Editing Cathinone (section)

===Effects on health===
The first documentation of the khat plant being used in medicine was in a book published by an Arabian physician in the 10th century.<ref name="Al-Motarreb"/> It was used as an [[antidepressant]] because it led to feelings of happiness and excitement. Chronic khat chewing can also create drug dependence, as shown by animal studies.<ref name="Al-Motarreb"/> In such studies, monkeys were trained to push a lever to receive the drug reward. As the monkeys' dependence increased, they pressed the lever at an increasing frequency.<ref name="Al-Motarreb"/>

Khat chewing and the effects of cathinone on the body differ from person to person, but there is a general pattern of behavior that emerges after ingesting fresh cathinone:<ref name="Al-Motarreb"/>

# Feelings of euphoria that last for one to two hours
# Discussion of serious issues and increased [[irritability]]
# Very active imagination
# Depression
# Irritability, [[loss of appetite]] and [[insomnia]]

There are other effects not related to the CNS. The chewer can develop [[constipation]] and [[heartburn]] after a khat session. Long-term effects of cathinone can include [[gum disease]] or [[oral cancer]], [[cardiovascular disease]] and [[Depression (mood)|depression]].<ref name="Al-Motarreb"/> The [[withdrawal symptoms]] of cathinone include [[hot flashes]], [[lethargy]] and a great urge to use the drug for at least the first two days.<ref name="Al-Motarreb"/>