Herbal Smoking Mixture

8/14/2019 Herbal Smoking Mixture

1/21


2/21

I am a smoker, and I am writing from the viewpointof a smoker. If you don't smoke anything regularly,my suggestion is don't start. Smoking every day ona regular basis is never healthy. Occasional use ofsmoking herbs, or even Tobacco, is not verydamaging. It's our trend towards making it a habit inexcess that becomes the problem.

Many of the plants described in this book aredifficult, if not impossible, to find on the commercialherb market. These need to be gathered in the wild(wildcrafted), or garden grown. Wildcrafting requiresskill and practice. It requires a positive identification.If you are not sure of the plant, or if you are not surehow to harvest wild plants ethically, DON'T wildcraft.Seek one of the many fine teachers available toobtain the necessary skills first.

Why Smoke?

There are many reasons why people smokeTobacco, Marijuana, and other herbal mixtures.Here are but a few reasons:

Recreation: Some folks find the act of smoking andits effects pleasurable. Sometimes they are justbending under a social pressure (it's cool to smelllike an ashtray). Some herbs taste good whensmoked. Certainly, an oral fixation, or somesubconscious early childhood memories of mom'snipples, contribute to constant smoking.

Addiction: Recreational use of Tobacco can lead tothe dreaded addiction so prevalent in the worldtoday. Tobacco has firmly ingrained itself in everyculture in the world it has been introduced to, exceptfor a few religious sects. Don't let the advertisementfool you; the Marlboro man is an addict. It is veryhard for most people to stop on their own. Marijuanais not physically addicting, but there are a few folkswho smoke every day and form an emotionaldependence on it.

Tobacco and Marijuana Alternatives: There arenumerous reasons not to smoke Tobacco, healthreasons not a small factor. It may be social pressure

(it's so cool not to smell like an ashtray). A satisfyingreplacement for Tobacco is like the search for theholy grail. Many will look for it and come close, butnothing will be exactly like it. Have you heard themythical story of the sage herbalist, quite a wise andaromatic fellow? After years of spiritual purificationhe finally found the proper herbs and curing processto make the perfect Tobacco-like smoking mixturesubstitute. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter hebecame fully enlightened and gave up smoking


3/21


4/21

airtight container.

Most store-bought herbs are too dry for a pleasantsmoke and taste harsh. If you use herbs that are toodry, try spraying your mixture lightly with water. Mixit thoroughly and let sit in an airtight container to letthe moisture travel throughout the herbs.Experiment with the liquid. Try adding an apple sliceor honey. You can always let the herbs air dry ifthey get too moist to burn properly.

Another factor is the consistency of the mixture. Theherbs should be well mixed and burn evenly. If youare using a pipe to smoke, this is not quite asimportant. The mixture can have small pieces ofstems and roots without problems. If you plan to rollthe herbs in cigarette papers, this becomes veryimportant. Even small stems will poke holes in thepaper. Remove all the stems. Powder or finely chopthe slower burning roots and hard herbs.

Some herbs are especially helpful to obtain theproper physical consistency of the mixture. By farthe best physical base for a smoking mixture isMullein. When prepared correctly, it is light andpuffy. The other herbs mix well into it, and it willburn evenly when lit. It is a good carrier of the othersubstances. You can also use finely shreddedbarks. Thin slices or inner barks of plants likedogwood and willow should be finely cut into longstrips, much like fine Virginian Tobacco. This can bedifficult to do, but it works well.

Certain plants need to be rubbed before use.Mullein and Mugwort don't become fluffy until youtake the herbs in your hands and rub them. Keeprubbing until the herb becomes light and puffy.Sometimes I put the Mullein in a blender beforemixing. It becomes even more fluffy, but it lacks thepersonal touch hand rubbing gives.

Finally, the amounts and kinds of flavoring herbsyou use will change the palatability. You need to justplay with it until you get it right. Unfortunately, mostcommercially available herbal smoking blends don'tproperly prepare, cure, and package the herbs.They often have good recipes,and I have to assume

the manufacturers have the best intentions but lackof resources or knowledge. Some are still goodenough to smoke. Very few rival even the simplesthand picked, rubbed and/or cured, and semi-drieddo it yourself mix.

Barks for Body: Hearty Smoking Mixture Bases

Barks were a standard ingredient of NativeAmerican smoking mixtures, at least on the West


5/21

Coast of the United States. Good smoking barks areusually astringents, and have medicinal value forexternal burns, cuts, etc. Smoked, however, theyhave no medicinal effects, and no apparentphysiological effect other than the act of smoking.They have a dull thick flavor that adds Tobacco-like"body" to the smoke.They can be too "raspy" tosmoke alone.

Willow and Dogwood bark are two common barks.Use the thin barked willows, or inner layer of thethicker barks for best results. If possible, cut thebark into very thin strips to approximate a fine cutVirginian Tobacco. This isn't always possible, but ithelps to make the smoking mixture easier to dealwith for rolling and mixing other herbs.

You can use other astringent herbs like Kinnikinnikin a similar fashion. There are many undiscussedastringent herbs that might add body to smoking

mixtures. Try Avens, Geum sp., Cinquefoil,Potentilla sp., Rose, Rosa sp., and Spirea, Spireasp.

Willow Bark, Salix sp.

The species of Willows are numerous and hard toidentify. As a botanist, there seems to be as manydifferent kinds of Willows as stars in the southernsky. Each of these Willows has a slightly differentflavor and texture. Experiment to find the one youlike the best.

Willows have medicinal effects internally. Theycontain salicylates that act like aspirin to relieveinflammation, lower fevers, and relieve pain. Theseproperties do not transfer through smoking.

Dogwood Bark, Cornus sp.

Dogwood Bark is another herb for body and texture.You can use any Cornus tree or shrub. Each will bedifferent, but this includes Flowering Dogwood andRed Osier (Creek) Dogwood.

Pipsissewa, Chimaphila sp. and Pyrola,

Pyrola sp.

The leaves of all species of these plants are mildastringents that add body to the smoking mixture,yet are very mild. You can smoke them alone withgood results, and they break up easily into usablesize pieces.

Kinnikinnik, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi


6/21

Kinnikinnik or Bearberry is the standard for theNorthwestern smoking mixture. It is a fine thicksmoke, but mild enough for some to smoke alone.The leaves are usually used, but it is possible tosmoke the red bark. The leaves are leathery, andmay require some extra attention to break into smallenough pieces to roll into a cigarette.

Kinnikinnik is an Native American word for smokingmixture. It is true they smoked Kinnikinnik (theplant), but usually the "Kinnikinnik" they smokedalso contained willow bark and other ingredients.Sometimes it did not even contain Bearberry. Thisconfused some of the ethnobotanists catalogingtheir herb usage, so be aware of this when reading"Indian Uses for Herbs" type books.

In order of strength from mildest to strongest:* Pipsissewa, Pyrola: Mild, can be smoked alone.

* Kinnikinnik: Medium, can be smoked alone* Manzanita: Strong, can be too raspy to smokealone* Madrone Leaf: Very strong, too raspy, excellentto mix with other herbs.

Manzanita, Shrubby Arctostaphylos sp.

Manzanita leaf (and bark if you wish) is a strongastringent with body and flavor that can be tooharsh to smoke alone. The leaves may be difficult tobreak into small pieces. Mix it in small amounts withother herbs, and it will work just fine.

Manzanita has an unusual relationship with fire.Manzanita is fire slowed down and embodied into aplant. Just look at its red bark and wispy habit.Manzanita evolved with fire. If Smoky the Bearwasn't in charge of fire suppression, mostecosystems with Manzanita would burn naturally ona regular basis. Old thick unburned Manzanitaeventually becomes unhealthy. Burning doesn't killthe plant, it invigorates its growth. The wood is fireresistant and often has unique grains and "burls." Itmakes excellent pipe material.

Madrone, Arbutus menziesii

Madrone is a fiery red barked tree. Its leaf and barkare even stronger than Manzanita. It can still beuseful in mixtures, but mix just a little with the otherherbs. It is very raspy and harsh when smokedalone, so use a gentle hand when adding it to amixture.

Blackberry, Rubus sp.


7/21

Blackberry root is a strong astringent that has use insmoking mixtures. Be sure to powder the root andmix well. The bark of the stems can also be used.The leaves are very gentle, and can be added also.Any Rubus like Raspberry, Loganberry,Thimbleberry, and Salmonberry might be usefuladditions.

Ceremonial Uses

Some of the milder psychotropic herbs can beeffective in smoking mixture for ceremonial reasons.These light smokes will not knock you down as theheavy counter-cultural chemicals, but they will giveyou the feeling of the plant. The best use of thesemixtures is during meditation or vision quests whereyou pay great attention to the way the herb feels.These are not for everyday smoking mixtures.

Many people are looking for psychotropic herbs thatare legal and smokable. If you are looking for areplacement for Marijuana, stay with the calmingherbs or Calamus. There are many other plantsavailable in the wild that range from mild LSD-likeexperiences to strong other worldly experiences.Many are very dangerous and unhealthy to yourbody. Certainly a spiritual experience maybe worthshort term bodily discomfort, but it's not worth death.These stronger psychotropics should be used underthe guidance of a Shaman or other experiencedpractitioner trained in the specific uses and dosagesof these herbs. Carlos had his don Juan to help himback to earth from these outlandish worlds. Don't bestupid and get lost in other dimensions leaving yourbody in a coma in a hospital for your loved ones topay for.

The hardest part of being a teacher is not teachingwhat I know but knowing what not to teach. If youare looking for heavy duty psychedelic smoking mixyou won't find it in this book.

Scotch Broom, Cytisus scoparius

Scotch Broom is planted by the roadside to preventerosion, but it regularly escapes to the neighboring

areas. When I was about 19, I heard that if you drythe flowers and smoke them, they will get you high.What I got was a sore throat, a headache, and ahangover, but no real psychoactive effects.

As the years went by I researched it further. Merlinsmoked it in a legend, but he must have donesomething to it. I finally found out about a curingprocess. Put the freshly picked flowers directly intoa jar and seal it. Let it cure about two weeks. It


8/21

should turn brown and look like scat. If not, open thejar for a minute and close it up again. It'll turn brownin a moment. When it's ready it will smell putrid;however, when you dry it, it will have a verypleasant aromatic aroma. Don't dry it to a crisp;leave it slightly moist. It will have the most amazingflavor. I tried this curing process and smoked it. Itgave me a mild altered state with a minimum of aheadache. I then tried curing it for eight months. Theresultant product is a hallucinogen, although mild.

Even cured it is still harsh on your body. It will causenausea along the altered states. It can also cause aloss of motor control in larger amounts, with nomajor hangover if you are healthy. People with liverproblems should probably stay away from this herb,and most other organic hallucinogens as well. Manypeople are allergic to Broom, and should not smokeit. It is not an everyday blend to replace Marijuanasmoking. The effect is nothing like Cannabis, and it

feels as if it will cause damage to your body withlong term use.

I sometimes teach this process in myapprenticeship. It depends on the students'attitudes. If they're looking for highs ... forget it. Iwon't even mention it. If they really understandabout "power plants" then I will. Broom to me is avery powerful spirit that enters your body when youtake it internally in the described fashion. Whenharvesting it, one has to be careful to pay attention.The plant forcibly stops some students fromharvesting it. It will actually warn them to stay away,and then hurt them through rashes, hives,headache, sneezes, and nausea. All from just aharvest; it is a very powerful plant indeed.

I harvest Broom in the spring and cure it throughoutthe year. In the fall it's dried and mixed with anumber of other plants harvested as the seasonscycle. I blend it in small amounts with the otherherbs to make a special smoking mixture that is mildand pleasant. One that gives a feeling of ourconnection with the earth and the fine gifts we'veharvested, and the fine gifts we've given back tonature. This is my smoking blend used for specialpurposes in times of meditation and retreat.

I regularly make a blend like I this. I only gather asmall amount each year, enough for a few times ofsmoking. I don't always add Broom. Broom will makeit so I don't feel like walking. I like to walk. Incontrast, to smoke Broom regularly just to get high isto invite bodily damage. If you're looking for a dailyMarijuana replacement use Skullcap or Pedicularis.They won't give you a hangover.


9/21

Calamus, Acorus calamus

This ancient herb is mentioned in the Bible and ischewed by the Natives of Northeastern Canada on adaily basis. It is also used in ayurvedic medicine forcanceling out the negative effects of consistentmarijuana smoking. This makes it an especiallygood smoke for those who are quitting long termmarijuana use. In small doses it is a stimulant. Inlarge internal doses it is hallucinogenic. It's mainingredient (TMA) is more psychoactive by weightthan mescaline. However, smoking it will not causepsychic pyrotechnics. It appears to provide arelaxed, pleasant, mild psychotropic effect verydifferent from Marijuana. It is very unlike calmingherbs used to quit Marijuana because it will makeyour head cloudy.

The active ingredient of Calamus is not the moststable of compounds. It will deteriorate within a few

years leaving the herb useless. Try to get as freshan herb as possible and buy large pieces ifpossible. Break these pieces up small before use ina pipe. If you use papers, powder the herb and mixwell.

Medicinal Uses

People often ask me how smoking herbs canpossibly be good for your lungs. I tell them thepeanut butter story. Is peanut butter good for you? Ifyou wake up to coffee and a maple bar (it has thesugar I need to get up and go in the morning), aquick coffee and some sugary lunch snack bar,followed by a processed dinner with an extra servingof tensions, then replacing the lunch with a peanutbutter sandwich will be healthy. If you're on a strictvegan diet of raw fruit only, a peanut buttersandwich will clog your digestive tract like super-glue. Peanut butter is bad. It all depends where yourbody is.

It is the same with smoking herbs. If you have neversmoked and your lungs are healthy and clean, thensmoking anything will not be healthy. On the otherhand, if your lungs are filled with crud that won'tcome out from cigarettes and a mild respiratory

cold, smoking some lung herbs will help your body'snatural expectoration. Smoking will be good for yourlungs. It all depends on where your body is.

Herbs for the Lungs

Mullein, Verbascum thapsus

Mullein is a fine medicinal for the lungs, even whenyou smoke it. It soothes inflamed or infected lungs,


10/21

and prevents coughing until infection orinflammation is broken. Then it aids inexpectoration, helping to break up congestion andpromote "effective" coughing. It was smoked to stopthe coughing of tuberculosis years ago. It iswonderful for any kind of lung cleansing. Very gentleand non-toxic, you can use it anytime. If you are asmoker, and you are sick and can't stop coughingfrom a cold, you can smoke some Mullein instead ofTobacco. It may help you to stop coughing, and youwill have smoked one less cigarette. If you are not asmoker, stick with tincture (extract) or Mullein tea.After all, there's no need to smoke when you're sickin your lungs.

It also has almost no flavor and is a very lightsmoke. I have never seen anyone become addictedto smoking Mullein, as after a while it is veryunsatisfying. The average smoker would feel as ifthey're smoking air.

Crispy dried crushed Mullein is a lousy smoke. Besure to keep it ever so slightly moist. Dried Mulleinshould be rubbed for the best results. It will becomevery fluffy and puffy. This fuzzy rubbed Mullein willburn evenly when smoked in a paper or pipe. It willhold other herbs that are in the form of small piecesand powder, and keep them evenly distributed. Andit has no flavor! Ideal for a smoking base; I use it inalmost every smoking mixture.

I like the light green baby leaves found in the centerof the first year basal rosette, but it's a matter ofpersonal choice. Any leaf will work.

Horehound, Marrubium vulgare, andColtsfoot, Tussilago farfara

These commonly used smoking ingredients areexpectorants. They promote coughing and aid in theupward flow of mucus. Let me repeat this: theseherbs will make you cough. Let me relate to you astory I have heard more times than I can count onmy hands and my feet. The person hears thatColtsfoot was smoked by the Native Americans.They run to the health food store, roll up a cigaretteof dried raspy Coltsfoot, and proceed to smoke it as

if it was marijuana. After they cough a piece of theirbrains out, they decide that perhaps this wasn't sucha good idea. However, the difference betweenpoison and medicine is dosage. If used properly,these herbs are very effective healthful herbs.

Mix these herbs in medium amounts with otherherbs. If the mixture makes you cough too much,use less of the expectorant. They are ideal for ageneral lung cleanse, for the ending of respiratory


11/21

flus and colds, when you're quitting Tobacco, and toget the crud out of you lungs in general. Do not usethem when you are coughing up blood or if it hurtswhen you breathe. See a qualified healthprofessional if this is the case. Also, do not usethem when you can not stop coughing. If this is thecase, stick with Mullein. Ideally theses mixturesshould not make you cough incessantly, but justcough effectively once in a while, bringing up someof that excess phlegm.

Jimson Weed Seeds, Datura sp.

One good reason to smoke an herb as a preferredmethod of ingestion is regulation of dosage. Youcan smoke an herb that is very strong and regulatethe dosage safety. The difference between medicineand poison is dosage. Many plants are too strong totake internally safely. If you take a tea, it may takehalf an hour or more before you can tell how strong

of a dosage you took. At that point it is too late totake less. When you smoke an herb the effects orside effects become apparent quickly. If the herbdoesn't agree with you, you can stop beforeoverdosing.

Jimson weed is definitely a strong hallucinogen,poison, medicine any way you look at it. The dosageis all important. I do not recommend internal use ofDatura without the guidance of a shaman. The useof Datura for a high by pimply adolescents lookingfor some fireworks is deplorable. Too many of themend up as newspaper reports. I personally know ofpeople who have landed in the hospital for extendedstays because of this plant.

Used in the proper dosages, Datura can be a veryeffective treatment for a variety of problems. Smokethe crushed seeds only. The seeds are the mildestpart of the plant. Just a few puffs will anesthetizeyour throat and lungs. This could be very helpfulwith some lung problems. You will not feelpsychological effects from this small a dosage. Ihave used this method of taking this herb and willguarantee that you will not get high from two puffs.This plant does not agree with some people. If youfeel light headed or nauseous, then stop smoking it.

No harm will be done.

In some oversea countries, you may find that thecigarettes still contain Datura leaf. Datura has beenused as smoking mixtures in a variety of cultures.Generally this is for their hallucinogenic effect anddoesn't concern us in this book.

Herbs to Quit Smoking Tobacco


12/21

Let's face it, herbal smoking mixtures will not causeyou to quit Tobacco. Only you can cause you tostop. Smoking mixtures can aid in the process if youare ready. A variety of mixtures can be helpful.

At first, a thick bodied flavorful smoke with Lobeliaand calming herbs is indicated. After the physicalwithdrawal is finished with, drop the Lobelia smokeand use a calming smoke with lots of astringentherbs for a heavy "Tobacco" smoke. In reality, noherbal smoking mixture tastes as "thick" asTobacco. Be sure to add some Mullein and possiblysome expectorants to aid in the cleansing process.Finally, you may wish to cut the astringents and justgo with the very light Mullein alone. Mullein is solight it will feel as you aren't really smokinganything, and you will eventually lose interest in it.This regimen is an example, and can be modified toyour own personal needs. Some examples of thesemixtures are found in the recipe section.

Other herbs, taken as tea or tincture, may be helpfulduring the withdrawal process. A liver stimulant likeOregon Grape Root or Goldenseal may help yourbody remove the nicotine quicker. This won't makethe withdrawal symptoms easier, but it will justspeed it up. Salicylate herbs, like Willow and Oak,can help with headaches. Calming herbs likeSkullcap, Valerian, and Parrot's Beak, are definitelyindicated. After the physical addiction is broken, it'sup to you to break the psychological addiction.

Lobelia, Lobelia inflata

Lobelia is another example of a strong herb whosedosage can be regulated by smoking. It is a verystrong muscle relaxant and tranquilizer that shouldnot be mixed with any other pharmaceuticaltranquilizers or alcohol. It also is an expectorant. Asan added bonus it is an alterative that increasesyour body's own natural defense mechanisms. Allthis makes it ideal as an herb to stop smoking with.

Your body sees Lobelia's main ingredient, lobeline,as nicotine. Certain receptors in your body arewaiting to be filled with nicotine and so you feelnicotine fits. Lobeline is the same shape as nicotine

and fits into these receptor sites, fooling your bodyinto thinking you've been smoking Tobacco.Lobeline, however, is not addictive when usedproperly for the short term. The prescription chewinggums that doctors prescribe to quit smoking havelobeline as the main ingredient.

Years ago I had a booth at a weekly fair where Isold my herbal products. Eventually I got very tiredof this. Towards the end I could no longer stand


13/21

being available for questions for eight hourstretches. One day I had a wicked headache andtook some Lobelia. It was a good solid dose; I hadto sit down but my headache was gone. I went tolight a cigarette, but after one puff I could not smokeany more. My body felt as if I had smoked too manycigarettes already. It was just the Lobelia.

The important thing to remember about Lobelia isthat it is so strong. When making tea, use ateaspoon per 1/2 gallon of water mixed with otherherbs. For a smoking mixture add a pinch to a bagof other herbs. If you do take too much Lobelia willmake you throw up over 90% of the time.Unfortunately, if you do not throw up, you can haverespiratory failure from the sedative effects. This is avery difficult thing to do because you'll feel sowretched long before it's dangerous. Unfortunately,Jethro Kloss in Back to Eden recommends aninsane fasting regime that includes using Lobelia

every day to throw up. This recommendation hassent a few alternative minded folks to the hospital.My suggestion: don't use Lobelia as an emetic(causes vomiting), use something that is safe andeffective like syrup of ipecac.

In the United States Lobelia is illegal to sell forinternal consumption. Certainly official reasonsinclude the possibility of poisoning. Strangelyenough Lobelia is extremely effective for asignificant amount of asthmatics. For some peoplethe tincture is useful in place of inhalers. I am surethat the powerful pharmaceutical companies losinga significant percentage of inhaler business hasnothing to do with this law.

When I was a pimply adolescent looking for psychicpyrotechnics, I found this ad in the back of HighTimes for legal highs. My friends and I purchasedsome Lobelia touted as a mild LSD type feeling.Leaving our parents and going on a camping trip,we promptly rolled thick joints of Lobelia which wesmoked endlessly. After puking our guts out, wewere left with headaches and not so vague feelingsof depression. We were so bummed out wecanceled the camping trip. The difference betweenpoison and medicine is dosage. Personal note:

almost all of the 15 or so herbs we tried during thattime period had similar results.

Lobelia is the herb for stopping smoking with itscalming, expectorant, alterative, and nicotinemimicking effects. When making your mixture, add apinch of Lobelia. If it's not satisfying, add more. Ionce tried to quit smoking. It was very difficult forme, so I smoked a too strong Lobelia cigarette. Itmade me dizzy, light headed, and nauseous.


14/21

However, when I smoked my first cigarette afterquitting Tobacco, it made me dizzy, light headedand nauseous. These herbs are very similar in someways.

Herbs for Calming

Calming herbs are antispasmodic for musclecramps, sore muscles, menstrual cramps, hiccups,spasms, tight muscles, etc. They are also used fortheir psychological effects. They are good for anger,fear, pain, anxiety, circular thoughts that go roundand round in your head that you can't get rid of,relaxing after a hard day, blues, melancholy,irritability, too much coffee or other stimulants, andcircular thoughts that keep coming back to you.

Calming herbs are very good for quitting Marijuana

smoking. Many people smoke Marijuana becausethey want to unwind after work. The constant hustle-bustle of modern life only leaves us a few hours inthe evening to relax. Many people are too wound upfrom work. The only socially acceptable drugsavailable are alcohol and pharmaceuticaltranquilizers that wreak havoc on our bodies, thusthe evening Marijuana smoker.

Unfortunately, Marijuana has effects other than justrelaxing. Many people become cloudy, paranoid, orshaky from blood sugar imbalances, but it is the onlydrug they know to take. These people can be helpedgreatly by calming herbs.

These herbs will relax you without clouding yourjudgment. You will feel them. They are as strong asMarijuana but with a different effect. It causes acalm clear feeling that will not interfere with the restof your evening's thoughts. It will relax you and stopthe rehashing of the days constant traumas so thatyou can fall asleep naturally, if you're tired. I findmany people try these herbs for this reason andwake up in front of the TV set after smoking theseplants. It didn't knock them out. They were just sotired they needed the sleep.

Sometimes people smoke these plants and don'tfeel anything. You may have to take notice of itconsciously. However, if you are irritable and aboutto fight with your partner, you will find the effectspronounced.

Other smokable calming herbs worth an honorablemention include Passionflower, Passiflora sp., andHops, Humulus sp.


15/21

Skullcap, Scutellaria sp.

Skullcap is a very good calming herb to smoke. Ifind that the commercially available Scutellarialateriflora is not very strong as a smoke. Almost allcommercially available Skullcap is too dry andstemmy to make a good smoke. The Scutellariagalericulata the more common plant found growingwild in the United States is much stronger. It isroughly equivalent in strength to good Marijuanaleaf or bud shake. It works in almost all cases. Thenice green leaf is easy to roll and blends well withmany smoking mixtures. It is one of my standardsmoking ingredients.

I have found through blatant experimentation thatthe desert species of Skullcap, Scutellaria nana, isexceptionally strong. We affectionately call it MadDog Desert Skullcap. Mad Dog Weed is anothercommon name for Skullcap as this plant was used to

treat rabies in the past. Found throughout the GreatBasin the small, nearly invisible plant is as strong asthe highest quality Marijuana. Unfortunately, it willcloud your head and make you tired unlike most ofthe other herbs we use. If you live in a desert areayou should definitely try your local little Skullcap.This herb is so strong I urge mixing it with otherherbs.

Elephant's Head, Parrot's Beak, and IndianWarrior, Pedicularis sp.

All of the Pedicularis' are tranquilizers and musclerelaxants. They are of varying strengths withElephant's Head, Pedicularis groenlandica, beingthe mildest. The most outstanding thing aboutPedicularis' are their flavor. They are the besttasting herbs for smoking I have found. Some are sostrong that they rival Mad Dog Desert Skullcap.Many of them form unusual looking groups offlowers that dry into illegal looking buds. Indeed,Elephant's Head dries to beautiful red or purplebuds with what appears to be red hairs. Cobrahead,Pedicularis bracteosa, dries into green buds thatcould easily confuse a local peace officer. Theeffects however are profoundly different.

A student of mine went by herself to collect someElephant's Head for her smoking mixture. While shepicked, she kept munching on the heads. The nextthing she knew, she was waking up from a nap andthe sun was going down. It is a fine herb indeed.

There is very little reference to these plants in theherbal literature except for Michael Moore'sMedicinal Plants of the Mountain West. I did find twoother references. One was an Italian article on


16/21

identification. Another was that the natives in Tibetuse their Pedicularis for upset stomachs and kidneyproblems. Still as I wander through the highmountain meadows enjoying the wonderful gifts ofthe earth, I find it very hard to believe that theNative Americans in my area did not use this plant.

A number of years back I had a student whose unclewas very woods wise. After a number of classes hevisited his uncle. The uncle was impressed with hisknowledge, and with a wry grin asked, "But haveyou tried the Pedicularis yet?" I wondered how theuncle knew about these plants. I found out that helearned of Pedicularis from a Native American friendwhose tribe smoked it. There are many uses ofplants that have not been recorded even now.

These plants are a welcome addition to anysmoking mixture both as flavor and a medicine.Elephant's head has the best flavor but is the

mildest, but every Pedicularis I have tasted hasbeen an excellent smoke.Flavorings

Sometimes an herbal smoking mixture can be quitebland, or the smoker may like menthol cigarettes.The herbs in this section are good for flavoring.Most are aromatic or good smelling herbs with nosystem wide effect when smoked.

If you were to smoke these herbs alone full strength,they wouldn't taste good. They may even beirritating this way. Only add a little to the mixture andtaste it. Experiment to find your own special flavorand strength. Go light handed at first.

Feel free to go further in experimenting with flavors.Any smelly edible plant might be useful as aflavoring. Look in your spice and tea rack forpossibilities like lemon grass, etc.Mints, Mentha sp.

Mints are probably the most accessible and usedflavoring agents for smoking mixtures. They impart amenthol flavor. This includes Spearmint,Peppermint, and all the numerous ornamentalvarieties such as Apple Mint, etc. Remember to go

light so as not to irritate your lungs and throat.

MugwortHerbaceous Artemisia sp. (not shrubs)

Mug means glass; Wort means plant. It's the mugplant used for beer in medieval times. It is also usedtoday at country fairs and gatherings by the moreesoteric beer makers. It replaces hops in the beerformulas.


17/21

Mugwort is a very interesting plant deep in historicalreferences. It is often said to promote propheticdreams. I don't find this to be true all the time. Itseems to me that Mugwort intensifies the dreamingprocess. It all depends on where you are in thisprocess.

If you don't dream, Mugwort will help you to dream,but you may not remember them. If you don'tremember your dreams Mugwort will help you toremember them. If you remember your dreams,Mugwort will help you to have conscious dreams.Conscious dreams are dreams where you are awarethat you are dreaming and in full control of thesituation. If you are consciously dreaming already,the plant will increase the frequency and control.

None of this implies that the dreams will bepleasant. Some people don't remember their dreams

for a reason. Mugwort can cause nightmares andrestless dreams leading to lack of sleep or poorquality of sleep. I know of an essential oil companythat puts a warning on their Artemisia oil: Caution,may cause nightmares.

Certainly, Mugwort can lead to prophetic dreams ifthat is what you are into. I do not prefer that courseof dream work. It is all up to you. One of my longterm students feels that Mugwort is the most realityaltering of all the psychotropics he's tried. Maybeyou will too.

These effects are most pronounced with long termexposure to the herb. Dream pillows, fresh bundlesallowed to dry by your bed, and smoking over aperiod of weeks. You may not always experiencethe subtle effects with one joint.

You can smoke Mugwort alone, but it's best to useas a flavoring agent because it is strongly aromatic.Mugwort can also be rubbed into a very goodconsistency as a carrier for the smoking mixture likeMullein but the flavor can overwhelm the mixture.

Internal use of Mugwort has physiological effects onyour stomach and reproductive system but this will

not transfer through smoking.Tarragon is a herbaceous Artemisia called Artemisiadranunculus or Dragon Sagewort.

Sagebrush, shrubby Artemisia sp.

Sagebrush is a shrub found growing throughout thedesert western United States. It is in the Sunflowerfamily and is not related in any way to the SalviaSage used in cooking. It has been traditionally used


18/21

to purify the environment. It is indeed an anti-bacterial for airborne bacteria. Often found in Sagesticks, and in stores labeled as Sage, it can be usedas a flavoring for smoking mixtures. Native peopleused this plant like Salvia if they lived in an areawhere there was no Salvia.

Sage including White, Black, and HummingbirdSalvia sp.

There are many kinds of Salvia Sages. Some aregood to smoke as flavors including the white, black,purple and garden Sages. Some are not so pleasantbut worth a try. Some of these Sages were used byNative Americans for purification rituals. They are inthe mint family and are not related to ArtemisiaSagebrush or Mugwort. These are also found insage sticks.

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis

Melissa is an herb often escaped from gardens andeasy to find in the Pacific Northwest growing wild incities. It is a very mild and friendly calming herb thatwill add a peaceful lemony flavor to any blend.

Yerba Buena Satureja douglasii

Yerba Buena is a good herb for flavoring that growsin the coastal west. It should not be confused withpeppermint, which is also sometimes called YerbaBuena. It has a menthol flavor that should satisfythose people who like "Kools."

Angelica, Angelica sp.

Angelica has many physiological effects when takeninternally. When smoked as a flavoring in smallamounts, it should have no system wide effects. Youcan use the root, dried and powdered andthoroughly mixed with the rest of the blend. Feelfree to experiment with the leaves and green seedsfor different flavor and strengths.

Osha, Oshala, Lovage Ligusticum sp.

Ligusticums are yet another very special herb that

the Native Americans deemed powerful and sacred.Ligusticum porteri, Osha, is called Peyote's littlesister. All native Ligusticums were held in highregard by the local Natives. As a smoke it is only aflavor. You can use the root, dried and powered, butI find that the root hairs, not usually used for theirmedicinal effects, to be the best for flavor.

Clove


19/21

A common kitchen spice used with a light hand. Usethe powder. Clove cigarettes with Tobacco werevery popular for a while. Clove can be very irritatingto the esophagus and lungs. This, together with theexceptionally strong Tobacco found in theseimported cigarettes, quickly caused lung andesophageal problems. I have known many singerswho have lost their voices in a few weeks of clovecigarette smoking. So feel free to use it, but respectit.

Lavender

Use the flowers and rub them if you wish. I love thesmell of lavender but I hate the taste of smokeddried lavender. Perhaps you will love it, feel free tocheck it out.

Sweet Cicely Osmorhiza species

This is another local Pacific Northwest plant with apleasant aromatic anise flavor. You can use the rootdried, powdered if it smells good. Seeds are alsouseful.

Ginger

Use dried powder, thoroughly mixed with a lighthand.

Licorice

Use dried powder, thoroughly mixed with a lighthand.Anise

For those who like the licorice flavor, try theseseeds.

Further Experimentation

This area of herbalism is still very unexplored. If youwant to experiment further with herbs not mentionedhere, check out innocuous edible leafy herbs likeViolets, Viola sp., Self-Heal, Prunella vulgaris,Waterleaf, Hydrophyllum sp., and Paintbrush,Castilleja sp., to name a few. You may wish to

explore plants with names like Indian Tobacco, butbe cautious. This common name refers to manyplants. Some are not good to smoke. Some were notsmoked by Native Americans at all. Yellow Dock iscalled Indian Tobacco because the old flowers looksomewhat like Tobacco in some people's eyes.

Recipes


20/21

Standard Smoking Mix

Rubbed Mullein leaf as a baseKinnikinnik leaf, for body, finely brokenOptionally Manzanita leaf and Pipsissewa foradded bodyOptional flavoring herbs to taste

Another Favorite Mix

Rubbed Mullein leaf as a baseWillow Bark, finely cut for bodySkullcap Leaf, for calming effectsOsha Root, finely ground for flavor

Mix thoroughly. Mildly relaxing

To Quit Smoking

Phase 1Rubbed Mullein leaf as a baseKinnikinnik leaf, for body, finely brokenManzanita leaf, for added body, finely brokenSkullcap Leaf, for vitally needed calming effectLobelia, as needed for lobelineMint, small amounts for menthol cigarette smokers

Phase 2Stop adding LobeliaAdd Coltsfoot, as needed, not so strong as to causecoughing fitsIncrease the Mullein Leaf

Continue to add more Mullein until Phase 3, Mulleinalone.

Expectorant Blend

Rubbed Mullein leaf as a baseColtsfoot, not so strong as to cause coughing fitsHorehound, not so strong as to cause coughing fitsFlavorings optional

This blend is excellent for a general lung cleanse orchest cold, but do not use when coughing up blood,or if it hurts when you breathe.

Mellow Mixture

SkullcapParrot's BeakElephants Head to taste

Relaxing, mild and pleasant alternative to Marijuana

Strong Relax


21/21

Desert SkullcapLobelia - a pinch

This can make you sleepy so do not drive anybulldozers or jumbo jets when smoking.

Too Stoned Blend

Rubbed Mullein Leaf as a baseCalamus Root, small pieces or powderElephant's Head Buds, for calming effect and flavorColtsfoot, not so strong as to cause coughing fits

This mixture is smoked as an aid to quit a long termMarijuana habit.

Too Expensive Blend

1/2 High Quality Cannabis buds1/4 Elephant's Head Buds1/4 Skullcap Leaf

This blend will help with the rising costs ofCannabis. You can substitute the Cannabis budswith any quality Cannabis, and the other herbs willhelp to stretch it out without diluting its effect.

Ceremonial Smoke

Rubbed Mullein leaf as a baseFermented Scotch Broom FlowersDesert Skullcap, just a small amountSkullcap LeafElephant's Head LeafParrot's Beak LeafOsha Root, powdered for flavor

Not an everyday smoke, for vision quests andspiritual pursuits. Use consciously.

Documents

Herbal Smoking Mixture