sobota, 24 listopada 2007

Heimia Salicifolia: how to open the sun :>

This plant was called "Sinicuiche" [or sinicuichi] by the Aztecs and is still used by Mexican shamans as a trance-divination catalyst. (Jim DeKorne, PSYCHEDELIC SHAMANISM)

Lythraceae (Loosestrife). Heimia salicifolia grows to 10 feet and has small yellow flowers. (Erowid Herb Vaults)

Heimia salicifolia is still used by some Mexican shamans as a tool for divination. (Horizon Herbs)

Heimia salicifolia is native to most of the tropical regions throughout the Western Hemisphere, specifically Texas, Mexico, El Salvador, and all areas between Colombia and Argentina - most commonly found in ditches and other wet soils.

Heimia salicifolia is a bush with numerous small dark green leaves, and often dozens of tiny bright yellow flowers. It can grow to well over 4 feet in height, with just as large a circumference

Five quinolizidine alkaloids have been found in Heimia salicifolia. The major psychoactive alkaloid appears to be cryogenine

Traditionally, the leaves are removed and allowed to wilt a bit, crushed and combined with cold water, then placed in the sun for a day to make a tea. The following procedure for dried foliage is consistent, and repeated endlessly wherever one finds information about Heimia.

If fresh material is not available, dried herb may be steeped in hot water and allowed to sit in the sun for 1 day before drinking. Ten grams dried herb or equivalent of fresh leaves suggested as starting dose.

Take 10 g. of dried leaves, mix with hot water and put in the sun for one day, then drink the mixture.

"I decided to make up a tea from 10g. of the leaves. I poured about 3 cupfuls of boiling water over the dried leaves and let them sit for a while. Deciding this was going to be too much to drink I heated the mixture and boiled off perhaps a cup of the mixture. I left it for about an hour. I poured the mixture minus the leaves into two cups.�


"I always picked fresh leaf by pruning off the top 6" of a bunch of plants grown close together hedge like. I picked the leaves off the stem, allowed them to wilt for about 1/2 hour, then would put em in a blender with a small amount of water. Then I'd put the whole concoction in a closed mason jar and set it outside where it would catch the sun. I'd leave it out for approx. 24 hr. Then I would strain it, squeeze the last of the juice out and drink. I never weighed it, the most I ever tried was a half of a cereal bowl full of fresh leaves."

Given the tested and proven euphoric, relaxant and anti-inflammatory properties of Sinicuichi, the following excerpts are reliable. General relaxation, acoustic hallucinations, improvement of memory performance. The tea is inebriant, euphoriant, hallucinogenic.

I have been unable to confirm within the scientific literature the above suggestions that the actives of Sinicuichi inhibit acetylcholine and enhance epinephrine. The blocking of acetylcholine has been found with the ingestion of scopolamine and atropine, where the actions of these alkaloids (scopolamine and atropine) cause a heating of the body, an inability to sweat or spit, and dilation of blood vessels within the skin. These side-effects have not been noted with Sinicuichi. As well, enhancement of epinephrine does not cause relaxation or slowing of the heartbeat. (THE SECOND BRAIN; by Michael D. Gershon, M.D.) Additionally, the increased availability of acetylcholine has been found to enhance memory funtion. So, once again, it seems that the Legal Highs FAQ is only partially correct.

Rated slightly dangerous, particularly for children, people over 55 and those who take larger-than-appropriate quantities for extended periods of time

Heimia salicifolia is 100% legal in the United States, and as far as I can tell, throughout the entire world. (Erowid Herb Vaults) Thus, feel free to grow, harvest, extract, consume, etc�

niedziela, 18 listopada 2007

Harmel: ugly and preety

Harmal (Peganum harmala) is a plant of the family Nitrariaceae, native from the eastern Mediterranen region east to India. It is also sometimes known as Syrian Rue, a confusing name as it is not related to rue (Ruta, family Rutaceae).
In the U.S. Peganum harmala grows as an invasive exotic in Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

It has been used as an entheogen in the Middle East, and in modern Western culture, it is often used as an analogue of Banisteriopsis caapi to create an ad-hoc Ayahuasca, the notorious South American mixture of phyto-indoles including DMT with β-carbolines. Syrian Rue however has distinct aspects from caapi and a unique entheogenic signature. In Turkey dried capsules from this plant are strung and hung in homes or vehicles to protect against "the evil eye". In Iran, dried capsules (known in Persian as اسپند espænd or اسفنددانه esfænd-dāneh) - mixed with other ingredients - are burnt so as to produce a light, distinctly scented smoke or incense. It is used as an air as well as mind purifier - perhaps linked to its entheogenic properties - and mostly as a charm against "the evil eye". This Persian practice dates to pre-Islamic, Zoroastian times.
Peganum harmala is also an abortifacient.

sobota, 17 listopada 2007

Nicotiana rustica: harder version of tobaco ;]

Nicotiana rustica, known in South America as Mapacho, is a very potent variety of tobbaco The high concentration of nicotine in its leaves makes it useful for creating organic pesticides. Rustica is also used for enthogenic purposes by South American shamans. Growing in the rainforest it contains up to twenty times more nicotine than common North America varieties such as N. tabacum. Most commonly, it is allowed to soak in water, and the water is then insufflated; it is also smoked in cigars and used as an enema. It is also a common admixture of a Ayahuasca in some parts of the rainforest.

niedziela, 11 listopada 2007

Sceletium tortuosum: African chill out : )

Sceletium tortuosum is a succulent herb commonly found in South Africa, which is also known as Kanna, Channa, Kougoed (Kauwgoed) - which literally means, 'chew(able) things/goodies' or 'something to chew'. The plant has been used by South African pastoralists and hunter-gatherers as a mood-altering substance from prehistoric times. The first known written account of the plant's use was in 1662 by van Riebeeck. The traditionally prepared dried sceletium was often chewed and the saliva swallowed, but it has also been made into gel caps, teas and tinctures. It has also been used as a snuff and smoked. Sceletium is known to elevate mood and decrease anxiety, stress and tension. It has also been used as an by shepherds walking long distances in arid areas. In intoxicating doses it can cause euphoria, initially with stimulation and later with sedation. Users also report increased personal insight, interpersonal ease and a meditative, grounded feeling without any perceptual dulling. Others have noted enhanced tactile and sexual response. High doses produce distinct inebriation and stimulation often followed by sedation. The plant is not considered hallucinogenic, contrary to some literature on the subject, and no severe adverse effects have been documented. Little is known about the interactions of S. tortuosum, although it should not be combined with SSRIs, MAOIs, cardiac or psychiatric medications. Headaches in conjunction with alcohol have been noted with kanna use. Some reports suggest a synergy with cannabis.

sobota, 10 listopada 2007

Salvia Divinorum: trip around imagination

A few weeks ago I saw a news item on TV about what was called a "legal hallucinogen" that was freely available to anyone, including your children. It can be grown in a garden, is a member of the mint/basil family and is sure to be featured on a neighborhood corner near you sooner or later.

The facts about this hallucinogenic are presented here to keep you forewarned and up to date on the truth about a drug that will be offered to your children at some point in the future ... that could be tomorrow, next month, next year. Using Google, or any other search engine, you will find 20 or more pages of sites offering Salvia Divinorum information or products for sale.

Salvia Divinorum is touted all over the Internet as a visionary herb and not a recreational drug. It is supposedly used for meditation and self-reflection. It has been called "legal pot" and "legal acid." The people and groups touting the use of this plant put a lot of emphasis on spiritual experiences, divination (predicting the future) and magical time travel experiences.

What young person just experiencing the world wouldn't be attracted by those touted experiences? Time Travel? Damn, it interests me and I am so far from being a naïve child that I barely remember that time in my life. How do you think your child would perceive the anticipated experience of time travel?

The plant is native to the Sierra Mazateca, Mexico, and is called Diviner's Sage or Divine Mint. Salvia Divinorum is one member of the approximately 1000 species of Salvia and is the only species with vision-inducing, hallucinogenic qualities. The Mazateca Indians, from the Mexican province of Oaxaca, have used it in religious ceremonies leading to healings and divine inspiration for hundreds of years.

It is commonly smoked...using a bong or water pipe...or chewed by using 10 or more large, fresh leaves that have been rolled in a ball or dried leaves that have been re-hydrated by soaking in water.

There's numerous Internet sites that will sell Salvia joints, dried leaves and vials of extract in various strengths to anyone. Free instruction on how to get the most intense or best experience from the self-induced high can be easily found on many websites. You can be sure that your kids will have their heads stuffed full of the mythical "legality" of using Salvia Divinorum, from either these websites or their friends.

The use of Salvia impairs coordination; therefore, driving under its influence could be fatal! This drug alters perception and behavior, immersing users in a dream-like state of awareness. This drug-induced state will sometimes imitate sleepwalking, which could be very dangerous to young users.

Only four states (at the time of this writing) in the United States either forbid or restrict the use of Salvia Divinorum: Delaware, Louisiana, Missouri and Tennessee. The following countries have laws either forbidding or restricting use of this drug: Australia, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Estonia and South Korea.