Plants of the Gods [their sacred, healing and hallucinogenic powers] 2nd Edition by Richard Evans Schultes, Albert Hofmann, Christian Rätsch [2001] R.pdf

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P L A N T S O F T H E G O D S

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A



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R i c h a r d E v a n s S c h u l t e s

A l b e r t H o f m a n n

C h r i s t i a n R t s c h

P L A N T S O F T H E G O D S

T h e i r S a c r e d , H e a l i n g ,

a n d H a l l u c i n o g e n i c P o w e r s

" T h e m o r e y o u g o i n s i d e t h e w o r l d o f T e o n a n a c a t i , t h e m o r e t h i n g s a r e s e e n .

A n d y o u a l s o s e e o u r p a s t a n d o u r f u t u r e , w h i c h a r e t h e r e t o g e t h e r a s a s i n g l e t h i n g a l r e a d y a c h i e v e d ,

a l r e a d y h a p p e n e d : . . . I

s a w s t o l e n h o r s e s a n d b u r i e d c i t i e s , t h e e x i s t e n c e o f w h i c h w a s u n k n o w n ,

a n d t h e y a r e g o i n g t o b e b r o u g h t t o l i g h t . M i l l i o n s o f t h i n g s I s a w a n d k n e w . I k n e w a n d s a w G o d :

a n i m m e n s e c l o c k t h a t t i c k s , t h e s p h e r e s t h a t g o s l o w l y a r o u n d , a n d i n s i d e t h e s t a r s , t h e e a r t h ,

t h e e n t i r e u n i v e r s e , t h e d a y a n d t h e n i g h t , t h e c r y a n d t h e s m i l e , t h e h a p p i n e s s a n d t h e p a i n .

H e w h o k n o w s t o t h e e n d t h e s e c r e t o f T e o n a n a c a t i c a n e v e n s e e t h a t i n f i n i t e c l o c k w o r k . "

M a r i a S a b i n a

A

H eal ing

A r t s P r e s s

R o c h e s t e r , V e r m o n t



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Cau tion: T his book is not intended as a g u ide to the u se of

hal l u cinog enic plants Its pu rpose is to offer scientific, his-

torical , and c l t u ral doc mentation concerning a g rou p of

plants that are or hav e been of importance to many societies.

Ing estion of some of these plants or plant produ cts may be

dang erou s T he remedies, approaches, and techni u es de-

scribed herein are meant to su pplement, and not be a su b-

stitu te for, professional medical care or treatment. T hey

shou l d not be u sed to treat a seriou s aiment withou t prior

cons l tation with a q u alified healthcare professional .

H eal i ng A r ts Press

One Park Street

Rochester, Vermont 0 5 7 6 7

www l nnerT raditions. com

Firs t p u b l ished b y H eal i ng A r ts Press i n 1 9 9 2

A produ c tion of E M B -Serv i ce for P b l i shers,

L u cerne, Switzerland

Copy ri ht 1 9 9 8 ( u pdated v e rsion) E M B -Serv ice for

P bl ishers, L u cerne, Switzer land

E n g l i sh t ransat ion second edi tion Copy r i ht 2 0 0 1

A l l r i hts reser v ed. No part of this book may be reprodu ced

or u tiized in any form or by any means, electronic or me-

chanical , incu ding photocopy in g , recording , or by any infor-

mation storag e and retriev al sy stem, withou t permission in

writing from the pu blisher.

L ibrar y of Cong ress Catalo g ing - in-P bl ication Data

Schu l tes, Richard E v ans

P ants of the g ods : their sacred, heal ing , and hal l u cino-

g enic powers I Richard E v ans Schu l tes, A lbert H ofmann,

Christian Rbtsch. 2 nd ed.

p. cm.

Incl u des bibliog raphical references

IS N 0 8 9 2 8 1 9 7 9 0

1 . H al l u ci nog en ic pl a nts 2 . H al l u ci nog eni c pl a nts U ti-

l i za ti on . 3 . E thnobotany . I . H o fmann, A l ber t, 1 9 0 6 - II .

R t sch, C hri sti an , 1 9 5 7 - I l l . T i tl e

Q K 9 9 . A 1 S 9 2 0 0 1

3 9 4 . 1 ' 4 dc2 l

2 0 0 1 0 0 4 4 2 5

1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

H eal in g A r ts Press is a di ision of Inner T raditions

International

Pictu re on t it l e pag e : M a y an

stone" from

E l Sa l v ador, l a te format i e period ( 3 0 0

c. & . D 2 0 0 ) ;

hei ht 1 3 in. ( 3 3 . 5 cm) .

Ori ina l concept and desi n : E mi M . B Ohrer , Franz G i sler ,

J oan H a l i fa x , and Robert T obler

New materia l trans ated by : A nnabel L ee and

M i chae l B eas l ey

Composition: Satz eise, FOhren, G ermany

Photol i thog raphY : Pesav ento A G , Z u r ich, Switzer land

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C O N T E N T S

7 P R E F A C E

9 I N T R O D U C T I O N

1 0 W H A T A R E P L A N T

H A L L U C I N O G E N S ?

T H E P L A N T K I N G D O M

P H Y T O C H E M I C A L

R E S E A R C H O N S A C R E D

P L A N T S

2 6 G E O G R A P H Y O F U S A G E A N D

B O T A N I C A L R A N G E

P L A N T L E X I C O N

W H O U S E S H A L L U C I N O G E N I C

P L A N T S ?

O V E R V I E W O F P L A N T U S E

T H E M O S T I M P O R T A N T

H A L L U C I N O G E N I C P L A N T S

8 2 M A I N S T A Y O F T H E H E A V E N S

A m a n i t a ( F l y A g a r i c )

8 6 T H E H E X I N G H E R B S

A t r o p a ( D e a d l y N i g h t s h a d e )

H y o s c y a m u s a l b u s ( Y e l l o w H e n b a n e )

H y o s c y a m u s n i g e r ( B l a c k H e n b a n e )

M a n d r a g o r a ( M a n d r a k e )

9 2 T H E N E C T A R O F D E L I G H T

C a n n a b i s ( H e m p , M a r i j u a n a ,

H a s h i s h )

1 0 2 S T . A N T H O N Y ' S F I R E

C l a v i c e p s ( E r g o t )

1 0 6 H O L Y F L O W E R O F T H E

N O R T H S T A R

D a t u r a i n n o x i a ( T o l o a c h e )

D a t u r a m e t e l ( D a t u r a )

D a t u r a s t r a m o n i u n a ( T h o r n A p p l e )

1 1 2 G U I D E T O T H E A N C E S T O R S

T a b e r n a n t h e ( I b o g a )

1 1 6 B E A N S O F T H E H E K U L A

S P I R I T

A n a d e n a n t h e r a p e r e g r i n a ( Y o p o )

1 2 0 S E E D S O F C I V I L I Z A T I O N

A n a d e n a n t h e r a c o l u b r i n a ( C e b I l )

1 2 4 T H E M A G I C D R I N K O F T H E

A M A Z O N

B a n i s t e r i o p s i s ( A y a h u a s c a )

P s y c h o t r i a ( C h a c r u n a )

P e g a n u r n ( S y r i a n R u e )

T e t r a p t e r i s ( Y a g e )

1 3 7 A Y A H U A S C A A N A L O G S

1 4 0 T R U M P E T S O F T H E A N G E L S

B r u g m a n s i a ( G o l d e n A n g e l ' s T r u m p e t )

B r u g m a n s i a ( B l o o d - R e d A n g e l ' s

T r u m p e t )

1 4 4 T H E T R A C K S O F T H E L I T T L E

D E E R

L o p h o p h o r a ( P e y o t e )

1 5 6 L I T T L E F L O W E R S O F T H E

G O D S

C o n o c y b e

P a n a e o l u s c y a n e s c e n s ( B l u e M e a n i e s )

P a n a e o l u s s p h i n c t r i n u s ( H o o p -

p e t t i c o a t )

P a n a e o l u s s u b b a l t e a t u s ( D a r k - r i m m e d

M o t t l e g i l l )

P s i l o c y b e c u b e n s i s ( S a n I s i d r o )

P s i l o c y b e c y a n e s c e n s ( W a v y C a p )

P s i l o c y b e m e x i c a n a ( T e o n a n c a t l )

P s i l o c y b e s e m i l a n c e a t a ( L i b e r t y C a p )

1 6 4 D I V I N E R ' S S A G E

S a l v i a d i v i n o r u , n

1 6 6 C A C T U S O F T H E F O U R W I N D S

T r i c h o c e r e u s ( S a n P e d r o )

1 7 0 V I N E S O F T H E S E R P E N T

I p o m o e a ( M o r n i n g G l o r y )

T h r b i n a ( O l o l i u g u i )

1 7 6 S E M E N O F T H E S U N

V i r o l a ( E p e n )

1 8 2 G A T E W A Y T O D R E A M T I M E

D u b o i s i a ( P i t u r i B u s h )

1 8 4 C H E M I C A L S T R U C T U R E S O F

H A L L U C I N O G E N S

1 8 8 U S E S O F H A L L U C I N O G E N S

I N M E D I C I N E

1 9 6 E P I L O G U E

1 9 8 P I C T U R E C R E D I T S

1 9 9 B I B L I O G R A P H Y

1 9 9 A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

2 0 4 I N D E X

T he dreaming smok er stretched ou t

comfortabl y on his chaise enjoy s v isions

i nd u ced by H ashi sh. T h is en g r av i ng i s

f rom M . v on Schwind's A l b u m of E t ch-

ing s, pu bl i shed in 1 8 4 3 .

Pag e 4 left : T he witches of medie v a l

E u rope indu ced inebriation with a g reat

v ariety of brews, most of which had at

l east one of the Ni htshades as a

psy choacti e consti tu ent . D ring their

intox ications, they eng ag ed in many

aspects of hex ing , both malev olent and

benev o lent. T his i l u strat ion, a woodcu t ,

pu b l ished in 1 4 5 9 , portray s two witches

cal l ing for rain and thu nder, possibl y

d u r in g a dry spel l , and preparing a brew

to help them achiev e this g oal .

1 6

2 0

3 1

6 2

6 5

8 1



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For the H u ichol Indians of M e x ico, the Pey ote cact u s ( L ophophora wi l iams/ i

( see pag e 7 ) is not a plant bu t a g od, a g i ft from the E arth G oddess to hu -

mans to assist them in attaining a connection to her in the

my stical realms.

T he H u ichol celebrate a g reat Pey ote festi a l e v ery y ear (be/ow , at which al l

members of the tribe partak e in eating the freshl y harv ested Pey ote cactu s

A



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P R E F A C E

T h e e a r l i e s t f o r m s o f l i f e o n E a r t h w e r e p l a n t s . R e -

m a r k a b l y p r e s e r v e d p l a n t f o s s i l s h a v e r e c e n t l y

b e e n d i s c o v e r e d d a t i n g b a c k 3 . 2

bi l ion

y e a r s .

T h e s e e a r l y p l a n t s p r o v i d e d t h e f o u n d a t i o n f o r

t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a l l l a t e r f o r m s o f p l a n t s a n d

i n d e e d o f a n i m a l s , i n c l u d i n g t h a t m o s t r e c e n t o f

c r e a t u r e s , t h e h u m a n b e i n g . T h e g r e e n p l a n t c o v e r

o f t h e e a r t h h a s a m a r v e l o u s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e

s u n : c h l o r o p h y l l - b e a r i n g p l a n t s a b s o r b s o l a r r a y s

a n d s y n t h e s i z e o r g a n i c c o m p o u n d s , t h e b u i l d i n g

m a t e r i a l s f o r b o t h p l a n t a n d a n i m a l o r g a n i s m s . I n

v e g e t a b l e m a t t e r , s o l a r e n e r g y i s s t o r e d i n t h e f o r m

o f c h e m i c a l e n e r g y , s o u r c e o f a l l l i f e p r o c e s s e s .

T h u s t h e P l a n t K i n g d o m p r o v i d e s n o t o n l y b o d y -

b u i l d i n g f o o d s a n d c a l o r i e s b u t a l s o v i t a m i n s e s -

s e n t i a l f o r m e t a b o l i c r e g u l a t i o n . P l a n t s a l s o y i e l d

a c t i v e p r i n c i p l e s e m p l o y e d a s m e d i c i n e s . T h e i n t i -

m a t e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e h u m a n a n d p l a n t

w o r l d i s e a s i l y d i s c e r n e d , b u t t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f

s u b s t a n c e s p r o f o u n d l y a f f e c t i n g t h e m i n d a n d

s p i r i t i s o f t e n n o t s o e a s i l y r e c o g n i z e d . T h e s e a r e

t h e p l a n t s t h a t m a k e u p t h e s u b s t a n c e o f P l a n t s o f

t h e G o d s , f o c u s i n g a t t e n t i o n o n t h e o r i g i n o f t h e i r

u s e a n d t h e e f f e c t t h a t t h e y h a v e

h a d o n m a n ' s d e -

v e l o p m e n t . P l a n t s t h a t a l t e r t h e n o r m a l f u n c t i o n s

o f t h e m i n d a n d b o d y h a v e a l w a y s b e e n c o n s i d e r e d

b y p e o p l e s i n n o n i n d u s t r i a l s o c i e t i e s a s s a c r e d , a n d

t h e h a l l u c i n o g e n s h a v e b e e n " p l a n t s o f t h e g o d s "

p a r e x c e l l e n c e .

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" I n c o n s c i o u s n e s s d w e l l s t h e w o n d r o u s ,

w i t h i t m a n a t t a i n s t h e r e a l m b e y o n d t h e m a t e r i a l ,

a n d t h e P e y o t e t e l l s u s ,

w h e r e t o f i n d i t . "

A n t o n i n A r t a u d , T h e T h r a h l 4 m a r s ( 1 9 4 7 )

T he shamans of the H u ichol Indians u se the sacred Pey ote cactu s so that

they may attain a v isionary state of consciou sness in the alternate reality

which is cau sal to occu rrences in mu ndane reality ; what affects the former

8

wil chang e the latter. T he shaman in the middle of the y arn painting is

depicted with a sk u l l becau se he is a " dead man" and thu s has the abi it y to

trav el into the nether realms.

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B e low T his painting b y the Peru v ian shaman Pablo A maring o depicts the

creation of the drink A y ahu asca, the most important medicine of the A mazo-

nian Indians T he mag ical drink has powerfu l v isionary properties, which re-

v eal to the participant a g l impse of " tr u e realit y , " the fantastic realm of v isions.

p r e t e d a s r e f e r r i n g t o d a n g e r o u s l y a d d i c t i v e a g e n t s ,

s u c h a s o p i u m a n d i t s d e r i v a t i v e s ( m o r p h i n e , c o -

d e i n e , h e r o i n ) a n d c o c a i n e . I n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

a

s u b s t a n c e m u s t b e i n c l u d e d i n t h e H a r r i s o n N r c o -

t i c A c t t o b e c o n s i d e r e d l e g a l l y a n a r c o t i c : t h u s

M a r i j u a n a i s n o t l e g a l l y a n a r c o t i c , a l t h o u g h i t i s a

c o n t r o l l e d s u b s t a n c e .

H a l l u c i n o g e n s a r e , b r o a d l y s p e a k i n g , a l l n a r c o -

t i c s , e v e n t h o u g h n o n e i s k n o w n t o b e a d d i c t i v e o r

t o h a v e n a r c o t i c e f f e c t s .

T h e r e a r e m a n y k i n d s o f h a l l u c i n a t i o n s : t h e

m o s t c o m m o n a n d p o p u l a r l y r e c o g n i z e d i s t h e v i -

s u a l h a l l u c i n a t i o n , o f t e n i n c o l o r s . B u t a l l s e n s e s

m a y b e s u b j e c t t o h a l l u c i n a t i o n s : a u d i t o r y , t a c t i l e ,

o l f a c t o r y , a n d g u s t a t o r y h a l l u c i n a t i o n s c a n o c c u r .

F r e q u e n t l y a s i n g l e h a l l u c i n a t o r y p l a n t a s i n t h e

c a s e o f P e y o t e o r M a r i j u a n a m a y i n d u c e s e v e r a l

1 2

Pag e 1 3 top : T he ha l l u c inog enic u se of H emp ( Cannabis) can be t raced far

back into history . It is possible that the ing estion of this plant was responsible

for the wid dances of the M ong olian shaman.

d i f f e r e n t h a l l u c i n a t i o n s . H a l l u c i n o g e n s m a y l i k e -

w i s e c a u s e a r t i f i c i a l p s y c h o s e s t h e b a s i s o f o n e o f

t h e n u m e r o u s t e r m s f o r t h i s c l a s s o f a c t i v e a g e n t s :

p s y c h o t o m i n i e t i c ( " i n d u c i n g p s y c h o t i c s t a t e s " ) .

M o d e r n b r a i n r e s e a r c h h a s s h o w n , h o w e v e r , t h a t

h a l l u c i n o g e n s t r i g g e r b r a i n a c t i v i t y e n t i r e l y d i f f e r -

e n t f r o m t h a t a p p a r e n t w i t h t r u e p s y c h o s e s .

M o d e r n s t u d i e s h a v e d e m o n s t r a t e d s u c h a c o m -

p l e x i t y o f p s y c h o p h y s i o l o g i c a l e f f e c t s t h a t t h e

t e r m h a l l u c i n o g e n d o e s n o t a l w a y s c o v e r t h e

w h o l e r a n g e o f r e a c t i o n s . T h e r e f o r e , a b e w i l d e r -

i n g n o m e n c l a t u r e h a s a r i s e n . N o n e o f t h e t e r m s ,

h o w e v e r , f u l l y d e s c r i b e s a l l k n o w n e f f e c t s . T h e

t e r m s i n c l u d e e n t h e o g e n s , d e l i r i a n t s , d e l u s i o n o -

g e n s ,

e i d e t i c s , h a l l u c i n o g e n s , r n i s p e r c e p t i n o g e n s ,

m y s t i c o m i m e t i c s , p h a n e r o t h y m e s , p h a n t a s t i c a n t s ,

p s y c h o t i c a , p s y c h o t i c a n t s , p s y c h o g e n s , p s y c h o s o m i -

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m e t i c s , p s y c h o c l y s l e p t i c s , p s y c h o t a r a x i c s , p s y c h o t o -

g e n s , p s y c h o t o m i m e t i c s , s c h i z o g e n s , a n d p s y c h e c l e -

l ics,

a m o n g o t h e r e p i t h e t s . I n E u r o p e , t h e y a r e f r e -

q u e n t l y c a l l e d p h a n t a s t i c a . T h e m o s t c o m m o n

n a m e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s p s y c h e d e l i c s i s e t y -

m o l o g i c a l l y u n s o u n d a n d h a s a c q u i r e d o t h e r

m e a n i n g s i n t h e d r u g s u b c u l t u r e .

T h e t r u t h i s t h a t n o o n e t e r m a d e q u a t e l y d e l i m i t s

s u c h a v a r i e d g r o u p o f p s y c h o a c t i v e p l a n t s . T h e

G e r m a n t o x i c o l o g i s t L o u i s L e w i n , w h o f i r s t u s e d

t h e t e r m p h a n t a s t i c a , a d m i t t e d t h a t i t " d o e s n o t

c o v e r a l l t h a t I s h o u l d w i s h i t t o c o n v e y . " T h e w o r d

h a l l u c i n o g e n i s e a s y t o p r o n o u n c e a n d t o u n d e r -

s t a n d , y e t n o t a l l o f t h e p l a n t s i n d u c e t r u e h a l l u c i -

n a t i o n s . P s y c h o t o m i m e t i c , w h i l e o f t e n e m p l o y e d ,

i s n o t a c c e p t e d b y m a n y s p e c i a l i s t s b e c a u s e n o t a l l

t h e p l a n t s i n t h i s g r o u p c a u s e p s y c h o t i c - l i k e s t a t e s .

B u t s i n c e t h e s e t w o t e r m s h a l l u c i n o g e n a n d p s y -

c h o t o m i m e t i c a r e e a s i l y u n d e r s t o o d a n d w i d e l y

u s e d , w e s h a l l e m p l o y t h e m i n t h i s b o o k .

A m o n g t h e m a n y d e f i n i t i o n s t h a t h a v e b e e n o f -

f e r e d , t h a t o f H o f f e r a n d O s m o n d i s b r o a d e n o u g h

t o b e w i d e l y a c c e p t e d : c c H a l l u c i n o g e n s a r e . .

. che-

m i c a l s w h i c h , i n n o n - t o x i c d o s e s , p r o d u c e c h a n g e s

i n p e r c e p t i o n , i n t h o u g h t a n d i n m o o d , b u t w h i c h

s e l d o m p r o d u c e m e n t a l c o n f u s i o n , m e m o r y l o s s o r

d i s o r i e n t a t i o n f o r p e r s o n , p l a c e a n d t i m e . '

B a s i n g h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f p s y c h o a c t i v e d r u g s

o n t h e o l d e r a r r a n g e m e n t s o f L e w i n ,

A l b e r t H o f -

m a n n d i v i d e s t h e m i n t o a n a l g e s i c s a n d

e u p h o r i c s

( O p i u m , C o c a ) , s e d a t i v e s a n d t r a n q u i l i z e r s ( R e -

s e r p i n e ) , h y p n o t i c s ( K a v a - k a v a ) , a n d h a l l u c i n o -

g e n s o r p s y c h e d e l i c s ( P e y o t e , M a r i j u a n a ,

e t c . ) .

M o s t o f t h e s e g r o u p s m o d i f y o n l y t h e m o o d ,

1 3

B e low ri ht: In India the flowers of the potent hal l u cinog enic T horn A pple

( Dat u ra metel ) are brou g h t as an offer in g to the H i nd u g od Shi a . T hey are

a lso ri tu a l l y smo k ed.

B e low lef t: H enbane ( H y osc y arn u s a lbu s i s one of the most impor tant ha l l u -

cinog enic plants of E u rope. I t was u sed for oraces and rit u a l l y b u rned in

ancient G reece.



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0

0 o


22/209

C

U

C

I

C

0

C

'

o

- C

U C

C

-

0 C C

0

C

0

0

0

0 C

C

C



23/209


24/209

M escal ine H CI

Psiocy bine

( mescaline-hy drochloride, cry stal l ized from alcohol )

( cr y stal l ized from methanol )

psy chiatry ,

a s v a l u a b l e a i d s t o p s y c h o a n a l y s i s a n d

p s y c h o t h e r a p y .

O n e m i g h t t h i n k t h a t w i t h t h e i s o l a t i o n , s t r u c -

t u r a l a n a l y s i s , a n d s y n t h e s i s o f p s i l o c y b i n e a n d

p s i l o c i n e , t h e m u s h r o o m s o f M e x i c o h a d l o s t t h e i r

m a g i c . S u b s t a n c e s t h a t b e c a u s e o f t h e i r e f f e c t s o n

t h e m i n d h a d l e d I n d i a n s t o b e l i e v e f o r t h o u s a n d s

o f y e a r s t h a t a g o d d w e l t i n t h o s e m u s h r o o m s c a n

n o w b e s y n t h e t i c a l l y p r o d u c e d i n t h e c h e m i s t ' s

r e t o r t . I t s h o u l d b e r e m e m b e r e d , h o w e v e r , t h a t

s c i e n t i f i c i n v e s t i g a t i o n h a s m e r e l y s h o w n t h a t t h e

m a g i c p r o p e r t i e s o f t h e m u s h r o o m s a r e t h e p r o p -

e r t i e s o f t w o c r y s t a l l i n e c o m p o u n d s . T h e i r e f f e c t

o n t h e h u m a n m i n d i s j u s t a s i n e x p l i c a b l e , a n d j u s t

a s m a g i c a l , a s t h a t o f t h e m u s h r o o m s t h e m s e l v e s .

T h i s a l s o h o l d s t r u e f o r t h e i s o l a t e d a n d p u r i f i e d

a c t i v e p r i n c i p l e s o f o t h e r p l a n t s o f t h e g o d s .

Psiocine

( cry stal l ized from methanol )

M any a l k a loids cr y sta l l ize poor l y as free bases. T hey wi l separate as a cr y s-

tal l ized salt, howev er, when neu tral ized with a s itable acid, either by cooling

the satu rated sol u tion or by ev aporation of the sol v ent. Cry stal l ization of su b-

stances from sol u tions is carried ou t mainl y fpr pu rification, since by -produ cts

remain in the solv ent.

A s each su bstance has its own specific cry stall ine form, this form serv es for

identification and characterization of a s bstance. A modern method for the

el u cidation of chemical constit u tions is the X -ray stru ct u re anal y sis. For the

application of this method, al k aloids and other su bstances mu st be av aiabl e

in cry stal l ized form.

2 3

/


" T h e l a r g e s t r i v e r i n t h e w o r l d


25/209

r u n s t h r o u g h t h e l a r g e s t f o r e s t .

. . B y

l i t t l e a n d l i t t l e ,

I b e g a n t o c o m p r e h e n d

t h a t i n a f o r e s t w h i c h i s p r a c t i c a l l y u n l i m i t e d

n e a r t h r e e m i l l i o n s o f s q u a r e m i l e s

c l a d w i t h t r e e s a n d l i t t l e e l s e b u t t r e e s ,

a n d w h e r e t h e n a t i v e s

t h i n k n o m o r e o f d e s t r o y i n g t h e n o b l e s t t r e e s ,

w h e n t h e y s t a n d i n t h e i r w a y , t h a n w e t h e v i l e s t w e e d ,

a s i n g l e t r e e c u t d o w n

m a k e s n o g r e a t e r a g a p , a n d i s n o m o r e m i s s e d ,

t h a n w h e n o n e p u l l s u p a s t a l k o f g r o u n d s e l

o r a p o p p y i n a n E n g l i s h c o r n f i e l d . "

R i c h a r d S p r u c e

B e /ow T he photog raph depicts an aeria l v iew of the K u l u ene Ri er, the sou thernmost tribu tar y

of the X in g Ri er, a main aff l u ent of the A mazon.

Ri ht : " T here were enormou s trees, crowned with mag nificent fol iag e, deck ed with fantastic

parasites, and hu ng ov er with lianas, which v aried in thick ness from sender threads to hu g e

py thon-l i e masses, were now rou nd, now flattened, now k notted and now twisted with the

reg u larit y of a cable. Intermi ed with the trees, and often eq u al to them in al titu de, g rew nobl e

palms whi e other and far lov el ier species of the same famiy , their ring ed stems sometimes

scarcel y e x ceeding a fing er's thic k ness, bu t bearing p l u me- l i e fronds and pendu lo u s bu nches

of blac or red berries, q u ite li e those of their loftier al l ies, formed, al ong with shru bs and

arb sces of many t y pes, a bu shy u nder g rowth, not v is u a l l y v ery dense or diff ic u l t to penetrate

It is worthy to be noted that the loftiest forest is g eneral l y the easiest to trav erse; the lianas

and parasites . . being in g reat part too hi h to be mu ch in the way . .

Ri chard

2 4



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T op: A t the Shi a T emple of Pashu patinath near K athmandu , Nepal, Indian

y og is smok e M ari u ana in preparation for the ardu o u s body practice and

B e low V isions rev ealed by hal l u c inog ens can be s u bse q u ent l y

processed

and rendered artistical l y . In this way the ex perience is carried into and


28/209

meditation.

s e n t s a n o t h e r h a l l u c i n o g e n o f g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e

i n A z t e c r e l i g i o n a n d i s s t i l l e m p l o y e d i n s o u t h -

e r n M e x i c o . T h e r e a r e m a n y h a l l u c i n o g e n s o f

s e c o n d a r y i m p o r t a n c e : T o l o a c h e a n d o t h e r s p e -

c i e s o f t h e D a t u r a g r o u p ; t h e M e s c a l B e a n o r

F r i j o l i l l o i n t h e n o r t h ; P i p i l t z i n t z i n t l i o f t h e

A z t e c s ; t h e d i v i n e r ' s s a g e n o w k n o w n a s H i e r b a

d e l a P a s t o r a ; G e n i s t a a m o n g t h e Y a q u i I n d i -

a n s ; P i u l e , S i n i c u i c h i , Z a c a t e c h i c h i , t h e p u f f b a l l s

con-

nected with e v ery day l i fe . ( H a l l u c i enia by Christian R tsch, waterco lor, circa

1 9 9 3 )

k n o w n b y t h e M i x t e c s a s G i ' - i - W a ; a n d m a n y

o t h e r s .

S o u t h A m e r i c a r a n k s a c l o s e s e c o n d t o M e x i c o

i n t h e n u m b e r , v a r i e t y , a n d d e e p m a g i c o - r e l i g i o u s

s i g n i f i c a n c e o f h a l l u c i n o g e n s . T h e A n d e a n c u l -

t u r e s h a d h a l f a d o z e n s p e c i e s o f B r u g m a n s i a s ,

k n o w n a s B o r r a c h e r o , C a m p a n i l l a , F l o r i p o n d i o ,

H u a n t o , H a u c a c a c h u , M a i c o a , T o e , T o n g o , e t c .

I n P e r u a n d B o l i v i a a c o l u m n a r c a c t u s c a l l e d S a n

P e d r o o r A g u a c o l l a i s t h e b a s i s o f t h e d r i n k

c i , n o r a ,

u sed

i n a v i s i o n - s e e k i n g c e r e m o n y . M a -

p u c h e I n d i a n w i t c h d o c t o r s ( w h o a r e m o s t l y

f e m a l e ) o f C h i l e f o r m e r l y e m p l o y e d a h a l l u c i n o -

g e n i c t r e e o f t h e N i g h t s h a d e f a m i l y L a t u o r

A r b o l d e l o s B r u j o s . R e s e a r c h h a s i n d i c a t e d t h e

u s e i n v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e A n d e s o f

t h e r a r e s h r u b

T a i q u e ( D e s f o n t a i n i a ) , t h e

S h a n s h i ,

a n d t h e f r u i t s o f H i e r b a L o c a a n d T a g l l i , b o t h o f

t h e H e a t h f a m i l y . M o s t r e c e n t l y , a t y p e o f P e t u n i a

h a s b e e n r e p o r t e d a s a n i n t o x i c a n t u s e d i n E c u a -

d o r . I n t h e O r i n o c o a n d p a r t s o f t h e A m a z o n , a

p o w e r f u l s n u f f c a l l e d Y o p o o r N i o p o i s m a d e

f r o m t h e t o a s t e d s e e d s o f a t r e e o f t h e l e g u m e

2 7


N T IV U S OF M A J OR I

H A L L U CINOG E NS

Notwithstanding the g reater ag e of cu lt u res and the

widespread u se of hal l u cinog ens in the E astern

-

-


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H emisphere, the nu mber of species so u sed is far

the W estern H emisphere . A nthropolo g ists

hav e e plained this disparit y on cu l t u ral

T here does not,

to be a si nificant

difference between the two hemispheres in the nu m

ber of plants possessing hal l u cinog enic pnriciples


T here are few cu l t u res in the W estern H emisphere that


30/209

did not v a l u e at least one hal l u cinog enic plant in

mag i co-rel i i ou s ceremonies . M any c u l t u res had

sev eral . In addition to hal l u cinog ens, a nu mber of

otherwise psy choacti e plants shared the honors:

T obacco, Coca , G u a y u sa, Y oco, G u a ranc . Some of

these especial l y T obacco and Coca rose to ex a l ted

positions in the sacred nati e pharmacopoeias T hese

major hal l u c inog ens are c u l t u ral l y s i n if icant in the

areas indicated by the sy mbols

e

H y oscy amu sspp.

A manita mu scaria

A tropa bel l adonna

Cannabis sati a

CIa v iceps pu rpu rea

Datu raspp.

T abernanthe ibog a

0

A nadenanthera pereg rina

4 '

A nadenanthera col u brina

4 ,

q 3 Q B an is tenopsis caapi

4 ,

B r u g mansiaspp .

L ophophora wi liamsii

0

Psi ocy bespp

T u rbina cory mbosa et lpomoea v iofacea

4 '

Virolaspp

D boisia spp.


Ri ht: Shamans remain the g u ardians of wisdom concerning the mag ical ef-

fects of the ps choacti e plants. T his photog raph was tak en at the hol y


31/209

mo u nt ai n K a l inchok ( 4 ,0 0 0 m) i n the H i ma l ay as o f Nepa l .

fami y .

T h e I n d i a n s o f n o r t h e r n A r g e n t i n a t a k e a

s n u f f C e b I l o r V i l i c a p r e p a r e d f r o m s e e d s o f a

s p e c i e s c l o s e l y r e l a t e d t o Y o p o . P e r h a p s t h e m o s t

i m p o r t a n t l o w l a n d h a l l u c i n o g e n i n S o u t h A m e r i c a

i s A y a h u a s c a , C a a p i , N a t e m a , P i n d , o r Y a j . E m -

p l o y e d c e r e m o n i a l l y i n t h e w e s t e r n A m a z o n a n d

i n s e v e r a l l o c a l i t i e s o n t h e P a c i f i c c o a s t a l a r e a s o f

C o l o m b i a a n d E c u a d o r , i t i s m a d e b a s i c a l l y f r o m

s e v e r a l s p e c i e s o f l i a n a s o f t h e M a l p i g h i a f a m i l y .

B r u n f e l s i a , a m e m b e r o f t h e N i g h t s h a d e f a m i l y ,

k n o w n w i d e l y i n t h e w e s t e r n m o s t A m a z o n a s

C h i r i c a s p i , i s t a k e n f o r h a l l u c i n a t o r y p u r p o s e s .

T h e r e a r e m o r e p l a n t s u t i l i z e d a s h a l l u c i n o g e n s

i n t h e N e w W o r l d t h a n i n t h e O l d . N e a r l y 1 3 0

s p e c i e s a r e k n o w n t o b e u s e d i n t h e W e s t e r n

H e m i s p h e r e , w h e r e a s i n t h e E a s t e r n H e m i s p h e r e

t h e n u m b e r r e a c h e s r o u g h l y 5 0 . B o t a n i s t s h a v e n o

r e a s o n t o p r e s u m e t h a t t h e f l o r a o f t h e N e w W o r l d

i s r i c h e r o r p o o r e r t h a n t h a t o f t h e O l d i n p l a n t s

w i t h h a l l u c i n o g e n i c p r o p e r t i e s .

3 0



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I n d e x a n d K e y


33/209

t o t h e P l a n t

L e x i c o n

N i n e t y - s e v e n

hal l u c inog enic plants are i l u -

A cac ia

1

E l A hi ado

2 1

strated and described on the fol l owing pag es

A g ara

3 5

E l M acho

2 1

( 3 4 6 0 ) .

A g u acol l a

9 4

E l N ene

2 1

T he le x icon is in alphabetical order by g enu s

A j u ca

5 6

E pen

9 6

name. E ach tex t in the le x icon incl u des the fol-

A ng el 's T ru mpet

1 1 , 1 2

E rer iba 3 9

l owing information in its heading :

A rbol de Campani la

4 2

E rg ot

2 0

G enu s, au thor, and, in brack ets, the

nu mber of

A rbol d e l o s B ru j o s

4 7

E sak u na

2 5

species k nown to ex ist in the g enu s.

A x ocat zi n

8 6

False Pey ote

7

B otanical name of the species shown. T he

A y ahu asca

9 , 9 3

Fang -K 'u ei

7 2

species k nown to contain hal l u cinog enic

A ztec Dream G rass

1 6

Flag Root

2

properties orto be u sed as hal l u cinog ens wil

B ad oh

9 5

Floripondio 1 1 , 1 2

be fou nd in the reference section " Ov erv iew of

B adoh Neg ro

4 3

Fl y A g aric

3

Pa nt U s e, " p ag e s 6 5 8 0 , which i s o rg an ize d

B ak ana

2 4 , 8 4

Frioles

8 8

by common name. T his reference section

B e l l adonna

8

G al ang a

4 5

chart prov ides the botanical names of the

B h ang

1 7

G anj a

1 7

plants and describes the history , ethnog raphy ,

B iak B iak

5 7

G enista

2 6

contex t, pu rpose of u sag e, and preparation, B l a ck H enbane

4 1

G i antOn

9 4

as well as chemical components and effects.

B l ood-Red A n g e l 's T ru mpet

1 2

G i' -i -Sa-W a

5 2

Pant fami y .

B l u e M eanies

6 3

G i'-i-W a

5 2

Reference nu mber.

B l u e W ater L i y

6 0

G ol d en A ng el ' s T ru mpet 1 1

G eog raphica l distrib u t ion of the g enu s .

B orrachero

1 1 , 1 2 , 3 0 , 4 2

H ash ish

1 7

Common names are l isted here below with the

B ov ista

5 2

H awaiian W ood Rose 6

nu mber desi nating each plant's location in the

B r u nf el s ia

1 3

H emp

1 7

l e x icon.

Caapi

9 , 9 3

H enbane

4 0 ,4 1

Caapi-Pinima

9 3

H ierba de Ia Pastora

8 2

Cahu a

8 0

H ierba de Ia Virg en

8 2

Calamu s

2

H i erba L oca

7 0

Cawe

6 2

H i u l i 2 4

Cebi

4

H i u l i 5 1

Cebol l eta

6 1

H i u l i M u l ato

3 3

Chacr u na

8 0

H i u l i Rosapara

3 3

C hacr u na B u sh

8 0

H i u l i Rosapara

5 3

Chalice Vine

8 7

H i u l i S nam

7

Channa

8 3

H i u ri

5 3

Charas

1 7

H i u ri

3 2

Chau t l e

7

H i u ri Orchid 6 1

Chichipe

8 6

H ong o de San Isidro

7 6

Chiicote

3 4

H oop-petticoat

6 4

Chiricaspi

1 3

H u acacach u

1 1 ,1 2

Chiric-Sanang o

1 3

H u anto

1 1 ,1 2

Cohoba

5

H u edhu ed 7 0

Col e u s

2 1

H u el patl

8 7

Colorines

3 4 ,8 8

H u i ca

1 4

Common Reed

7 4

Ibo g a

9 0

Conoc be

2 2

J ambu r

6 3

Copelandia

6 3

J imsonweed

2 9

Coral B ean

8 8

J u rema T ree 5 6

Coral T ree

3 4

K anna

8 3

Cowhag e

5 8

K iel i

8 7

C mal a T r ee

9 6

K ieri 8 7

Dacha

4 8

K it

1 7

Dag g a

1 7

K o ribo

9 2

Dama da Noite

1 9

K ou g u ed 8 3

Dar k - rimmed M ott l e g i l

6 5

K ratom

5 7

Dat u ra

2 8

K u ma M u shroom

1 0

Deadl y Ni htshade

8

K washi

6 6

Di iner's Sag e

8 2

L ady of the Ni ht

1 9

Dog G rass

1 6

L atu 4 7

D tra

2 8

L atu y

3 0

3 2



34/209

L emong rass

L ibert y Cap

L i on 's T a i

M ace

M aconha

M ag ic M u shroom

M ai coa

M a iden's A cacia

M al v a Co l orada

M ammi l a ri a

M anak a

M andrak e

M a ra ba

M ari u ana

M ari u ani l o

M ashihiri

M atwO

M esca l

M escal B ean

M escal B u tton

M orning G l ory

Ni htshade

Ninfa

Nonda

N tme g

N ak wana

Ol ol i q u i

Pag u a ndo

Painted Nettl e

Pai u l

Pet u nia

Pey ote Cact u s

Pey ote Cimarrdn

Pey ote de San Pedro

Pey oti l o

Pinc shion Cact u s

Pipitzintzintl i

Pital l ito Cactu s

Pit u r i

Pitu ri B u sh

Pi l e

Poison B u sh

Pok eberry

Q u e tzala x cchiacatl

Rape dos Indios

Red B ean

Red Canary G rass

Reed G rass

Sag u aro

Sanang o

San Isidro

San Pedro Cactu s

Scopol ia

Screw Pine

Shang - l a

Shanin

Shanshi

She-to

Siberian L ion's T ai

2 5

Siberian M otherwort

7 9

Sinicu ichi

4 8

Straw Flower

5 9

Sweet Calomel

1 9

Sweet Fl ag

7 6 , 7 9

S rian R e

1 1 . 1 2

T abaco del Diablo

1 T abernaemontana

8 6

T ag Il i

5 3 T a i u e

1 3

T ak ini

5 4

T a M a

4 5 T amu

1 7

T ecomax ochit l

4 9

T eonan cat l

4 4

T epescohu i te

1 4 T h Ie-pela k ano

8 8

T horn A ppl e

8 8

T l i i tzi n

5 1

T oe

4 3

T o l oache

8 5

T o loatzin

6 0

T ong a

1 0 T o-shk a

5 9

T otu bj ans sh

9 6

T su wiri

9 5

T u p a

4 2

T u rk estan M int

2 1

T zompar. q u ahu i tl

1 9 ViIca

7 1 Voacang a

5 1

W av y Cap

7

W ichowak a

5 3 W ichu ri

6 9

W ichu ri i

2 4 , 5 3

W i d Dag g a

8 2

W ood Rose

3 2 X t aben tu m

3 1

Y ahu tl i

3 1

Y aj

4 3 ,8 1 Y ak ee

3 1

Y e l l ow H enbane

7 5

Y opo

6 0

Y U n-shih

5 5

Z acatechichi

8 8

7 3

7 3

1 8

8 9

7 6

9 4

8 5

6 7

7 5

7 1

2 3

6 4

4 9

4 9

3 6

3 7

2

2

6 8

5 0

8 9

7 0

3 0

3 8

1 7

2 2

8 7

7 8

5 6

1 6

2 9

4 3

1 1

2 7

2 7

1 1 ,1 2

6 4

4 2

7

5 0

4 6

3 4

4

9 7

7 7

6 2

2 4

5 3

4 8

6

9 5

9 1

9

9 6

4 0

A Sou th A merican Indian harv ests a

ev en mi l ennia. T he Indians cau t ion

plant of the g ods, a B lood-Red A n-

ag ainst the thou g htless u se of this

is

g el ' s T ru mp et ( B ru g mansia sang u i-

plant, which cau ses su ch strong

1 6

f lea) . T his a l k a loid-rich plant has hal l u cinations and deliri m that onl y

been cu l t i ated and u sed for ps -

ex perienced shamans can u se it for

choacti e pu rposes for centu ries or

di ination and healing .

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_

-

-

4

I

I

/

F

V

/

V

*

,


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4

f

I

-

-

1

1

:

/

-

V

1

/

-

a

/

a

-

-

L

-

4



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A bov e : T he s mbol s in H u i chol m y thol o g y a re v i i dl y dep ic ted i n t he ir popu l a r

sacred art . T he beau t y of the forms has as a basis the ceremonial u se of

Pey ote. T he y arn painting abov e, l i e an A ztec Codex , is a chronic le of the

creation of the worl d. T he g ods emerg ed from the U nderworld to M other

E arth. T h is was possible becau se K a u y u mar i, Ou r E l der B rother Deer, fo u nd

the nieri a, or portway . T he nieri a of K a u y u mari ( top center) u ni fies the spiri t

of a l l thing s and al l wor lds T hrou g h it al l l i fe came into being .

B e low K a u y u mar i's nieri a, O u r M other E a g l e ( center) l owers her head to

l isten to K a u y u mari, who sits on a rock , bottom ri ht. H is sacred words trav e l

down a thread to a pray er bow and are transformed into life energ y , depicted

as a white blossom.

A bov e K a u y u mari, the Spirit of Rain, a serpent, g i es l i fe to the g ods . T atewari,

first shaman and Spirit of Fire ( top center ri ht), is bending down toward K au y u -

marl l istening to his chant. B oth are connected to a medicine bask et ( center

ri ht), which binds them tog ether as shamanic al l ies. Ou r Father S n, seen op-

posite T atewari on the left, is connected with the Spirit of Dawn, the orang e fi u re

below T he S n and Spirit of Dawn are both fou nd in W irl k u ta, the Sacred L and of

Pey o te . A l so in W i ri u ta is K a u y u mar i's n ieri a and the temp le of E l der B rother

Deer T ai . T he temple is the black field, l ower center. Deer T ai, with red antlers, is

seen with his hu man manifestation abov e him. B ehind Deer T ai is Ou r M other

the Sea. A crane bring s her a pra y er g o u rd containing the words of K a u y u mari

B l u e Deer ( l eft center ) en l i ens al l sacred offerin g s A stream of energ y g oes from

him toou rM other Sea's pray erg ou rd; he also offers his blood to the g rowing corn,

the staff of l ife g erminating below him. A bov e B l u e Deer is the First M an, who

inv ented cu l ti ation. First M an faces a sacrificed sheep.

Pag e 6 2 : T h is ear l y - si teenth-cent u r y A z tec statu e of X ochipi l i , the ecstat ic

Prince of Fl owers, was u nearthed in T l amanal co on the sl opes of the v olcano

Popocatepet l . T he sty l ized g l y phs depict v ariou s hal l u cinog enic plants . From

left to ri ht, the g l y phs represent: mu shroom cap; tendri of the M orning G lor y ;

f lower of T obacco; f lower of the sacred M orning G lor y ; b u d of Sinic u iche; and,

on the pedestal , sty l ized caps of Psi ocy be aztecOru m.

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R F

COM M ON

N M B E R

N M E

7 3

Reed G rass

T Y P OF

B OT A NIC L

P A N

N M E

Phal aris aru ndinacea L .

U S G E :

H IS OR A ND E T H NOG R P Y

A l tho u g h Reed G rass was famiiar to writers of anti u i t y ,

i ts ps choacti e u se is v ery recent.

Sou thwestern U nited States and M e x ico . A l thou g h there

are apparentl y no ethnol og ical reports of Sag u aro as a

hall u cinog en, the plant is an important medicine among

the Indians.

1 8

Sag u aro

Ca rn eg i ea g i an te a ( E ng el m . ) B r it t. et Ro se


77/209

T here are many v arieties of the g enu s T a be rnaemon-

tana in A f rica and Sou th A merica. E special l y in A f rica,

some v arieties seem to hav e been u sed for a l ong time in

shamanic or traditional medicine practices.

8 9

Sanang o

T abernaemontana

T abernaemonfana coffeoj des B ojer ex DC;

T crassa B entham; T d ichotoma Ro x b u r g h ;

T pandaca q u i Poir.

[ = E r v a tamia pandaca q u i ( Poi r. ) P ichonj

A

San Pedro

T richocereu s pachanoi B ritt . et Rose

U sed by the nati es of Sou th A merica, especial l y in the

A g u acol l a

[ = A ndes o f Per u , E c u ador, and B o l i ia.

G i ant n

( see al so pag es 1 6 6 1 6 9 )

6 7

ScrewPine

Pandanu ssp.

New u inea

Shang - la

Phy tolacca acinosa Rox b.

China

Shanin

Petu nia v iolacea L indi

A recent report from hi hland E cu ador has indicated

Petu nia

-

that a species of Petu nia is v al u ed as a hal l u cinog en.

2 3

Shanshi

Coriaria thy mifol i a H B K . ox W i i d.

Peasants in E c u ador.

A

Siberian L ion's T ai

L eonu ru s s ib iri cu s L .

T he Siberian M otherwort has been u sed medicinal l y

M ari u ani l o

from the v ery beg inning of Chinese medicine. Since the

Siberian M otherwort

plant was transplanted to the A mericas, it has been u sed

as a s bst it u te for M ari u ana .

Sinicu ichi

H e im ia sa l ici fo l ia ( H B K ) L i nk e t O tto

A l thou g h al l three species of H eimia are important in

M e x ican fol k medicine, mainl y H . sa/ icifo l ia has been

v a l u ed for i ts hal l u cinog enic propert ies.

Straw Fl ower

H el i chry su m foetidu m ( L . ) M oench;

Z u l u l and , Sou t h A fr ica.

H . s tenopter u m DC

2

Sweet Fl ag

A coru s cal a mu s L .

Cree Indians of northwest Canada.

Fla g Root

Sweet Cal omel

Calamu s

S rian R e

Peg anu m harmala L .

P harmala is v a l u ed today from A sia M inor across to

India with ex traordinary esteem, su g g esting former

rel i iou s u se as a hal l u c inog en.

T ag i i

Perne tty a fu rens ( H ook . e x DC ) K l o tzch;

P f u rens is cal l ed H ierba L oca in Chie ( " maddening

'-'

H i er ba L oca

P parv i fo l la B entham

p lant" ) , whie P par v i fo l ia is k nown as T a g I l i in E c ador.

H u edhu ed

T a i u e

Desfontainia spinosa ft et P

Reported as a hal l u cinog en from Chie ( T ai u e ) and

B orrachero

sou thern Colombia ( B orrachero = " intox icant " ) .

L atu y

7 6



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Ri ht: T he F l y A g a ric is o ften and fal sel y

feared as being a poisonou s mu sh-

room; nev ertheless, it is g lad l y u sed for

l u ck - br in g i ng ca nd y .


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A bov e l eft : T o bri ng g ood l u ck i nto the

coming y ear, firework s in the shape of

F l y A g a ric are set o ff on New Y ear 's E v e .

A bov e r i h t: T he res l t s o f smo k i ng F l y

A g aric are depicted in the G erman chi -

dren's book M ec i and the Dwar v es

B e low r i ht: I t i s possible that F l y A g ari c

is identical to the Vedic wonder-dru g

Soma. T oda y E phedra ( E phedra g er-

ardiana) is cal l ed somalata, " soma

plant. " In Nepal E phedra is not hal l u ci-

nog enic or psy chedel ic bu t is a v ery

strong stimu lant.

8 4

c o n v e r s e s w i t h p e r s o n s w h o m h e i m a g i -

n e s h e s e e s , s i n g s a n d d a n c e s . T h e n a n

i n t e r v a l o f r e s t s e t s i n a g a i n . ' "

T h e F l y A g a r i c w a s a p p a r e n t l y e m -

p l o y e d h a l l u c i n o g e n i c a l l y i n M e s o a -

m e r i c a . I t o c c u r s n a t u r a l l y i n h i g h l a n d

a r e a s i n s o u t h e r n M e x i c o a n d G u a t e m a -

l a . T h e M a y a o f h i g h l a n d G u a t e m a l a ,

f o r e x a m p l e , r e c o g n i z e A m a n i t a m u s -

c a r i a a s h a v i n g s p e c i a l p r o p e r t i e s , f o r

t h e y c a l l

i t

K a k u l j - i k o x ( " l i g h t n i n g

m u s h r o o m " ) , r e l a t i n g i t t o o n e o f t h e

g o d s , R a j a w K a k u l j o r L o r d o f L i g h t -

n i n g . I t i s t h i s g o d w h o d i r e c t s t h e o p e r -

a t i n g o f c h a c s , d w a r f r a i n - b r i n g e r s n o w

u s u a l l y k n o w n b y t h e i r C h r i s t i a n d e s i g -

n a t i o n , a n g e l i t o s . T h e Q u i c h e n a m e o f

t h e A m a n i t a m u s c a r i a , K a q u l j , r e f e r s

t o i t s l e g e n d a r y o r i g i n , w h e r e a s t h e t e r m

I t z e l o - c o x r e f e r s t o i t s s a c r e d p o w e r a s

" e v i l o r d i a b o l i c a l m u s h r o o m . " T h u n -

d e r a n d l i g h t n i n g h a v e w i d e l y a n d

a n c i e n t l y b e e n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h m u s h -

r o o m s , i n b o t h h e m i s p h e r e s , e s p e c i a l l y

w i t h A m a n i t a m u s c a r i a . " I n a n y e v e n t ,

t h e Q u i c h e - M a y a

. . . are

e v i d e n t l y w e l l

a w a r e t h e A m a n i t a n z u s c a r i a

i s

n o

o r d i n a r y m u s h r o o m b u t r e l a t e s t o t h e

s u p e r n a t u r a l . "

T h e f i r s t

s e t t l e r s o f t h e A m e r i c a s

c a m e f r o m A s i a , s l o w l y c r o s s i n g t h e

r e g i o n o f t h e B e r i n g S t r a i t . A n t h r o p o l -

o g i s t s h a v e f o u n d m a n y A s i a - r e l a t e d o r

r e m n a n t c u l t u r e t r a i t s t h a t p e r s i s t i n t h e

A m e r i c a s . R e c e n t d i s c o v e r i e s h a v e u n -

c o v e r e d v e s t i g e s o f t h e m a g i c o - r e l i -

g i o u s i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e F l y A g a r i c t h a t

h a v e i n d e e d s u r v i v e d i n N o r t h A m e r i -

c a n c u l t u r e s . I n d i c a t i o n s o f u n d o u b t e d


L eft : A K amtchat k a shaman implores

the Fl y A g aric, her r it u a l s u bstance, to

assist her in trav eling to other realms.


86/209

h a l l u c i n o g e n i c u s e o f t h e F l y A g a r i c

h a v e b e e n d i s c o v e r e d a m o n g t h e D o -

g r i b A t h a b a s c a n p e o p l e s , w h o l i v e o n

t h e

M a c k e n z i e M o u n t a i n

r a n g e

i n

n o r t h w e s t e r n C a n a d a . H e r e A i n a n i t a

m u s c a r i a i s e m p l o y e d a s a s a c r a m e n t i n

s h a m a n i s m . A y o u n g n e o p h y t e r e p o r -

t e d t h a t w h a t e v e r t h e s h a m a n h a d d o n e

t o h i m , " h e h a d s n a t c h e d m e . I h a d n o

v o l i t i o n , I h a d n o p o w e r o f m y o w n . I

d i d n ' t e a t , d i d n ' t s l e e p , I d i d n ' t t h i n k

I w a s n ' t i n m y b o d y a n y l o n g e r . " A f t e r

a l a t e r s a n c e , h e w r o t e : " C l e a n s e d a n d

r i p e f o r v i s i o n , I r i s e , a b u r s t i n g b a l l o f

s e e d s i n s p a c e

. . I h a v e s u n g t h e n o t e

t h a t s h a t t e r s s t r u c t u r e . A n d t h e n o t e

t h a t s h a t t e r s c h a o s , a n d b e e n b l o o d y

I h a v e b e e n w i t h t h e d e a d a n d a t -

t e m p t e d t h e l a b y r i n t h . " H i s f i r s t m u s h -

r o o m e x p e r i e n c e r e p r e s e n t e d d i s m e m -

b e r m e n t ; h i s s e c o n d , m e e t i n g w i t h t h e

s p i r i t .

M o r e r e c e n t l y , t h e r e l i g i o u s u s e o f

A m a n i t a m u s c a r i a a s a s a c r e d h a l l u c i n o -

g e n h a s b e e n d i s c o v e r e d i n a n a n c i e n t a n -

n u a l c e r e m o n y p r a c t i c e d b y t h e O j i b w a

I n d i a n s o r A h n i s h i n a u b e g w h o l i v e o n

L a k e S u p e r i o r i n M i c h i g a n . T h e m u s h -

r o o m i s k n o w n i n t h e O j i b w a l a n g u a g e

a s O s h t i m i s k W a j a s h k w e d o ( " R e d - t o p

m u s h r o o m " ) .

A bov e ri h t: T he Sp ir it of the F l y A g a ri c

in J apan is the l ong -nosed, red-faced

T eng u . W hoev er eats B eni-T eng u -Dak e

( Red T eng u m u shroom) w i l enco u nter

the l i e l y ent it y .

B e l ow lef t: T he m y th of Soma sti l l i es

on. H ere it is the name of a bar in a

l u x u ry hote l in Del h i

8 5



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t h i r t e e n t h c e n t u r y , B i s h o p A l b c r t u s t h e

G r e a t r e p o r t e d t h a t H e n b a n e w a s e m -

p l o y e d b y n e c r o m a n c e r s t o c o n j u r e u p

d e m o n s .

F r o m e a r l i e s t t i m e s , t h e p a i n k i l l i n g

p r o p e r t i e s o f H e n b a n e h a v e b e e n r e c o g -

n i z e d , a n d i t h a s b e e n e m p l o y e d t o r e -

l i e v e t h e s u f f e r i n g o f t h o s e s e n t e n c e d t o

t o r t u r e a n d d e a t h . I t s g r e a t a d v a n t a g e

l i e s i n i t s a b i l i t y n o t o n l y t o a l l a y p a i n

b u t a l s o t o i n d u c e a s t a t e o f c o m p l e t e

o b l i v i o n .

H e n b a n e i s b e s t k n o w n a s a n i n g r e d i -

e n t o f t h e s o - c a l l e d " w i t c h ' s s a l v e . "

W h e n y o u n g p e o p l e w e r e t o b e i n -

d u c t e d i n t o m e m b e r s h i p i n g r o u p s d e d i -

c a t e d t o w i t c h c r a f t , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e y

w e r e o f t e n g i v e n a d r i n k o f H e n b a n e s o

t h a t t h e y c o u l d e a s i l y b e p e r s u a d e d t o

e n g a g e i n t h e s a b b a t r i t u a l s p r e p a r a t o r y

t o t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f f i c i a l l y o f a p l a c e i n

w i t c h c r a f t c i r c l e s .

T h o s e e x p e r i e n c i n g i n t o x i c a t i o n w i t h

H e n b a n e f e e l a p r e s s u r e i n t h e h e a d , a

s e n s a t i o n a s i f s o m e o n e w e r e c l o s i n g t h e

e y e l i d s b y f o r c e ; s i g h t b e c o m e s u n c l e a r ,

o b j e c t s a r e d i s t o r t e d i n s h a p e , a n d t h e

m o s t u n u s u a l v i s u a l h a l l u c i n a t i o n s a r e

i n d u c e d . G u s t a t o r y a n d o l f a c t o r y h a l -

l u c i n a t i o n s f r e q u e n t l y a c c o m p a n y t h e

T he Chemistry of Deadl y Ni htshade, H enbane, and M andra k e

three sol anaceou s p lants A tropa, H y osc y amu s, and M andra g ora

contain

the same acti e principl es: primariy the alk aloids hy oscy amine, atropine,

and

scopolamine. T he difference is only one of relati e concentration. B el l adonna

contains l ittl e scopolamine, bu t this alk al oid is the main component of

M an-

drak e and especial l y of H enbane.

T he alk al oids are fou nd in the entire plant, with the hi hest concentration

in

the seeds and roots. T he hall u cinog enic effects are du e essential l y to scopo-

l amine. A tropine and hy osy amine are l ess acti e u nder these circu mstances.

L eft : A ccording to this i l u strat ion from

the J u l iana Codex , the G reek herbal ist

Dioscorides recei ed the M andrak e

plant from H eu resis, g oddess of discov -

ery , i l u strat ing the bel ief that

this medi-

cine was a plant of the g ods.

8 7


" T h e M a n d r a k e i s t h e ' T r e e o f K n o w l e d g e '

a n d t h e b u r n i n g l o v e i g n i t e d b y i t s p l e a s u r e

i s t h e o r i g i n o f t h e h u m a n r a c e . "

H u g o R a h n e r

G r e e k M y t h s i n C h r i s t i a n M e a n i n g ( 1 9 5 7 )


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A bov e : T he ancient g oddess of witches,

H ecate, lords ov er the psy choacti e and

mag ical herbs, particu l ar l y those in the

Ni htshade fami y . In this colored print

b y W i l i am B l a k e, she is depicted with

her shamanic animal s

P ag e 8 9 bel ow r i h t: T he des i n fo r t he

cov er of a book abou t medicinal plants

depicts the anthropomorphic M andrak e.

8 8

i n t o x i c a t i o n . E v e n t u a l l y s l e e p , d i s t u r b e d

b y d r e a m s a n d h a l l u c i n a t i o n s , e n d s t h e

i n e b r i a t i o n .

O t h e r s p e c i e s o f H y o s c y a m u s h a v e s i -

m i l a r p r o p e r t i e s a n d

a r e o c c a s i o n a l l y

u s e d i n s i m i l a r w a y s . I n d i a n H e n b a n e

o r E g y p t i a n H e n b a n e , o r H . m u t i c u s ,

o c c u r r i n g f r o m t h e d e s e r t s o f E g y p t e a s t

t o A f g h a n i s t a n a n d I n d i a , i s e m p l o y e d

i n I n d i a a s a n i n t o x i c a n t , t h e d r i e d l e a v e s

b e i n g s m o k e d . T h e B e d o u i n s p a r t i c u -

l a r l y e m p l o y t h i s i n t o x i c a n t

t o b e c o m e

d r u n k , a n d i n s o m e p a r t s o f A s i a a n d

A f r i c a i t i s s m o k e d w i t h C a n n a b i s

a s a n

i n e b r i a n t .

B e l l a d o n n a o r D e a d l y N i g h t s h a d e i s

n a t i v e t o E u r o p e b u t i s

n o w s p o n t a -

n e o u s a s a n e s c a p e f r o m c u l t i v a t i o n i n

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d I n d i a . I t s g e n e r i c

n a m e , A t r o p a , c o m e s f r o m t h e G r e e k

F a t e A t r o p o s , t h e i n f l e x i b l e

o n e w h o

c u t s t h e t h r e a d o f l i f e . T h e s p e c i f i c

e p i t h e t , m e a n i n g " b e a u t i f u l l a d y , "

r e -

c a l l s t h e u s e o f s a p o f t h e p l a n t

t o d i l a t e

t h e p u p i l s o f t h e e y e s a m o n g t h e f i n e l a -

d i e s o f I t a l y w h o b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e d r e a -

m y , i n t o x i c a t e d s t a r e t h u s p r o d u c e d w a s

t h e h e i g h t o f f e t c h i n g b e a u t y . M a n y

v e r -

n a c u l a r n a m e s o f t h e p l a n t r e f e r

t o i t s

i n t o x i c a t i n g p r o p e r t i e s : S o r c e r e r ' s C h e r -

r y , W i t c h ' s B e r r y , D e v i l ' s H e r b , M u r -

d e r e r ' s B e r r y , D w a l e b e r r y ( d w a l e i n

E n g l i s h d e r i v i n g f r o m t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n

r o o t m e a n i n g " t r a n c e " ) .

T h e m a e n a d s o f t h e o r g i e s o f D i o n y -

s u s i n G r e e k m y t h o l o g y d i l a t e d t h e i r

e y e s a n d t h r e w t h e m s e l v e s i n t o t h e a r m s

o f m a l e w o r s h i p e r s o f t h i s g o d

o r , w i t h

" f l a m i n g e y e s , " t h e y f e l l

u p o n m e n t o

t e a r t h e m a p a r t a n d e a t t h e m . T h e w i n e


L eft : T he mag ical conj u rat ion of the

M andra k e is a d u rab le theme in E u r -

opean literatu re and art history . H ere

is a scene from a modern comic,

G aza.

B e /ow r i ht: W i tches" persecu ted

du ring the Inq u isition were often ac-

cu sed of u sing hal l u cinog enic plants of

the Ni htshade famiy , in particu lar,

H enbane and M andrak e . For this

many were tort u red, mu rdered, and

bu rned.


90/209

o f B a c c h a n a l s w a s p o s s i b l y a d u l t e r a t e d

w i t h j u i c e o f t h e N i g h t s h a d e . A n o t h e r

b e l i e f f r o m c l a s s i c a l t i m e s m a i n t a i n e d

t h a t R o m a n p r i e s t s d r a n k B e l l a d o n n a

b e f o r e t h e i r s u p p l i c a t i o n s t o t h e g o d -

d e s s o f w a r f o r v i c t o r y .

I t w a s d u r i n g t h e e a r l y M o d e r n p e r i o d ,

h o w e v e r , t h a t B e l l a d o n n a a s s u m e d i t s

g r e a t e s t i m p o r t a n c e i n w i t c h c r a f t a n d

m a g i c . I t w a s o n e o f t h e p r i m a r y i n g r e d i -

e n t s o f t h e b r e w s a n d o i n t m e n t s e m -

p l o y e d b y w i t c h e s a n d s o r c e r e r s . O n e

s u c h p o t e n t m i x t u r e , c o n t a i n i n g B e l l a -

d o n n a , H e n b a n e , M a n d r a k e , a n d t h e f a t

o f a s t i l l b o r n c h i l d , w a s r u b b e d o v e r t h e

s k i n o r i n s e r t e d i n t o t h e v a g i n a f o r a b -

s o r p t i o n . T h e f a m i l i a r w i t c h ' s b r o o m -

s t i c k g o e s f a r b a c k i n E u r o p e a n m a g i c

b e l i e f s . A n i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o w i t c h c r a f t

i n 1 3 2 4

reported

t h a t " i n r i f l e i n g t h e

8 9

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