The major psychoactive plants

The major psychoactive factors include many substances, generally of plant origin. Below is a list of the main synthetic plants that have been used historically and psychoactive compounds extracted from them ends.

1.  Poppy ( Papaver somniferum ) is a herbaceous flowering plant from which opium-bearing seeds are obtained. It contains several active substances with psychoactive properties: morphine (from which heroin is extracted), codeine and others.

2.  Hemp ( Cannabis sativa ), also improperly called marijuana, is a, native to southern Asia shrubby plant, which has psychoactive alkaloids with well defined properties. Hashish is obtained.from cannabis

3.  Peyote ( peyote ) is a cactus whose main active ingredient is mescaine. The peyote grows in arid subtropical areas of North America.

4.  Teonanacatl ( Mexican Psilocybe and Stropharia cubensis ) is formed by several species of psychoactive mushrooms that grow in the mountains of Mesoamerica (Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guatemala). They contain psilocybin and psilocin

5.  Fly agaric ( Amanita muscaria ) is a psychoactive mushroom that grows in the Nordic and temperate mountain forests in Eurasia. It contains muscarine and muscimol.

6. Ayahuasca is an infusion prepared from a vine that grows in the Amazonian region. This vine called  Banisteriopsis caapi contains harmina13   (C 13 H 12 N 2 O), an alkaloid with strong sicoativas properties.

7. Ergot  ( Claviceps purpurea ) is a fungus that parasites rye, wheat and other grasses. It is strongly psychoactive and has significant toxicity that can be removed in its preparation. It is of Eurasian or North African origin. It contains several psychoactive alkaloids including lysergic acid, closely related to LSD-25 (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) the known synthetic psychedelic compound.

8.  Ololiuhqui ( Turbina corymbosa ), also called “seeds of the Virgin” is a vine found in Mexico whose seeds have visionary properties.Like the ergot alkaloids lysergic acid containing, with strongly psychoactive character.

9.  Aguacolla, also called San Pedro or giant ( Trichocereus pachanoi ) is a large-sized cactus (5-8 meters high) that grows in central and northwestern South Andes (Ecuador, Peru) America. Just as the peyote contains mescaline.

10. Coca is a very bushy plant of the Andean foothills in South America whose leaves contain numerous alkaloids, including cocaine.

11. Tobacco is a shrub native American origin grown in most of the native societies. It has several alkaloids, including nicotine.

12 Beleño ( Hyoscyamus niger ) is a herb of the family Solanaceae characteristic of Europe and the Mediterranean region. It contains tropane alkaloids, including hyoscyamine and scopolamine. The latter has visionary properties.

13. Belladonna ( Atropa belladonna ) is a typical European continent herbaceous plant of the family Solanaceae, which contains several tropane alkaloids including hyoscyamine and scopolamine.

14. Mandragora ( Mandragora officinarum ) is a herbaceous plant of European origin that has a thick and irregular root of anthropomorphic appearance. It contains several tropane alkaloids including hyoscyamine, scopolamine, atropine and mandragorina.

15. Iboga ( Tabernanthe iboga ) is a shrub of Central Africa whose roots are used for its visionary properties. It is a species of milkweed family, consisting of shrubs and trees characterized by their simple leaves, colorful flowers and a milky juice. It contains ibogaine and 11 more indole-alkaloids.

16.Syrian rue ( Peganum harmala ) is a small shrub native to the desert areas of the Mediterranean East. It contains beta-carboline alkaloids such as harmine, harmaline and harmine tetrahydro-with visionary properties.

17. Datura ( Datura inoxia ) is a perennial herb that can reach more than 1 m high that grows in Mexico. The root is used, seeds and leaves lesser extent. It contains scopolamine and hyoscyamine.

 There are many other plants rich in alkaloids. Some of them are commonly used in industrial preparations and mass consumption (coffee, tea, chocolate, kola, mate, etc.) (see Chapter 6). Others are known only locally. Surely there are many whose properties are unknown. A complete list would include several thousand species.

From "Peoples, Drugs and Serpents", Danilo Anton, Piriguazu Ediciones

The origin of culture

Danilo Anton

Once humans became omnivorous, they also gradually became. consumers of psychoactive plants. Simultaneously a slow process of evolution changed their physical form, their capacity to manipulate tools and  to create and understand symbols. This allowed humans to generate a distinguishing quality: the development of culture.

Cultures are indeed a essential and variable part of human societies. They appear, they evolve, diverge. 

When the first cultures were generated, they started an unstoppable process of change. Rituals, ceremonies and spiritual approaches to existence were created.

Highly complex communication systems were spoken, designed or written.

And finally, scientific and technological concepts and devices were imagined and built. Because of their origin and evolution in constant contact with psychoactive plants, human primates acquired a natural fascination with altered states of consciousness. 

The deeply generated messages that were activated by the psychoactive plants allowed spiritual growth.

For this reason, understanding human cultures requires taking into account the role of psychoactive plants to develop them.

Without psycoactive plants cultural evolution becomes meaningless.

Perhaps this may explain the unique attraction, sometimes obsession, that us, humans, feel for these powerful plants.

It should not be forgotten, the Plants provide the codes that allow to decipher essential characteristics of the human species.

They are keys to understand ourselves beyond superficial appearances.

From: "Peoples, Drugs and Serpents", Danilo Anton, Piriguazu Ediciones

The major psychoactive plants

The major psychoactive factors include many substances, generally of plant origin. Below is a list of the main synthetic plants that have been used historically and psychoactive compounds extracted from them ends.

1.  Poppy ( Papaver somniferum ) is a herbaceous flowering plant from which opium-bearing seeds are obtained. It contains several active substances with psychoactive properties: morphine (from which heroin is extracted), codeine and others.

2.  Hemp ( Cannabis sativa ), also improperly called marijuana, is a, native to southern Asia shrubby plant, which has psychoactive alkaloids with well defined properties. Hashish is obtained.from cannabis

3.  Peyote ( peyote ) is a cactus whose main active ingredient is mescaine. The peyote grows in arid subtropical areas of North America.

4.  Teonanacatl ( Mexican Psilocybe and Stropharia cubensis ) is formed by several species of psychoactive mushrooms that grow in the mountains of Mesoamerica (Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guatemala). They contain psilocybin and psilocin

5.  Fly agaric ( Amanita muscaria ) is a psychoactive mushroom that grows in the Nordic and temperate mountain forests in Eurasia. It contains muscarine and muscimol.

6. Ayahuasca is an infusion prepared from a vine that grows in the Amazonian region. This vine called  Banisteriopsis caapi contains harmina13   (C 13 H 12 N 2 O), an alkaloid with strong sicoativas properties.

7. Ergot  ( Claviceps purpurea ) is a fungus that parasites rye, wheat and other grasses. It is strongly psychoactive and has significant toxicity that can be removed in its preparation. It is of Eurasian or North African origin. It contains several psychoactive alkaloids including lysergic acid, closely related to LSD-25 (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) the known synthetic psychedelic compound.

8.  Ololiuhqui ( Turbina corymbosa ), also called “seeds of the Virgin” is a vine found in Mexico whose seeds have visionary properties.Like the ergot alkaloids lysergic acid containing, with strongly psychoactive character.

9.  Aguacolla, also called San Pedro or giant ( Trichocereus pachanoi ) is a large-sized cactus (5-8 meters high) that grows in central and northwestern South Andes (Ecuador, Peru) America. Just as the peyote contains mescaline.

10. Coca is a very bushy plant of the Andean foothills in South America whose leaves contain numerous alkaloids, including cocaine.

11. Tobacco is a shrub native American origin grown in most of the native societies. It has several alkaloids, including nicotine.

12 Beleño ( Hyoscyamus niger ) is a herb of the family Solanaceae characteristic of Europe and the Mediterranean region. It contains tropane alkaloids, including hyoscyamine and scopolamine. The latter has visionary properties.

13. Belladonna ( Atropa belladonna ) is a typical European continent herbaceous plant of the family Solanaceae, which contains several tropane alkaloids including hyoscyamine and scopolamine.

14. Mandragora ( Mandragora officinarum ) is a herbaceous plant of European origin that has a thick and irregular root of anthropomorphic appearance. It contains several tropane alkaloids including hyoscyamine, scopolamine, atropine and mandragorina.

15. Iboga ( Tabernanthe iboga ) is a shrub of Central Africa whose roots are used for its visionary properties. It is a species of milkweed family, consisting of shrubs and trees characterized by their simple leaves, colorful flowers and a milky juice. It contains ibogaine and 11 more indole-alkaloids.

16.Syrian rue ( Peganum harmala ) is a small shrub native to the desert areas of the Mediterranean East. It contains beta-carboline alkaloids such as harmine, harmaline and harmine tetrahydro-with visionary properties.

17. Datura ( Datura inoxia ) is a perennial herb that can reach more than 1m high that grows in Mexico. The root is used, seeds and leaves lesser extent. It contains scopolamine and hyoscyamine.

 There are many other plants rich in alkaloids. Some of them are commonly used in industrial preparations and mass consumption (coffee, tea, chocolate, kola, mate, etc.) (see Chapter 6). Others are known only locally. Surely there are many whose properties are unknown. A complete list would include several thousand species.

From: Peoples, Drugs and Serpents, Danilo Anton, Piriguazú Ediciones

The tobacco plant: vindicating its historical native American roots

D.Anton

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum and related species) is a native plant of America (probably originated in the Andean tropical zone), which since the colonization of the continent, has become one of the most widespread crops of the world.

In most Native American cultures the tobacco plant was considered a medicine. It is employed as a healing, ceremonial and visionary substance. It was (is) aspired, chewed, eaten, drank in infuss}uibs, smeared on the body, used as eyedrops and for the application of enemas. It was blown on the face of warriors before battle, was spread on fields before planting, was offered to the Gods, was poured on women before intercourse, and both men and women used it as a narcotic. Charrúas and minuanes of Uruguay smoked tobacco before making important decisions. Among the Guarani M'bya, during ceremonies and meetings, the women throw tobacco smoke on their husbands and children to give them strength. The native peoples of North America use it to ritually enforce their agreements by smoking in pipes and to communicate with their ancestors.

The properties of the various varieties of wild and traditional tobacco plants are multiple and partially known. It is known that tobacco is smoked by the shamans to find answers allowing them to heal the sick or make important decisions in some native communities. The Charruas of Uruguay smoked tobacco before going into battle. Among the Guarani M'bya, during ceremonies and meetings, women throw tobacco smoke on their husbands and children to give them strength.

Amazonian peoples, as well as smoking it and using the leaves for medicinal purposes, swallowed whole or crushed leaves in order to obtain visionary experiences. In this regard, their role is very similar to the psychoactive effect of ayahuasca, There is general agreement among the native shamans that tobacco is the "little sister" of ayahuasca.

The medicinal use of tobacco did not spread in the same way as its recreational use

It was adopted by the Europeans colonists , who quickly became fervent addicts. The custom spread to the European continent and from there to the rest of the world.

It became an industrial product of widespread consumption. Some varieties were specially selected, mainly because their low nicotine varieties (which increases their addictivity),

The sad paradox is that one of the main medicinal plants of Native America became a health problem for million of people throughtout the world. 

Reproduced from "Peoples, Drugs and Serpents", Danilo Anton, Piriguazú Ediciones.

Are drugs an essential part of human diet?

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

“Diets are privileged spaces
to work on ourselves “ 1

No culture on earth has been so deeply alienated from the natural surroundings as the industrial-consumerist contemporary world.
Despite the growing crisis, and the irreconcilable contradictions between the strategies and resources, advance continues toward catastrophe with complete indifference.
We must recognize the depth of our historical dilemma as a species.

If we allow the authorities of political, economic and pseudoscience deciding where to continue or not legitimately focusing human curiosity, we will continue to frustrate our potential possibilities.
Authoritarian restrictions and tutorials to the imagination are degrading and grotesque.
Governments interfere in the diet, intrude into what things people can eat and which ones are forbidden.
They restrict research on psychoactive substances, which could provide valuable psychological and medical approaches, preventing also their religious and spiritual use.
They are suppressing religious sensibility, the spiritual links that are based on the relationship between plants and humans that existed long before the advent of  “history”.
It is time to have an honest reappraisal of the true costs and benefits of using such plants against the costs and benefits of non-use.
 The global culture is in danger of succumbing to an effort to exclude the problem of their own lack of awareness through a military and police arbitrary and cruel terrorism against users and producers of certain substances that have been classified as “drugs”.
This attitude is based on misinformation and historical ignorance.
Deeply rooted prejudices explain why industrial and consumer mind suddenly gets anxious and repressive against “drugs” .
Changes in consciousness that induce strong substances irrevocably reveal that mental life of human beings have physical bases. In that sense, psychoactive drugs face the principle of inviolability and special status of the soul which has been imposed by the “Christian” ideology and similar religious paradigms for over two millennia.
Sacred plants and their psychosocial effects are also facing the modern idea of ​​the ego, its inviolability and control structures.

The ego is terrified to see dissolved its borders with the world. This explains the suppression of the feminine, which is our carnal bond with nature and the distant past, the deep prejudice that prevents us from assessing correctly the strange, exotic, and irrational terror of transcendental experiences.
In short, encounters with psychoactive plants put into question all the paradigmatic vision of the society of domination.
For that reason, they cannot be allowed.
They must be eliminated, stigmatized.
They symbolize the worst subversion, the subversion produced by the truth and knowledge when they light up inside the consciousness.
They have to imprison all who dare to defy the base of the system.
Global culture, self-intoxicated by poisonous byproducts of technology is the unhappy heiress of a very old persecutory attitude.
The belief ot elites that altering consciousness through plants is somehow wrong, and perversely antisocial.

In short, the suppression of shamanic knowledge, with its insistence on ecstatic dissolution of the ego, is robbing us of the meaning of life and is making us enemies of the planet, of ourselves and of our descendants.
The rulers, the witch hunters are killing the matriarchal wisdom, and in it, the final truth that defines us: our essential condition of natural beings.
It is time for change.
 1 Ref. Rosa Giove, “Discovering the squaring of the circle, ikono from A ‘; Takiwasi Magazine Year 3 No. 5, September 1997.
From: "Peoples, Drugs and Serpents", Danilo Anton, Piriguazu Ediciones.

The main psychoactive plants

Danilo Anton

The major psychoactive factors include many substances, generally of plant origin. Below is a list of the main synthetic plants that have been used historically and psychoactive compounds extracted from plants:

1.  Poppy ( Papaver somniferum ) is a herbaceous flowering plant from which opium-bearing seeds are obtained. It contains several active substances with psychoactive properties: morphine (from which heroin is extracted), codeine and others.

2. Hemp ( Cannabis sativa ), also improperly called marijuana, is a, native to southern Asia shrubby plant, which has psychoactive alkaloids with well defined properties. From cannabis hashish is obtained.

3. Peyote ( peyote ) is a cactus whose main active ingredient is mescaline. The peyote grows in arid subtropical areas of North America.

4.  Teoonanacatl ( Mexican Psilocybe and Stropharia cubensis ) is formed by several species of psychoactive mushrooms that grow in the mountains of Mesoamerica (Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guatemala). They contain psilocybin and psilocin

5.  Fly agaric ( Amanita muscaria ) is a psychoactive mushroom that grows in the Nordic and temperate mountain forests in Eurasia. It contains muscarine and muscimol.

6. Ayahuasca is an infusion prepared from a vine that grows in the Amazonian region. This vine called  Banisteriopsis caapi contains harmina¹³   (C ₁₃ H ₁₂ N ₂ O), an alkaloid with strong sicoativas properties.

7. Ergot  ( Claviceps purpurea ) is a fungus that parasites rye, wheat and other grasses. It is strongly psychoactive and has significant toxicity that can be removed in its preparation. It is of Eurasian or North African origin. It contains several psychoactive alkaloids including lysergic acid, closely related to LSD-25 (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) the known synthetic psychedelic compound.

8. Ololiuhqui ( Turbina corymbosa ), also called "seeds of the Virgin" is a vine found in Mexico whose seeds have visionary properties.Like the ergot alkaloids lysergic acid containing, with strongly psychoactive character.

9. Aguacolla, also called San Pedro or giant ( Trichocereus pachanoi ) is a large-sized cactus (5-8 meters high) that grows in central and northwestern South Andes (Ecuador, Peru) America. Just as the peyote contains mescaline.

10. Coca is a very bushy plant of the Andean foothills in South America whose leaves contain numerous alkaloids, including cocaine.

11. Tobacco is a shrub native American origin grown in most of the native societies. It has several alkaloids, including nicotine.

12.  Beleño ( Hyoscyamus niger ) is a herb of the family Solanaceae characteristic of Europe and the Mediterranean region. It contains tropane alkaloids, including hyoscyamine and scopolamine. The latter has visionary properties.

13. Belladonna ( Atropa belladonna ) is a typical European continent herbaceous plant of the family Solanaceae, which contains several tropane alkaloids including hyoscyamine and scopolamine.

14. Mandragora ( Mandragora officinarum ) is a herbaceous plant of European origin that has a thick and irregular root of anthropomorphic appearance. It contains several tropane alkaloids including hyoscyamine, scopolamine, atropine and mandragorina.

15. Iboga ( Tabernanthe iboga ) is a shrub of Central Africa whose roots are used for its visionary properties. It is a species of milkweed family, consisting of shrubs and trees characterized by their simple leaves, colorful flowers and a milky juice. It contains ibogaine and 11 more indole-alkaloids.

16. Syrian rue ( Peganum harmala ) is a small shrub native to the desert areas of the Mediterranean East. It contains beta-carboline alkaloids such as harmine, harmaline and harmine tetrahydro-with visionary properties.

17. Datura ( Datura inoxia ) is a perennial herb that can reach more than 1 m high that grows in Mexico. The root is used, seeds and leaves lesser extent. It contains scopolamine and hyoscyamine.

 There are many other plants rich in alkaloids. Some of them are commonly used in industrial preparations and mass consumption (coffee, tea, chocolate, kola, mate, etc.) (see Chapter 6). Others are known only locally. Surely there are many whose properties are unknown. A complete list would include several thousand species.

From: "Peoples, Drugs and Serpents", Danilo Anton, Piriguazú Ediciones

Blog in Spanish: daniloanton.blogspot.com

Teonanacatl, the sacred mushrooms of Mexico

 Danilo Anton

The sacred mushrooms of Mesoamerica or teonanacatl are a set of psychoactive species mainly from the genus Psilocybe, but also from Conopcybe, Panaeolus and Stropharia.

They grow in most of Mesoamerica, and more especially in the territories of the states of Oaxaca, Campeche, Chiapas and Tabasco in Mexico and Guatemala.

The most commonly   species is Psilocybe caerulescens with a height that rarely exceeds 10 cm. Their shape is bell shaped, about 0.5- 3 cm in diameter and straw-colored, sometimes slightly greenish and even reddish brown. Psilocybe caerulescens grows given in altitudes of about 1400-1600 meters, mainly in limestone regions, under forest, in wet meadows and among mosses.They are highly psychoactive.

There are several species of the same genus with similar properties: Psilocybe mexicana , Psilocybe semperviva , Psylocybe yungensis , Silocybe wassonii and Psilocybe hoogshagenii.

Other species of psychoactive mushrooms consumed  by traditional Mesoamerican societies are Panaeolus sphinctrinus, reaching 10 cm in height, growing on cow dung, Stropharia cubensis (called "Sanisidro", about 4 to 15 cm tall, tan, and also grows in manure), and Conocybe siligineoides (reddish brown, about 8 cm in height growing on rotten wood).

The effect of these fungi is mainly due to the presence of a psychoactive alkaloid psilocybin. Many possess also psilocin, a compound which can enhance the effect of the first.

Mazatec and other peoples in neighboring regions coasumed it for a long time to get  visions and wisdom to heal the sick, or to make decisions about life.

Historical Reference

References to the Spanish chroniclers teonanacatl are very partial and therefore they can not be taken at face value. Rather, we must use the knowledge on the current use of the fungus. and use a little common sense to rebuild the role that these drugs had in Native American populations.

Sahagun says that "Indians" were eating them in a black fungus called nanacatl , that got ​​them drunk and hallucinating. They were ingested with honey to obtain visions of various kinds (usually disastrous), they began to dance or sing or mourn, or simply remain thoughtful. 

Francisco Hernandez in his Historia Plantarum Novae Hispaniae describes the habit of eating mushrooms as follows:

"Others are eaten when they do not cause death but cause sometimes.... a kind of irresistible hilarity. They are commonly called Teyhuinti. They are tawny color and bitter taste and they have a certain freshness that is not unpleasant. Others, without provoking laughter, generate visions of all kinds .... . "

 Motolinía, meanwhile, gave his own version:

" otherwise they got a kind un drunkness that made ​​more cruel: it was with some small mushrooms, which in this earth they look as in Castile; more so that in this land are of such quality, because when they are eaten raw they are bitter, they eat them with a little honey; aftere what they see thousand visions, especially serpents ... They are called teunanacatl which in their language means  flesh of God or the Devil. They worship them and that way with that bitter delicacy their cruel God.commuted them."   

 Today teonanacatl is still widely consumed in native cultures of Oaxaca, Chiapas and other Mexican states and Guatemala, and even there are people from North America and Europe who come to have the "teonanacatl experience".
Continue in next postings.
From the book "Peoples, Drugs and Serpents", Danilo Anton, Piriguazu Ediciones.

daniloanton-en.blogspot.com 

Tobacco, Medicine or Vice?

Danilo Anton

 Tobacco was considered medicine in most Native American cultures. It was used it for healing and ceremonial purposes.

The properties of the various varieties of wild and traditional tobacco plants s are little known. We know that tobbaco is smoked by the shaman to receive answers that allow to heal the sick or decide the best ways for communities. The Charruas of Uruguay smoked tobacco before taking important decisions. Among the Guarani M'bya, during ceremonies and meetings, women blow tobacco smoke to their husbands and children to give them strength.

Amazonian peoples also smoke tobacco and use the leavess for medicinal purposes. They ingest the leaves whole or grounded, in order to obtain visionary experiences. 

In that sense, its role is very similar to ayahuasca, it has a psychoactive effect although less intense. There is general agreement among the native shamans that tobacco is the "little sister" of ayahuasca.

The medicinal use of tobacco did not spread in the same way as their recreational use.  Ritual use has been gradually abandoned.

At the same time tobacco smoking spread to Europe first, and then to the rest of the world.

In recent decades, driven by cigarette industrial companies, low nicotine tobacco consumption has increased. This augmented its need and led into addictive behavior.

Global cultivation of tobacco

Tobacco is one of the most widespread global society crops. It reaches million tons kilograms and the amount of money circulating in tobacco trade exceeds those of any other agro-industrial sector. 

While tobacco it can be used in various ways, today virtually all consumption is based on smoking it, especially in the form of cigarettes, made with crushed leaves industrially prepared using special paper, usually presented in small boxes of cardboard with full color printed trademarks.

It is consumed also, although to a much lesser extent, as grounded tobacco (industrially made or "scratched" by hand from solid masses of tobacco or "naco"). This last one is smoked in pipes and cigarettes prepared manually. The leaves can be rolled up and smoked in a "cigar" or "tuscan".

Tobacco diffusion is due to the addictive nature of industrial cigarettes specially modified for maximum addiction.

Normally wild tobacco is much less addictive.

Economic and cultural globalization of tobacco

The processes of globalization in production and trade that ensued after the Second World War, further increased the economic role of industrial tobacco whose production has exceeded 50 million tons annually. Because of its high value per unit of weight this product became one of the leading agro-industrial selling items.

During this period, industrialized tobacco spread to almost all cultures and social layers of the planet.

Today there are about 1,000 million addicts, and probably more than 50 million deaths per year can be linked to harmful effects caused by artificial tobacco especially "designed" to cause addiction.

In recent years, due to the severity of the problem, social movements have emerged to combat the use of tobacco. 

It has been banned or its advertising limited, industrial processing companies have been cornered by numerous legal actions (especially in the US), and in some cases, had to pay large sums to compensate the victims of its consumption. 

While many major European and US fortunes of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries were built on the money generated by the production and trade of tobacco, in recent years the "business" is gradually losing its lucrative nature. 

Tobacco companies are "diversifying" their industrial and commercial branches, and gradually the industry has begun a slow decline of their "participation" in world trade. But still, presently many people, perhaps millions of are dying annually affected by toxic products added to cigarettes.

Unfortunately as a result of this widespread alienation, it has been lost sight of the true benefactor nature of tobacco, which has been for so long such an important medicinal plant in the world. It could be again in the future if society relearns the respect for the old plant.

From "Peoples,Drugs and Serpents", Danilo Anton, Piriguazu Ediciones