bernard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Duncan Craig Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > bernard Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > If you are postulating that adrenaline
> > > (epinephrine) is the active ingredient
> there
> > are a
> > > number of problems. The biggest one is
> that
> > > epinephrine is ineffective if eaten
> because
> > it is
> > > rapidly destroyed in the liver by
> monoamine
> > > oxidase. Second, although epinephrine is
> made
> > in
> > > the brain area it is distributed to the
> > various
> > > organs (heart, lungs, digestive tract,
> > muscles,
> > > etc.) where it acts in the "flight or
> fight"
> > > response the concentration in the brain
> is
> > very
> > > small.
> > >
> > >
> > > Bernard
> >
> >
> > I don't know enough about it. The studies
> that I
> > briefly reviewed involved injected
> epinephrine,
> > but there is a whole slew of
> neuro-transmitter
> > compounds that, if weren't directly reactive,
> then
> > may well be precursors or inhibitors.
> Certainly
> > the analgesic and stimulant properties of
> coca
> > leaves aren't neutralized by the liver. Of
> > course, the leaves aren't 'eaten' are they?
> >
> however, we are talking about epinephrine and the
> idea that the prospective victims were full of it
> and then the cannibals would get "high" from
> eating them as soon as they killed them. We are
> not talking about hallucinogens in general and not
> every neuro-transmitter produces a High" or a
> "rage".
>
> Here's a direct quote:
>
> Goodman Gilman, A, L.S. Goodman and A. Gilman,
> eds. 1980 The Pharmacological Basis of
> Therapeutics 6th ed. NY: macmillan
>
> p. 150“Epinephrine does not reach
> pharmacologically active concentrations in the
> body after oral administration because it is
> rapidly conjugated and oxidized in the
> gastrointestinal mucosa and liver.”
> ps. my graduate minor was pharmacognosy
>
> Bernard
>
>
>Then you are far more aquainted with the subject than I. But I hesitate to let you frame the discussion and restrict it to epinephrine. Is enough known of brain chemistry to account for the biological action of the whole complex panalopy of hormones, dopamine, MAO inhibitors? There was a documentry I saw some years ago about some southeast Asian customs including eating fresh monkey brains as a means of intoxication. And no, we are not talking about hallucinogens, although you are familiar with the wide spectrum of innovative ways that New World tribes used for intoxication; Buffo Marinus, Cactii of several species, tobacco, pulque, peyote, barks of trees, plants of the wild. Eating the substance seems to be the least popular. Maybe a section of hypothalamus was placed between cheek and gum to await absorption ala' vitamin b12. Stamina, resistance to altitude sickness and warmth are not hallucinogenic, but would be valued. So the method of ingestion may be suspect, but there are epidemiological studies that show a link between agressiveness, analgesia and even psychopathic behaviour (however culturally relative that term is). I could test the speculation, but Halloween is still six weeks away. ;')