This is a list of entheogens – which, according to Wikipedia are: in the strictest sense, psychoactive substances used in a religious or shamanic context. Plants and herbs have been used for many centuries in religious contexts due to their mind altering nature. In recent times many have been taken up by the “casual drug user” as a cheap alternative to chemical based drugs.
If you have had any experiences with the following plants, be sure to tell us about it in the comments – we are always interested in hearing about our readers experiences in areas like this. So, onward, the list:
Active Constituents: Ergoline alkaloids
This is a species of morning glory native to the New World tropics, and widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.
The seeds have been used for centuries by many Mexican Native American cultures as an hallucinogen; they were known to the Aztecs as ‘tlitliltzin’, the Nahuatl word for “black”. Their traditional use by Mexican Native Americans was first discovered in 1941, brought to light in a report documenting use going back to Aztec times. It was reported in 1960 that the seeds of Ipomoea tricolor were used as sacraments by certain Zapotecs, sometimes in conjunction with the seeds of Rivea corymbosa, another species which has a similar chemical composition. Hallucinations are the predominant effect after ingesting morning glory seeds. Vivid visual and tactile hallucinations, as well as increased awareness of colors have been described.
Active Constituents: Ibotenic acid
The quintessential image of an hallucinogenic ‘toadstool’, with it’s red cap and white spots. This fungus is native to birch, pine, spruce, fir and cedar woodlands throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere. These mushrooms were widely used as a hallucinogenic drug by many of the indigenous peoples of Siberia. In western Siberia, the use of A. muscaria was restricted to shamans, who used it as an alternate method of achieving a trance state. In the east, A. muscaria was used by both shamans and common people alike, recreationally as well as religiously. Unlike the hallucinogenic mushrooms of the Psilocybe, Amanita muscaria has been rarely consumed recreationally in modern times. Depending on habitat and the amount ingested per body weight, effects can range from nausea and twitching to drowsiness, auditory and visual distortions, mood changes, euphoria, relaxation, and loss of equilibrium. Amnesia frequently results following recovery.
Active Constituents: Atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine
Native to either India or Central America, it was used as a mystical sacrament in both possible places of origin. The Native Americans have used this plant in sacred ceremonies. The sadhus of Hinduism also used it as a spiritual tool, smoked with cannabis in traditional pipes.
In the United States it is called Jimson Weed, Hell’s Bells (based on the flowers’ shape) or Jamestown Weed. It got this name from the town of Jamestown, Virginia, where British soldiers were secretly (or accidentally) drugged with it, while attempting to suppress Bacon’s Rebellion. They spent several days generally appearing to have gone insane, and failed at their mission. The effects have been described as a living dream: consciousness falls in and out, people who don’t exist or are miles away are conversed with, etc, and the effects can last for days. It may be described as a “real” trance when a user under the effect can be awake but completely disconnected from his immediate environment.
Active Constituents: Thujone
Native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia and northern Africa, the religious association with this plant began with its strong association with the Ancient Greek moon goddess Artemis. In Hellenistic culture, Artemis was a goddess of the hunt, and protector of the forest and children. It is perhaps more famously known as the key ingredient in Absinthe, the favorite drink of 19th Century Bohemian artists. The most commonly reported Absinthe experience is a ‘clear-headed’ feeling of inebriation — a form of ‘lucid drunkenness’.
Active Constituents: Kavalactones
An ancient crop of the western Pacific. The word ‘kava’ is used to refer both to the plant and the beverage produced from it. Kava is used for medicinal, religious, political, cultural and social purposes throughout the Pacific. These cultures have a great respect for the plant and place a high importance on it. The drink is used to this day at social gatherings to relax after work, though it has great religious significance, and is used to obtain inspiration. The effects of the drink (it is also occasionally chewed), in order of appearance, are slight tongue and lip numbing; mildly talkative and sociable behavior, clear thinking, calming effects, relaxed muscles, and a very euphoric sense of well-being.
Active Constituents: Diterpenoid known as “Salvinorin A”
Salvia divinorum is native to certain areas in the Sierra Mazateca of Oaxaca, Mexico, where it is still used by the Mazatec Indians, primarily to facilitate shamanic visions in the context of curing or divination. Shamans crush the leaves to extract leaf juices; they usually mix these juices with water to create an infusion or ‘tea’ which they drink to induce visions in ritual healing ceremonies.
Salvia can be chewed, smoked, or taken as a tincture to produce experiences ranging from uncontrollable laughter to much more intense and profoundly altered states. The duration when smoked is much shorter than for some other more well-known psychedelics, and Salvia typically last for only a few minutes. The most commonly reported after-effects include an increased feeling of insight and improved mood, and a sense of calmness and increased sense of connection with nature.
Active Constituents: Psilocybin and psilocin
Psilocybin mushrooms have been part of human culture as far back as the earliest recorded history. Ancient paintings of ‘mushroomed’ humanoids dating to 5,000 B.C. have been found in caves of Northern Algeria. Central and Southern America cultures built temples to mushroom gods and carved “mushroom stones”, dated to as early as 1000-500 B.C. Psilocybian mushrooms were used in ritual and ceremony among the Aztecs, served with honey or chocolate at some of their holiest events. The experience of ingestion is typically inwardly oriented, with strong visual and auditory components. Visions and revelations may be experienced, and the effect can range from exhilarating to distressing.
Active Constituents: Phenethylamine alkaloids, principally Mescaline
From early records (specimens from Texas have dated from 3780 to 3660 BC), peyote has been used by indigenous peoples, such as the Huichol of northern Mexico and by various Native American tribal groups, native to or relocated to the Southern Plains States of Oklahoma and Texas. Peyote and its associated religion, however, are fairly recent in terms of usage and practice among tribes in the Southwestern United States; Their acquisition of the peyote religion and use of peyote can be firmly dated to the early 20th Century. Typically consumed as a tea, the effects last about 10 to 12 hours. When combined with appropriate setting, peyote is reported to trigger states of deep introspection and insight, described as being of a metaphysical or spiritual nature. At times, these can be accompanied by rich visual or auditory effects.
Active Constituents: Beta-carboline harmala alkaloids, MAOIs and DMT (dimethyltryptamine)
Includes BOTH Ayahuasca Vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) & Chacruna Shrub (Psychotria viridis). The word “Ayahuasca”, translated to “vine of the souls”, refers to a medicinal and spiritual drink incorporating the above plants. When brewed together, and consumed in a ceremonial setting, these plants are capable of producing profound mental, physical and spiritual effects. Ayahuasca is mentioned in the writings of some of the earliest missionaries to South America. It may be considered as a particular shamanic medicinal brew, or even as an entire medicinal tradition specific to the Amazonas. The effects of the drink vary greatly based on the potency of the batch, and the setting of the ritual. They generally include hallucinogenic visions, the exact nature of which seem unique to each user. Vomiting can be an immediate side-effect, and is said to aid in “purification”.
Active Constituents: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
The cannabis plant has an ancient history of ritual usage as a trance-inducing drug and is found in pharmacological cults around the world. In India, it has been engaged by itinerant sadhus (ascetics) for centuries, and in modern times the Rastafari movement has embraced it. Some historians and etymologists have claimed that cannabis was used as a religious sacrament by ancient Jews, early Christians, and Muslims of the Sufi order. Elders of the modern religious movement known as the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church consider cannabis to be the Eucharist, claiming it as an oral tradition from Ethiopia dating back to the time of Christ. Cannabis plants produce a group of chemicals called cannabinoids which produce mental and physical effects when consumed. As a drug it usually comes in the form of dried buds or flowers (marijuana), resin (hashish), or various extracts collectively known as hashish oil. The psychoactive effects of cannabis, are subjective and can vary based on the individual. Some effects may include a general change in consciousness (altered perception), mild euphoria, feelings of well-being, relaxation or stress reduction, lethargy, joviality, enhanced recollection of episodic memory, increased sensuality, increased awareness of sensation, and occasionally paranoia, agitation or anxiety.
Contributor: B.C.
In my day I’ve tried a number of these….but the list doesn’t mention the dangers of most of them. there are two mushrooms listed, but a gazillion varities..so don’t go out in the woods to pick some to ingest. You may never wake up again. Also, anything derived from datura or brugmansia can be fatal, it’s more commonly know as a poison (Plants in the Nightshade Family). Kava was a wonderful experience, but is very toxic to the liver (agreeing with MOM 242 to the poster who said “just say no” I also agree that alcohol shoud be at the top of the list of things not to be abused). Having tripped organically and chemically, I would say organic is the way to go, but there can be huge danger in going out in the woods and harvesting yourself.
Nowadays I stick to ***** sativa. I rarely drink alcohol, and did most of my experimentation back in the 70′s, organic or otherwise, but ***** is my calm in the storm. I’ll be 80 and sitting on my front porch , take a few hits, exhale, and live happily ’til the end.
jono: “It’s chewed and after you’ve had it, you feel a very different person.”
are they aware that you are feeling on them?
so…for all the users that have posted, knowing that it is possible to have seriously injurious side-effects, possibly (but not probably) fatal and in just about every instance it may lead you to do something terribly stupid, is it worth the risk? or do you just choose to not think about that?
my guess is the latter. i doubt any of you would willingly lose your job or home in order to take a hit.
obviously, this isn’t the conclusion most of the time. you have to admit that it is in the realm of possibility given that so many on here have posted stories about bad trips or what happened to their friends.
in junior high i tried to get drunk and high and was not successful. i got bored with the effort and i haven’t tried since.
Wow, all you people here know A LOT about drugs…
I guess “Winners don’t do drugs” never really caught on over the years, huh…
Disc: There are certain drugs with a higher risk for unintentional side-effects. Several of the above listed substances are actually relatively safe used recreationally, provided you do them with 1) the right mindset (you have to be calm, collected, and ready to have a good time – just like preparing for a good scary movie), 2) the right atmosphere (somewhere familiar, relaxed, and comfortable), and 3) you do them with the right people. It’s irresponsible to use psychoactive drugs alone, without someone there to keep an eye on you. However, provided that you have done your research about what substances are poisonous and how powerful your prefered substance is, I see no reason for someone not to try them at least once, barring personal moral conflicts and, of course, the conditions above. Of course, people react differently to certain substances, but most people that I’ve known that have taken the substances listed above have had previous experience with psychoactive drugs and, for the most part, already know how their bodies react and adjust the dosage accordingly.
You’re comment about losing one’s job and home is a bit reactionary and is a slippery slope. You’re basically listing what could happen, worst case scenario, if the drugs are used irresonsibly. Used responsibly, the chances of what you say could happen are infintesimal.
Further, how can justify saying that “in just about every instance” it leads you to do something incredibly stupid? I’ve experimented over a dozen times with LSD, maybe twice that with mushrooms, salvia 3 times, and ***** more times than I could begin to count. I have never done anything terribly stupid on the level you’re talking about in all those years. Neither have most of my friends, and the few that did were using them irresponsibly, and/or failing to meet one or both of the conditions listed above.
Of course there is the realm of possibilty for potential disaster. I would say, from my experience, there is a greater possibility for you to hit and kill a pedestrian on your way to work tomorrow, if you are as equally irresposible about your driving as those jaded users are about their substance use. Is the possibilty that you could kill someone tomorrow enough to keep you from driving to work? I would guess not. But see how much more damning it is when I phrase it that way?
The fact of the matter is, many people have experimented with – and benefitted from – psychoactive drugs. They open up a whole new perspective on the world and allow you to step outside of yourself for a small period of time. It’s a visceral, revelatory experience, and you see all kinds of beauty in the world that you didn’t realize was there before. I know that sounds like some liberal, hippy-dippy bull*****, but they don’t call them conciousness-expanding drugs for nothing. After the experience, you never see things quite the same way you did before. It’s a sublime and spiritually enriching experience, for me at least. I would never encourage someone to experiment with psychoactive drugs, but if they are already curious about it, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell them the good they have done for me, if used in a responsible, adult manner.
I notice you have a habit of calling up the worst possible scenario for any given situation and then asking the rest of us if it is worth it. You must have a pretty guarded life.
If one wants to expand their Consciousness, there are other ways to do so: Travel, education, listverse.
islanderbst: Travel, education, listverse, and psychoactive drugs, yes. However, only the psychoactive drugs provide the full sensory immersion. It’s a physical experience as much as a mental and spiritual one. And there really is no substitute for that particular experience. It’s not for everyone, and it could be both a blessing and a curse, which is why, as I already said, that I would not actively endorse hallucinogenic substances to someone, and if one does decide to take them, to take them responsibly with the proper precautions.
Psychoactive drugs may not be for you. There were for me, and occasionally still are, with decreasing frequency. That’s no reason to condemn them.
I was a teen, a University student, in the mid – late sixties in Hollywood. I was a devotee of the Hallucinatory drugs, so I tried, many times and with complete glee, most of the items on the list.
I’m not bragging, it was really a stupid thing to do, but it was the culture of the times and, I have to admit, it was FUN!
Of course I didn’t dwell on the possible consequences…I was a teenager. Teenagers do not, as a rule, mull over the fact of their own mortality. Besides, none of the “drugs” listed are lethal under any but the most egregious conditions.
Every generation has its own way of marking its separation from the previous generation. Mine had hallucinatory drugs and Rock&Roll.
It could have been worse.
Well, I am actually going to comment on the topic of this list, the religious aspect. I believe in a god, but not in any organized religion I have heard of so far. I have tried most drugs on this list mostly for recreational purposes. However, there was once when I took mushrooms during a long car ride and had the most religious experience of my life. During the trip I was able to relive most of my life and see what kind of a person I was from the outside. I felt like I had a conversation with God, and we discussed the future of my life. It was by far the most intense experience of my life and made me change the way I viewed myself.
Also, before doing drugs, there is a prayer: “May the experience I am about to have, help me as a person better understand the world and myself and keep me safe.” Many people use something like that to try to make sure they have an enjoyable trip.
SlickWilly: I have yet to meet anyone who uses drugs in the responsible manner that you seem to. I can name twenty friends, family members, and co-workers who have wasted and/or ruined their lives with drugs. So if I include you as a positive example, that leaves me with a 20 to 1 ratio of bad to good, enough for Me Personally to condemn drugs.
islanderbst: I doubt very much that you know anyone that has ruined their lives by taking psychogenic drugs, i.e. the drugs listed in the above list. Dealing drugs is another issue altogether, but to lump drugs like salvia, LSD and ***** in with drugs like heroin, cocaine, pcp, meth, etc. is a mistake. I’m sorry that you have experienced personal drug-related tragedy, but I’d be willing to bet in almost any of the above cases, the person fell victim to hard drug use and addiction. None of the hallucinogenic drugs on this list cause physiological addiction. It’s like condemning all prescription drugs because a person ruined their life with an oxycontin addiction.
SlickWilly: It’s true I am not familiar with psychoactive drugs, except for *****. I feel it is a drug worse than many believe. I managed a restaurant with several teen, early twenties employees, about five of whom who had increased their smoking to multiple times a week. One by one, they dropped out of college, showed up for work late or rarely, and now I see them doing nothing with their lives.
Now would you say that is just bad parenting, society, or is it maybe possible that the some users can suffer a form of brain damage that curtails their drive and motivation?
Anyway, I certainly wouldnt want them exposed to more drugs.
islanderbst: Drug use and self-destruction is a complex process, but you can’t place 100% of the blame on the drugs. There are many people out there who smoke ***** everyday of their lives and hold productive, lucrative jobs, raise families, form strong, lasting interpersonal relationships and hold respectiable stations in the community.
When it comes to a correlation between drug use and self-destructive behaviors, I think you’ll find various other factors that contributed to both. A harsh childhood, mental disorder, poor family relationships…all of these cripple mental development in some way, and I think you’ll find a higher significant correlation between these factors and self-destructive desicion-making than between drugs and self-destructive decision-making. These people are naturally more inclined to, 1) be an environment where they are exposed to drugs, 2) face greater communal pressure to engage in these activies, and 3) be more likely to self-medicate with drugs. (I don’t have the statistics here in front of me, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you find a higher percentage of people with these problems diagnosed with anxiety and mood disorders than in the general population.) It is not the drugs that caused them to be that way, it’s being that way that caused them to pick up drugs. With or without drugs, these people are still more prone to making poor decisions than those without those particular ailments. I certainly wouldn’t want to see people like that to exasperate their situation with more and harder drugs, but unfortunatley this does happen, and often.
As far as drive and motivation is concerned, there is a syndrome associated with heavy ***** use that is still fairly controversial given the lack of testing. It’s called “amotivational syndrome,” where heavy users of ***** suffer a dampening of their motivations and become apathetic. I have seen this first hand, but it’s not physiological in nature and can be overcome rather easily with self-discipline.
That being said, there are risks that come with using *****. These risks are less physically threatening in nature than those associated with alcohol and tobacco. But there are risk associated with any drug. However, if used properly, it can do a lot of good, particularly medicinally. The drug itself is not good or bad…it’s how you use it that determines the outcome. If these kids dropped out of school and arn’t going anywhere, I wouldn’t blame the weed, I’d blame their psychological issues.
robneiderman – If it makes you feel better, I haven’t tried any of these drugs either. I couldn’t care less what/how they make you feel, I don’t have any desire to know.
Interesting list though, always fascinating what nature can do to you!
islanderbst , I agree 100% with SlickWilly.
In my youth I used all but one on a several times a week basis. Yet, unlike the unlikely scenarios you paint, I was a full-time honors student, held down a 30 hour a week job, went to all the concerts I could afford to (or sneak into if ready cash was not at hand), and I have a graduate degree.
WOW! I sure did waste MY life, didn’t I now?
Go Weed!!!!
At least I’m going to do something many people wouldn’t. Admit that my opinion had been based more on belief rather than fact, so I went researching, finding several websites that dismiss/limit harmful physiological effects. Even the WhiteHouse.gov wasn’t very convincing about it being harmful.
So if these people-I-know’s problems are psychological and the ***** is just an effect and not the cause, so be it. I just would hope that they realize soon they have issues and seek help.
But I still don’t personally know anyone who is a well-adjusted user; maybe it’s just the company I keep…
I’m 46, make a decent living with my brain, and have a nice house on the water. I have tried, at various times over the years, the majority of the substances on this list (and many, many others).
Nowadays, I drink beer daily, and very ocassionally (as in, the last 1/4-oz I bought lasted me more than eight months!) smoke a bowl. I also smoke salvia about twice a year — I definitely got a lifetime supply for about thirty bucks — but always at VERY low dosages (leaf only, no more than two inhales).
As to the substances on the list:
Morning glory (age 17) — no physical discomfort, effect was like PCP (detached, “ten feet tall” feeling). Dissociative, so not recommended when complex tasks (like walking!) are required.
Fly agaric — because other psychoactive mushrooms were available that do not have A. muscaria’s toxic properties, I have had no desire to try this substance.
Jimson weed (age 16) — I now contradict myself, as this grew wild on our property at the edge of town as a teen-ager, and being fully aware of its dangerous chemical make-up, I tried it anyway. So did some friends. Everyone got sick. Everyone got paranoid. No one wanted to eff with this again, even though it was free… in amazing quantities. Stay away from this one, people. Evil incarnate.
Wormowood — haven’t tried, really thinking about do so. Because a “clear-thinking drunk” sounds right up my alley!
Kava (age 43) — Still have a bunch, both powdered root and extract, sitting on top of the fridge from a couple of years ago. Except for the pleasantly bizarre benzocaine-like numbing effect, I just don’t get this substance. And I greatly dislike the taste. My basic reaction was, it’s just not worth the trouble.
Salvia (age 43) — Boy howdy. All of those YouTube vidoes and its generally-legal status aside, this is without doubt the strongest naturally-occurring hallucinogen known to man. It should never, ever be ingested in a social situation, outside your home, or otherwise treated with anything other than the utmost respect. Super-powerful “make you go away” hallucinatory effects that vary widely from experience to experience. Literally ANYTHING can happen. That said, it has many pluses: it comes on instantaneously and lasts only a very short time. Even the varied after-effects disappear quickly; in half an hour you’re totally the same as before you took it. It is also the only hallucinogen i have tried that does not, at least to some degree, induce feelings of fear or paranoia; for me, it actually has a “welcoming” feeling, like it just wants to play. Twice a year is plenty for me with this, and again, only in low dosages, because I have a very low threshold-of-effect for salvia (said threshold varying widely from user to user). I once shut my eyes and the entire universe was filled with infinite rows of super-clean black and white Jersey cows floating by at about 15 mph whose legs from the knees on down were boneless and drifting with the motion, my perspective being from just below the hoofs of the closest of the infinite rows. Very, very strange.
Magic mushrooms (ages 15 thru 20) — the adjective I have always used to describe my shroom experiences is “poofy” as my peripheral vision is always like that, regardless of dose. Have tried many varieties, and for me, the effects of all are pretty much the same… psilocyn is psilocyn. A low dose of shrooms would be my recommendation to anyone trying strong hallucinogens for the first time… most people handle it quite well.
Peyote (age 20) — I don’t like it, as too many physical effects are also experienced… nausea being the least of them. Trips tend to be spooky, but with very bright colors nonetheless. I’ll never do it again, and only people who truly love to hallucinate should.
Yage — no experience, except that I have done DMT (age 15), which was too speedy-feeling for me.
***** (see below for ages) — good weed is definitely an hallucinogen rather than any other classification of drug. And the marketplace has pretty much demanded that good weed dominate the market. I almost pine for the days of cheap Mexican dirt weed that you had to smoke half a joint of to get high. You could stand around a bonfire, take a hit every now and then of the joints being passed around to be sociable, greatly enjoy the taste, and actually monitor your intake like you would while drinking if you want to be ok to drive. Not anymore — you smoke, you’re stoned for hours, simple as that. It does mean that a small amount goes a long, long way. And almost all ***** nowadays is grown by people who know what they are doing.
But what i really wanted to address about this substance is its nature. In high school and college, I smoked several times daily, and still manged 4.0 gpas just fine. Then, at age 22, I stopped entirely. No reason, I just had things to do that i wanted to do while straight. Then a few years ago I started smoking again, once a week or so. I’m in no danger of losing my house or job.
What is really interesting is that even though I have friends who either also smoke or couldn’t care less if someone else does, I now have a strict rule to NEVER be stoned in the company of others. Because, you see, the “civility governor” in my brain goes away when on *****. I am likely to say anything that I am thinking. The words are all true, but even honest thoughts can be hurtful to others. Who wants to hang out with a guy who remarks on their faults? I never do that except under *****. In fact, many close friends back me up when someone else is urging me to take a hit… Grubbie doesn’t smoke around people, and for a reason.
I should note that 99%+ of my waking hours are spent under the influence of no substances other than beer, but I do drink beer every night after work. Lord, I do so ever much love my beer! You ain’t taking my books, you ain’t taking my beer, and you ain’t taking my guns. We can negotiate on the rest.
BTW: I’m the guy who submitted the obscure science fiction novels and the archetypal southern U.S. foods lists. Working on a science fiction short stories list now, but it’s taking a gawdawful amount of research to get right.
islanderbst: I just want to make sure you can get a more accurate ratio since it seems you are focused on many of the negative side-effects of drug use. I, like slickwilly, have used and continue to occasionally use psychoactive drugs. I am a regular ***** smoker (would be daily if the right connection was made
) and about 2-3 times a year I ‘shroom or indulge in other trippy drugs.
I have never overindulged these drugs and the fact that I smoke weed does not interfere with my extremely busy work schedule and other personal commitments. Even as a college student who had to work full time to support my way, I was not impaired by my daily smoking habit and in fact, found it mush easier to unwind and clear my head at the end of a particularly hectic day. I have also suffered through bouts of insomnia and painful menstrual cycles. The only cure I have found to consistently work for either of these is *****.
grubthrower: Hey…the obscure science fiction list was awesome. I greatly enjoyed it, and hope to read Of Men and Monsters as soon as I get it (which might be never
). Keep those lists coming!
Incidentally, salvia was the single most intense experience of my life, bar none. I personally never experienced “the fear” on salvia, but have seen others go absolutely bat***** insane (one fled screaming into the night, the other started doing screaming somersaults around his living room – in both cases I had to tackle the friend and hold him down until the effects wore off). I bought an eighth of an ounce of the extract at a very reasonable price and ended up throwing away the second half of the bag. I will probably never do it again…complete dissolution of the ego is a scary and nerve-racking experience. That said…I saw some very very cool stuff. My living room once turned into a giant Rasta lion head, with rainbow colors shooting out of its head, and lush green grass surrounding it with little people mowing it using old-fashioned push-style lawnmowers. A friend of mine also turned into an orangutan. I was sitting on the couch and looked over, and he was still wearing his clothes, but his face looked like an ape and he was covered in orange hair. He handed me a pipe right as I looked at him and said “want to hit this?”
I looked back at him with wide psychotic eyes and said, “Yes…yes, Mr. Jungle Monkey, I will hit that.” Very surreal.
I’d like to make one thing perfectly clear: Drugs, even hard drugs, are only as harmful as you allow them to be.
Sure, as a teen/young adult, I played with Hallucinatory drugs. I actually loved hallucinating. It was always pleasant, and I always came away with a new bit of self-awareness.
At this time in my life, however, I am suffering from a disease which causes severe, constant pain. I take 80mgs of Oxycontin 3 times a day, and even then I need another strong pain med for “break through” pain. I have to change my pain med every 6 months. My rotation is:
Oxy, Morphine, Methadone, and back to Oxy.
I know that I am physically addicted. I am not psychologically addicted. If, by some miracle, a cure for my disease was discovered, and my need for opiates was gone, I could easily discard them.
Drugs, ANY drugs, are only as bad as YOU MAKE THEM.
I certainly wouldn’t choose opiates as a recreational drug. They make no sense to me. They don’t make me “high”. They just make me hurt a bit less.
stick to weed and you can’t go wrong although i have tried salvia but where i live in Scotland there are some really potent magic mushrooms but i would recommend that you be careful that you know exactly what you are picking as some look alikes can be very toxic.
slick – the book should be in the mail – I placed the order with amazon ages ago
When it comes to mushrooms, I don’t recommend anyone but experienced mushroom hunters go out and pick them. However, if you must try it, the magic mushrooms have what is called the “purple ring,” a band of blue or purple tissue that raps around the stem of the mushroom approximately halfway between the root and where the stem meets the cap. That is your first indication. Secondly, when you pick the mushroom, let it sit for about an hour or two. If the mushroom contains psilocybin, the stem of the mushroom will turn mottled blue, like a bruise. If you don’t find either of these things to be the case, DO NOT EAT IT. If you do find them, I recommend heading over to the shroomery (shroomery.org, maybe…its “dot” something) and checking it out to find out which strain it is, to be absolutely sure. If it checks out, then you’re golden.
This might be a repeat post, I *****ing hate it when the site does this to me:
When it comes to mushrooms, I don’t recommend anyone but experienced mushroom hunters go out and pick them. However, if you must try it, the magic mushrooms have what is called the “purple ring,” a band of blue or purple tissue that raps around the stem of the mushroom approximately halfway between the root and where the stem meets the cap. That is your first indication. Secondly, when you pick the mushroom, let it sit for about an hour or two. If the mushroom contains psilocybin, the stem of the mushroom will turn mottled blue, like a bruise. If you don’t find either of these things to be the case, DO NOT EAT IT. If you do find them, I recommend heading over to the shroomery (shroomery.org, maybe…its “dot” something) and checking it out to find out which strain it is, to be absolutely sure. If it checks out, then you’re golden.
Reading all of these complaints, I feel like I should start handing out DARE bumper stickers! The legality list is else where. This is Religious/Experience list. On that note, I miss the old body buzz that I used to get! It tingles!
Yeah nice list! Very intresting.
Islanderbst, Dischuker;
I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. Now you both have met someone who uses drugs recreationally who has not wrecked her life or done anything irresponsible as a result.
I outgrew my appreciation for hallucinogens in my early twenties(I did LSD many times, Mushrooms 2X); I now prefer the illusion of control. Of course I was always in control of my actions, but definitely not in control of my perceptions. As an interesting tidbit I outgrew my like of drinking before this,(to get drunk that is); roughly around the age it became legal for me to do so. 19 where I live. I never did heroin, or crack, or anything known to be extremely addicting or dangerous because I am responsible.
I still smoke da ganja, the way most people have a martini after work. Generally in doses to relax me, but on the week-ends, or camping, I will indulge. Gee whiz, I might just laugh myself a hernia. Seriously far less impaired than if I had 2 drinks. An interesting study done by the British Gov’t and reproduced on BBC’s Top Gear, (or maybe 5th Gear, I watch both); They had regular dope smokers do a driving test, 1st straight and again after they smoked a joint. Both tests had the same result – Better driving after the joint. People were more cautious and careful when driving, more aware of their surroundings. They stopped driving in a non-chalant manner; took nothing for granted. Not that I advocate smoking a bomb joint and going for a drive, (although site-seeing is much improved), but interesting none the less. (note my joke is about 1 joint, shared between 2 people who have smoked weed for 33 years each – we have hi tolerance, less impaired than a drinker having a glass of wine, actually way less)
My advice; If you don’t feel the need, if the curiosity isn’t killing you, DON’T. It would be great not to need anything to relax, have a good time, get in touch with your spirituality or whatever.
If you feel the need, be responsible. Don’t try things that are known to be addictive, just don’t. Avoid coke, crack, percs, oxys, meth, (they change your brain, sometimes permanently, *****-up your pleasure/reward center, ruin joy for a long time, or forever). Be in a good environment, with people you trust, and be sure of your supply. Do research, if you’re not sure what it is PASS.
Disc- #63-
Only irresponsible use leads to negative consequences. People have to use these things wisely, they are powerful medicines. A sober, intelligent sitter is always recommended to prevent disasters.
It seems to me people on either side of this “debate” will never be swayed. Those who have never tried psychoactives will never be convinved of their power and ability to change one’s life. Those who have experienced it will never forget.
No one can claim that psychoactives do nothing good for anyone. It was a series of powerful experiences with these substances that made me go back to school to become a working professional and motivated me to become a serious student of Zen Buddhism. These substances drastically improved my quality of life. This was about 10 years ago, and still going strong. Then again, results may vary!
I agree wholeheartedly with SlickWilly… I am a mother of a beautiful 4-month-old and a daily ***** user. The only other drug on this list that I’ve tried is Salvia (read comment above 60 for story of my scary trip), and only that once, never again. Same with Ecstasy. Drugs are what you make of them, and I find that weed is the best way to go for me. I’d like to try magic mushrooms one day in a small dosage, with the right people. I’ve also had the “amotivational syndrome” when I was a lot more of a heavier pot smoker (early/mid teens). I cut back on the usage, and it was gone. Now I just have a toke at night to help me sleep, or sometimes in school to help me concentrate (I’ve experimented with test scores sober vs. stoned… I do better when I have a bit of a buzz, too much and the room spins too fast!) I can tell you first-hand that abusing drugs (at least for me) can ruin your life if you let them, but it’s really all in your head. I cut down on the smoking, and got my life back on track. So I wave my pot leaf flag HIGH!!!!
slick et al: i think you miss my point. it seems that just about every user who has commented has put loads of stipulations on how to “correctly use”. this is my point, if such precautions are NECESSARY to avoid big problems why take the risk?
as far as testing better when slightly buzzed…i took part in this study as a psych major in college. it isn’t simply that pot heads tested better when high. this result was true because one tests better if they are in the same condition as they are when they studied. this is true for pot, drinking, lack of sleep, to many no-doze or whatever.
hmmm… DiscHuker, I get your point, but I don’t study. It’s either I know it or I don’t. Maybe I should conduct a(nother) study of my own…
reading about ‘shrooms, i could only think of one thing…
“Psychopsilocybin runnin horny mother *****er.
hopefully someone appreciates that.
Trippin on his shoelace, searchin for the hairy sucker.
He dont need no funny money, his love is all his power.
Half-naked and full witted, and two weeks less a shower!
You’ll see me, I’ll be there, with my nose in the grass!
One for me, one for you.
Two for me, one for you.
Three for me, one for you.
End of the sack, now the fungi’s they are bloom.”
Disc- the same argument could be made about driving a car, which is FAR more dangerous than any psychedelic.
Also, you reminded me of a psychology test I took in college. I was under the influence of LSD for the duration of the test. I scored 98%, the highest of any student in the class. Looking back, I remember I had no idea what I was doing there. I just filled in whatever little circle seemed to correspond to the question, even though it made no sense to me. Interesting?
Not all drugs are good, some are quite excellent.
I’mm gettin shtoned just reading thhis list…….
MommaKat; I’ve never studied for a test or exam either. I agree completely; Either I know it or I don’t. Generally if I don’t understand, I’m not going to remember, so studying is a waste of time. Facts or dates without context just blow away.
jason: true, or any number of other things we do. however, the difference is that there is a “necessity” for driving a car, or riding a bus or whatever, to go to work, the grocery, etc. one would be hard pressed to say that anything on this list is a necessity.
we are all very particular about what we put into our bodies. some person’s lists are broader than others but we all guard what we eat, i.e. we wouldn’t take a handful of something from a stranger and just eat without discernment. we are careful because we know that bad things could happen. i just don’t see the risk/reward duality as being worth it for minutes or hours of euphoria that is not naturally gleaned.
you gotta legalize it
Mom424: Thanks for the reply, and don’t worry, I am (technically, I spose) an adult and tried it with my MUCH more experienced/sober friends. None of them seemed to have the same reaction as me, so I guess I must be intolerant. Doubt I’ll be trying it again soon, in any case.
what about kava?
65. SlickWilly–one of the best responses I’ve read on the site thus far, and I entirely agree.
Many like Islander who haven’t done much experimentation themselves have to rely on observing those who have, or stereotypes. The truth is Islander, you’ll only notice the complete burnouts or axed employees. Meanwhile, those from your family or your best workers who use within reason inherently won’t be noticeable to you.
As far as your stereotypes, I’ll sway them back a bit:
My friend is a pro golfer with great connections. FYI: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are HUGE tokers. Also why ‘Lefty’ can put on the lbs. in the off season…
It’s 4:20 where I live.
I’ve smoked some crazy weed before, most of the time after drinking for like 3-4 hours… makes for a memorable experience. Not my cup of tea though. I have many friends who will shroom every now and than. I’d say from hearing their stories, the trip they get from shrooms makes you think about alot of things and usually lasts between 3-4 hours. My one friend drank and than took shrooms and lost his mind… told his sister he was going to miss her because the continental troops were going to kill him, pretty funny from my end. I could have done shrooms and salvia at one point when I was in Canada but decided not to. I’d rather hit the bottle any day of the week than trip balls. Good list though, very interesting and educational!
grubthrower: Like the long comment listing all the experiences you had. Well put together. I wish I didn’t freak out so easily or I would probably be on board to give some of these items a shot. Will be awaiting your next list!
Mom424: I agree. There are many people who can smoke and function daily. I am the one who looks from the outside, inward rather than the inside, outward (as in not a user, but have done it many times). I can honestly say I have 15-20 friends who smoke daily and function well in school and life. All the power to ya!
I’ll tell you my story about when i did datura, what you guys call jimson weed. I was a young punk and me and a friend where with some other people who had some, they told us it was a crazy trip. being young and stupid we signed on and boiled a small amount in a pot of tea. drank it, waited around for a while, felt nothing so we decided to go home. my friend was driving and he dropped me off. on the trip we started feeling funny but it wasn’t till I got home and kicked off my shoes that it all went crazy. the shoes started walking around the room!! I started to hallucinate and I rang my buddy and said we should hook back up and ride the trip out together, but i never made it. I slipped into the most insane experience of my life, literally living out my dreams. I’d be deep in conversation with my friends, turn my head and realise I was in a room with nobody there!! this lasted for a long time until I woke the next day with blurry vision but otherwise no ill effects. my buddy who had gone out to meet me that night, when we started tripping had been waiting for me on the street when his trip kicked in, he was picked up by the police at 5 in the morning, taken home to his parents who sat him down at a table with the police, while he talked to people who wern’t there and tried to smoke pens. only later did we discover how potentialy dangerous the stuff was, but now some 20 years after the event we both look back and have a good laugh about how crazy it was. But a warning to anyone, it is intense, more then any other drug there is and I was in a safe and comfortable environment when it happened. my friend on the other hand was grounded for about 6 months, but we survived nonetheless.
Disc- #98-
Nothing is really a necessity. These things just make life easier. You don’t even really “need” oxygen, just like you don’t really “need” to live. You WANT to live, sure. But nothing is really needed. So everything we’re talking about here is all on a spectrum of desire, and that spectrum is different for every person.
I too am particular about what I put in my body. There are systems of checks and balances for legal psychoactive transactions and illegal transactions, just like for any other product. Occasionally someone can get some bad stuff, but it’s rare. Probably even less common than getting food poisoning at a restraunt.
Finally, and most importantly, I think you’re ignoring a HUGE part of the psychedelic experience with your statement about unnaturally gleaned euphoria. Euphoria is not the goal of shamanic and spiritual medicines like this. The goal is profound insight into oneself, into life, into the universe. Sometimes that experience is euphoric, sometimes terrifying. Pleasant or not, each experience is a valuable lesson about oneself. Psychoactives didn’t motivate me to go back to college and become devoutly religious because they made me feel good. Rather, they revealed to me incredible things about life that I hadn’t realized before. As far as them being unnatural, have another look and you’ll notice they’re all plants. Quite natural.
jasontimmer: You’ve just negated All of your comments Ever! “You don’t even really “need” oxygen…” Do what? I think I can speak for all of humanity on this one. You need to breathe. There is no option. I can guarantee that you can’t hold your breath for longer than seven minutes (world record) without dying. You don’t breathe, oxygen, you die. Period. What you Need is a basic lesson in animal physiology.
Crimanon- obviously you didn’t understand my point. I said you don’t “need” oxygen because you don’t “need” to live. Why would you? The world can get along just fine without you or anyone else living here. You should have thought that perhaps you didn’t understand what I meant when my comment set off such a powerful reaction in your mind. But I understand where you’re coming from, I still have the same argument with my girlfriend. She can’t understand how I can say, “I don’t NEED to live. I WANT to live.”
Actually, you reminded me of a saying by one of the old Zen teachers (regarding your statement re:”You’ve just negated All of your comments Ever!” Which implies that you’ve not only read, but remembered, all of my posts on listverse. I’m flattered.) Anyway, they said, “don’t think that I necessarily agree with everything I say.”
Jasontimmer: My, How cynical. Agreed though.
And no, I don’t remember All your comments, But that statement (oxygen) out of the context of your next statement (109), feels like a very ignorant thing to say. I now understand where you are coming from. I choose to live, therefore I choose to breathe; Or something from Anguished English (Richard Lederer)… “To inhale, is to inspire; To exhale, is to expire”
I can see how that would be misinterpreted. I just talked about it with a co-worker and she said, “you should have added, ‘if you WANT to live, you NEED oxygen.’” She was right. Going back to what dischucker was saying, once we realize we don’t actually need to live, the idea of needing a car seems pretty silly. Occam’s razor for our life?
The world is looking a bit stubblely.
indeed, my friend
okay so salvia is usually smoked and all of the above persons have prolly not smoked enough at once. All i can tell you is that it does create a really intense trip for all of a few min. at first and then it fades off into what a normal high might be consitered. all i know is i had several bowls worth in a bong one after another, closed my eyes and laid back, felt like i entered a 2d world where i was a *****in cube yes a 2d square, after i started freakin out about that i came to and tried to get out of my car because i thought the world was on fire, after someone convinced me that my arm was not stuck to the car door as i was so sure it was because i couldnt take my hand off the door- there was alot of shaddows that freaked me out. This trip *****ed me up for a few months no joke i couldnt stop thinkin about it. I wouldnt suggest it if you are a weekend smoker or novice. You need alot of 30x and less if you get like a 70 extract. YOu need to do it outside in an open area b/c lights and ***** will really ***** with you- i thought shadows were attacking me. all in all i stay away from this ***** now ive done it again and it just feels bad. if your just lookin for some new fun go take a bunch of robotussin pills like uhhhh 30-60 of em thats a blast.
I recommend that before anybody tries any controlled substance that they are not familiar with, especially hallucinogens, to do research on recommended dosages, preparations, how long a high lasts, what the effects are, and any health related effects. All of this can be found at Erowid’s Vault http://www.erowid.com they have everything there including where each drug is legal and illegal. I do this before trying anything new and it works great! Being a college student I’ve tried my fair share of things, I have done salvia a few times and it was extremely trippy(at one point I saw soldiers running around in armor made out of watermelons!) Since I did the right dose, had a sober baby sitter, and knew what to expect it was a very fun experience. I smoke weed basically every day(once again I’m a college student) I find I have increased insight when it comes to symbolism in movies or books. I also find I have increased appreciation for color, music, and I have a slight amount of agoraphobia, but it’s not too bad. Sometimes I do my homework when I’m high and it works great! Then again I am a philosophy major so I’m kind of expected to use at least one form controlled substance.
I work only with the ayahuasca now in Peru (where it’s nice and legal) and I haven’t worked with the whole list, but it’s important to remember the point of what the list is…plants used in sacred ceremony. Any of these can be used at a party and abused like a drug. But to get the full power and understanding of the plants (well the ayahuasca at least) it needs to be used in it’s integrity in a ceremony with a shaman. PLUS your spirit body is wide *****ing open and anything and everything can get in if you are not protected. So my advice? If it calls you go for it (it can change your *****ing life) but it is extremely intense, takes a LOT of balls and you need to make sure you are with someone you trust (don’t just pick the first guy you see in the Amazon or wherever you do it.) Don’t force it…it’s not for everyone. Good luck! Email me if you need anything http://www.infinitelightperu.com
All we get in mainstream Christianity is communion wine. I may have to get out more.
Very interesting. I smoke canabis, and I’ve tried salvia once.. it’s simply amazing. But not a party-drug (as any of this list in fact). I use drugs for spiritual / auto-exploration reasons.. and well, sometimes weed for listen to music
“If you have had any experiences with the following plants, be sure to tell us about it in the comments”
Well.. with Salvia, after 2 hits (10x extract) I suddenly was on an Indiana Jones movie (hehe), I could not see anything related to the movie, but all was in my mind. There “was” a tribe behind be playing music around a fire, and some caves in front. I could not speak for those 5 minutes that last the experience, it was simply amazing. It’s like dreaming awake
the first time i smoked savlia my friends heads turned into lotus flowers with pedals coming out of their necks and we were all floating on water; golden light washed over us radiating from a temple in the distance. i didn’t even smoke very much either. salvia’s unpredictable and you will be too if you smoke it. you might get up and physically do something unconsciously so i hope you have good balance.