Ethnobotany's topics - tribe.net

what is this plant?

2009-11-09T17:29:16Z

Nova Coca Edulis? Is this a type of coca?

posted in Ethnobotany - 3 replies

/////////////Witch-doctor Apprentice, by Nicole Maxwell////////////// Botanical Dimensions///////////

2009-10-02T00:10:44Z

Hi all,
i have just finished reading this book and I found it simply amazing. Nicole Maxwell is one of those people that understood very well that life has a purpose, and she followed hers til the end.
But you can find that out when you read the book. What I found really amazing is that already in the 50s there was somebody out there in the Amazon, reporting to the West the existence and usage of these incredible plants. From contraceptives to anti cancer, you really have a way there to bring happiness and health and to build that world we dream of.... that's more than 50 years ago!!! And yet her voice has been largely ignored for all this time. I appreciate that it is NOT in the interest of the large pharmaceutical companies to put people's interest first, but I am positive that people like us WILL listen.
During my first visit to Peru I was lucky enough to visit the medicinal Belem market with a Peruvian woman who knew about the plants, and to bring home something like Unas de Gato - Cat's Claw - , Chancha Piedra, and Sangre de Grado.
My encounter with Ayahuasca has opened a totally new vision of the world of Plants, which I now see as our Teachers and possible helpers in the mess we are doing in this planet.
I know there are some non profit organisations trying to work on this - Botanical Dimensions, founded by Terence McKenna and Kat Harrison is one - but how could we create a global connection that could protect and diffuse the usage of the magical plants of the Amazon?
On a more grounded level, if there was a practical way to support organisations like Botanical Dimensions, I'd be happy to help. For example, I'd be more than willing to devote some time on a volounteering project for them. How to do it... any idea?

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

medical marijuana/Hemp product resources

2009-09-24T01:13:59Z

My website has many resources for medcial marijuana,hemp products,doctors,clinics,hemp and mariujana products and resources for legal growing;

http://www.webspawner.com/users/melspot

Mel

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Finally found a good source for Salvia divinorum cuttings!

2009-09-22T05:08:02Z

Hey there, i've been looking for awhile and posted quite a few requests on a few forums just thought I'd share... If anyone is looking for Salvia divinorum cuttings www.BotanicalSpirit.com has 6-8" healthy and well established cuttings for $19.99 each! if i remember correctly they sell the Hoffman and Wasson strain and the Blosser strain, I have no idea the difference but under $20 is a wicked price!

peace out
Chuck

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

kratom

2009-09-22T05:01:39Z

I have recently ordered some Kratom online and have found it to be well nice!!! Has anyone had similar experiences?

posted in Ethnobotany - 36 replies

Khat and Kratom, seeds or starts.

2009-09-22T04:56:01Z

I have my own yard now, and need some bushes and trees. I might as well plant something usefull. I am looking for some Khat and Kratom seed, especially the Khat. I think the Kratom seed are available at the botanical supply houses, but I'm having a hard time with the Khat.
Somebody out there help me out, please!

posted in Ethnobotany - 8 replies

Looking for a source of Hawaiian caapi leaves

2009-09-22T04:47:12Z

Does any one know of a grower in Hawaii that I can be put directly in contact with for whole sale buying of B. Caapi or ayahuasca vine leaves?
I am very much so Looking for a good source from there.
THanks Blessings
never hurts to ask you know...

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

Legalize Hemp and Cannabis in California

2009-09-14T02:42:45Z

Hi Family,

Right now there are two competing signature drives to put Cannabis legalization initiatives on the ballot in California in

November 2010.

One is found at www.taxcannabis2010.org

The other is found at www.CaliforniaCannabisInitiative.org

Please look carefully at the text of both laws (the text of each is finalized) and make up your own mind which one you support.

I am supporting www.CaliforniaCannabisInitiative.org because our law will protect Cannabis users from discrimination in

healthcare, employment, and housing. It is a full legalization measure for industrial hemp and recreational cannabis which will restore full human rights to Hemp farmers and Cannabis users all across California. Of course supplying Cannabis to children will remain illegal just as it is today. Driving vehicles under the influence will remain illegal just as it is today. Cannabis users will still be fired from their jobs if they show up to work impaired.

There are two parts to our plan. The first part is to publicly post and personally distribute our "Freedom Lover's Call to Arms" in order to recruit volunteers. This document is available here-

www.imgur.com/dbU83

The second part of our plan is to ask everyone who volunteers to make a pledge for how many signatures they can collect in

the next 30 days or so. 15-30 signatures is a good number. If enough volunteers show this level of commitment we can succeed. You can probably get that number from your family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors without having to solicit in public too much. This is an "out of the closet" movement. We will have to proudly advocate human rights for responsible, honest, hard-working Cannabis smokers in order to convince legitimate people to support us. I can supply stickers equivalent to each persons pledge number. These stickers can be used to generate interest and be given to voters who sign the petition. Here is the sticker design-

www.imgur.com/2cjvb

Feel free to distribute and use these images. Just don't copyright them.

We have 145 days in order to get the number of signatures that we need. Our petition is hot off the press on 9/11 and we

have started collecting the first signatures yesterday 9/12.

We are polling 56% public support for Cannabis legalization in California which menas that this is an initiative which is not doomed. Its time has finally arrived; we are at the tipping point right now. Now is the time to do this and to do it right. We may only get one chance. If a law which is not exactly what we want is implemented then we may lose our critical mass and our ability to set it right.

I believe that less adults will smoke cannabis after it is legal. This is the case in the Netherlands where it has been

available over-the-counter for 30 years yet only half as many citizens (percentage-wise) smoke as do citizens here. My economics professor has taught for years that prohibition has not succeeded in decreasing usage by increasing penalties. Instead it has destroyed lives and families without substantial benefit to society. After legalization hard-drug usage will decrease due to a "separation of the markets," a decline in the price of Cannabis relative to hard-drugs, and the restoration of honesty and common sense in drug education. Violence, thievery, and the incarceration of honest people will decrease as well. I also believe that a well regulated market will decrease the availability and appeal of cannabis to children. In fact teenage Cannabis use in California has fallen steadily since the passage of Proposition 215. Furthermore the adults who smoke Cannabis after legalization will be better able appreciate the majesty of nature in peace and unity without learning to fear and disrespect authority figures. This will be better for their spirits and better for society. Finally the human rights of legitimate medical Cannabis patients will be better protected than they are today. Legalizing Cannabis will create a safer, healthier, and more humane California for us all to live in.

If you want to help me in any way please contact the CCI campaign at www.CaliforniaCannabisInitiative.org or write me at

deep_space_underground@yahoo.com I give you my encouragement to modify this message if necessary and distribute it to anyone who might help on any forum or by any mechanism.

Love,
-Fully Committed

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

anyone tried morning glory beer?

2009-07-13T00:40:13Z

i have hops plants and morning glories alternating to cover an unsightly fence in my yard. i was planning on using both, and as i looked out my window at the plants i thought... hey why not make a morning glory beer, so i'm planning on homebrewing a batch this fall. i tried doing some research online, and found out that the alcohol would complement the morning glory nicely by balancing out the vasoconstricting properties of the morning glory (no high bp/headache). sounds like a perfect match. any suggestions?

posted in Ethnobotany - 9 replies

Ayahuasca / Global Shamanism Resurgence talk and book launch in LA Wed July 8th @ Project Butterfly

2009-06-30T03:20:40Z

Hi all,

anyone who's in Los Angeles Wed July 8th please come along I'd love to see you, or pass this on to your networks for people you know that might be interested and able to attend, and help seed the vine!

In Lak'esh

xx Rak

for more info see:

www.ayathebook.com/launch.html
www.projectbutterfly.org > see events > July 8

Project Butterfly welcomes Rak Razam to Los Angeles for the launch of his new book, 'Aya: a Shamanic Odyssey' [www.ayathebook.com].

'Aya: a Shamanic Odyssey' is part journalistic account, part adventure-memoir of Rak's travels in South America and the world of Amazonian shamanism.

What is Amazonian shamanism and why is it important to the world today, as we stand on the brink of environmental change and global transformation? Traveling on a magazine assignment to Peru, "experiential journalist" Rak Razam sets out to discover the answers. He joins a growing movement of Western tourists coming for the legal experience of ayahuasca - the "vine of souls" - a South American hallucinogenic plant that is said to heal, and connect to the divine.

In researching the mystery of ayahuasca, Razam undergoes his own shamanic initiation, undergoing numerous tests and trials in the jungle and the psychic landscapes the vine reveals. On the way he encounters a motley crew of characters from rogue scientists that conduct DMT-brain scans on jungle psychonauts; brujo-black magicians wielding their psychic darts; and dozens of indigenous and Western shamans that slowly unravel his cultured mind and reveal the magical landscape of the spirit world.

The evening will cover the booming international business of Amazonian Shamanism and the culture shock between the old world and the new. The difficulties presented given the mix of Amazonian shamanism and Western capitalism. And the ineffable mystery and magic of the ayahuasca experience itself, which cannot be commodified, although the West is certainly trying its best!

This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn more and to engage in dialog about plant medicines, shamanism, community and spiritual evolution. We look forward to sharing a wonderful night with you.

Wed JUL 8 :: 7:30pm

To reserve your space for this event please click on the link below::

www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr

Location::
Project Butterfly Loft
821 Traction Ave #108
Los Angeles CA 90013

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Papaver somniferum Paeoniflorum- extraction

2009-04-25T19:57:27Z

What is the extraction process - opium poppy

posted in Ethnobotany - 43 replies

Please note.

2009-04-14T02:55:58Z

Trafficking in and ingesting illegal substances is against the law.

posted in Ethnobotany - 10 replies

Codex Alimentarius the real threat to world health

2009-04-03T05:49:44Z

Codex Alimentarius the real threat to world health

In January 2010' they shall attempt to take all our plants away from us' all herbs' vitamins and minerals are to be listed as prescription only medications'
That means no more online companies selling entheogenic plants' becasue even herbs the likes of garlic and vitamins the likes of Vit C shall be regulated and only available for purchase through government outlets'
This is against the constitutional rights of all peoples of earth'

Read on' standup and be counted' do something about this atrocicity'

More and more people are becoming concerned about the shady, secretive organization that is Codex Alimentarius - the thinly-veiled propaganda arm of the international pharmaceutical industry that does everything it can to promote industry objectives whilst limiting individual options to maintain health (which would diminish members profits).

Codex alimentarius is one of the major bodies behind the effort to limit access to nutritional products and information. Its motivation is not rocket science and neither is the source of its funding - money that somehow expected to return a profit to its members . . . Most of the information available regarding codex alimentarius refers to its role in the USA, but it is not a US-specific body. Far from it, Codex has wiggled its dirty little tentacles into just about every national or international body concerned with public health. Posing as a benefactor, it then uses its significant financial and political clout to do its masters bidding.

As you can read in the excellent article below, there is much to be concerned about when considering codex alimentarius - ignore it at your peril.

Codex Alimentarius - The Sinister Truth Behind Operation Cure-All
(From an original article by Ruth James)

What's really behind Operation Cure-All? Is it just the FDA and FTC taking their power too far? Or is there a deeper, more sinister purpose to this campaign? Who are Codex Alimentarius?

How could a country that prides itself in its freedom of speech, freedom of choice, and freedom of information be facing such severe restrictions in health freedom and dietary supplements? Haven't the people made their will known? Didn't our government pass the Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act of 1994 to insure our right to health supplements?

Indeed, our government did. But the FDA and FTC have found ways to get around that. The laws put in place to protect us are being ignored. And what's worse is that those laws are about to be superseded, if the powers that be have their way.

OPERATION CURE ALL IS JUST ONE MEANS TO AN END
You see, Operation Cure-All is just a tactic, a vehicle, in a much bigger overall plan. It is a result of "Codex Alimentarius" (meaning food code) -- a set of regulations that aim to outlaw any health information in connection with vitamins and limit free access to natural therapies on a worldwide scale.

WHAT'S BEHIND CODEX ALMENTARIUS?
Behind the Codex Alimentarius Commission is the United Nations and the World Health Organization working in conjunction with the multinational pharmaceutical cartel and international banks. Its initial efforts in the US with the FDA were defeated, so it found another ally in the FTC. Now Codex, with the FTC and the pharmaceutical cartel behind it, it threatens to become a trade issue, using the campaign of Operation Cure-All to advance its goals.

Codex began simply enough when the U.N. authorized the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization to develop a universal food code. Their purpose was to 'harmonize' regulations for dietary supplements worldwide and set international safety standards for the purposes of increased trade. Pharmaceutical interests stepped in and began exerting their influence. Instead of focusing on food safety, Codex is using its power to promote worldwide restrictions on vitamins and food supplements, severely limiting their availability and dosages.

REAL GOALS OF CODEX
This is to bring about international 'harmonization.' While global harmony sounds benign, is that the real purpose of this plan? While the stated goal of Codex is to establish unilateral regulations for dietary supplements in every country, the actual goal is to outlaw health products and information on vitamins and dietary supplements, except those under their direct control. These regulations would supersede United States domestic laws without the American people's voice or vote in the matter.

HOW CAN IT BE POSSIBLE?
Americans gasp at the thought. It goes against everything America stands for. Many believe this can't be possible. The truth is, it's not only possible, it's required by the Codex Alimentarius agreement.
In fact, under the terms of the Uruguay Round of GATT, which created the World Trade Organization, the United States agreed to harmonize its domestic laws to the international standards. This includes standards for dietary supplements being developed by the United Nation's Codex Alimentarius Commission's Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Use.

The Uruguay Round Agreements carry explicit language clearly indicating that the U.S. must harmonize to international standards:

"Members are fully responsible under this Agreement for the observance of all provisions.... members shall formulate and implement positive measures and mechanisms in support of the observance of the provisions.... by other than central government bodies." [WTO TBT Agreement at Article 3.5]"

In other words, the federal government must NOT ONLY CHANGE FEDERAL LAW, but must ALSO require state and local governments to change their laws as well to be in accordance with international law.

Not only that, but Codex Alimentarius is now enforceable through the World Trade Organization (WTO). If a country disagrees with or refuses to follow Codex standards, the WTO applies pressure by withdrawing trade privileges and imposing crippling trade sanctions. Congress has already bowed to this pressure several times and so have the governments of many countries.

While the exemption clause (USC 3512(a)(1) and (a)(2) was created to supposedly protect our laws from harmonization to international standards, it has proven to be totally ineffective. The United States has already lost seven trade disputes despite the exemption clause. Due to the enormous pressures put on them by lobbyists from multinational corporations (who contribute millions to congressional campaigns), Congress bowed to pressure and changed U.S. laws.

It appears our government (as well as al others) is being manipulated one way or another to serve the goals of the UN, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization. Food control equals people control -- and population control. Is this beginning to sound like world government and one-world order? Could this be the real goal behind Codex Alimentarius?

The United States, Canada, the Europeans, Japan, most of Asia, and South America have already signed agreements pledging total harmonization of their laws including food and drug laws to these international standards in the future.

WHAT CODEX WILL BRING
What can we expect under Codex? To give you an idea, here are some important points:

* Dietary supplements could not be sold for preventive (prophylactic) or therapeutic use.
* Potencies would be limited to extremely low dosages. Only the drug companies and the big phytopharmaceutical companies would have the right to produce and sell the higher potency products (at inflated prices).
* Prescriptions would be required for anything above the extremely low doses allowed (such as 35 mg. on niacin).
* Common foods such as garlic and peppermint would be classified as drugs or a third category (neither food nor drugs) that only big pharmaceutical companies could regulate and sell. Any food with any therapeutic effect can be considered a drug, even benign everyday substances like water.
* Codex regulations for dietary supplements would become binding (escape clauses would be eliminated).
* All new dietary supplements would be banned unless they go through Codex testing and approval.
* Genetically altered food would be sold worldwide without labeling.

According to John Hammell, a legislative advocate and the founder of International Advocates for Health Freedom (IAHF), here is what we have to look forward to:

"If Codex Alimentarius has its way, then herbs, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic remedies, amino acids and other natural remedies you have taken for granted most of your life will be gone. The name of the game for Codex Alimentarius is to shift all remedies into the prescription category so they can be controlled exclusively by the medical monopoly and its bosses, the major pharmaceutical firms. Predictably, this scenario has been denied by both the Canadian Health Food Association and the Health Protection Branch of Canada (HPB).

The Codex Alimentarius proposals already exist as law in Norway and Germany where the entire health food industry has literally been taken over by the drug companies. In these countries, vitamin C above 200 mg is illegal as is vitamin E above 45 IU, vitamin B1 over 2.4 mg and so on. Shering-Plough, the Norway pharmaceutical giant, now controls an Echinacea tincture, which is being sold there as an over the counter drug at grossly inflated prices. The same is true of ginkgo and many other herbs, and only one government controlled pharmacy has the right to import supplements as medicines which they can sell to health food stores, convenience stores or pharmacies."

It is now a criminal offence in parts of Europe to sell herbs as foods. An agreement called EEC6565 equates selling herbs as foods to selling other illegal drugs. Action is being taken to accelerate other European countries into 'harmonization' as well.

Paul Hellyer in his book, "The Evil Empire," states: "Codex Alimentarius is supported by international banks and multinational corporations including some in Canada, and is in reality a bill of rights for these banks and the corporations they control. It will hand over our sovereign rights concerning who may or may not invest in our countries to an unelected world organization run by big business. The treaty would make it impossible for Canadian legislators either federal or provincial to alter or improve environmental standards for fear of being sued by multinational corporations whether operating in Canada or not.

This will create a world without borders ruled by a virtual dictatorship of the world's most powerful central banks and multinational companies. This world is an absolute certainty if we all sit on our hands and do nothing."

This is the future the FDA and FTC are striving to bring us via Codex harmonization. Is this a future we are going to willingly accept or prevent?

WHY TARGET THE INTERNET?
It is no accident that the FDA and FTC are targeting Internet health sites through Operation Cure-All. We are standing in the doorway of an unprecedented revolution -- the information revolution brought about by the Internet.

Now all people everywhere have the ability to learn about anything that interests them with just a few clicks. History has shown that informed, educated people change civilizations -- they change the flow of thought and they change the flow of money. They can even change the direction of a country. When similar transitions have happened in the past, the powers that existed did not give up willingly. The Catholic Church fiercely protected its practice of selling 'indulgences' as a forgiveness of sin. When the practice was abolished, the Catholic Church lost a great deal of power and money.

When the printing press was invented, books were banned and printers were imprisoned by the authorities, who feared an educated public could not be governed. In the same way, the medical monopoly (and the UN) now fears that a public educated in health and privy to the shortcomings of modern medicine could not be controlled. Loss of control means loss of revenue and loss of power. And they are doing everything they can to stop progress so they can contain their losses and strengthen their power.

The printing press changed the world. Can you imagine what life would be like today if the book banners had their way? But because the printing press won out, society progressed and freedom was embraced. The Internet is changing the world in an equally significant way. While the entire Internet can hardly be suppressed, the pharma-cartels and their backers are looking to protect their interests by restricting as much information as they can on the Internet.

Will we, the people, win out again -- or will the UN and the World Health Organization agenda and the pharmaceutical cartel change the course of history and take us back to the "dark ages" of medicine?

WHAT CAN WE DO?
Step number one is learn as much as possible about this issue. Here are some websites where you will find a great deal of information:

John Hammell's International Advocates for Health Freedom
website: www.iahf.com

"The Health Movement Against Codex Alimentarius" - article from Dr. Rath's website: www4.dr-rath-foundation.org/PHAR...m#top

'U.S. and European Leaders Agree on Principles to Harmonize Dietary Supplement Regulations: 'www.crnusa.org/shellnr112000.html

Federal Register where the FDA states its intention to harmonize with Codex standards: iahf.com/codx-fda.txt

Read, "WHOSE TRADE ORGANIZATION? Corporate Globalization and the Erosion of Democracy" by By Lori Wallach and Michelle Sforza,

Public Citizens Global Trade Watch:
www.tradewatch.org/publicat...obook.htm

Sign the petition - Click on 'Sign Health Freedom Petition:'
www.iahf.com/index2.html

Also sign the European Anti-Codex petition at: www.laleva.cc

Signing petitions is fine, but not nearly as effective as writing to your congressmen and congresswomen. Write to them insisting we hold a PROPER Oversight Hearing on Codex. An oversight hearing was held in March, but the truth was not allowed to come out. Witness who could have exposed what was going on, and who wanted to testify, were denied the opportunity to testify. Congress is strongly resisting another Codex hearing, telling their constituents it is not necessary. This could not be further from the truth.

Contact information for representatives: www.house.gov
Contact information for senators: www.senate.gov

Copyright 2001 Ruth James rjames@therealessentials.com
www.therealessentials.com

CTM Comment: Codex is of course the single most virulent assault on human freedoms in recent times. The desire to control of vitamins, minerals, herbs and other nutritional factors has ironically come about as a result of the inability of orthodox medicine to destroy the practice of the public practicing health without drugs. Now government and the chemical industry will seek to control and profit from that which was available directly to the public in times gone by.

Overturning the Codex by a mass public backlash is CTM’s sworn goal. This can be accomplished only with large numbers of the public all committed to this endeavor. As the above article states, the Internet itself has been able to grant access to information freely to anyone seeking it, and this has destabilized the flow of money and profits to institutions which have traditionally believed their highly lucrative monopolies to be safe.

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

After ingesting the psychedelic plant

2009-04-02T00:33:48Z

A couple hours after ingesting the psychedelic plant I thought,"The world is full of children. There's not a genuine adult in all the bunches in all the countries around."

A few days later I revisited this psychedelic idea and agreed with myself.

The stories we're told as children, as childish and unreal as they are, seldom leave us and when we are alone to think about our true desires it's a beautiful time, but like a dream. Before long we're caught in the childish world again. We lie to our children. Why are we lying to our children?

The truth doesn't come out of the mouths of anyone I haven't met in the flesh. I'm talking about religion of course. I'm talking about people who choose to believe what a stranger said rather than think in the moment for themselves - like children. The truth I know grows from the ground! The real ground, the dirt where seeds for thought blossom in sunshine and rain. The real ground forgotten.

The world is full of children, children who believe in stories they did not create themselves. Language is a vast store of words. We don't give it much thought.

We should use some of the security we have to think about the world which exists. Otherwise we remain lost in the fantasy of a stranger we've never met. Just because I have a big brain doesn't mean I should make room for everybody.

posted in Ethnobotany - 8 replies

Eye Dryness and Visions

2009-03-24T02:49:17Z

Have any of you experienced eye dryness while taking ayahuasca or san pedro (like with marijuana or alcohol)? Especially if wearing contacts?

AND, if one was to take out contact lenses/take off glasses, would vision be in or out of focus?

THANKS!

posted in Ethnobotany - 9 replies

Huna - medicinal or magical plants?

2009-02-21T00:41:14Z

I am trying to find some information or informative links to herbs/plants used for spiritual purposes by Kahuna Kupua A'o or Kahuna Ho'omanamana or any type of Kahuna. I know all about Kava so that I don't need help with. I am going to Maui for a few weeks and would really like to connect with the spirit of the island.

posted in Ethnobotany - 6 replies

Devil's Claw - Proboscidea parviflora - eating the seeds

2008-12-28T18:17:57Z

Hello all...

I've been learning much about this southwestern quasi-carnivorous plant lately. The pods have been used in basketry for their strong black fibers by several native groups, and the seeds are edible. My neighbor recently raked up many hundreds of these pods so that they wouldn't get stuck in the fur of her heirloom sheep. Knowing my interest in native plants, she wisely gave them to me.

I see these for sale here and there in Arizona, mostly for use in kitschy crafts, but I'm very interested in eating the seeds and finding recipes for their inclusion. Does anyone know the best (fastest) way to get the seeds out of the pods? I know that native Americans soaked the pods to make the fibers pliable, and am wondering if this is a good strategy to loosen the casing surrounding the seeds. I don't want to sprout them however, so I'm thinking there must be an efficient mechanical method instead. Thoughts? Experiences?

Thanks in advance. Jeau

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

Awesome New Daniel Pinchbeck Article

2008-12-26T14:33:01Z

Fascist hypocrite sham.

http://www.xanaduxero.blogspot.com

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Psychedelics In The Sea

2008-12-25T00:08:08Z

Hello,

I was thinking the other day.
Not only humans have a connection with nature's psychedelics, animals also use some substances to enhance their moods. Panthers that eat Jurema. Elephants rub their skins against certain trees. Raindeer eat magic mushrooms. Monkeys eat poisoned insects.

Now I was wondering if there are any psychedelics growing in the sea. Maybe that dolphins eat them.
Is there any such thing that grows under water, a certain, plant, anemone, algae that has psychedelic compounds?
I know that there are organisms that resemble the shape of the mushroom in the sea.
Do you have any knowledge of this? Or philosphies?

Peace

Geert

posted in Ethnobotany - 12 replies

Kava Instant Powder

2008-12-24T18:18:10Z

Hi. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with Kava instant powder. This appears to be a fairly new kava product that is different from the usual ground root powder found on most vendor sites. I purchased some from Nakamalathome.com who is purportedly a reputable vendor. Their instructions for the instant powder is mix a teaspoon into 1/2 cup of liquid, mix, then drink. The traditional straining method associated with ground root is not required with instant powder.

I am having very little luck with the batch I procured. Several uses over the past few days has elicited little to no effect at all, although the mouth numbing is present.

Is instant powder considered weaker than ground powder? Is something lost in the transition from root to instant powder?

Your responses are appreciated!

Leonida

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

mycology & astrology?

2008-12-18T08:04:53Z

I know that all living things are related to astrology in some way or another, but what are the ruling planets of fungi species/types. I have trolled the internet seeking the answer to this question with no avail so far..can anybody here help. By the way love this tribe!

posted in Ethnobotany - 7 replies

two pounds of 2,700 hundred year old marijuana

2008-12-11T18:33:15Z

I note that it is in bud form and also that the individual was buried with other high value items - so pot was considered a high value item

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28034925

posted in Ethnobotany - 14 replies

coca leaf tea

2008-12-04T03:09:25Z

I really liked the coca leaf tea I had this Saturday. I live in Oakland, CA. Does anyone know of a reputable seller online or offline for this tea, and the best form?

Thanks

posted in Ethnobotany - 12 replies

BPC Announces the first Ethnobotanical Andean Foray: Exploring past & present cultural strategies for life on earth

2008-12-02T02:42:26Z

The kind folks up in Sebastopol are planning a guided adventure. Sure wish I was in a position to go play in the Peruvian flora & fauna! Sometimes such an educational 'escape' is exactly what one needs to find themselves again.

BPC Announces the first
Ethnobotanical Andean Foray:
Exploring past & present cultural strategies for life on earth
Spring 2009

Come join us! For 10 days in Spring of 2009 a small group of us will walk the land and explore the plants, customs, and archaeology of the Andean realm of the Urubamba Valley in south central Peru, a region of rugged mountains, pastoral landscapes, and mysterious ruins.

Immerse yourself in a vibrant ecological tapestry woven by the reciprocal relations of distinct flora and fauna, stunning geography, and traditional cultures whose roots reach far into the past drawing essential nutrients from their ancient traditions.

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn the basics of the dynamic science of ethnobotany, conservation based plant and seed collecting, traditional agriculture, indigenous Andean spirituality and cross cultural shamanism. Examine some of the most alluring archaeological sites in the world, and consider how the triumphs and faults of past cultures reflect our modern dilemma of how to live on this wondrous planet we all call home.

Our Guides:

Ben Kamm – Director of Botanical Preservation Corps and Sacred Succulents nursery and seed bank. Ethnobotanical researcher and student of and the herbalist traditions of the world. A conservation horticulturalist working with ecologically innovative methods of propagation and seed germination of rare beneficial plants. Ben is dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of traditional and contemporary plant knowledge as well as the plants themselves.

Matthew Magee – Teacher of cross-cultural shamanism and indigenous spirituality. Author of Peruvian Shamanism: The Pachakuti Mesa. His work has been covered by organizations such as National Geographic and National Public Radio (NPR). Despite several college degrees, Matthew’s true education was derived from 11 years apprenticeship in the curandero traditions of Peru and 2 years spent living with the Mi’kmaq peoples in New Brunswick, Canada.

Neil Logan – Ethnobotanist and Living Systems Designer. Neil is the developer of the Bioregional Ethnoecology Database and a consultant for Integrated Living Systems Design, LLC. Trained in ethnobotany, horticulture, agroforestry and permaculture design; Neil offers insights into ancient agricultural systems, wild and cultivated species assemblages of human utility as well as modern sustainable systems.

Exact dates, itinerary, and costs are still being decided. But we’re eager to know if you’re interested in participating in our small, select group (limited to no more than a dozen, plus ourselves).

If, indeed, you are, please fill out the form below and return (email or postal) it to us as soon as possible. Your input will help us fine-tune the design of the experience. As soon as final dates and costs are determined, we’ll let you know so you can make a final decision about joining us. For now, we need to hear from you! Please fill out the following and get it back to us right away. Many thanks for helping us co-create this incomparable adventure! -Ben, Matt and Neil -

__________
Questionnaire for BPC Foray:

Name:

Address:

Email:

Phone #:

Age:

Occupation:

Please describe your general state of health:

What interests you about participating in this trip? What would you hope to learn or contribute to such an endeavor?

Have you traveled in Latin America before? If so, where?

Roundtrip airfare from the USA should range from $600-900, and will NOT be included in the registration cost of the trip. We want to make this trip a viable reality for you. After airfare, what budget would realistically be workable for you to cover land costs?

Other comments or questions:

BOTANICAL PRESERVATION CORPS
P.O. Box 1368 Sebastopol, CA 95473 USA
http://www.botanicalpreservationcorps.com

Dedicated to furthering human relations with the botanical realm.

To receive our monthly emails listing specials, new items and events of relevant interest sign up at -
http://lists.sonic.net/mailman/listinfo/botanicalpreservationcorps

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

Willow tea as rooting hormone

2008-11-25T06:25:17Z

I just purchased some schultz rooting hormone and was wondering if there were any organic alternatives. I found info about boiling willow branches and letting steep for 12 hours or so, then mixing the tea with soil. Great reviews...anyone ever tried it?

posted in Ethnobotany - 3 replies

seeking ethnobotany internship/work experience!

2008-11-22T18:51:25Z

I have a place to start an MSc in EthBot in the UK Sept 2009. Given my undergrad was in Anthropology I want to spend the next year gaining as much experience as I can within the field - just to make sure its really what I want to do!

Any advice or ideas would be highly appreciated - Ethnobotany is not so big in the UK so I am more than prepared to travel elsewhere, and may well be in Black Rock desert in a couple of weeks anyway!

thankyou

e

posted in Ethnobotany - 7 replies

Horny Goat Weed

2008-11-03T21:20:01Z

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/sexual-health/mens-sexual-health/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100217370>1=31028

wonder if this might work with women also?

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Ayahuasca Retreat in January...

2008-11-01T21:54:49Z

An 18 day retreat begins on January 5th featuring two weeks at the jungle camps of two authentic indigenous healers, called curanderos. Participants will attend ayahuasca ceremonies, recieve plant treatments, take part in deep diets, and learn from Carlos, the guide for the retreat, about the various aspects of traditional healing within plant spirit medicine in the Amazon.
Located just outside of Iquitos, Peru, the two camps are each about an hour and a half away, which includes a half hour hike. They are remote, tranquil, and gorgeous. The days before, in between, and after the two weeks with the curanderos feature trips to the local zoo to get in touch with the animals, to a botanical garden to better get to know the plants, to an indigenous tribe to understand the Amazon culture, a Butterfly conservatory to understand metamorphosis, to an indigenous culture museum, and a tour of Iquitos´ plant medicine market and the floating village of Belen.
For more information, check out www.ayahuascafoundation.org and click on healing retreats.

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

synchronized DMT blast off!!

2008-10-23T19:57:47Z

Hello beautiful beings!!
I just joined this tribe to let you all know about a really cool experiment that takes place on 11/30/08!!
Some amazing individuals from all over the world are planning a synchronized DMT blast off!! This started on dmt-nexus.com for anyone who wants to join the forum!

Here is the website to sign up and more details!!
http://www.entheogenic-portal.com/

I will host a small gathering in SD if anyone is interested!

Massive love and light!
See you all in hyperspace!

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Machine smells plants pain

2008-10-20T15:25:47Z

interesting article:
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/37768/title/An_electronic_nose_that_smells_plants_pain

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Pachycereus Pringlei

2008-10-19T23:27:28Z

Im totally fascinated by this cactus and am thinking of making a journey down to baja california this summer. Has anyone ever been? Any tips or other resources you know of on the web to help logistically prepare for this journey or any other cactus hunting experience in mexico?

Here's a some info on the cactus if you are interested...

http://www.azarius.net/news.php?newsindex=89

http://www.plantconsciousness.com/sacred_elixirs_podcasts.htm

posted in Ethnobotany - 85 replies

morning glory

2008-08-28T13:46:15Z

well hi all been doing many days of studying on morning glory (heavenly blues) and ordered a pound of it so i been reading as much as possible about extration cold water seems best but i was looking foward to so moonshine and quite a few mg seeds mabe oh i dont know a quart of shine and mabe 1500 seeds may do it any ideals of better ways? or should i just use the cold water method

posted in Ethnobotany - 18 replies

What if Edmond O Wilson was wrong

2008-08-25T22:56:24Z

What if aliens came down to earth and instead of finding social insects the most fascinating lifeforms on the planet, they found marijuana to be the most fascinating lifeform on the planet. What if the aliens thought that we had some of the best weed in the known universe ...
it could happen? right?
"You people do a lot of stupid shit on this planet but you do grow some righteous weed here, no doubt about that". They might say ...

posted in Ethnobotany - 5 replies

morning glory

2008-08-25T21:14:24Z

i keep hearing different ways to use this medicine. i learned a little of how the natives in the south used it traditionaly by making it a tea. i was hoping on some clearifications on how to make this medicine in a pure good way. also about how many seeds need to be used. i mostly use heavenly blue. thank you everyone.

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

4th shamanic conference and Amazon wrap up

2008-08-22T01:16:54Z

4th shamanic conference and Amazon wrap up

By Dean Jefferys

Flying back from the Amazon across the deep blue pacific ocean for the 6th time I'm wondering if the rising fuel prices and the difficulty to justify this carbon footprint, means this may be my last trip to visit the shamans of the Amazon.

I've just spent an amazing 6 weeks in Chile and Peru. First I travelled to the International Whaling Commission, I.W.C. in Santiago, Chile, with 6 other people from the Byron region. The aim was to try to stop the whaling nations from the insane activity of killing whales. We definitely rocked their boat, but that's another story. What I want to talk about here is the crazy shamanic adventure that followed in Peru.

To cover my costs to attend the IWC I organized a shamanic tour with 8 people from around the world to visit sacred sites around the Machu Picchu region and into the Amazon jungle and experience some power plants. The power plants of Peru, the San Pedro cactus and the Ayahuasca vine have been used along the Andes Mountains and in the jungle by shamans and people in ceremony for thousands of years. Ayahuasca is not only legal in Peru it was just declared part of Peru's cultural heritage therefore keeping it out of the cluches of the UN and Americas war on drugs.

Climbing to the top of Machu Picchu mountain to avoid the crowds I knew the transmission from condor rock and the mountain with San Pedro would be worth the steep 2 hour climb. The shaman I was walking with suggested we chanted as we climbed and every 30 steps we prostrate to show our respects and develop a relationship with Apu (mountain) Machu Picchu. I don't know if it was the ozzy rebellious nature but us 3 ozzys didn't want to leave when they where rounding everyone up at closing time so we hid, then spent the night exploring these ancient ruins under the full moon. I felt shamans throughout the ages have use these power plants here in ceremonies, connecting them with the forces of nature and the spirit world.

This shamanic tour ended the day before the start of 4th shamanic conference in Iquitos, situated deep in the Amazon jungle in Peru. Around 200 people from countries around the world attended the gathering with an aim to acquire a deeper understanding of this ancient shamanic healing art and the Ayahuasca experience itself. It was an excellent opportunity for people to drink Ayahuasca with a trusted and experienced shaman. I liked shaman Percy Garcias energy and decided to drinks with him. 48 km from Iquitos and a half hour walk and we were at his Ayahuasca centre in the jungle.

We started the ceremony off with a flower bath and tobacco smudge to help cleanse the body and spirit. The Ayahuasca was prepared with 7 other plants the names of which remained a shamanic secret. Videoing at night with infra-red help me capture some of the magic without interrupting the energy, yet at some point in the ceremony the camera became an inoperable object. Purging the contents of your body is part of the cleansing process that I think most participated. The next day, two people reported seeing the same small forest beings and delighted each other with sharing the same descriptions of the beings. Another was show by the plants aspects of herself that she wasn't even aware of. For me, drinking Ayahuasca was like visiting and old friend. She reminds me of a world that exists parallel to our own that we forget, or just don't realise is there. She also can show when we have stepped of the path of being the best person we can be and through visions and insights guides us back on our path. Many westerners are now using Ayahuasca as a tool for their own personal development yet paranoid unfounded laws try to prevent people using these power plant. As Terence Mc Kenna once said "We are told to live between a narrow canyon of conciousness walled in between awake and asleep." Countries like lemmings signed up to the UN convention on Narcotics that put these power plants in the Schedule One category along with heroin and cocaine. So paranoid were the powers that be that these plants may challenge the status quo, that even research into these plants and their possible clinical applications were banned. Now many Doctors, Philosophers, rights campaigners, Ethnobotinists and more are lobbying to remove these plants from a scheduled list and allow their use in respectful ceremonies.

Another well respected local Ayahuascaro healer told me how he works with spirits of dead doctors from around the world to help heal people. These spirits also protect him from bad spirits that sometimes try to psychically attack him. Around 60 local Peruvian people come to his house every Friday night to be healed by him. He doesn't charge any money. After an Ayahuasca session with him, Celo from Mullumbimby now living in the Amazon said see could see as clear as day, all the spirits in the room that he was working with.

I was kept busy filming editing and uploading short video clips and interview of the conference to mywww.planetearthinternettv.com. I also made a one hour documentary of the conference which is available from my other website www.shamansoftheamazon.com

I managed a chat with an English guy who, after a series of ayahuasca visions was inspired to build a 7 story floating pyramid on the Amazon river. Now almost half built. See www.pyramidperu.com/ for more info.

I lost 10 kilos on this 6 weeks trip and I figured I should be able to interest some of Jenny Craig's clients to come to the Amazon on a shamanic weight loss program.

Talks and interviews were intermingled with direct shamanic experiences in this 8 day conference that I'm sure has transformed many lives. Yet I'm also sure some may have been disappointed that they didn't get the visuals or visions that where depicted so well in the Ayahuasca western called Renegade, or my film "Shamans of the Amazon" or that the little machine elves that Terrence Mc Kenna explained so eloquently didn't dance for them. Yet next year many of the same faces will appear in the large Amazon jungle town of Iquitos at the 5th Shamanic conference, again looking to deepen their understanding of shamanism and the Ayahuasca experience. Maybe Ill get one more year in.

Footnote: Many clips of the Shamanic conference are currently available to play on demand atwww.planetearthinternettv.com. Dean is heading to Tonga this week, filming, communicating and swimming with the humpback whales. He will be uploading underwater footage of the whales to his website. Japan still plans to kill 50 humpback whales and 900 Minke whales this summer in the Antarctic unless they can be convinced otherwise.

For the whales
Dean Jefferys

See my other websites and become a friend

www.planetearthinternettv.com
www.flightofthehumpback.org
www.myspace.com/whalingdontbuyit
www.myspace.com/deanjefferys
www.youtube.com/shaman1958
www.youtube.com/flightofthehumpback
www.shamansoftheamazon.com
operator11.com/people/9343
people.tribe.net/c5ad8e1e-...fbaaacad09
www.facebook.com/profile.php

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

Indigenous Plants Indigenous Spirits?

2008-08-19T05:17:23Z

I was wondering. I've taken up a fascination with indigenous succulents plants of South Africa. Does anyone know if the plants spirits in these plants would be those indigenous to South Africa too?

By the way, if you're interested, the plants that I'm going to attempt to grow from seeds are Larryleachia cactiformis, Schizobasis intricate, and Bowiea volubilis. Of the three plants listed, Larryleachia cactiformis appears to be the most exotic. It's similar in appearance to the genus of pseudolithos but I believe are easier to grow.

posted in Ethnobotany - 8 replies

Nepal shamanistic seed?

2008-08-15T00:11:28Z

From Kathmandu, Nepal

I have a question about a seed my friend brought back from a trip in the mountains. Meeting a tamang baba (one of the many nepale ethnic groups. tamangs having a long history of shamanism), he was given a few seeds, which are said to be used for rituals by tamang shamans.

does anyone know of a nepale seed called phonetically something like "sanjevani, sanvani?". the seeds come from a small fruit, with about 4 seeds a fruit. they are darker color. the trip is supposed to induce first some vomitting, then about a 10 hr trip.
i will post picture of seed when i can.

Any clue?

http://www.fuzzytravel.com/manue

posted in Ethnobotany - 14 replies

What matters to the dying?

2008-08-12T18:28:37Z

The Threshold Project is a response to the unmet needs of people as they attempt to complete living. With educational outreach to caregivers and direct service to those approaching their death, we intend to change cultural paradigms.

Please visit our website and link it to yours as we establish our internet presence.
www.thresholdproject.org
You are enthusiastically invited to participate and support our rapid and exciting evolution as a nonprofit organization.

With greatest respect,

Michael D. Fratkin, MD
Program Director
michael@thresholdproject.org

Laura Patterson
Program Coordinator
laura@thresholdproject.org

The Threshold Project
1062 G Street, Suite G
Arcata, CA 95521
707-825-0270

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

Equinox Shamanic Journey to Peru • Febrary/March 2009

2008-08-07T21:24:45Z

Hi Everyone,

I'm reposting this with updated info. The Amazon itinerary has changed and we are now looking at a 12 day ayahuasca retreat in the Jungle near Iquitos. Please see details below. At the moment, the information pertaining to the 'Amazon' portion of the program is more accurate than what is listed on the itinerary page of my web site.

I'm offering a guided Shamanic Journey to Andes of Peru to take place March 10-21, 2009. The program will be preceded by an optional 12 day ayahuasca retreat (February 25 - March 9, 2009) in the jungle near Iquitos, where we will diet, take flower baths, swim and drink ayahuasca 5 times. I still have plenty of space for more participants.

In the Andes, will be working with world renown expert of Inca cosmology, author and shaman 'Mallku' (James Arévalo Merejildo). Mallku will lead us in ceremony at the following ancient temple sites: Pizac, Machu Picchu (twice), Ollantaytambo, Sacsayhuaman, Qenco, the water temple of Tipon, The Temple of Wiracocha, Ajayu Marka (a dimensional doorway), Puno, Lake Titicaca and the island of Amantani and Colca Canyon, the great canyon of the condor. Our Andean journey will afford us the opportunity to partake in 3 Huachuma (San Pedro) rituals, the last of which will be held on the morning of the equinox on the Island of Amantani (Lake Titicaca).

This year's Journey (March 2008) was a great success. Everyone bonded deeply and was very grateful for my efforts. The group was blown away by Mallku's facilitation and two individuals are considering participating again in 2009.

Prior to the Andes portion of the tour we will be participating in a 12 day ayahuasca retreat at the retreat center of Javier Arevalo, a well known and respected curnadero. We will also be working with other ayahuasca healers that have up till now only worked with the native population. Below is the itinerary.

The current travel itinerary to Iquitos looks as follows:

Arrive in Lima Feb 24th/25th, or earlier if you choose. Fly to Iquitos on February 25th. Overnight in hotel. Begin Ayahuasca retreat February 26. End ayahuasca retreat March 9th. Overnight in Iquitos and fly to Lima and on to Cuzco March 10th. The Andes portion of the program proceeds as laid out in the itinerary of my web site. Please ignore the Iquitos extension currently on my web site (see below). This will be updated and solidified as soon as we have a few more committed people.

The cost of the ayahuasca extension will be reduced from what is listed on my web site, and will be somewhere around $600 (maybe less depending on how many people come aboard).

Ayahuasca Extension Itinerary:

Day 1
▪ 1 hour journey by river boat on the Rio Nanay then 10 to 30 minute walk through jungle to the Temple campus (subject to river level).
▪ Introduction to the Curandero. Traditional welcome drink and meal.
▪ General discussion on Amazonian Shamanism, Ayahuascueros and plant medicines.
▪ Decide on which plant to diet and commence plant diet.
▪ Individual initial consultations with the Curandero.
▪ Evening meal at 8pm – strict food diet commences in addition to plant diet (which is drunk).

Day 2
▪ Plant diet continues
▪ Breakfast between 8 and 10 am
▪ Walk into the jungle to identify and get to know various medicinal plants and their uses.
▪ Lunch between 12 and 2 pm
▪ Individual consultations with the Curandero
▪ Ayahuasca ceremony at 8pm

Day 3
▪ Plant diet continues
▪ Breakfast between 8 and 10 am
▪ First “Bano de Florecimiento” – Limpieza (cleaning physical, emotional and spiritual bodies to remove negativity stored up in your body) at 12 pm
▪ Lunch between 1 and 2 pm
▪ Group discussion on personal animal spirits.
▪ Individual consultations with the Curandero
▪ Free evening to reflect and relax.
▪ Evening meal at 8.00 pm

Day 4
▪ Preparation of Ayahuasca (group to participate in the process)
▪ Breakfast between 8 and 10 am
▪ Plant diet continues.
▪ Lunch between 12 and 2 pm
▪ Individual consultations with the Curandero
▪ Ayahuasca ceremony at 8pm (or evening meal for those not participating)

Day 5
▪ Plant diet continues.
▪ Breakfast between 8 and 10 am.
▪ Lunch between 12 and 2 pm
▪ Individual consultations with the Curandero
▪ Free evening to reflect and relax.
▪ Evening meal at 8.00 pm

Day 6
▪ Plant diet continues.
▪ Breakfast between 8 and 10 am.
▪ Second “Bano de Florecimiento” – Flores Blancas (helps bring Light to your body, aids with feeling more relaxed and helps removes bad dreams) at 12pm
▪ Lunch between 1and 2 pm.
▪ Individual consultations with the Curandero
▪ Boat trip to 2 nearby “cochas” (lagoons) / opportunity to swim in the lagoons.
▪ Ayahuasca ceremony at 8pm (or evening meal for those not participating)

Day 7
▪ Plant diet continues.
▪ Breakfast between 8 and 10 am.
▪ Lunch between 12 and 2 pm
▪ Individual consultations with the Curandero
▪ Free evening to reflect and relax.
▪ Evening meal at 8.00 pm

Day 8
▪ Plant diet continues.
▪ Breakfast between 8 and 10 am.
▪ Lunch between 12 and 2 pm
▪ Individual consultations with the Curandero
▪ Ayahuasca ceremony at 8pm (or evening meal for those not participating)

Day 9
▪ Plant diet continues.
▪ Breakfast between 8 and 10 am.
▪ Third “Bano de Florecimiento” – Purificacion (purificacion bath for your spirit and mind, to bring spirits to your dreams and visions to help teach you, protection against bad spirits, good to remove negativity and to bring good luck) at 12 pm.
▪ Lunch between 1 and 2 pm
▪ Walk into the jungle for further identification of medicinal plants.
▪ Individual consultations with the Curandero
▪ Free evening to reflect and relax.
▪ Evening meal at 8.00 pm

Day 10
▪ Plant diet continues.
▪ Breakfast between 8 and 10 am.
▪ Lunch between 12 and 2 pm
▪ Optional fishing trip
▪ Individual consultations with the Curandero
▪ Ayahuasca ceremony at 8pm (or evening meal for those not participating)

Day 11
▪ Finish plant diet.
▪ Breakfast between 8 and 10 am.
▪ Lunch between 12 and 2 pm
▪ Final day in Temple campus.
▪ Final consultations with the Curandero.
▪ Farewell meal and "cut" the plant diet.
▪ Meditation ceremony at 9pm

Day 12
12 pm - walk to the Rio Nanay for return boat trip and transport back to Iquitos.

Please visit my web site for more information.
www.sacredperuadventures.com/itinerary.html

What can you expect to get out of this program?

First let me say that you will have the rare opportunity to work with one of the most knowledgeable individuals in the field Inca cosmology and Peruvian solar archeology. Mallku is a kind and generous being, holds a high very high consciousness, has the highest integrity and is an absolute delight to work with. He has written numerous books outlining the importance of, and the deep wisdom contained in Peru's ancient temples. Three excellent books by Mallku are "Machu Picchu Forever, City of Pilgrims", "Inka Initiation Path, The Awakening Of The Puma", and his latest, "Inka Power Places, Solar Initiations".

1.) Through Mallku's expert facilitation you will receive an in-depth understanding of ancient Inca Cosmology and how this wisdom can apply to your life today.

2.) You will receive a true immersion into ancient and modern Peruvian culture and return home having experienced Peru in a life changing and profound way.

3.) You will participate in rituals and ceremonies in key places on on this journey that will help you to reclaim the sacred in your life and to re-embrace the master path.

4.) You will have the opportunity to participate in three Huachuma (San Pedro) ceremonies designed to help you deeply integrate the new understandings and commitments you embrace and to deepen your connection with Pachamama (Mother Earth)

5.) It is also highly likely that you will deeply bond with other members of the group and create wonderful new friendships.

Our intention in offering these sacred journeys, is for all of humanity to reawaken to our full potential as divine human beings and to re-embrace the Master Path. If your soul has been calling you to make a spiritual quest to Peru, than I invite you to participate in this spectacular journey with us in March of 2009. I can almost assure you that any expectation you might have will be exceeded. This journey is open to all sincere spiritual seekers.

Please visit my web site for more information.
www.sacredperuadventures.com/itinerary.html

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

houseplant advice!

2008-07-29T20:48:25Z

Hi Everyone, just joined and I'm excited about the plethora of knowledge that's flowing through this wonderful tribe! Anyway, I live in a small (south-facing) apartment in MD and my passion for gardening is currently limited to raising houseplants. I have a bunch of jade, aloe, a peace lily, crown of thorns and two Schefflera. Any secret tricks to help these plants flourish? Are there any houseplants that will bloom year round? or at all? Just lookin for some pointers and friendly advice. -X

posted in Ethnobotany - 10 replies

Communicating with plant spirits

2008-07-14T22:12:36Z

Greetings,
I'm curious. I heard that the best way to communicate with plant spirits is to place a part of the plant under your pillow. Is that true? If it is placed under your pillow, how is the information communicated? Does the plant spirit appear in the form of a dream? If that is true, how does one differentiate a plant spirit from ordinary dreams? Comments anyone?

Azazeal

posted in Ethnobotany - 16 replies

shamanic intensive Training Course in Bolivian Andes & Amazon

2008-07-14T20:44:15Z

Sacha Runa Collective offers two Month-long Shamanic Intensive Training Courses a year
(Jan/Feb and August) in the Bolivian Andes& Amazon (www.sacharuna.com).
The course is indeed Intensive and deeply transformational.
It is intended to help train those people who trully want to entrust themselves to Spirit
and dedicate themselves to Service.
No prerequisite is necessary, except the absolute determination to face oneself
and do what is needed to allow spirit to flow through us and bless creation.
The next one is August1-30.
Have to fly in and out of la Paz, Bolivia.
Application letters are due ASAP.
The next course is Jan/Feb 2009

For serious apprentices who intend to become full fledged shamans and
conduct medicine ceremonies, at least 4 courses are recommended but it
ultimately dependes on everybody's skills.

For a description of the course, please visit www.sacharuna.com
Blessings:
Miguel A. Kavlin

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

Datura and cannabis in tantra (Vajrayana)

2008-07-04T21:05:44Z

The Use of Entheogens in the Vajrayana Tradition: a brief summary of preliminary findings together with a partial bibliography. © 2007 R.C. Parker (updated 2008)

http://vajrayana.faithweb.com/rich_text_5.html

This investigation has focused primarily on the use of entheogens in the anuttara-yoga-tantra materials especially (but not exclusively) the Yogini-tantras. The research has centered on the use of datura and cannabis (which are consider entheogenic plants despite the fact that neither is a "classical psychedelic").

The research of numerous respected scholars has established that these plants were definitely used in Vajrayana (within limited contexts) and that they were used in a manner largely consistent with their use in Saivite and shamanic traditions.

Feedback welcome,
Ryan

posted in Ethnobotany - 27 replies

Growing Dioscorea elephantipes

2008-07-04T19:12:42Z

Has anyone grown Dioscorea elephantipes successfully in the Bay Area? Or, is it too cold here?

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Miracle fruit makes sour things sweet!!

2008-06-20T21:24:45Z

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/dining/28flavor.html?ex=1369713600&en=b2206b4ef510a6ba&ei=5124&partner=digg&exprod=digg

posted in Ethnobotany - 4 replies

Growing Mushrooms On Medicinal Wood

2008-06-05T04:00:05Z

Hey hello..

I have been busy with my little hobby of growing sacred mushrooms. For all this time I have been using rice-flour and normal woodchips as a substrate for my little kiddies. Now I was wondering if instead of using woodchips I could use a wood with medicinal properties as a source of feeding for the mycilium. I was thinking of Mimosa Hostilis or Banisteriopsis Caapi, Ibogaine or Virola.

Would it be possible to use these.

I even thought of using Palo Santo, a holy wood with a strong scent, for a substrate.

Has anyone ever experimented with these possibilities? Did the mycelium grow? Did the mushrooms grow? Did they have a different effect on body and mind?

I'm very curious.

Peace, Love and Nakedness

Geert

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Ambrosia Society Membership

2008-05-30T13:34:36Z

After some hard work, the Ambrosia Society is now open for Membership.

members.ambrosiasociety.org

It includes a Public Forum and a Members' Area.

Membership Details can be found here:

www.ambrosiasociety.org/xoops/...dex.php

and here:

www.ambrosiasociety.org/join.html

posted in Ethnobotany - 4 replies

Ive organised a Shamanic Adventure into Peru. Anyone interested in joining me?

2008-05-28T12:21:50Z

Hi,
Its Dean Jefferys here, the filmmaker who made the Shamans of the Amazon DVD.

Since I organised the last Shamanic Adventure into Peru and Machu Picchu in 2004 amongst other things, I have been working solidly to help the whales and dolphins swim free. I will be crossing the pacific to go to the International Whaling commission meeting in Chile in June to try to help the whales and dolphins and thought this was a good opportunity to organise another Shamanic Adventure into Peru. Read the reports from my last trip and get more info about the trip at http://www.shamansoftheamazon.com. This trip also fits in with The Fourth International Amazonian Shamanism Conference: Magic, Myths & Miracles, Iquitos, Peru July 19th-27th, 2008 see http://www.soga-del-alma.org/ConferenceSite/

So I am organising some shamanic trip options for those who may want to join me and have a direct experience with Ayahuasca, San pedro, the mountains, the jungle the shamans and everything else. You can't go to Peru without visiting the Sacred valley and Machu Picchu region. I have meet a strong shaman named Sayre who lives in the Sacred valley to facilitate the journey. Sayre is a descendant from the Incas. We ran an amazing tour together in 2004. see a short clip I made of that trip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oI-PSBxa50 Also see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4ru3z0OtXE&NR=1

We have put together a great journey visiting many of the sacred sites in the Sacred valley and Sayre will run many San Pedro and Ayahuasca ceremonies throughout the 16 day trip around the Sacred valley and Pulcalpa in the Amazon jungle, from the 3rd of July to the 18th of July. In Pulcalpa we live and drink with the Shipibo people and shaman until the start of the conference on the 19th of July. See itinary. http://www.shamansoftheamazon.com/journey2.htm For more information about the Shipibo and the work Sayre is doing with them see http://web.iapicc.org/. and http://www.weaversofwisdom.org/index.php?id1=projects&id2=shipibo

I will also be staying on in the Iquitos region after the Shamanic conference for a week and visiting an Ayahuascaro shaman to do more ceremony. You may wish to also attend the conference ( you have to organise and pay for the conference seperately) and if you want to spend more time in Peru with the medicine join me before and / or after the conference. The Sacred valley, Machu Picchu, Pulcalpa trip is $2400 USD for the 16 days and 15 nights. Which works out at $160 pr night. It will be a jammed pact shamanic adventure, not for the light hearted.

Once you arrive in Cusco everything including sessions will be paid and catered for. Internal flights though will need to be paid by you. If you want to join me just for the amazon leg after the conference I have organised a 7 day 6 night amazon shamanic adventure it will be $780 = $130 pr day. Again everything will be catered for including aya sessions. We will be going to see Percy Garcia. He has been working with medicinal plants for over 25 years since he was 12 years old. Percy has excellent ayahuasca and he is a very very humble man. He has private cabins as well as his maloca, everything is screened in. The maloca was built over a small river, really nice. He is about 48 kilometers outside of Iquitos. We should get 2 or 3 ayahuasca sessions in, in that time. He has lots of information about medicinal plant of the jungle he will share with us and take us to some special places in the amazon Jungle. We will also learn how to prepare the sacred brew. As this journey starts in only 6 weeks I need to get numbers sorted out and confirmed asap

Also I want to let you know that I have just released a new DVD which includes all my Shamanic stuff. Its a 3 DVD Boxed set and includes some classic extra clips from the cutting room floor. Its 332 mins of running time. Its for sale from my http://www.shamansoftheamazon.com/sales.htm website.I ll be shooting another doco on the trip and may be doing some live internet streaming of both conferences in SA from my still to be built Online TV website. Ill let you know when it happens.

Also Im am planning three, 10 day retreats called "Diving into whale conciousness" in Tonga on a small tropical island in the middle of the pacific ocean, starting mid August. Tonga is one of 3 locations on the globe where humans can legally swim with whales and the humpbacks come here to breed and play from July to October. see http://www.malaislandresort.com/ for a taste of what im organising there. It will be around $2500 for 10 days with the whales.

If for some strange reason I dont get the numbers for the trip your deposit will be refunded 100% If you pull out half your deposit will disappear into another dimension. If you are interested please respond expressing your interest and I will put you on a special email list that I will send out more info to you. If you have any friends who you feel may be interested in one of these trips feel free to pass this web address onto them. Likewise if you or a friend has a related shamanic type website that may wish to swap web links feel free to pass this one onto them or contact me. If you are on my email list and someone you recommend this trip to, comes on the trip, you can recieve $50 aud and a free 3 DVD boxed set of "Shamans of the Amazon" For more details, photos and reports from the last trip see other pages on my website. http://www.shamansoftheamazon.com
Also see a 8 minute clip of "Shamans of the Amazon" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NZpOXj6u78

I hope to be at both the International Whaling commission and the The Fourth International Amazonian Shamanism Conference with My http://www.Planetearthinternettv.com to do live interactive internet streaming of the events and all that happens around it. Including run downs of the days events and interviews with delegates and activists. Its not up yet but check it in a week or so. And stay tuned.

Loven Light
Dean Jefferys

See my other websites and become a friend

http://www.myspace.com/whalingdontbuyit
http://www.flightofthehumpback.org
http://www.myspace.com/deanjefferys
http://www.youtube.com/shaman1958
http://www.youtube.com/flightofthehumpback
http://www.shamansoftheamazon.com
http://operator11.com/people/9343
http://people.tribe.net/c5ad8e1e-af29-441b-9087-28fbaaacad09
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=590968500

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Under Codex all nutrients and herbs are labelled as toxic and will be illegal.(as illegal as heroin) Canada is required to comply with codex by DEC.31 2009

2008-05-25T23:09:16Z

I am very concerned about Codex and the implications it can have on our Canadians rights and freedom. Under Codex all nutrients and herbs are labelled as toxic and will be illegal.(as illegal as heroin) Canada is required to comply with codex by DEC.31 2009 or the WTO which implements Codex will put up trade sanctions against Canada. We must not let Codex get implemented. We need to start sending letters and getting petitions signed NOW to stop Codexs standards from being implemented here in Canada and the rest of the world. I have added a Video which outlines what we must do to stop codex. Please Help and get the Canadian public to be aware of Codex and the horrible implications it could have on our lives.

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-5266884912495233634&q=health&total=122451&start=0num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Please watch this video it will inform you of exactly what Codex is and what it is trying to do and how we can fight it.

Again, we must stop this now before it's to late and our human rights to take nutritional supplements and herbs is taken away and our right to hormone free meat and milk and organic vegetables is taken away.

I need your help all Canadians need your help. Inform the Canadian Public about Codex and get the petitions started to stop them.

Sincerely,
Brittany

posted in Ethnobotany - 34 replies

Amazing clean fast efficient easy DMT extraction method!

2008-05-15T05:36:07Z

How to easily make DMT:
=======================
Break 1-Pound of Mimosa Hostilis rootbark into 2" pieces and grind it all up in a glass-topped blender, a little at a time.
------------------------------------
Polar Extraction: Premix in an empty 1-Gallon plastic jug: 1-Quart White Vinegar & 3-Quarts Water. Put the ground up Mimosa in a 3-Liter crockpot, then fill it with the water-vinegar solution. Stir well and turn it on "high". After 2 hours, remove the crockpot ceramic liner, hold the lid on slightly offset, and pour off most of the liquid into a 1-gallon wide-mouthed glass or stainless container. Add the remaining water-vinegar solution to the crockpot again. Stir well and turn it on "high". After 2 hours, remove the crockpot ceramic liner, hold the lid on slightly offset, and pour off all of the liquid into the same container again. Discard the rootbark fiber and save the two combined extractions in the 1-gallon container. Allow the vegetable particles in the extraction in the 1-gallon container to settle to the bottom overnight. Then pour off the liquid into an empty 1-Gallon glass wine jug, being careful not to pour off any of the vegetable sludge at the bottom. Discard the sludge and keep the contents of the wine jug.
------------------------------------
Basification: Premix in advance a solution of: 5 Tablespoons (63grams) of Sodium Hydroxide ("Red Devil" lye) with 1-Pint of WARM Water. Stir well. Slowly add this solution to the wine jug, then cap the jug. Gently tilt the wine jug back and forth for 1 full minute to mix the contents.
------------------------------------
Nonpolar Extraction: Add 250ml of (Ace Hardware)VM&P Naptha to the wine jug. Add exactly enough warm water to the jug to raise the liquid level to an inch below the top, then cap the jug. Gently tilt the wine jug slowly back and forth for 5 full minutes to mix the contents. Allow the jug to sit undisturbed on a table for at least 4 hours. There should now be two layers visible in the jug, a lower dark one and a smaller clear one on top filling the neck of the jug. Use a glass turkey baster to suck up the top clear layer into a pint mason jar. Be careful not to suck up any of the lower brown/black layer into the mason jar.
-------------------------------------
Freeze-precipitation/wash: place the sealed mason jar in a FREEZER for 3 days to precipitate the crystals. Prepare a filter setup by placing a funnel into a quart mason jar and putting a small coffee filter paper into the funnel. Shake the naptha in the mason jar strongly to stir up all the crystals at the bottom and quickly pour while still very cold into the funnel for filtering. Impure yellow-white DMT crystals will be seen on the coffee filter paper. Allow the crystals to completely dry out on the filter paper in the funnel. Premix a wash solution by mixing equal parts of Distilled Water and NON-SOAPY clear Ammonium Hydroxide(Ace Hardware Janitorial Strength Ammonia) into a pint container. Slowly pour 100ml of the wash solution over the crystals (still in the filter paper) to wash them. Remove the filter paper from the funnel, spread it out flat and allow the crystals to COMPLETELY dry out. You will now have 2-1/2 grams of white crystal DMT. At least 50 strong doses. Mix it with some parsley and smoke a little in your favorite pipe!

[Updated June 24th,2005 to better serve you!]

Here is the link to the whole thread on the forum:
www.drugs-forum.com/forum/fo...posts.asp

It is extremely informative. SWIM (someone who is not me) used this technique and said it was ridiculously simple once he had done his research. He expected it to be much more difficult, however this procedure makes it simple and very fast, and VERY PURE. Smoke it til you burst, says SWIM. It is most definetly worth the effort.

posted in Ethnobotany - 7 replies

Growing Atropa belladonna

2008-05-04T04:41:11Z

Any advice on how to get this girl going? I had one inside and she got overwhelmed with spider mites. Grew another from seed who got to about 4 inches then turned dark purple and wilted. I'd love to have at least one in my garden.I'm in San Francisco. Do they like water/ Shade? Sun? Other plants around them?

Anyone have success with these?

Thanks for any feedback. (I've got mandrake and wolfsbane aka aconite - shipping soon to my greenhouse) I'll post those kids once they stabilize and start sprouting.

My little ethnobotanical garden is coming along nicely. I took some photos for y'all to enjoy. If I've misidentified anything, please let me know
.
http://flickr.com/photos/tirch/sets/72157604872421517/

Enjoy!

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Botany 2008, Vancouver, BC

2008-05-01T20:34:41Z

This joint annual meeting of Botanists in North America is occurring this year on the west coast in Vancouver, Canada... July 27th-30th. I became very excited when I realized the line-up of speakers and events, including several ethnobotanical field trips, social gatherings and workshops was happening so close to my home. It rotates yearly.

Several workshops are scientific, while others are theoretical, and most important, there are talks about ways humans relate with plants in these changing times.

I would love to go, but I took a naturalist position up north. I wanted to share the idea with others thinking perhaps this conference forum is another important opportunity to share some of our finds on ethnoecology and botany with others outside of our circles.

For students and graduates there are special rates, too.

http://bsa2008.scientific-conference.net/

Enjoy!

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Talk about the ritual use of sacred coca plant

2008-05-01T18:20:46Z

Hi everyone,
here you can listen to 4 audio recordings of speakers at the World Psychedelic Forum held March 21 through 24 2008 in Basel Switzerland:
Narby, Grof, Pinchbeck and a colombian mama(shaman) talking about the ritual use of sacred coca plant.
www.futureprimitive.org/wpf.php
Enjoy!!
warm regards
Zorro

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Very Affordable New Enthogen Institute

2008-04-30T02:48:44Z

Has Anyone been to this Enthogen Institute? www.youtube.com/watch

posted in Ethnobotany - 5 replies

Amanita Muscaria; Herb of Imortality

2008-04-26T10:04:38Z

Donald E. Teeter's book, "Amanita Muscaria; Herb of Immortality" is now available in E-book format for free download at the Ambrosia Society's website. Please feel free to download it, make copies for your friends, and pass the word along. If you really dig the book and would like to help support The Ambrosia Society you can make a donation or just drop us a line and say thanks.

www.ambrosiasociety.org

"The Ambrosia Society founding members have been called to teach the secrets of the Sacrament to the world and to gather together a brotherhood of those who wish to serve the Sacrament. Eventually we hope to have Sacred groves to produce our own A m and our own Vineyards for The Sacred Wine, bakeries to grow and process the Living Bread, and Ambrosia Houses serving the Sacrament in every land. " - Donald E. Teeter

-RedBeard

Check out the time-lapse video of the Amanita resurrecting on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch

posted in Ethnobotany - 25 replies

Improper "Big Pharma" Influence in Medicine is VERIFIED!

2008-04-20T11:38:33Z

Improper "Big Pharma" Influence in Medicine is VERIFIED!

This is a BIG step in the right direction for health care in the USA! It has been no secret, but no one was talking about it since the monetary benefits that many doctors are receiving from these companies made this unlikely. I mean - if you were the type to only care about money (which is why many become doctors in the first place), wouldn't you want a free trip to Cancun by putting other people on basically unproven and even harmful chemical substances?

Catherine D. De Angelis, MD, MPH and Phil B. Fontanarosa, MD, MBA have submitted this timely (and likely unwelcome) article into the April 16, 2008 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), entitled "Impugning the Integrity of Medical Science - the Adverse Effects of Industry Influence."

What is even more awesome is that this was broadcast on the same day on the morning edition of Talk Radio's "Paul Harvey" show, so this information has come to the attention of many Americans today!

I am happy to see that some doctors do in fact have some integrity. This may also be an opening for safer alternative methods to be approved by the AMA for doctors to use and not feel like they will have their medical licensing taken away if they recommend a proven herbal remedy (as an example) instead of the new designer drugs of the day. I hope this allows them the courage to step forward now that the door has been opened!

We can help by showing this to our medical providers (if you have those) this article, and telling them about this, they can maybe take additional steps as doctors to become more able to practice alternative and natural techniques without risking their careers. Also, tell your friends in any way you can, so that they can demand alternative therapies be implemented or they will go elsewhere now that this article ought to free up other practitioners to use these methods. This also provides some validation for Alternative practitioners who have known about these dangers all along. Health care freedom (and responsibility) is up to all of us - please spread the message!

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/299/15/1833 (download in case they remove!)
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/282/17/1609

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

Postmodern Times

2008-04-06T16:21:38Z

Postmodern Times has a new episode up at http://www.iclips.net/pmt.php

In the Tipping Point, founder and president of MAPS, Rick Doblin,
goes over the history of the radical cultural and political changes
that happened during the 60’s. What are the lessons we can learn
from what happened then, and how do we apply it to our world today...

http://www.iclips.net/pmt.php
http://www.postmoderntimes.com

"The deed creates the doer"

Nietzsche

"You can't better the world by simply talking to it. Philosophy to be effective must be mechanically applied." - Buckminster Fuller

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

LSD improved motor skills

2008-03-29T14:30:39Z

I wasn't sure which tribe to post this on. I'll start here.

I've had the experience (as well as many of yall out there I'm sure) that psychadelics actually improved motor skills. I am most specifically relating it to the motor skills required to play instruments. It almost seemed like cheating. I have had a hard time recreating what I could easily do while on a trip.

So, does anyone know why my muscles were so much more fine-tuned, faster, better timing, less tiresome etc?
I would appreciate being connected to some info. I have been wonderin about it for some time. The stuff I found on the internet only talked about motor skill impairment.

Sometimes It is a little frustrating to play guitar at only a percentage of the abilities that were present for only short periods of time.

posted in Ethnobotany - 19 replies

Growing Plants with Spirit

2008-03-29T08:16:52Z

Hello everyone, I just joined this group and it is nice to meet you all. I've read the posts up here and it looks like you all have a good bit of knowledge that I'm hoping to tap into. I've always been involved with horticulture and just recently I had an experieince that is goading me into building an ethonobotanical garden. I've started off with an Angel's Trumpet, Brugmansia. I've got a bunch of other plants in the garden, lavendar, geraniums, poppies (california variety) Coastal strawberries, a bunch of different jade varieties and roses.

I'd really like to put together a garden of both medicinal and psychotropic plants, just to sit out there and be with them. I love hanging out and watching plants grow and plants with spirit inside are always interesting.

My question is simple. I bought the Angel's Trumpet at Sloat. What other medicinal and psychotropic plants can I buy at any nursery? I know about passionflower and that's my next plant. I've never once (5 tries) been able to grow Morning Glories even though I love them vining over a wall, in the San Francisco Sunset where I live.

If you know any easy to find plants, please reply, it'd be a fun list to have. Easy plants, not special order.

Thank you and it is nice to meet you.

posted in Ethnobotany - 25 replies

Books

2008-03-27T22:26:15Z

I was wondering what people's favorite books about Ethnobotany are and if they have any suggestions of books to read.

posted in Ethnobotany - 7 replies

plant diet for the rose -- what kind of rose?

2008-03-10T04:48:14Z

anybody have a lead on a latin name, common name, or spanish name for the not-too-big white-flowered rose of dieta fame?

thanks

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

CONVERGANCE july 10-18 * Iquitos, Peru

2008-02-28T11:15:55Z

Make the pilgrimage

Join shamans, visionaries, leading edge thinkers, scientists, spiritual teachers, healers, filmmakers, and other artists as we discover common ground in multiple disciplines through presentations, workshops and ayahuasca ceremonies.

Together we will explore our outer and inner worlds, push the limits of our perception and challenge our consciousness through sharing our individual and collective experience, spirited dialogues, leading edge lectures, indigenous art workshops, traditional indigenous and "on the brink" music, visionary art exhibitions and ayahuasca ceremonies in the sensuous, vibrating rainforest of Amazonian Peru.

Pablo Amaringo ~ Denis Mckenna ~ Jeremy Narby ~ Robert Venosa ~ &more!

a little bit of bioneers ~ a little bit of burning man

www.amazonconvergence.com/index.html

posted in Ethnobotany - 3 replies

Weaving with Cedar bark

2008-02-28T09:30:25Z

Hi all. I just joined this tribe and I wanted to share with you all an awesome experience that I had regarding ethnobotany. A few years back I was involved in a non-violent seminar that taught people from all over the world the art of bringing attention to their enviornmental cause without violence. I met this young First Nations Indian from the British Columbia Bella Coola Band or the Nuxalk Nation tribe. This young man was to be Chief of his tribe one day and the Canadian government was clearcutting on their Native lands and destroying their sacred healing hotsprings. He was at this camp to learn the craft of non-violent civil disobedience. While I was there with him, he taught me how to ceremoniously strip the bark off of the tree and then to weave the fibers together. He told me that his tribe still used this technique to make clothing, baskets and bags. That was one of my first introductions of ethnobotany in actual use. It was really cool!

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

plant genetics

2008-02-18T20:45:58Z

low and behold, we are doing the same thing to marijuana that we are doing to .... everything. The Drug War drove growers indoors and now after some decades of this we have hydro pot some with over 20% THC and my feeling is that a lot of this hydro pot has been so genetically altered that it is now a man made "drug" that definately causes addiction and then god knows what else since it is so new I doubt there are any reliable long term studies. By bearing down on our innocent little plant with the human intention for speed of maturation and maximum yield, we have created a monster. O to sativa's growing wild under the auspices of a bright and beautiful sun!

posted in Ethnobotany - 19 replies

Mind Power & Meditation Course

2008-02-18T05:50:44Z

Dear Tribe Member,
After a GREAT SUCCESS of "MIND Your Intellect"- A Mind Power Self Study Course from Golden Inspirations. Now we are happy to launch Digital Version of the Mind Power Course with INSTANT PAY & INSTANT DOWNLOAD Feature. Now you can improve your mind power at the comfort of your home.

We all know how important our Mind is, whatever we are and whatever we do good or bad is created by our own Mind. But very few people know that you can get whatever you want, a better job? Better relationships? Peaceful & Problem free life? Etc. Just by improving your mind power.

"This course will change the way you look towards yourself. This course is especially designed to help you understand how your mind works, and how you can unleash the hidden potential of your mind."

Course Includes:-
1.An Excellent book on Unleashing Mind Power.
2.Two Audio CDs with 10 different scientifically designed Meditations & Relaxation Exercises to help you make your mind more efficient.

For your comfort we have also included Free Cash on Delivery (COD) service across INDIA. Course can be delivered to you within "3 Business Days".

We have especially kept a low price of "$33/- " for the complete package & Just "$13/-" for the Digital Download Version.

visit: http://worldwide.goldeninspiration.com TO KNOW MORE.

International Price:
Hard Copy Version: Just $33/-
Digital Downloadable Version: Just $13/-
Visit: http://worldwide.goldeninspiration.com

Regards,
Team Golden Inspirations
http://www.goldeninspiration.com

posted in Ethnobotany - 3 replies

Entheogens and the Planetary Shift

2008-02-11T22:49:32Z

I hope you enjoy this fascinating material... ;)
RAPTURE AND REVOLUTION

Discussions on Entheogens and the Planetary Shift:

The Wasson Thesis and the Religious View of Nature
The Psychonautic Adventure - Three Generations of Discovery
The Organic Light and Telestic Shamanism
The Planetary Shift - Society or the Species

http://www.futureprimitive.org/randr.php

(Also, a wonderful conversation with psychologist, writer and researcher Dr Ralph Metzner. This is an candid and deep exchange of ideas about the past and the possible future, a historical document that speaks about the birth of LSD research at Harvard and beyond...

http://www.futureprimitive.org/GAIAlogues.html#latest

Praise to the Web of Life,
Zorro

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

might want to go to this.

2008-02-11T19:33:14Z

http://www.onefamilygathering.org/

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Ayahuasca Convergence - Shamanism & Visionary Gathering

2008-02-10T02:56:48Z

www.AmazonConvergence.com

July 10 - July 18 2008 outside Iquitos, Peru

PlantTeachers Presents... Nine Dynamic Days

Ayahuasca Shamanism Conference,
Retreat & Visionary Gathering

Featuring
Shamans. . . Visionaries . . . Scientists. . . Healers. . . Spiritual Teachers. . . Artists . .

Pablo Amaringo, Guillermo Arévalo “Kestembetsa", AyasminA, Sonia Chuquimbalqui “Soiyaca",
Frank Echenhofer, Ph.D., Richard Grossman, Ph.D., Martina Hoffmann, Jan Kounen, Dennis McKenna, Ph.D., Jeremy Narby, Ph.D., Roberto Venosa, Rolando, Kenneth W. Tupper, Sitaramaya, Maria Valera “Panshin Biri"

Come to Peru.

Join shamans, visionaries, leading edge thinkers, scientists, spiritual teachers, healers, filmmakers, and other artists as we discover common ground in multiple disciplines through presentations, workshops and ayahuasca ceremonies.

Together we will explore our outer and inner worlds, push the limits of our perception and challenge our consciousness through sharing our individual and collective experience, spirited dialogues, leading edge lectures, indigenous art workshops, traditional indigenous and "on the brink" music, visionary art exhibitions and ayahuasca ceremonies in the sensuous, vibrating rainforest of Amazonian Peru.

I hope to see you there
- Sita

a little bit of burning man, a little bit of bioneers.

www.AmazonConvergence.com

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

Eastern European ethnobotany. Bah!

2008-02-06T21:52:42Z

why is there no literature on it? Are the studies just lumped in with European ethnobotany? I am interested in eastern european (and specifically Romanian) because of hte Romani influence, and their way of practicing folk medicine is different form that of western europe.
Why is this so frustrating?

posted in Ethnobotany - 4 replies

Dreams, fake Absinthe, herbal liquors...

2008-02-05T02:07:34Z

Years ago, I spent a while in northern Spain, and indulged myself of Absinthe, finding that small amounts before naps would give me extremely bright and vivid dreams. I (logically) associated that with the tujone content from the wormwood and thought very little of it, because though I enjoied those dreams, the Absinthe was quite hard on me.

A few weeks ago, I went to a party and they had an herbal liquor there (Fernet-Branca, a dark Italian herbal liquor, similar to Jaegermeister), and I had a little right before we left. That night, I had amazingly vivid. It was really shocking, I woke up confused a few times, almost unable to discern between dream and reality, and thinking about Absinthe, and how I had not had anything that I thought made that effect happen. Two nights again, I continued the experiment by having a half-shot of Pernod (a French psuedo absinthe, with no wormwood content), and found it to have a similar effect, not as strong though.

I was wondering if there were any herbs in the concoctions that might be known to cause these amazing lucid dreams, and if there is a way to get those herbs without the rough 140proof alcohol. All three drinks contain significant amounts of Anise, Coriander, Fennel and Melissa (I'm not familiar with that last one).

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

topical numbing with anis root

2008-02-01T14:24:52Z

a long time ago some one showed me a trick with anis root .anis grows every where in santa barbara and other countys in california .you take the root and chew it to a pulp than place the root on tender skin it will numb your mouth anis is used as a spice it is safe to eat dos any one know of other plants that cause numbnes like anis root thanks

posted in Ethnobotany - 6 replies

poison oak remedys

2008-01-30T23:58:25Z

in my last post I made a bad mistake referring to sumac as a remedy for poison oak i am sorry but the plant i was rubbing on my skin was not sumac in my mistake I hope I have not caused any grief for you fine people happy hikeing and if any one dos know of a good remedy
pleas post it

posted in Ethnobotany - 5 replies

New Tribe: Herbal Wisdom

2008-01-25T00:24:28Z

Greetings,
I have started a new tribe: Herbal Wisdom. The intent of this tribe is to focus on I promoting health and creating deep nourishment.

Herbs can be nourishing, stimulating and or poisonous depending on the plant, how it is prepared and what part of the plant one uses. I hope that we can focus on primarily the nourishing plants and their preparation. They create deep healing and often are all that is needed.

This is a difficult paradigm in our culture because we always want to fix something right away with stimulatiion. When sometimes all that is needed is a gentle touch, patience and rest.

I hope this tribe will provide support for exploration of deep nourishment and that we can encourage each other to make this enlivening shift.

I hope that some of you will feel inspried to join us in this exploration. Here is the link:

tribes.tribe.net/herbalwisdom

Blessings,
Linda

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Opinions about "The Cosmic Serpent"?

2008-01-25T00:23:03Z

I would be very interested to know your opinion about Jeremy Narby's Book, The Cosmic Serpent?

posted in Ethnobotany - 14 replies

Sleeplessness, insomnia

2008-01-24T04:49:07Z

My wife has major trouble falling and staying asleep for the night, probably due to menopause. She wants to know what you guys (and girls!) reccomend. Some over the counter stuff works, but we'd rather go the herbal route. Kava works for me, but doesn't seem to affect her much. Help is appreciated.

posted in Ethnobotany - 29 replies

LSD and Kundalini

2008-01-23T21:57:46Z

http://www.med.wayne.edu/degracialab/metaphysics/lsdweb/index.html

Really interesting link. Worth the read.

M<

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

In Search of the Divine Vegetal

2008-01-22T00:46:58Z

Hey Everyone!

Here's a link to a demo video my crew and I are working on (very rough, and dated by this point, but oh well...), as a follow-up to our audio documentary by the same name: In Search of the Divine Vegetal." Feedback welcomed!

www.dailymotion.com/panoramabox

Incidentally, the audiodoc is available as a podcast -- if you're interested in listening, go to:

www.cbc.ca/ideas/podcast.html

or simply google it by its name.

Cheers!
~Ayasmina

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

calea zacatechichi and the nicotine patch

2008-01-18T02:57:35Z

I was wondering in anyone had information on using calea zacatechichi and the nicotine patch in combination? It seems like this would be a potentially useful combination for onieronautic exploration.

I was wondering if there is any reason to believe that such a combination would be contraindicated in a normal healthy adult?

Does anyone have any practical experience with this combination? If so, was it more efficacious than either one on its own (my experience is that both are reasonably effective by themselves, but have not yet tried them in combination).

I was thinking that one could apply a patch shortly before going to bed followed by drinking an infusion of calea zacatechichi after which some of the dry plant material could be smoked until the proper level of relaxed "sleepiness" (for lack of a better description of waking calea effects) is achieved.

I usually don't sleep with any music on, but was thinking that it might be something to explore with this combination.

Any thoughts would be appreciated
Ryan

posted in Ethnobotany - 4 replies

Nutmeg high

2008-01-14T20:28:49Z

http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=7905

Has anyone done this? I read 3 - 4 tbsp is enough. This guy did alot more I think. I don't really like marijuana anymore and am wondering if this might be something I could enjoy. I'd like to know if anyone can share their experience & if it was good or bad or didnt work or whatever.

posted in Ethnobotany - 47 replies

Datura and the illusory nature of reality

2008-01-11T10:01:43Z

In Robert Thurman's _Essential Tibetan Buddhism_ he mentions that datura "is used by shamans in the American south-west to teach vision-questers the illusoriness of habitual objective reality".

I was wondering if anyone here has ever heard of datura being used to teach "illusoriness" in Amerind tribal cultures? If so I would love a reference to use as a citation.

If Amerind cultures use datura to teach the illusory nature of habitual reality this would appear to be a truly remarkable convergence with the Vajrayana tradition. However, Thurman is not always the most reliable source of information and I would love to have independent confirmation.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can provide,
Ryan

posted in Ethnobotany - 9 replies

Techniques Of Ecstacy

2008-01-08T15:42:36Z

Hey everybody,

I have started a new tribe: "Sharing techniques of ecstacy"
And i hope you will all join to share your knowledge.
I have been on Tribe for a little while now and am amazed by all the wisdom that circles around.

The idea is that this will become a tribe where sharing of knowledge is a central point.
Knowledge in ways of connecting to the supernatural.
Think of mind traveling, breathing techniques, techniques of the body, techniques of the mind.
Techniques of worship and prayer.
But also knowledge of potions and plants.

Let it be as practical as possible, but also let there be sharing of visions from the other side.
How does one gain visions and knowledge.
How does one get insight in the eternal.
How does one keep in control.
How does one lose controle.
How does one start a tribe like this...

I will start by posting some of my earlier posts i wrote on different tribes.
I hope it will be a nice tribe.

Please join and enlighten each other with knowledge and beautiful stories

http://tribes.tribe.net/sharingtechniquesofecstacy

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

B. Caapi, P. Viridis, or Salvia Divinorum Cuttings

2008-01-07T04:50:38Z

Was wondering if anyone has a cutting of these ayahuasca plants by any chance ? or know where I could get them?
I'm in massachusetts, and would really love to grow these plants myself so i could develop a relationship with them prior to consumptions =D

if anyone can help, i would greatly appreciate it.

-mike

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

NEED IMAGES OF TEPANTITLA MORNING GLORY FRESCO!!!!

2008-01-06T22:13:19Z

I am working on a mural of the famous morning glory fresco and was wondering f anyone out there had a decent sized image of it complete that could be enlarged.

The more detail the better.

I have always been intrigued by the image.

I will post an image of it in the gallery for all to see.

Thanks for your help

dustin

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

the war on drugs

2008-01-06T18:46:27Z

feel free to look around on that tribe and post if you want.

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

Starting a CHATROOM for Ayahuasca / DMT enthusiasts!!!

2008-01-02T02:10:00Z

Hi guys, i'll be starting a chat room for anyone who is interested in Ayahuasca and DMT. This could be a place for us to chat real-time about our experiences, or simply just to hang out. The room will be hosted through mIRC (www.mirc.com) it's a very simple and straightforward program to use, and it's a very powerful way to communicate with the world... it has been around for ages. In addition, this is a great way to exchange files too if anyone has any great icaros that they would like to share..... our sister room on the server is #spiritplants and on the
5th of Jan. There will be a guest speaker called Ralph Metzner from the upcoming DMT: the spirit molecule film... so come join us !!!

the server we will be hosted on is yage.net
and the channel name is: Ayahuasca

to log on to the server manually: do this: /server irc.yage.net
then once you're on the server type /j #ayahuasca (or you can simply go to the commands tab on top and choose join channel, then enter the name of the room)

SPREAD THE WORD! let's get together!

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

mushroom polar opposite of nuke?

2008-01-01T05:27:57Z

http://tribes.tribe.net/2012psytranceascension/photos/8fc880e5-74e0-4808-8b21-32a311f665e4

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

book

2007-12-31T21:15:28Z

I heard/read there is a really complete book on ethnobotany, maybe from Holland?, a big one with picture. Does anybody know the name, we would like to manifast one. Thanx

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Graduate programs in ethnobotany?

2007-12-30T18:22:15Z

Hey all- I'm getting my degree fairly soon and was wondering if anyone here has heard of some good places to study ethnobotany? I've seen a couple of directories online, but they are pretty dated.
Heard of anything notable?

posted in Ethnobotany - 8 replies

ha ha Poinsettia

2007-12-29T23:25:30Z

wrote a blog about it.

http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/template/pub%2Coc%2CDetail.vm?topicid=8774fbeb-5757-4893-9040-4597560abc2e&plugin=blog&inst=1293080

posted in Ethnobotany - 3 replies

Coleus

2007-12-29T20:53:41Z

I heard it was slightly psychoactive. Read some trip reports. Got a Coleus plant, drank a large amount of tea and tried smoking it and nothing. Is the Coleus thing BS like the bannana peels or what?

posted in Ethnobotany - 4 replies

Mimosa hostilis

2007-12-29T12:40:52Z

Hello everyone...I just want to say thank you for all for your Love, Truth, and Integrity here in this Tribe. You all have been very clear and insightful with the topics, and commentary posted. All of which have brought me peace and mind...So in light of the topic I was wonderin if it’s safe to purchase this sacred plant online? If so...what would be a good site? If not, is there a place in the states one could walk into? I live in southern CA but will be relocating to Tucson in Feb...

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Dye plants adapted to N. California coast.

2007-12-26T03:53:06Z

Is everyone here because they are a head or a lab geek?
How about dyeing fiber?
Anyone used broom, barks, berries?
Any thoughts?

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Growing Ayahuasca from seeds

2007-12-26T03:50:17Z

A friend of mine recently returned from Peru and brought me some Ayahuasca seeds. I'm not finding a good resource online for how to germinate, grow and care for these plants. Can anyone point me to something online?

I'm building an indoor terrarium (inspired by recent posts in this forum) so I can have some more tropical varieties here in chilly San Francisco to add to my collection.

Thanks and hope y'all have a great holiday!

posted in Ethnobotany - 4 replies

Urgent Rescue Mission

2007-12-22T03:36:16Z

Okay thank you for looking,

My first Savlia Dviniroum plant is dying.
It was losing leaves and it was recommended to me to take preventative methods against spider mites.
I sprayed it with white oil.
That was two days ago and today...the leaves and the top part of the stem were a soggy black mess.
I fear for my Lady's life.
I trimmed back the leaves and the black part of the stem.
I wiped the rest of the stem with a paper towel to try and remove excess oil.
I put a large drink bottle over the stem with the cap off to keep it humid.

It is in a large pot with some slow release fertilizer.
Please help.
Any advice is needed, I want to save my Lady.

Thank you.

posted in Ethnobotany - 13 replies

growing vines inside

2007-12-16T11:52:39Z

when growing a potentially large vine inside, how do you manage
the length? ..just keep cutting?
3 feet would seem about the max height of trellis you could use in a pot
and still be able to move it around...
just wonderiing.

thanks

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Latest Pics

2007-12-16T11:48:15Z

Check out how much my Salvias have grown from September to today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tirch/sets/72157603372315808/

One seems to be a little runtish, but the other two are looking good. The smaller one wasn't in the bathroom as much as the others, so it didn't get the humidity. Growing all this in the chilly Sunset in SF.

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

LSA in other Ipomoea plants?

2007-12-10T11:37:25Z

i've found some ipomoea vines growing wild all over st. pete and i'm wondering if the seeds are possibly psychoactive. i've only heard of ololuquiw morning glory and hbw being psychoactive, but i'm hoping there's more magic in the world.

the flowers are half the size of a typical morning glory, white with rose red in the center. leaves are dark green with 5 or 7 lobes - sort of similar to pot leaves with edging like on a tomato leaf. stems are purple and very hairy.
leaves/stems - people.tribe.net/regicidal...7724763efc
flower - http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=ipse2_005_ahp.tif

please help me to ID this and to find out if it is psychoactive. thanks to you all!

posted in Ethnobotany - 3 replies

TRUTH IS FREE; so is my RETREAT Vermont

2007-11-24T22:47:13Z

I'm looking to network with folks, to extend an invitation to visit Bald Mountain Retreat, VT (www.baldmountainretreat.com) as my guest. Like-minded people who appreciate rustic accommodations are welcome to come up at no charge. (Those who require a private room can inquire about those accommodations as well.)
Basically, I'm offering people the opportunity to come stay with a retired naturopathic doctor in a truly amazing natural setting, secluded, idyllic, peaceful...
If you might want to lead a retreat, please contact me.
You are welcome,
Dr David

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Catha edulis cuttings?

2007-11-24T01:20:06Z

anyone in the bay area got a plant or 2 for me? I have lot's of good stuff to trade.
contact me directly.

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

acacia berlandieri: it MUST be something profound...

2007-11-23T16:38:25Z

I was reading about psychoactive plants recently and found that on wikipedia, about 50% of the specifically psychedelic plants they mention are of the Acacia genus. Most of them contain at least trace amounts of DMT. However, imagine my surprise (I actually did not believe it until I read the sources) when I stumbled upon what must be a very important plant: Acacia Berlandieri.

Here are the prominent alkaloids which astonished me (all in the same plant!):
Five amphetamines previously believed to be human inventions: amphetamine, methamphetamine, N,N-dimethylamphetamine, p-hydroxyamphetamine and p-methoxyamphetamine. Psychedelic alkaloids DMT and Mescaline, and also Nicotine, Hordenine, Tryptamine, Phenethylamine......

Basically, this plant (and its close relative Acacia Rigidula) is capable of producing DMT, Mescaline, Methamphetamine, and Nicotine. It appears to have a good sampling of the trace alkaloids found in mescaline-bearing cacti, as well as producing amphetamines which I was only ever aware of humans blowing themselves up to make, as well as producing DMT (which we all know and love and fear), and everyone's favorite addictive carcinogen, Nicotine.

Does anybody know anything particularly special about this plant, such that it might provide good or bad medicine in a brew, or does anyone know of any cultural history this plant might have attributed to it by some humans somewhere at some time? This is too bizzarre and amazing to find out about and then forget. I need to learn more! Anyone?

posted in Ethnobotany - 18 replies