Hemidesmus indicus – Sugandi, Sariva
Traditional Ayurvedic medicine practitioners have used Sariva for hundreds and hundreds of years; it was used as a healing herb as well as a magical-spiritual dream herb. It is used to treat stomach problems, cure rashes, ease the mind, quell the symptoms of syphilis, to help induce trance states and deep meditation, and to clarify and prepare the mind for the dream world. Ayurvedic tradition holds that the roots of the Hemidesmus indicus plant will transport the user to deeper states of sleep and through the four gates of dreaming, as written about by Carlos Castaneda in The Art of Dreaming.
Helichrysum odoratissmum – Imphepho
For centuries, traditional healers in Africa have used all of the Helichrysum subspecies for magical-medicinal healing ceremonies. The KwaZulu-Natal tribes in South Africa have used Imphepho to make smoking blends, often they it mixed with Shamanic grade tobacco to induce deep trance states and shamanic visions. Tribesmen and their shaman believe that these visions are sacred messages that they receive from their ancestors. These messages help them plan for the future, heal the sick and give them guidance in dealing with difficult life issues.
Cestrum nocturnum – Night-Blooming Jessamine
In Kathmandu, the flowers of C. nocturnum are used as offerings for Shiva and Ganesh. Nepalese shamans use the leaves and flowers to make a ritual incense, eat the fresh flowers and smoke them when dried to increase spiritual energy for healing. The plant is occasionally added to liquor in Kalinchok.
Heimia salicifolia – Sinicuichi (Sinicuiche)
Although there is virtually no evidence of Sinicuichi being used before the 1800s, there is ample evidence of its widespread medicinal use throughout Mexico during the 1800s. Many different decoctions were made from its flowers, leaves, branches, and roots to make fermented teas, healing salves, cleansing waters, and even medicinal steam. Native Indians used this plant to treat many common problems, using the leaves as an effective insect repellent and to cure Poison Ivy rashes as well as making decoctions to soothe aching muscles, treat scabies, increase fertility and to heal postpartum diseases.
Erythrina americana – American Coral Tree
The seeds of E. americana have been found in prehistoric strata, and both images of the tree and hieroglyphs representing it are found in Mayan manuscripts. Mentions of the tree are also found in Aztec writings from the colonial period. In Veracruz, the flowers are cooked and eaten as a vegetable, and are considered an aphrodisiac.
Brugmansia x insignis – Magnificent Angel’s Trumpet
The Mascho of Peru hold B. insignis as their most important shamanic plant, and call it xayapa. For them, ingestion must occur at night, and the individual should then lie on the ground somewhere where it is easy to see the stars. The liquid must be consumed directly from the pot without touching the vessel. Assistants are not to speak to the drinker. When the sun rises, the drinker must be dipped completely naked in to the water of a stream or river to reduce the effects of the medicine. Following the consumption, the drinker must avoid consuming certain fish and birds, as well as bananas and sugarcane, or it is said that he will fall victim to fever, stomach ailments, and other such conditions.
Diplopterys cabrerana – Yahe Vine
D. cabrerana is used by the Barasana tribe to make a psychoactive beverage that they use in the same way as ayahuasca. Other than that, D. cabrerana is used as a source of N,N-DMT in ayahuasca brews in a manner similar to Psychotria viridis leaves.
Panaeolus cyanescens – Hawaiian Copelandia
In Indonesia and Samoa, Panaeolus cyanescens is used recreationally for its visual and intoxcating effects. As recently as the 1980’s, Panaeolus cyanescens were deliberately cultivated in Bali both for sale in the tourist trade and for ritual use; on the island of Java, Indonesian batik artists would often ingest Panaeolus cyanescens to gain inspiration for the colorful and fluid designs seen in this indigenous style of graphic embroidery.
Atropa belladonna – Belladonna
Belladonna has been well known as a poisonous plant and a tool of witches and dark sorcerers since ancient times. Some have even suggested that belladonna was consumed by the dinosaurs, causing their extinction through poisoning or hallucinations. The name of the genus, Atropa, is derived from Atropos, the third of the Greek fates, she who cuts the thread of life and causes an individual to die. In the east, belladonna was often used as an additive to beer and palm wine. It also appears to have been used in the Middle Ages as a chemical weapon of sorts in the war between the Scots and the Danes. The Scots added juice from Belladonna berries to dark beer and gave it to the Danes, who were then overpowered in the resulting stupor.
Alstonia scholaris – Dita Tree
The seeds of the dita tree contain indole alkaloids, which are known to be psychoactive. The bark also contains several alkaloids, including ditamine and echitamine. The Malaysian species A. angustifolia is also known to contain yohimbine, a well known aphrodisiac. The bark of the dita tree is said to have pronounced aphrodisiac effects. One of the indole alkaloids contained in the seeds, known as alstovenine, is also an MAO inhibitor, which allows for the psychoactive effects of the seeds. Dita tree seeds are said to help men to maintain an erection and to delay orgasm during intercourse. The alkaloid echitamine, found in the bark, is said to kill malaria, although significantly less effective than quinine. The effects of dita tree bark on malaria have yet to be demonstrated in medical studies.
Anthemis nobilis – Chamomile
Chamomile, in all of its forms, has been used for its scent and sedative qualities for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians held that Anthemis nobilis was sacred to their god Ra, and they used chamomile oil to anoint the body for rituals in his honor. It was also valued by the Arabs and the Saxons, who revered it as one of their nine sacred herbs. It was used in Medieval Europe to scent clothing and interior spaces, and was cultivated in fields for its attractive, sweet scent.
MAO Inhibitor Recipe – Simplified
A simple method for extracting an MAO inhibitor from Syrian Rue seeds. MAOIs can interact in a dangerous way with many foods and medications. Please read our information on MAOI Dietary Restrictions before working with this material.
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