good for the skin.
Pectine	Anti-diarrhea, removal of toxins
Reserpine	Against high blood pressure.
Benzoine	Anti-fermenting agent, good for skin, mouth and colon.
Atropine	Dry’s up salival glands, relaxes muscle tonus.
Hygrine	Stimulates salival gland.
Pyridine	Stimulates blood circulation, improves the oxygen absorption of brain and muscles.
Conine	Local anaestesia.
Inuline	Improves the production of hemoglobin.
Cocamine	Analgetic painkiller, blocks only pain other sensations remain intact.

Alkaloids are organic nitro-based compounds, which are  produced by  many plants. They form an energy reserve in metabolic processes of the plant and helps the plant to defend against insects and diseases, and are often found to have high bioactivity in humans.

Future uses of the extracts include toothpastes, lotions, oils, salves, soaps, and shampoos. I'll let you know how it goes...