Psychedelic plants

Psychedelic plants are plants that contain psychedelic drugs. Some of them have been used for thousands of years for religious purposes.

Cannabis

Cannabis (Marijuana) is a popular psychedelic plant. Cannabis is also unique in that it contains a psychedelic substance, THC, which contains no nitrogen and is not an indole, phenethylamine, anticholinergic (deliriant), or a disassociative drug. It is the weakest of the psychedelics but can produce vivid illusions at higher doses, similar to a low dose of a classic psychedelic such as psilocybin or LSD. Currently, certain universities and research firms are studying the medicinal effects of cannabis. Many US states such as California and many countries have created a Medical Cannabis law to allow patients to use cannabis as (among other things) a pain killer and appetite stimulant.

Plants containing psychedelic tryptamines

Many of the psychedelic plants contain dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is either snorted (Virola, Yopo snuffs), smoked, or drunk with MAOIs (Ayahuasca). It can not simply be eaten, and it needs to be extremely concentrated to be smokable, since the user needs to smoke all of it in a minute or else tolerance builds rapidly.

"Acanthaceae":
*"Fittonia albivenis", a common ornamental plant from South America. The plant has unknown compounds, that reportedly cause "visions of eyeballs." It is also useful in the treatment of headaches, etc.
*"Justicia pectoralis", DMT in leaves [cite web
url=http://www.serendipity.li/dmt/hoasca.html
title=Ayahuasca Analogues
publisher=www.serendipity.li
accessdate=2008-02-23
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"Aceraceae":
*"Acer saccharinum" (Silver Maple Tree) was found to contain the indole alkaloid gramine (not active and extremely toxic) 0.05% in the leaves, so it is possible that other members of this plant family contain active compounds. [ [http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/joceah/1959/24/i09/f-pdf/f_jo01091a032.pdf?sessid=6006l3 IJ PACHTER, DE ZACHARIAS, O RIBEIRO - The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1959 -] ]

"Aizoaceae":

*"Albizia inundata" leaves contain DMT.

None of the above alkaloids are said to have been found in "Phalaris californica", "Phalaris canariensis", "Phalaris minor" and hybrids of "P. arundinacea" together with "P. aquatica".

"Polygonaceae":
*"Erigonum" sp.: DMT.]

"Punicaceae":
*"Punica granatum" "DMT in root cortex;".] The dried stem and root bark of the tree contain about 0.4-0.9% alkaloids. [ [http://www.herbdatanz.com/pomeganate.htm Pomegranate (Herbdata New Zealand)] ]

"Rubiaceae" family:

Plants containing beta-carbolines

Beta-carbolines are "reversible" MAO-A inhibitors. They are found in some plants used to make Ayahuasca. In high doses the harmala alkaloids are somewhat hallucinogenic on their own.

"Apocynaceae":

"Gramineae":

"Passifloraceae":

Convolvulaceae:

Apocynaceae family:
*"Catharanthus roseus" is (perhaps unpleasantly) "hallucinogenic." [ [http://sliceoftheday.wordpress.com/2007/05/13/madagascar-periwinkle-catharanthus-roseus/ "Catharanthus roseus"] ]
*"Vinca minor"

Aquifoliaceae family:
*"Ilex guayusa", which is used as an additive to some versions of Ayahuasca. [ [http://www.serendipity.li/dmt/hoasca.html#tbl1 Ayahuasca Analogues] ] According to the Ecuadorian indigenous, it is also slightly hallucinogenic on its own, when drunk in high enough quantities.

Euphorbiaceae family:
*"Alchornea floribunda", Yohimbine

Loganaceae family:
*Desfontainia spinosa, causes visions [Schultes, Richard Evans, Iconography of New World Plant Hallucinogens. p. 101]

Lythraceae family:
*"Heimia myrtifolia", auditory [http://www.erowid.org/plants/sinicuichi/sinicuichi_faq.shtml Sinicuichi FAQ] ]
*"Heimia salicifolia", auditory.]

ee also

*Aztec entheogenic complex
*Legal intoxicants
*List of Entheogens
*List of poisonous plants
*Louisiana State Act 159
*Psilocybin mushrooms

External links

* [http://users.lycaeum.org/~iamklaus/botany.htm# Descriptions of psychoactive Cacti. Lycaeum Visionary Cactus Guide]
* [http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/faqs/faqs_tryptamine.shtml Erowid Tryptamine FAQ -- More Plants Containing Tryptamines]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=te53VV5u8YMC&pg=RA1-PA124&lpg=RA1-PA124&dq=erythrina+alkaloids&source=web&ots=e5SBqn4GS7&sig=JdEQoIKcYwAM7N_cTUtCQNhl6Hc John Stephen Glasby, Dictionary of Plants Containing Secondary Metabolites, Published by CRC Press]
* [http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/golden_guide/g91-100.shtml Golden Guide to Hallucinogenic Plants]
* [http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/158/3/481 Hallucinogens on the Internet: A Vast New Source of Underground Drug Information John H. Halpern, M.D. and Harrison G. Pope, Jr., M.D.]
* [http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/uploads/approved/adt-QGU20070710.160928/public/02Whole.pdf Peter L. Katavic, Chemical Investigations of the Alkaloids From the Plants Of The Family Elaeocarpaceae] , School of Science/Natural Product Discovery (NPD), Faculty of Science, Griffith University
* [http://www.erowid.org/archive/rhodium/chemistry/shulgin.pea.sar.hop.html Alexander T. Shulgin, Psychotomimetic Drugs: Structure-Activity Relationships]
* [http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/bulletin/bulletin_1969-01-01_4_page004.html UNODC The plant kingdom and hallucinogens (part II)]
* [http://www.unodc.org/unodc/bulletin/bulletin_1970-01-01_1_page005.html?print=yes UNODC The plant kingdom and hallucinogens (part III)]
* [http://www.bio.uu.nl/~herba/Guyana/VTGG/Myristicaceae/Virola/index.html Virola -- Dried Herbarium Specimens]
* [http://images.nbii.gov/search_results.php Virola Species Pictures -- USGS]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DEIL "Desmanthus illinoensis" -- USDA]
* [http://www.ayahuasca-info.com/ A General Introduction to Ayahuasca]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=iEVeFOLc_FUC&pg=PA93&lpg=PA93&dq=%22Prestonia+amazonica%22&source=web&ots=WWANl44f-H&sig=7EuWEQsMW3yVHi56Ks0BfjJhf44&hl=en#PPA92,M1 Psychedelic Reader (Google Books)]

References