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.
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