Ethnobotany's topics - tribe.net

kratom

Phil — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 10:43:11 GMT

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

posted in Ethnobotany - 45 replies

Khat and Kratom, seeds or starts.

Thanos — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:59:34 GMT

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 - 17 replies

Peru Trip

Aida — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 06:29:48 GMT

I was wondering if anyone has gone to Peru recently, and if they have experienced an Ayahuasca Journey/ritual? I would like to hear of your experiences, and reasons for choosing such a Journey...I am personally interested and am open to what it has to show me. I plan to go to Peru in the near Future (9 months from now).

posted in Ethnobotany - 5 replies

Ethnobotany of Palo in Cuba

LLB — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:33:57 GMT

Just curious I bet there's a lot to talk a out ;)

posted in Ethnobotany - 10 replies

Natural Flu Fighters

chachicorrigan — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:25:49 GMT

seeings that posting is low, while not techinically ethnobotanical, i thot i would share a useful information on combating the flu.

Natural Flu Fighters

By Letha Hadady, D. Ac.

Have worries about catching the flu kept you from enjoying friends or work? Your supermarket, Asian grocery, and a number of health websites have potent weapons against flu. Protect yourself and family daily: Wash your hands, objects you handle, and fresh fruits and vegetables with water and one drop of mild soap and Australian Tea Tree Oil or vinegar. Even organic produce is sprayed with pesticides and may be handled by infected people. Germs can live in the wax used to protect foods. To clear sinus congestion all day, gently swab the inside of each nostril with a Q-tip moistened with one drop of essential eucalyptus oil. You can breathe better by rubbing on to your chest a few drops of aromatic Kapha Massage Oil LH1001 or other anti-kapha organic essential oils products from Himalayan Wisdoms International.

Enjoy a cup of hot basil leaf, cinnamon, or raw ginger tea between meals to increase resistance and prevent hypothermia. Especially after being in cold weather, peel and thinly slice 1/2 inch of raw ginger into a mug then add the juice of 1/2 lemon and hot water. Ginger improves digestion, breathing, and soothes sore throat. Lemon has vitamin C to enhance your vitality.

Amla, a dried cherry sold as pills or powder in East Indian groceries, provides one of the highest food sources of vitamin C. Add 1/4 teaspoon of amla powder per cup of tea. It is recommended by Ayurvedic doctors for acid indigestion, bloated abdomen, thinning hair, and skin rashes.

Chinatown groceries, herb shops, or Chinese herb websites sell deliciously sweet Extractum Astragali made with raw honey and astragalus (huang qi) a strong immune booster. For an energizing treat, break open the ampule container and use the straw provided. You can sweeten drinks with it. But do not heat the honey because cooking destroys its enzymes.

Reishi (ling zhi) the famous antibacterial, antiviral "immortality mushroom" is recommended for preventing everything from cancer and heart trouble to flu. Reishi, shiitake, enoki, and oyster mushrooms, among others contain polysaccharides known to prevent illness. For convenience, take pills or use a liquid extract daily between meals.

Most health professionals recommend garlic as an antimicrobial. Mash fresh garlic into salad dressings or roast garlic with vegetables. If you hate the smell, consider using a garlic oil capsule as a suppository. It kills intestinal parasites and yeast infections.

After being exposed to flu germs, disarm them fast. Health expert, Gary Null, recommends placing a drop of essential oil of wild oregano under your tongue, holding it there a few minutes, then drinking a glass of warm water. He says oil of oregano kills flu germs on contact. It tastes spicy and kills bad breath too. Null also recommends taking ten drops of colloidal silver by mouth and spraying it into the nose to kill flu germs.

Commonly used Chinese herbs for flu symptoms are honeysuckle flower (broad-spectrum antibiotic), isatis (ban lan gen) anti-inflammatory antibiotic, forsythia bark (antiinflammatory) and licorice root, which soothes the throat and reduces cramps. Popular Chinese remedies include Flu Away instant beverage, Gan Mao Ling pills, Gan Mao Ching (andrographis), and Isatis Gold pills. While using any flu medicine or herbal antibiotic, be sure to increase your intake of acidophilus or add 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder to a cup of yogurt to balance your digestive tract. Otherwise, you may develop indigestion. Good luck and don't cough or sneeze on anyone.

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Kratom in Cebu - Philippines?

Richard — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:23:40 GMT

Hello, can anyone help with a supplier for Kratom in Cebu, Philippines?
Thanks...

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

anyone tried morning glory beer?

bill. — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:07:31 GMT

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 - 13 replies

Damn Facebook

chachicorrigan — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:19:46 GMT

what are you folks feelings about privacy, what we talk about here, and it being able to be read by everyone of facebook?

anyone care?

anyone dislike?

the only current solution is private, with the ability to invite your friends.

what say thee?

posted in Ethnobotany - 5 replies

Business and shameless self promotion thread.

chachicorrigan — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 07:52:35 GMT

On a personal level, i dislike spam and spam formatting, because outside of being one sided for a business or persons financial intrests, its format does not promote discussion. So lets please use this area (we will try to keep it bumped to the front page, visually) to reccomend and promote business' we like, or enterprises we have individually, that generally fall into the self/financial enrichment areas of intrest. And every so often, there really is an outstanding company or service worthy of being shared and linked with others.

Thank you for your time and consideration, it can help involve others in intresting conversations, and cut down on the banality copy/paste for financial gain, for a tribe that should be viewed as educational / instructive, rather than a chosen advertising venue for a particular type of consumer. Thanks again for your time.

posted in Ethnobotany - 3 replies

What is your medicine this summer?

chachicorrigan — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 09:13:45 GMT

What intresting plants or ceremonies (medicine) are we working on this summmer? Anyone have a great trip planned for ethnobotanic intrest?
On my count, i am feeling good and centered in general, which has been a trying thing this last year :) After a death in the family 6 years ago, i am finally returning to the mountain my mud and straw cabin is built on. Hoping there has not been too much damage in the neglect of 6 years- but full of energy and enthusiam (and some funds on occasion) for repairs and fix it upper materials, for both cabin and sweat lodge. Since the events of six years ago, the maestro plants healed my soul and brought it back. Soul loss is a very real and debilitating condition, and can be very difficult (especially in our melted pot culture) to address and heal. So many angry words are said and actions done, when we have lost some soul. anyways.. :) And i got to say, that i really love tribe in one way- it connected me in the real world, with the medicine persons that ultimately had a strong hand in my healing, and i consider my life friends and family. Im so darned grateful for the feeling of newness and potentials of this season! So for this moment (2:08am) my medicine is real gratitude for the beautiful human beings that found me and made me family. May everyones summer season be hopeful and filled with Light and good Medcine and awesome persons, human, winged, 4 legged, and all the variety of persons that we share our spinning globe of sacred dirt with. May the wind be at your back.

posted in Ethnobotany - 16 replies

no spam

chachicorrigan — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 04:44:31 GMT

I have said repetedly, either post in this thread, or use the listings tab.
http://tribes.tribe.net/ethnobotany/thread/1502635f-8073-4d61-8df9-ccfdb2abbd12

i will remove repeat offenders. its fine to sell your products, do not make your products a disscussion topic

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Dong Chong Xia Cao, Cordyceps Sinensis

chachicorrigan — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:16:17 GMT

This is definetly a cultural fungus of note!

Afternoon upon afternoon spent deterring aphids from newly-flowered garden plants can leave gardeners with the frustrated wish for an easier way to protect their plants. Fortunately, nature had provided an answer to this desperate wish of gardeners everywhere: cordyceps, a type of entomopathogenic fungus.
Like other entomopathogenic fungi, cordyceps actually grow on insects (like aphids) and eventually replace the insect’s soft tissue with their own growth. Some varieties of cordyceps can even influence how their host-insects behave, driving them to seek out areas where the cordycep will be able to thrive and expand once their host meets its demise.
Needless to say, many types of entomopathogenic fungi are used as natural insecticides. The worldwide movement away from chemical pesticides has only increased the popularity of cordyceps among home and commercial gardeners alike, particularly when dealing with especially obstinate varieties of aphids. Small irritations are not the only thing these fungi can manage efficiently, though. The introduction of cordyceps to the African continent during the 2004 food security crisis to manage the proliferation of desert locusts is also notable, as it indicates the great potential in this fungi’s future.
Don’t think these fungi are only useful in the garden! Traditionally used in Chinese medicine, Western pharmaceutical companies have also begun using components of cordyceps. Currently, these friendly fungi can be found in the immunosuppressants used during organ transplant surgeries, but research groups focused on diabetes management have also discovered its hypoglycemic effects and are beginning to examine its implications for diabetic patients.
Their adaptability is one of the qualities that makes them desirable as both an insecticide and medication. Cordyceps, with their ability to change insect behavior to further their survival, can function effectively in a wide variety of climates. In addition to aiding the battle to maintain African food security and keeping gardens aphid-free, varieties of entomopathogenic fungi provide a reliable source of income for Tibetan natives due to their demand for use in traditional medicines. Don’t miss out on the multitude of uses these mind-controlling mushroom-relatives are starting to be recognized for!

Cordyceps Benefits
Nowadays Cordyceps Sinensis is something new, special, and hardly familiar to the Western world. Scientists have not managed to study it properly for the time being. The greatest source of information about Cordyceps is its motherland – China, where researchers have already been working for some time on the unclosing the secrets and mysteries of the fungus.
The further statements about health benefits of the mushroom are the results of the numerous Chinese trials of Cordyceps; therefore, they are at first hand.
Enhancing and strengthening of the immune system. Cordyceps is supposed to increase the number of the Natural Killer Cells, which are responsible for the body defense against viruses and bacteria. Some trials show that the fungus works effectively in the leukemia stricken individuals.
Improving sexual function in men and increasing libido by stimulating the production of sex hormones. Cordyceps may also be a means for fighting female infertility.
Building muscles and improving physical performance. Those Chinese athletes, who use Cordyceps, tend to show better results than the other sportsmen.
Providing anti-aging and fatigue reducing effects. The fungus works as an antioxidant and increases cellular formation, especially in the elderly patients. It also promotes more restful sleep, soothes the nervous system, and reduces anxiety, thus working as a sedative.
Improving the respiratory function. Cordyceps shows good results in fighting against cough, chronic bronchitis and asthma, since it relaxes bronchial walls and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Enhancing cellular oxygen uptake. This benefits all the body systems, giving them more energy and vitality.
Benefiting vascular system by improving circulation, regulating blood pressure, and strengthening the heart muscle.
Protecting liver and kidneys. Cordyceps improves blood flow to these organs (as well as to the others), which results in their better activity and ability to fight the diseases, including Hepatitis and chronic kidney disease.
Some people may think of the fungi as of something disgusting and ugly. However, the mushrooms do not look so when in a tablet or a capsule. Moreover, Cordyceps will definitely become even attractive to those, who have no trust in the pharmaceutical drugs any more. 2-4 grams (some people consume even up to 9 grams) of the mushrooms per day – it is nor an exorbitant price for the health improvement, which may become obvious as soon as in 1-2 months.
Cordyceps is said to be safe and has no side effects. However, pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children are not recommended to use it, since no studies have been conducted in such persons.

posted in Ethnobotany - 11 replies

Vegetalismo by Eduardo Luna

LLB — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:18:09 GMT

This book is very hard to find. Enjoy it, down load it. The author doesn't even own a coly he told me.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/26541421/Vegetalismo-Shamanism-Among-the-Mestizo-Population-of-the-Peruvian-Amazon

posted in Ethnobotany - 3 replies

Plants used in Traditional Mexican Medicine

Rosendo — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:10:14 GMT

Two good links:

http://www.herbalsafety.utep.edu/presentations/pptpresentations/Plants%20Used%20in%20Mexican%20Traditional%20Medicine-July%2004.pdf.

www.herbalsafety.utep.edu/

posted in Ethnobotany - 6 replies

List of rain forest plant medicines and their medicinal qualities

LLB — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:17:38 GMT

Properties & Actions

Scientists, herbalists, health practitioners and researchers refer to the biological or therapeutic properties and actions of medicinal plants using general industry-standard words like anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antibacterial, and so on. These terms are used to describe the actions or properties of the plant that are attributed to it in traditional medicine and herbal medicine systems. Some words, such as antibacterial and antiviral are pretty easy and self-explanatory. Other words, such as vulnerary or vermifuge may be much less familiar to non-professionals. Some of these more technical terms might also have special nuances and meanings. For example; the terms aperient, laxative, purgative, and cathartic all refer to specific actions a laxative-like substance might have on bowel elimination. There are differences however. A plant with an aperient action is used as a very mild or gentle “laxative” (generic term) to increase mucus and water in the intestine to aid in elimination (and which might take a day or two to take effect). On the opposite end of the spectrum; a “laxative” that has a purgative or cathartic action promotes the immediate and complete evacuation of bowel (oftentimes prior to liquefying), acts in a few hours or less, and can sometimes cause intestinal cramping because it also stimulates the smooth muscles in the colon to move things along rather quickly. Therefore, just using the generic and well-known word “laxative” to describe these different properties and actions is not always helpful to the non-professional (especially one sitting in rush hour traffic thinking they’ve taken a “laxative” instead of knowing it was really a purgative!).

This reference guide (as well as the other reference guides in this section) uses the industry-standard technical term that have been attributed to the plants for this reason. While the technical term is used, a definition of each term is provided below as well as the corresponding lay-term that has been used in the main plant section in Section 3.

This reference guide summarizes the properties and actions ascribed to the rainforest plants as documented in this book and by hundreds of third party documents, clinical studies, laboratory experiments and other herbal medicine books. Since many actions and properties can be attributed to the same plant (and many plants can have the same documented action) it can get confusing to the average lay person, and even the professional, as to which plant to turn to first. In an effort to simplify things, the information has been broken down in three ways. In the first line under the definition (shown as “A” below) the top 5 plants are shown which practitioners and herbalists generally turn to first to achieve that particular action and in order of preference. The guide also differentiates whether the actions were recorded through some kind of clinical research/laboratory test (shown as “B” and listed alphabetically), or whether just through its documented use in herbal medicine (shown as “C” and listed alphabetically). Please remember however, when it refers to research in “B” below; it may be just a laboratory experiment, a test tube study, or preliminary animal research and not a human clinical study or a substantial medical trial.

This information has been compiled and provided as a quick reference guide on what has been actually documented on the plants - not to make specific medical claims for them. As always, it is best to refer to the text provided in section 3 for more complete information on each plant’s potential action, property and use, as well as, what actual research supports it. These documented actions however, might help explain why the plant is used in a particular way in herbal medicine systems. For example: a plant used as a heart tonic or for high blood pressure in herbal medicine, might have been documented with a hypotensive action in an animal study. Or, someone with arthritis reading this book might be looking for plants with documented anti-inflammatory actions and this table would guide them to the top five plants in section 3 to read about first by seeing line A under the term anti-inflammatory.

Technical Term
(Lay Term)
Definition of Term
A. Top five plants used for the specific property/action (in order).
B. Plants documented by research (and herbal medicine use).
C. Plants documented by herbal medicine use only.
Abortifacient
(Abortive)
A substance that causes or induces abortions.
A. N/A
B. Anamu, boldo, carqueja, chanca piedra, clavillia, pau d’arco
C. Bitter melon, damiana, epazote, espinheira santa, fedegoso, gervão, manacá, picao preto, scarlet bush, vassourinha
Adaptogen
See Alterative.
ACE Inhibitor
A substance that inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (typically resulting in lowered blood pressure).
A. Erva tostão, embauba, mutamba, abuta
B. Abuta, embauba, erva tostão, mutamba
C. N/A
Aldose Reductase Inhibitor
An agent that inhibits aldose reductase—an enzyme that converts glucose into a nerve toxin which results in nerve damage (i.e., diabetic neuropathy & macular degeneration)
A. Chanca piedra, pedra hume caá, chuchuhuasi, annatto
B. Annatto, chanca piedra, chuchuhuasi, pedra hume caá
C. N/A
Alterative
(Adaptogen)
A substance which restores or balances in some unknown way the normal functions of an organ or system.
A. Suma, cat’s claw, erva tostão, samambaia, sarsaparilla
B. Cat’s claw, erva tostão, samambaia
C. Damiana, guaraná, maca, manacá, muira puama, picao preto, sarsaparilla, suma, tayuya, velvet bean, yerba mate
Amebicide
(Anti-amebic)
An agent used to kill amebas to treat amebic infections.
A. Simarouba, amargo, epazote, erva tostão, guava
B. Amargo, epazote, erva tostão, guava, graviola, quinine, simarouba
C. Bitter melon, carqueja, cashew, gervão
Analgesic
(Pain-reliever)
A substance that relieves or reduces pain. Also referred to as anodyne.
A.   (Internal) Iporuru, tayuya, manacá, vassourinha, mulungu
      (External) Copaiba, andiroba, sangre de grado, kalanchoe, manacá
B.   Abuta, amargo, amor seco, anamu, andiroba, Brazilian peppertree, carqueja, catuaba, chanca piedra, chuchuhuasi, copaiba, embauba, erva tostão, gervão, guacatonga, guaraná, guava, jurubeba, kalanchoe, macela, manacá, muira puama, nettles, passionflower, pau d’arco, scarlet bush, suma, tayuya, vassourinha, velvet bean
C.  Andiroba, boldo, cipó cabeludo, clavo huasca, epazote, espinheira santa, fedegoso, graviola, guaco, iporuru, juazeiro, mullaca, mulungu, quinine, sangre de grado, sarsaparilla, simarouba
Anaphylactic
A substance that causes an allergic reaction.
A. N/A
B. Balsam, Brazil nut, cashew, copaiba
C. N/A
Anesthetic
A substance that decreases nerve sensitivity to pain.
A. Sangre de grado, manacá, guaco, scarlet bush, Brazilian peppertree
B. Brazilian peppertree, chanca piedra, curare, sangre de grado, scarlet bush
C. Copaiba, embauba, guacatonga, guaco, manacá
Anodyne
See Analgesic.
Anti-anaphylactic
(Anti-allergy)
A substance that blocks or reduces an allergic reaction.
A. Amor seco, nettle, kalanchoe, gervão, guaco
B. Amor seco, gervão, guaco, kalanchoe, nettle
C. Erva tostão, pau d’arco, sangre de grado, suma, yerba mate
Antacid
A substance reduces or neutralizes stomach acid.
A. Espinheira santa, guacatonga, carqueja, gervão, jurubeba
B. Carqueja, espinheira santa, gervão, guacatonga, jurubeba
C. Annatto, copaiba, epazote
Anti-allergy
See Anti-anaphylactic.
Anti-amebic
See Amebicide.
Antianxiolytic
(Anti-anxiety)
An agent used to reduce or prevent anxiety.
A. Passion flower, mulungu, tayuya, manacá, damiana
B. Mulungu, passion flower
C. Anamu, catuaba, damiana, graviola, guava, manacá, muira puama, suma, tayuya, velvet bean
Anthelmintic
See Vermifuge.
Antibacterial
A substance that kills or inhibits bacteria.
A. (Internal) Picao preto, mullaca, anamu, Brazilian peppertree, fedegoso
     (External) Copaiba, sangre de grado, mulateiro, anamu, andiroba
B. Abuta, anamu, andiroba, annatto, avenca, balsam, bitter melon, Brazilian peppertree, cashew, catuaba, chanca piedra, clavillia, copaiba, embauba, erva tostão, fedegoso, graviola, guacatonga, guaco, guaraná, guava, jatoba, juazeiro, kalanchoe, macela, mulateiro, mullaca, mulungu, mutamba, pau d’arco, picao preto, sangre de grado, sarsaparilla, scarlet bush, simarouba, stevia, vassourinha
C. Aveloz, cipó cabeludo, nettle, quinine
Anticandidal
(Anti-yeast)
An agent that inhibits or kills the yeast, Candida albicans.
A. Jatoba, pau d’arco, anamu, Brazilian peppertree, picao preto
B. Anamu, avenca, Brazilian peppertree, clavillia, guaco, guava, jatoba, mulateiro, pau d’arco, picao preto, stevia
C. (Included in B above)
Anticarcinomic
(Anticancerous)
A substance that kills or inhibits carcinomas (any cancer that arises in epithelium/tissue cells).
A. (Internal) Graviola, mullaca, espinheira santa, vassourinha, guacatonga
      (External) Espinheira santa, sangre de grado, graviola, mullaca, copaiba
B. Amargo, anamu, andiroba, bitter melon, Brazilian peppertree, cat’s claw, chuchuhuasi, copaiba, epazote, espinheira santa, graviola, guacatonga, macela, mullaca, mutamba, pau d’arco, sangre de grado, simarouba, suma, vassourinha
C. Aveloz, fedegoso, guaco, jergon sacha, samambaia, sarsaparilla
Anticoagulant
(Blood thinner)
A substance that thins the blood and acts to inhibit blood platelets from sticking together.
A. Guaco, cipó cabeludo, boldo, mullaca, macela
B. Cipó cabeludo, guaco, guaraná, macela, manacá, mullaca, picao preto
C. Anamu, boldo, cat’s claw, pau d’arco
Anticonvulsant
An agent that reduces or prevents convulsions.
A. Erva tostão, amor seco, abuta, mulungu, nettle
B. Abuta, amor seco, erva tostão, graviola, nettle
C. Annatto, anamu, guava, jaborandi, kalanchoe, macela, mulungu, passionflower, tayuya
Antidepressant
A substance meant to oppose depression or sadness.
A. Mulungu, tayuya, passionflower, muira puama, graviola
B. Cat’s claw, graviola, mulungu
C. Brazilian peppertree, damiana, muira puama, passionflower, tayuya, yerba mate
Antidysenteric
An agent used to reduce or treat dysentery and diarrhea.
A. Simarouba, sangre de grado, amargo, guava, cashew
B. Amargo, cashew, gervão, guava, pau d’arco, samambaia, sangre de grado, simarouba
C. Cat’s claw, chuchuhuasi, clavillia, scarlet bush
Antifungal
An agent that kills or inhibits the growth of fungi.
A. (Internal) Jatoba, pau d’arco, anamu, fedegoso, picao preto
      (External) Jatoba, copaiba, sangre de grado, mulateiro, pau d’arco
B. Abuta, anamu, Brazilian peppertree, clavillia, copaiba, embauba, fedegoso, graviola, guacatonga, guava, iporuru, jatoba, kalanchoe, mulateiro, mutamba, pau d’arco, picao preto, sangre de grado, sarsaparilla, scarlet bush, stevia, vassourinha
C. Balsam, cashew, quinine
Antihemorrhagic
(Hemostatic)
(Styptic)
An agent which stops or prevents bleeding.
A. (Internal) Abuta, sangre de grado, Brazilian peppertree, erva tostão, picao preto
     (External) Sangre de grado, juazeiro, nettle, mutamba, kalanchoe
B. Abuta, annatto, erva tostão, sangre de grado
C. Brazilian peppertree, carqueja, cashew, embauba, fedegoso, guacatonga, jatoba, juazeiro, mullaca, mutamba, nettle, pedra hume caá, picao preto, simarouba
Antihepatotoxic
(Liver detoxifier)
A substance with protects the liver from toxins, or clears toxins from the liver.
A. Boldo, carqueja, erva tostão, chanca piedra, fedegoso
B. Artichoke, boldo, carqueja, chanca piedra, erva tostão, fedegoso, macela, picao preto, sarsaparilla
C. Amargo, cat’s claw, epazote, mutamba
Antihistamine
An agent used to counteract the effects of histamine production in allergic reactions.
A. Gervão, guaco, nettle, amor seco, kalanchoe
B. Abuta, amor seco, gervão, guaco, kalanchoe, nettle
C. Carqueja, erva tostão, iporuru, pau d’arco
Anti-inflammatory
A substance used to reduce or prevent inflammation.
A. (Internal) Iporuru, guaco, amor seco, tayuya, cat’s claw
     (External) Copaiba, andiroba, scarlet bush, guaco, kalanchoe
B. Abuta, anamu, andiroba, boldo, carqueja, cashew, cat’s claw, chuchuhuasi, copaiba, embauba, erva tostão, fedegoso, gervão, guacatonga, guaco, iporuru, jatoba, juazeiro, jurubeba, kalanchoe, macela, manacá, mulungu, nettle, passionflower, pau d’arco, picao preto, samambaia, sangre de grado, sarsaparilla, scarlet bush, suma, tayuya, vassourinha, velvet bean, yerba mate
C. Acerola, amargo, amor seco, annatto, bitter melon, chanca piedra, curare, epazote, espinheira santa, jaborandi, jergon sacha, mullaca, mutamba
Antileukemic
A substance that kills or inhibits the growth of leukemia cells.
A. Mullaca, picao preto, vassourinha, simarouba, cipó cabeludo
B. Bitter melon, cat’s claw, cipó cabeludo, espinheira santa, mullaca, pau d’arco, picao preto, simarouba, suma, vassourinha
C. (See B above)
Antilithic
An agent that reduces or suppresses urinary calculi (stones) and acts to dissolve those already present.
A. Chanca piedra, boldo, cipó cabeludo, artichoke, erva tostão
B. Chanca piedra
C. Amargo, artichoke, avenca, boldo, cipó cabeludo, erva tostão, kalanchoe, velvet bean
Antimalarial
An agent used to treat malaria and/or kill the malaria-causing organism, Plasmodium sp.
A. Quinine, simarouba, amargo, vassourinha, epazote
B. Abuta, amargo, andiroba, chanca piedra, epazote, fedegoso, graviola, guava, pau d’arco, picao preto, quinine, simarouba, vassourinha
C. Amor seco, anamu, annatto, damiana, bitter melon, carqueja, gervão, guaco, jatoba, manacá, mullaca, mutamba, sarsaparilla, scarlet bush
Antimicrobial
A substance that destroys or inhibits growth of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms.
(See Antifungal, Antibacterial, Antiviral and Anticandidal)
Antimutagenic
(Cellular protector)
An agent that can reduce, prevent or reverse cells from mutating.(ie, healthy cells mutate to cancer cells)
A. Cat’s claw, chanca piedra, samambaia, fedegoso, boldo
B. Boldo, cat’s claw, chanca piedra, fedegoso, manacá, samambaia
C. Guacatonga, simarouba.
Antioxidant
A substance that protects against free radical activity and lipid peroxidation by preventing oxidation. (Thought to protect body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation.)
A. Cat’s claw, samambaia, gervão, tayuya, fedegoso
B. Abuta, acerola, anamu, annatto, artichoke, boldo, Brazil nut, camu-camu, cat’s claw, chuchuhuasi, embauba, fedegoso, gervão, guaraná, guava, macela, mulateiro, mutamba, samambaia, sangre de grado, tayuya, yerba mate
C. Avenca, bitter melon, jatoba, pau d’arco, pedra hume caá, sarsaparilla, suma
Antiparasitic
A substance that kills parasites (either internally or externally).
A. Amargo, simarouba, epazote, boldo, fedegoso
B. Amargo, andiroba, balsam, boldo, epazote, fedegoso, graviola, quinine, simarouba
C. Annatto, bitter melon, clavillia, erva tostão, guava, jatoba, macela, mulateiro, nettle, pau d’arco, picao preto, scarlet bush, velvet bean
Antiprotozoal
A substance that kills protozoa. (A large family of disease-causing single cell microscopic organisms.)
A. Amargo, guaco, simarouba, bitter melon, anamu
B. Amargo, anamu, bitter melon, epazote, erva tostão, graviola, guaco, guava, quinine, simarouba
C. Boldo
Antipyretic
See Febrifuge
Antiseptic
A substance that destroys or inhibits germs and disease-causing organisms and is sufficiently nontoxic to cleanse wounds and prevent infections.
A. Mullaca, Brazilian peppertree, picao preto, annatto (leaf), guava (leaf)
B. Balsam, Brazilian peppertree, copaiba, sangre de grado
C. Abuta, andiroba, annatto, boldo, cashew, damiana, embauba, epazote, espinheira santa, fedegoso, guacatonga, guaraná, guava, mullaca, mulungu, nettle, picao preto, quinine, sarsaparilla
Antispasmodic
(Smooth muscle relaxant)
(Muscle-relaxer)
A substance that relieves spasms or inhibits the contraction of smooth muscles.
A. Amor seco, abuta, vassourinha, manacá, mulungu
B. Abuta, amargo, amor seco, annatto, boldo, Brazilian peppertree, chanca piedra, clavillia, curare, embauba, erva tostão, fedegoso, gervão, graviola, guava, kalanchoe, macela, manacá, mullaca, mulungu, mutamba, passionflower, quinine, vassourinha, velvet bean, yerba mate
C. Anamu, chuchuhuasi, damiana, epazote, guaco, iporuru, picao preto
Antitumorous
An agent that kills tumor cells and/or prevents the formation of malignant tumors.
A. (Internal) Graviola, mullaca, espinheira santa, vassourinha, guacatonga
      (External) Espinheira santa, sangre de grado, graviola, mullaca, copaiba
B. Amargo, anamu, andiroba, bitter melon, Brazilian peppertree, cat’s claw, chuchuhuasi, copaiba, epazote, espinheira santa, graviola, guacatonga, iporuru, kalanchoe, macela, mullaca, mutamba, pau d’arco, picao preto, sangre de grado, scarlet bush, simarouba, suma, vassourinha
C. Aveloz, gervão, jergon sacha, jurubeba, manacá
Antitussive
(Cough-suppressant)
A substance that depresses coughing.
A. Guaco, embauba, amor seco, passionflower, guava
B. Guaco, guava, passionflower
C. Abuta, amor seco, annatto, avenca, balsam, bitter melon, cashew, copaiba, damiana, embauba, espinheira santa, gervão, iporuru, jatoba, jergon sacha, juazeiro, kalanchoe, macela, mutamba, picao preto, vassourinha, velvet bean
Antiulcerogenic
Antiulcerous
(Anti-ulcer)
An agent used to protect against the formation of ulcers, or is used for the treatment of ulcers.
A. (Internal peptic) Gervão, carqueja, espinheira santa, guacatonga, cat’s claw
    (Internal H. pylori) Carqueja, guacatonga, bitter melon, balsam, pau d’arco
    (External) Copaiba, gervão, kalanchoe, juazeiro, picao preto
B. Abuta, amargo, balsam, carqueja, cat’s claw, chanca piedra, copaiba, espinheira santa, gervão, guacatonga, jurubeba, kalanchoe, muira puama, picao preto
C. Andiroba, bitter melon, epazote, guava, juazeiro, mutamba, pau d’arco, tayuya
Antivenin
An agent used against the venom of a snake, spider, or other venomous animal or insect.
A. Jergon sacha, guaco, guacatonga, picao preto, tayuya
B. Annatto, guacatonga, guaco, picao preto, velvet bean
C. Abuta, amargo, anamu, curare, embauba, erva tostão, jergon sacha, manacá, pata de vaca, pau d’arco, tayuya, vassourinha
Antiviral
A substance that destroys or inhibits the growth and viability of infectious viruses.
A. (Internal) Jergon sacha, mullaca, anamu, chanca piedra, bitter melon
     (External) Sangre de grado, bitter melon, carqueja, clavillia, vassourinha
B. Amargo, anamu, bitter melon, Brazilian peppertree, carqueja, cat’s claw, catuaba, cha de bugre, chanca piedra, clavillia, erva tostão, iporuru, kalanchoe, macela, mullaca, mutamba, pau d’arco, picão preto, sangre de grado, simarouba, stevia, vassourinha
C. Andiroba, aveloz, avenca, copaiba, embauba, fedegoso, graviola, guacatonga, jergon sacha
Aperient
(Mild laxative)
A substance that acts as a mild laxative by increasing fluids in the bowel.
A. Carqueja, fedegoso, nettle, erva tostão, samambaia
B. Fedegoso
C. Amargo, annatto, Brazilian peppertree, carqueja, curare, damiana, erva tostão, guava, jurubeba, nettle, samambaia
Aphrodisiac
An agent that increases sexual activity and libido and/or improves sexual performance.
A. (Male) Muira puama, catuaba, damiana, velvet bean, clavo huasca
     (Female) Clavo huasca, abuta, catuaba, suma, passionflower
B. Damiana, muira puama, passionflower, suma, velvet bean
C. Abuta, annatto, bitter melon, cashew, catuaba, chuchuhuasi, clavo huasca, guaraná, iporuru, maca, sarsaparilla
Appetite Stimulant
A substance use to increase or stimulate the appetite.
A. Quinine, bitter melon, jatoba, amargo, boldo
B. Quinine, amargo
C. Amargo, avenca, boldo, bitter melon, chanca piedra, chuchuhuasi, clavo huasca, erva tostão, guaco, jatoba, muira puama, samambaia, suma
Appetite Suppressant
A substance use to suppress the appetite and/or satiate the feelings of hunger.
A. Cha de bugre, guaraná, damiana, yerba mate
B. Damiana, guaraná
C. Cha de bugre, yerba mate
Astringent
A substance that contracts blood vessels and certain body tissues (such as mucous membranes) with the effect of reducing secretion and excretion of fluids and/or has a drying effect.
A. Mutamba, pau d’arco, jatoba, Brazilian peppertree, guaraná
B. Cashew, mulateiro
C. Acerola, amargo, andiroba, annatto, artichoke, avenca, bitter melon, Brazilian peppertree, camu-camu, cat’s claw, copaiba, damiana, embauba, espinheira santa, graviola, guacatonga, guaraná, guava, jatoba, juazeiro, macela, muira puama, mutamba, nettle, passionflower, pata de vaca, pau d’arco, pedra hume caá, picao preto, quinine, simarouba
Bile Stimulant
See Chologogue and Choleretic
Bitter
Having a taste that is sharp, acrid, and unpleasant - thought to stimulate the flow of digestive juices and bile to aid in digestion.
A. Amargo, quinine, carqueja, simarouba, artichoke
B. Amargo, andiroba, artichoke, quinine
C. Bitter melon, boldo, carqueja, damiana, macela, picao preto, simarouba, tayuya
Bronchodilator
An agent that dilates or relaxes bronchial muscles.
A. Amor seco, guaco, embauba, gervão, balsam
B. Amor seco, gervão, guaco
C. Avenca, balsam, embauba, guaraná, manacá, velvet bean, yerba mate
Blood Cleanser
See Depurative.
Blood Thinner
See Anticoagulant.
Cardiodepressant
An agent that decreases contraction force of the heart and/or lowers heart rate.
A. Graviola, mutamba, guava, nettle, jaborandi
B. Graviola, guava, mutamba, nettle
C. Jaborandi, manacá
Cardiotonic
(Heart Tonic)
Something which strengthens, tones, or regulates heart functions without overt stimulation or depression
A. Embauba, Brazilian peppertree, erva tostão, picao preto, vassourinha
B. Cha de bugre, embauba, guava, jurubeba, picao preto, quinine, stevia, vassourinha
C. Abuta, acerola, annatto, artichoke, avenca, Brazilian peppertree, cat’s claw, erva tostão, graviola, guaraná, juazeiro, macela, muira puama, mulungu, mutamba, passionflower, pau d’arco, pedra hume caá, yerba mate
Carminative
An agent used to prevent or expel gas from the stomach and intestines.
A. Jurubeba, epazote, bitter melon, carqueja, espinheira santa
B. Copaiba
C. Bitter melon, boldo, carqueja, chanca piedra, clavillia, clavo huasca, epazote, erva tostão, espinheira santa, guaraná,, jatoba, jurubeba, kalanchoe, macela, picao preto, simarouba, suma, velvet bean
Cathartic
See Purgative.
Chologogue
(Bile stimulant)
A substance that increases the production and flow of bile in the liver.
A. Boldo, artichoke, jurubeba, gervão, jaborandi
B. Artichoke, boldo, yerba mate
C. Amargo, erva tostão, gervão, jaborandi, jurubeba
Choleretic
(Bile Stimulant)
A substance that increase the volume and flow of bile from the gallbladder.
A. Artichoke, chanca piedra, boldo, erva tostão, macela
B. Artichoke, boldo, chanca piedra, macela
C. Abuta, balsam, amargo, erva tostão, jaborandi
Choliokinetic
A substance that increases the contractive power of the bile duct.
A. Artichoke, carqueja, jaborandi
B. Artichoke
C. Carqueja, jaborandi
Cicatrizant
See Vulnerary
Contraceptive
An agent that prevents conception or interferes with fertility.
A. N/A
B. Bitter melon, cat’s claw, espinheira santa
C. Amor seco, epazote, vassourinha
Cough Suppressant
See Antitussive.
COX Inhibitor
An agent that inhibits or interferes in the production of cyclooxygenase enzymes. (Linked to inflammatory processes and diseases.)
A. Iporuru, picao preto, anamu
B. Anamu, iporuru, picao preto
C. N/A
CNS Depressant
A substance which depresses the central nervous system.
A. Manacá, kalanchoe, passionflower, mulungu, damiana
B. Damiana, guava, kalanchoe, manacá, passionflower, vassourinha
C. Embauba, gervão, mulungu
CNS Stimulant
A substance which stimulates the central nervous system.
A. Muira puama, guaraná, catuaba, yerba mate, velvet bean
B. Guaraná, muira puama
C. Catuaba, velvet bean, yerba mate
Decongestant
A substance that relieves or reduces nasal or bronchial congestion.
A. Amor seco, nettle, embauba, jatoba, gervão
B. Nettle
C. Abuta, amor seco, carqueja, cashew, cipó cabeludo, embauba, erva tostão, gervão, jatoba, jurubeba, mutamba, picao preto, vassourinha
Demulcent
(Emollient)
An agent that soothes internal membranes.
A. Avenca, sarsaparilla, samambaia, balsam, amor seco
B. N/A
C. Andiroba, amor seco, annatto, avenca, balsam, boldo, bitter melon, samambaia, sarsaparilla
Depurative
(Blood cleanser)
An agent used to cleanse or purify the blood.
A. Tayuya, sarsaparilla, samambaia, manacá, mullaca
B. Sarsaparilla
C. Amargo, amor seco, anamu, annatto, avenca, bitter melon, boldo, carqueja, cat’s claw, chanca piedra, erva tostão, espinheira santa, fedegoso, guacatonga, guaco, guaraná, guava, jaborandi, jurubeba, manacá, mullaca, mutamba, nettle, pata de vaca, samambaia, tayuya, vassourinha, velvet bean, yerba mate
Detoxifier
A substance that promotes the removal of toxins from a system or organ.
A. Samambaia, chanca piedra, fedegoso, tayuya, nettles
B. Artichoke, sarsaparilla
C. Amor seco, avenca, bitter melon, boldo, cat’s claw, chanca piedra, clavillia, erva tostão, espinheira santa, fedegoso, nettles, samambaia, tayuya, vassourinha
Diaphoretic
(Sweat promoter)
A substance that induces perspiration. Also called sudorific.
A. Jaborandi, jatoba, mutamba, picao preto, guaco
B. Jaborandi
C. Abuta, anamu, avenca, carqueja, cha de bugre, chanca piedra, embauba, epazote, fedegoso, gervão, guaco, jatoba, macela, manacá, mutamba, nettle, picao preto, samambaia, sarsaparilla, simarouba
Digestion Stimulant
See Stomachic.
Disinfectant
An agent that prevents the spread of infection, bacteria or communicable disease.
A. Mullaca, Brazilian peppertree, anamu, copaiba, espinheira santa
B. Brazilian peppertree
C. Anamu, copaiba, espinheira santa, guacatonga, mullaca, mulungu, passionflower
Diuretic
A substance that increases urination.
A. Erva tostão, amor seco, chanca piedra, cipó cabeludo, nettle
B. Abuta, boldo, chanca piedra, embauba, erva tostão, jaborandi, nettle, passionflower, pata de vaca, sarsaparilla, scarlet bush, stevia, vassourinha
C. Acerola, amor seco, anamu, annatto, artichoke, avenca, Brazilian peppertree, carqueja, cashew, cat’s claw, cha de bugre, cipó cabeludo, clavillia, copaiba, curare, damiana, epazote, espinheira santa, fedegoso, gervão, guaco, guaraná, jatoba, jergon sacha, juazeiro, jurubeba, manacá, mullaca, picao preto, samambaia, tayuya, velvet bean, yerba mate
Emetic
An agent that induces vomiting.
A. N/A
B. Aveloz, graviola
C. Copaiba, jaborandi, yerba mate
Emmenagogue
(Menstrual promoter)
A substance that stimulates, initiates, and/or promotes menstrual flow. Emmenagogues are used in herbal medicine to balance and restore the normal function of the female reproductive system.
A. Abuta, vassourinha, Brazilian peppertree, avenca, simarouba
B. N/A
C. Abuta, anamu, avenca, bitter melon, Brazilian peppertree, carqueja, chuchuhuasi, curare, damiana, embauba, epazote, erva tostão, espinheira santa, gervão, guaraná, guava, kalanchoe, macela, manacá, nettle, picao preto, simarouba, velvet bean, vassourinha
Emollient
An agent that has a protective and soothing action on the surfaces of the skin and membranes.
A. Andiroba, Brazil nut, copaiba, balsam, nettle
B. N/A
C. Andiroba, annatto, avenca, balsam, Brazil nut, copaiba, mulateiro, mutamba, nettle, picão preto, vassourinha
Expectorant
An agent that increases bronchial mucous secretion by promoting liquefaction of the sticky mucous and expelling it from the body.
A. Embauba, guaco, samambaia, avenca, guava
B. Guaco
C. Abuta, amargo, anamu, andiroba, annatto, avenca, Brazilian peppertree, copaiba, damiana, embauba, guava, jatoba, juazeiro, mullaca, mutamba, samambaia, vassourinha
Febrifuge
(Fever-reducer)
An agent that reduces fever. Also called an antipyretic.
A. Juazeiro, scarlet bush, manacá, vassourinha, kalanchoe
B. Boldo, juazeiro, kalanchoe, manacá, nettle, scarlet bush, velvet bean
C. Abuta, amargo, anamu, andiroba, annatto, avenca, bitter melon, Brazilian peppertree, carqueja, cashew, chanca piedra, chuchuhuasi, curare, fedegoso, gervão, graviola, guaco, jurubeba, mullaca, mutamba, picao preto, quinine, samambaia, sarsaparilla, simarouba, vassourinha
Galactagogue
See Lactagogue.
Gastrotonic
Gastroprotective
Something which strengthens, tones, or regulates gastric functions (or protects from injury) without overt stimulation or depression.
A. Jurubeba, picao preto, carqueja, cat’s claw, guacatonga
B. Annatto, artichoke, boldo, carqueja, cat’s claw, chanca piedra, copaiba, gervão, guacatonga, guava, jurubeba, macela, picao preto
C. Abuta, amargo, avenca, bitter melon, epazote, muira puama
Heart Tonic
See Cardiotonic.
Hemostatic
See Antihemorrhagic
Hepatoprotective
(Liver-protector)
A substance that helps protect the liver from damage by toxins, chemicals or other disease processes.
A. Carqueja, erva tostão, chanca piedra, picao preto, boldo
B. Annatto, artichoke, boldo, carqueja, chanca piedra, erva tostão, fedegoso, gervão, jatoba, macela, picao preto
C. Abuta, acerola, avenca, cat’s claw, epazote, mutamba
Hepatotonic
(Liver tonic)
A substance that is tonic to the liver - usually employed to normalize liver enzymes and function.
A. Carqueja, picao preto, gervão, artichoke, chanca piedra
B. Artichoke, chanca piedra, erva tostão, fedegoso, jurubeba, mulungu
C. Abuta, acerola, amargo, anamu, avenca, boldo, carqueja, embauba, gervão, juazeiro, macela, mullaca, pau d’arco, picao preto, vassourinha.
Hormonal (Female)
A substance that has a hormone-like effect similar to that of estrogen and/or a substance used to normalize female hormone levels.
A. Abuta, damiana, Brazilian peppertree, suma, chuchuhuasi
B. Abuta, damiana, cat’s claw
C. Brazilian peppertree, chuchuhuasi, damiana, espinheira santa, maca, suma
Hormonal (Male)
A substance that has a hormone-like effect similar to that of testosterone and/or a substance used to normalize male hormone levels.
A. Muira puama, nettle, velvet bean, sarsaparilla, damiana
B. Nettle, velvet bean
C. Catuaba, chuchuhuasi, damiana, maca, muira puama, sarsaparilla, suma
Hyperglycemic
A substance that raises blood sugar levels.
A. N/A
B. Annatto, guaraná
C. N/A
Hypocholesterolemic
(Cholesterol-reducer)
A substance that lowers blood cholesterol levels.
A. Bitter melon, artichoke, velvet bean, suma, chanca piedra
B. Artichoke, bitter melon, chanca piedra, guava, suma, velvet bean
C. Acerola, annatto, avenca, carqueja, cat’s claw, kalanchoe, muira puama, sarsaparilla, vassourinha, yerba mate
Hypoglycemic
An agent that lowers the concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood .
A. Pata de vaca, pedra hume caá, chanca piedra, bitter melon, stevia
B. Abuta, anamu, annatto, avenca, bitter melon, carqueja, chanca piedra, damiana, embauba, guava, macela, mullaca, mutamba, pata de vaca, pedra hume caá, stevia, vassourinha, velvet bean
C. Amargo, cat’s claw, iporuru, jatoba, mulateiro
Hypotensive
A substance that lowers blood pressure.
A. Graviola, abuta, chanca piedra, picao preto, erva tostão
B. Abuta, Brazilian peppertree, carqueja, chanca piedra, embauba, erva tostão, fedegoso, graviola, guava, jurubeba, muira puama, mulungu, mutamba, nettle, passionflower, picão preto, stevia, vassourinha
C. Annatto, artichoke, avenca, cashew, gervão, guaraná, jaborandi, pedra hume caá, samambaia, velvet bean, yerba mate
Hypothermal
See Refrigerant.
Immune modulator
A substance that affects or modulates the functioning of the immune system.
A. Cat’s claw, samambaia,
B. Erva tostão, mullaca, nettle, picao preto, samambaia, sarsaparilla, suma, velvet bean
C. Cat’s claw, pau d’arco
Immune stimulant
A substance that stimulates the activity of immune cells/function and/or increases the production of immune cells.
A. Cat’s claw, anamu, mullaca, fedegoso, macela
B. Anamu, bitter melon, cat’s claw, chuchuhuasi, fedegoso, macela, mullaca, scarlet bush
C. Chanca piedra, jergon sacha, maca, pau d’arco, simarouba, suma, yerba mate
Immune suppressant
A substance that suppresses the functioning of the immune system.
A. N/A
B. Aveloz, kalanchoe
C. N/A
Insecticide
A substance that kills insects.
A. Amargo, graviola (seeds), andiroba, mulateiro, epazote
B. Amargo, andiroba, epazote, graviola, kalanchoe, manacá, mulateiro, pau d’arco, quinine
C. Annatto, bitter melon, Brazilian peppertree, fedegoso, macela, vassourinha
Insect Repellant
An agent that repels insects.
A. Andiroba, annatto, mulateiro, amargo, vassourinha
B. Andiroba
C. Amargo, annatto, aveloz, mulateiro, vassourinha
Lactagogue
A agent that increases or stimulates milk flow or production. Also called a galactagogue.
A. Nettle, erva tostão, gervão, avenca, graviola (fruit juice)
B. N/A
C. Avenca, bitter melon, epazote, erva tostão, gervão, graviola, jaborandi, mulungu, nettle.
Larvacidal
An agent which kills insect or parasite larva.
A. Amargo, gervão, carqueja, boldo, bitter melon
B. Amargo, bitter melon, carqueja, gervão
C. Balsam, boldo, jergon sacha, simarouba
Laxative
A substance that stimulates evacuation of the bowels causing looseness or relaxation intestinal muscles.
A. Guava, gervão, tayuya, chanca piedra, amor seco
B. Gervão
C. Amor seco, aveloz, bitter melon, boldo, chanca piedra, clavillia, embauba, epazote, espinheira santa, guaraná, guava, pau d’arco, simarouba, tayuya
Molluscicidal
An agent that kills snails. (Typically used as an testing method to find agents to treat schistosomiasis)
A. Graviola (seeds), bitter melon, macela, epazote, cashew
B. Bitter melon, cashew, cipó cabeludo, epazote, jatoba, graviola, guacatonga, macela, pata de vaca
C. N/A
Muscle Relaxant
See Antispasmodic.
Nervine
A substance that is tonic to or has a balancing effect on the nerves and/or central nervous system.
A. Catuaba, damiana, tayuya, graviola, muira puama
B. Damiana
C. Amor seco, catuaba, cipó cabeludo, epazote, graviola, guaraná, guava, muira puama, quinine, sangre de grado, scarlet bush, suma, tayuya, yerba mate
Neurasthenic
A substance used to treat nerve pain and/or weakness. (i.e., neuralgia, sciatica, etc.)
A. Sangre de grado, passionflower, mulungu, tayuya, manacá
B. Passionflower, sangre de grado
C. Catuaba, guava, guaraná, macela, manacá, muira puama, mulungu, quinine, tayuya, suma, velvet bean, yerba mate
Neuroprotective
A substance that protects brain cells from damage, helps repair damaged brain cells, and/or balances brain chemicals. In herbal medicine, neuroprotective plants are also used for memory disorders.
A. Samambaia, cat’s claw, sarsaparilla, guaraná, velvet bean
B. Cat’s claw, graviola, guaraná, samambaia, sarsaparilla, velvet bean
C. Catuaba, damiana, mulungu, simarouba, suma, yerba mate
Pectoral
Pertaining to or used for the chest and respiratory tract.
A. Avenca, samambaia, amor seco, embauba, balsam
B. N/A
C. Abuta, amor seco, avenca, balsam, catuaba, cha de bugre, copaiba, embauba, epazote, jatoba, gervão, graviola, guaco, jatoba, kalanchoe, mutamba, picao preto, samambaia, sarsaparilla, vassourinha
Pediculicide
An agent that kills lice.
A. Amargo, andiroba, graviola (seed), balsam, fedegoso
B. Amargo, balsam
C. Andiroba, fedegoso, graviola, guacatonga, nettle
Piscicide
An agent that kills fish (which is a common indicator that the substance has other properties that make it toxic to parasites or bacteria).
A. Abuta, graviola, aveloz, chanca piedra, Brazilian peppertree, anamu
B. N/A
C. Abuta, anamu, aveloz, Brazilian peppertree, cashew, graviola, guaraná, mulungu
Purgative
A substance used to cleanse or purge, especially causing the immediate evacuation of the bowel.
A. Abuta, jatoba (fruit/seed), graviola (seed), manacá, aveloz
B. N/A
C. Abuta, annatto (seeds), Aveloz, bitter melon, cashew, clavillia, graviola (seeds), jatoba, manacá, yerba mate
Refrigerant
(Hypothermal)
A substance to lower the temperature of the body, a part of the body, to reduce the metabolic activity or its tissues, or to provide a local anesthetic effect.
A. Scarlet bush, manacá, kalanchoe, mulateiro, mutamba
B. Manacá, nettle, scarlet bush
C. Avenca, annatto, bitter melon, cashew, carqueja, mulateiro, mutamba, nettles, erva tostão, kalanchoe, samambaia, sarsaparilla, vassourinha
Sedative
Having a soothing, calming, or tranquilizing effect; reducing or relieving stress, irritability, or excitement.
A. Manacá, mulungu, kalanchoe, passionflower, vassourinha
B. Amargo, graviola, guava, kalanchoe, mulungu, passionflower, vassourinha
C. Anamu, boldo, epazote, gervão, macela, manacá, mullaca, nettle
Sialogogue
(Salivation-promoter)
A substance used to increase or promote the excretion of saliva.
A. Jaborandi, espinheira santa, amargo, picao preto, Brazilian peppertree
B. Jaborandi
C. Amargo, Brazilian peppertree, espinheira santa, picao preto
Spasmolytic
See Antispasmodic.
Stimulant
A substance that promotes the activity of a body system or function.
A. Guaraná, yerba mate, jatoba, chuchuhuasi, erva tostão
B. Erva tostão, guaraná, yerba mate
C. Abuta, artichoke, avenca, boldo, Brazilian peppertree, catuaba, cha de bugre, chuchuhuasi, copaiba, damiana, jatoba, maca, muira puama, picao preto, sarsaparilla, suma, yerba mate
Stomachic
(Digestive Stimulant)
An agent that stimulates or strengthens the activity of the stomach; used as a tonic to improve the appetite and digestive processes.
A. Jurubeba, mutamba, carqueja, amargo, artichoke
B. Artichoke, boldo, carqueja, espinheira santa, jurubeba
C. Abuta, amargo, amor seco, annatto, balsam, bitter melon, Brazilian peppertree, cashew, cat’s claw, chanca piedra, chuchuhuasi, clavillia, clavo huasca, damiana, embauba, erva tostão, gervão, graviola, guacatonga, guaraná, jatoba, juazeiro, muira puama, mutamba, nettle, quinine, sarsaparilla, simarouba, tayuya, yerba mate
Styptic
See Antihemorrhagic.
Sudorific
See Diaphoretic.
Tonic
A substance that acts to restore, balance, tone, strengthen, or invigorate a body system without overt stimulation or depression.
A. Cat's claw, suma, chuchuhuasi, catuaba, sarsaparilla
B. N/A
C. Abuta, amargo, artichoke, avenca, bitter melon, Brazilian peppertree, carqueja, cashew, cat’s claw, catuaba, chanca piedra, chuchuhuasi, clavillia, curare, damiana, espinheira santa, gervão, jatoba, juazeiro, jurubeba, maca, muira puama, pata de vaca, quinine, samambaia, sarsaparilla, simarouba, tayuya, vassourinha
Uterine Relaxant
An agent that relaxes the muscles in the uterus.
A. Abuta, passionflower, boldo, chuchuhuasi, embauba
B. Abuta, boldo
C. Chanca piedra, chuchuhuasi, embauba, pata de vaca, passionflower
Uterine Stimulant
An agent that stimulates the uterus (and often employed during active childbirth).
A. Fedegoso, mutamba, picao preto, Brazilian peppertree, bitter melon
B. Bitter melon, Brazilian peppertree, clavillia, fedegoso, graviola, mutamba, picao preto
C. Avenca, carqueja, erva tostão, kalanchoe, nettle, velvet bean
Vasoconstrictor
An agent that causes constriction of the blood vessels and decreases blood flow.
A. Fedegoso, guava, nettle, artichoke
B. Fedegoso, guava
C. Artichoke, nettle
Vasodilator
A substance that causes a widening and/or relaxation of the blood vessels and therefore and increase in blood flow.
A. Graviola, boldo, gervão, guaraná, yerba mate
B. Boldo, catuaba, gervão, graviola, guaraná, yerba mate
C. Brazilian peppertree, simarouba, stevia
Vermifuge
(Worm-expeller)
A substance used to expel worms from the intestines.
A. Amargo, epazote, simarouba, boldo, carqueja
B. Amargo, bitter melon, boldo, carqueja, epazote, fedegoso, simarouba
C. Anamu, andiroba, balsam, cat’s claw, chanca piedra, clavillia, copaiba, erva tostão, gervão, graviola, guaco, guava, jatoba, macela, mullaca, passionflower, pata de vaca, picão preto, scarlet bush, vassourinha, velvet bean
Vulnerary
(Wound-healer)
A substance used to heal wounds and promote tissue formation.
A. Sangre de grado, copaiba, juazeiro, scarlet bush, Brazilian peppertree
B. Balsam, Brazilian peppertree, copaiba, juazeiro, sangre de grado
C. Acerola, amor seco, andiroba, annatto, avenca, bitter melon, cat’s claw, clavillia, embauba, epazote, espinheira santa, gervão, guacatonga, guaco, picao preto, sarsaparilla, scarlet bush, stevia, vassourinha

The information provided above has been quoted from the book, The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs by Leslie Taylor (Square One Publishers, Inc. 2004) and is intended for educational, entertainment and information purposes only.
The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose, prescribe or replace proper medical care. The plants described herein are not intended to treat, cure, diagnose, mitigate or prevent any disease. No claim is made that these plants are effective in treating or curing any disease or condition. Please refer to our Conditions of Use for using this plant database, this text file in the database and the Raintree Nutrition web site.

http://www.rain-tree.com/property-action.htm

© Copyrighted 1996 to present Raintree Nutrition, Inc., Carson City, NV 89701. All rights reserved.
Please read the Conditions of Use, Copyright Statement and our Privacy Policy for this web page and web site.
Last updated 3-20-2010

I want to really endorse this company. I've ordered from them and they have excellent quality and they really know what they are talking about.

posted in Ethnobotany - 11 replies

Acacia knowledge needed

Rosendo — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:32:54 GMT

1)- There are a great deal of Acacias that came from Oaxaca just 8- 10 south of the Arizona border, flowers are yellow, do not know the sub-family of them, cannot identity, only that it has yellow flowers.

Can anyone attest that these are active?

2)- How much rain does the acacia tree needs?

3)- Could they withstand a freeze?

now that I am reading about them there seems to be a good market for them to make solid furniture form a specific variety, and form what I know about them, they grow fairly quick, we used to use these(yellow flower ones) to make poles for the tomatos, cukes and bells pepper that we grew in Mexico. For some reason no one is using them anymore for this purpose, they are bringing wood from the low sierra.

Any information will be greatly appreciated it thanks.

1

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Coyote tobacco

LLB — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 23:03:51 GMT

Rare and native tobacco of the north west.
http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/pdf/niat.pdf
Has any one ever found it?

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

DMT: removing impurities with freeze precipitation/wash.. help?

MrMushie — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:02:13 GMT

Hi all, SWIM would like some good pointers on washing out impurities. SWIM has read that an ammonium solution with 10% ammonium content is not a recommended procedure, but a very simple one. The only problem SWIM has is that he cannot track down this simple solution in the UK. Any fresh or alternative ideas would be graciously received. Btw I am new to tribe, so be gentle :)

-,--'--@

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Amazing clean fast efficient easy DMT extraction method!

Wed, 06 Jul 2005 03:46:17 GMT

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 - 8 replies

Revisiting definitions

chachicorrigan — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 23:20:59 GMT

Just posting some wiki, and some questions, in hopes of enticing some discussion..... :)

Ethnobotany
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Botanists at work" by Gerbrand van den Eeckhout, mid 17th century.
Ethnobotany (from "ethnology" - study of culture[1] and "botany" - study of plants) is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants.
Ethnobotanists aim to document, describe and explain complex relationships between cultures and (uses of) plants: focusing, primarily, on how plants are used, managed and perceived across human societies (e.g. as foods; as medicines; in divination; in cosmetics; in dyeing; as textiles; in construction; as tools; as currency; as clothing; in literature; in rituals; and in social life.)[2]

Plants have been widely used by American Indian healers, such as this Ojibwa man.
Though the term "ethnobotany" was not coined until 1895 by the US botanist John William Harshberger, the history of the field begins long before that. In AD 77, the Greek surgeon Dioscorides published "De Materia Medica", which was a catalog of about 600 plants in the Mediterranean. It also included information on how the Greeks used the plants, especially for medicinal purposes. This illustrated herbal contained information on how and when each plant was gathered, whether or not it was poisonous, its actual use, and whether or not it was edible (it even provided recipes). Dioscorides stressed the economic potential of plants. For generations, scholars learned from this herbal, but did not actually venture into the field until after the Middle Ages.
In 1542 Leonhart Fuchs, a Renaissance artist, led the way back into the field. His "De Historia Stirpium" cataloged 400 plants native to Germany and Austria.
John Ray (1686–1704) provided the first definition of "species" in his "Historia Plantarum": a species is a set of individuals who give rise through reproduction to new individuals similar to themselves.
In 1753 Carl Linnaeus wrote "Species Plantarum", which included information on about 5,900 plants. Linnaeus is famous for inventing the binomial method of nomenclature, in which all species get a two part name (genus, species).
The 19th century saw the peak of botanical exploration. Alexander von Humboldt collected data from the new world, and the James Cook's voyages brought back collections and information on plants from the South Pacific. At this time major botanical gardens were started, for instance the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.[citation needed]
Edward Palmer collected artifacts and botanical specimens from peoples in the North American West (Great Basin) and Mexico from the 1860s to the 1890s.
Once enough data existed, the field of "aboriginal botany" was founded. Aboriginal botany is the study of all forms of the vegetable world which aboriginal peoples use for food, medicine, textiles, ornaments, etc.[citation needed]
The first individual to study the emic perspective of the plant world was a German physician working in Sarajevo at the end of 19th Century: Leopold Glueck. His published work on traditional medical uses of plants done by rural people in Bosnia (1896) has to be considered the first modern ethnobotanical work.[citation needed]
The term "ethnobotany" was first used by a botanist named John W. Harshberger in 1895 while he was teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. Although the term was not used until 1895, practical interests in ethnobotany go back to the beginning of civilization when people relied on plants as a way of survival.[citation needed]
Other scholars analysed uses of plants under an indigenous/local perspective in the 20th century: e.g. Matilda Coxe Stevenson, Zuni plants (1915); Frank Cushing, Zuni foods (1920); Keewaydinoquay Peschel, Anishinaabe fungi (1998), and the team approach of Wilfred Robbins, JP Harrington, and Barbara Freire-Marreco, Tewa pueblo plants (1916).
In the beginning, ethonobotanical specimens and studies were not very reliable and sometimes not helpful. This is because the botanists and the anthropologists did not collaborate their work. The botanists focused on identifying species and how the plants were used instead of concentrating upon how plants fit into people's lives. On the other hand, anthropologists were interested in the cultural role of plants and not the scientific aspect. Therefore, early ethnobotanical data does not really include both sides. In the early twentieth century, botanists and anthropologists finally collaborated and the collection of reliable, detailed data began.
Modern ethnobotany

Beginning in the 20th century, the field of ethnobotany experienced a shift from the raw compilation of data to a greater methodological and conceptual reorientation. This is also the beginning of academic ethnobotany. The founding father of this discipline is Richard Evans Schultes. Today the field of ethnobotany requires a variety of skills: botanical training for the identification and preservation of plant specimens; anthropological training to understand the cultural concepts around the perception of plants; linguistic training, at least enough to transcribe local terms and understand native morphology, syntax, and semantics.
A great deal of information about the traditional uses of plants is still intact with the tribals[3]. But the native healers are often reluctant to accurately share their knowledge to outsiders. Schultes actually apprenticed himself to an Amazonian shaman, which involves a long term commitment and genuine relationship. In Wind in the Blood: Mayan Healing & Chinese Medicine by Garcia et al. the visiting acupuncturists were able to access levels of Mayan medicine that anthropologists could not because they had something to share in exchange. Cherokee medicine priest David Winston describes how his uncle would invent nonsense to satisfy visiting anthropologists. [4]
Scientific journals covering ethnobotanical research

The Latin American and Caribbean Bulletin of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (Abbreviated BLACPMA) or Boletin latinoamericano y del caribe de plantas medicinales y aromaticas (ISSN-0717 7917) is a bimonthly scientific publication directed to diverse professionals and technicians linked to the field of medicinal and aromatic plants. It accepts papers related with the Bulletin's areas of interest, which are agronomy, anthropology and ethnobotany, industrial applications, botany, quality and normalization, ecology and biodiversity, economy and markets, pharmacology, phytochemistry, legislation, information and diffusion of events, courses, prizes, regulations, news, market questions, reports, bibliography, or any other material type that is important to publish.
See also the following peer-reviewed journals:
Journal of Ethnobiology
Ethnobotany Research and Applications
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine [1]
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Economic Botany
Ethnobotany Research and Applications[2]
See also

Anthropology
Botany
Ethnobiology
Ethnomedicine
Ethnomycology
References

^ The Random House Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged Edition, Jess Stein ed. in chief, Random House, New York 1966 p. 489
^ Acharya, Deepak and Shrivastava Anshu (2008): Indigenous Herbal Medicines: Tribal Formulations and Traditional Herbal Practices, Aavishkar Publishers Distributor, Jaipur- India. ISBN 978-81-7910-252-7. pp 440.
^ Sood, S.K., Nath, R. and Kalia, D.C. 2001. Ethnobotany of Cold Desert Tribes of Lahoul-Spiti (N.W. Himalaya). Deep Publications, New Delhi.
^ Wind in the Blood: Mayan Healing & Chinese Medicine by Hernan Garcia, Antonio Sierra, Hilberto Balam, and Jeff Connant

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+So, what does Ethno Botany mean to you personally?
+Does anyone have life experiences outside of our own culture and worldview that they could share with us?
+Is there information or topics that anyone in this tribe would like to see further investigated?
+How many of you have learned Ethno Botanic practices from your life place's indigenous people? And if so, would you be willing to share some of them with us?
+What types of possible futures can you picture from learning and preserving, and being involved in, Ethno Botanical 'hands on' ?

It would be lovely to get to know each other, and share our stories and experiences on this fascinating subject. So please discuss, whether you have been formally educated, life experience educated, or just plain intrested with questions, please feel free to contribute, interact and and network with each other. Some of my best friends, and best medicine persons, i have met over long and enjoyable conversations into the wee morning hours of Tribe.net.

posted in Ethnobotany - 14 replies

Moderator of Ethnobotany Tribe

sandpiperkim — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 06:10:27 GMT

I apologize for not being present more often in this tribe. I have changed my notifications so that I will be ever present in tribe discussions. I appreciate and enjoy the discussions happening here and I will strive to make this a better forum in the future.

If you have any knowledge or desire to moderate this tribe, please speak up. I would gladly give over the moderator role to a willing individual. I would surely hope you appreciate the work and dedication of this discipline. Surely, you understand the complexities of the topic and respect the various range of discussions that will be posted on this site.

Ultimately, I'm looking for someone like Richard Evan Shultes, the Father of Ethnobotany to take over this tribe.

Many gracious thanks in advance,
Kim Cloud

posted in Ethnobotany - 15 replies

Nutmeg high

marvindublin — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 15:05:19 GMT

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 - 52 replies

Permaculture Design Course in the Peruvian Amazon: February

sharonjoy — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:24:40 GMT

Now is your last chance to register for our upcoming Permaculture Design Course in the Peruvian Amazon with the Paititi Institute...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Permaculture Design & Shamanic Healing
Healing Our Inner and Outer Landscapes

WHERE: The Paititi Institute, Amazon Rainforest, Peru
WHEN: February 11th – 27th 2011
(next course June 22 – July 9th)

VIEW PHOTOS FROM OUR LAST COURSE > http://www.flickr.com/photos/planetpeoplepassion/sets/72157624683361251/%0A

This 17 day intensive will impart practical tools on how we can live in a sustainable and harmonious relationship with nature while creating a supportive, self sufficient and nurturing community around us. Weaving the teachings of Permaculture Design and the Indigenous Shamans of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, we will immerse ourselves into a deep exploration of nature and how we can co-evolve and heal together.

The course will intertwine three main areas of exploration…
• Permaculture Certification: designing sustainable communities in co-creation with nature. Participants will receive a Permaculture Design Certification upon completion of the course.
• Nutrition & Wellness: Exploring the symbiotic relationship between nurturing the land and nurturing our own bodies and spirits. The course will incorporate daily yoga, meditation, chi gong, nutrition and more.
• Plant Medicine and Indigenous Shamanic Healing of the Amazon: An introduction into the magnificent realm of Mother Nature through the native indigenous initiation rites and sacred healing ceremonies while establishing intercultural bridges of seeing the emergence of awakened consciousness in all beings everywhere.

Read More > http://www.planetpeoplepassion.com/?page_id=272

Download the Registration Form > http://www.planetpeoplepassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/PDC_FEB_registration.pdf
Download the Travel Prep Info and FAQ > http://www.planetpeoplepassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/TravelPrep_Feb_PDC.pdf

Questions email: info@Paititi-Institute.org
If you can’t make it this time, we will be holding this course again June 22 – June 9th

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Paititi Institute, is dedicated to creating a space where we can live in symbiotic relationship within our inner and outer nature — building intercultural bridges for the healing of people and planet. In this space all can discover and implement a life lived under the light of the True Self.

The objective of the Permaculture Center at the Paititi Institute is to establish a Permaculture education and information base that will empower the community and provide a living model for sustainable agriculture alternatives to slash and burn practices, soil remediation, reforestation, effective use of water resources, recycling and waste management as well as preservation of indigenous traditions.

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Evidence for Plant Swarm Intelligence

bearsky — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 14:44:57 GMT

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/67424/title/Rooting_for_swarm_intelligence_in_plants

no dounbt in my mind

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

The Journey of Salvia: From Oaxaca to US porn shops and gas stations, de-flowering the virgin of the feild

LLB — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:58:08 GMT

Salvia Divinorum has had an amazing journey over the years. Discovered by Wasson ethnomycologist and journalist extrodinare, moved from the Mazatecan huts and villages to our local adult arcades and gas stations. Now you can buy a vail of 20X extract salvia and visit a glory hole all in the same visit. Or you can buy a mass marketed salvia extract and a slushy at the local gas station in the middle of rural Washington.
I remember the first time I saw Salvia being sold in an adult arcade. A freind had told me that they sold it at the local porn shop, I was so shocked by that i had to go see... Sure enough a quater ounce of salvia in a ziplock bag was being sold for 150$, the bulk price, and vials or extracts sat next to the bottles of rush and locker room, huffable nitrates used for giving ones self a horrible head ache and allowing larger things to enter ones rectum, for which it is sold in adult shops. Legal highs are a taboo in our socieity, for people who order inventory at porn shops must make that connection some how. The association must be there some where, there is really nothing aphrodisiac like with smoking a salvia extract. Of coarse there are those that would say the same thing about dirty socks... but I know that there has to be some one out there that thinks other wise. Regardless there Ska Pastora, the Divine Virgin of the field, lays... next to a blown glass dildo, and in the ural gas station it lays next to the pipettes used to sell tiny plastic roses; the real purpose of these are for smoking methapmetamine, heroin or oxycodone and being able to throw them out of your car window next to the dead raccoon you hit while driving drunk the night before.
I think Perry Ferrel made an astute observation and social commentary when he said in his song sex is violent, that nothing, is indeed shocking...
Upon seeing the Vail and packages of salvia at the local rural gas station today it struck me. Here is a mass marketed hallucinogen in America, rural america no less. For years I have been hearing folks in the entheogen community say "Well if hallucinogens where legalized in thsi country things would change ect ect... sacred this and mayan calender that. But here we have it. Salvia has reached the masses you can buy it with a can a chew, some rolling papers and issue of Juggs magazine. There is no drug dealer, no seedy smoked filled room, no back ally transactions, just you and your debit card and a relatively disinterested clerk who finds your purchase amusing.
I am trying to think back now... I beleive it was ten years ago that I first saw the ounce of ska pastora next to a glass dildo in an adult arcade, yes about ten years ago. But what has this done for us in the ten years its been legal?
Well according to You Tube there have been lots of frat boys and misanthropes treating it like gas huffing, a fun house effect with a full on black out. My favorite video is of a large meat head threatening to kick peoples asses after smoking, confused, and defintely scared his fight of flight reponse triggered and set to fight.
Lets take a look at this from an ethnobotanical stand point. What is our relationship dynamic with this plant? Its like a roller coaster ride for your head at the carnival. Now what is the relationship that the Mazatecs have with Ska Pastora? They revear it for one, and it helps them to survive, diagnosing illness finding lost children, giving life guidance and an assortment of other amazing transpersonal and paranormal phenomena, included amoung these is seeing into the future, thus the divinorum part of the name salvia divinorum.
As always we in america hope to find some sort of salvation, some sort of extrernal support that will trigger the chnage we need in our lives and in the world around us. We look at entheogens the same way, "ayahuasca will transform the world, it will save us, mama ayahuasca give me, give me, give me, damie, damie, damie." "Mushrooms will allow us to ride the Zuvya back to the gallactic center on Dec 21st 2012." "LSD was the great catylist of the 60's revolution it brought us the world wide web and recycling". perhaps it is hardwired into how we relate culturally. The product of being sold the idea we need some thing that we don't have back in the dark ages, I am not really sure. But is obvious to me when I look at the Virgin of the field being sold next to a bottle of locker room, that we are wrong to assume that the catylist of our collective transformation is to be found outside of ourselves.
When we look at the real difference between the fella buying sally D at the adult arcade and the Mazatecan curandero, the relationship. The relationship is different. In other words how we relate is different then how they relate, just to make that clear because often times people think of a relationship as somthing seperate from how they relate. These are the people generally that do not know that how they relate is whats causing how some one else or somthing else is relating to them in turn... I know its amazing. But there it is...
What if we took responsability for the change we wished to see in our selves and in the world? What if we did this and worked with these plants and chemicals to help promote that? What would that relationship begin to look like? Would we see ska pastora being sold next to bottles anal ease? Would the dynamic change? Would we see here as the divinie virgin of the fields once again or would we still see her as the dirty little taboo we are breaking in our dorm room?
Lets see what happens if we do shall we?

posted in Ethnobotany - 9 replies

Check out this movie "After the Ceremony"

bugjon — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 06:35:31 GMT

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7905575/

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

samples for a newbie ...

chaz_winter — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:29:57 GMT

hi,

i'm a kratom enthusiast. it's been perhaps a year or two, notwithstanding, but ...

i would like to turn a friend of mine on to the wonders of kratom, 'specially considering he deals with the p.i.t.b. ( Pain In The Butt ) of pharmaceuticals with which he deals. i'd hook 'em up off my supply, but have been out of the loop for damn near a year now.

so ...

herbal, medicinal, introductory sample would be appreciated. done business thru http://z-eclectic before, in fact, quite a few times b4, but ... am interested in stampling the alternatives. don't get me wrong, eclectic is great. but ... there must certainly be some alternatives.

thank you all. i appreciate the subdued support of such a great incensentual product. ;-)

p.m. and we'll talk some more.

thanks,
charles

posted in Ethnobotany - 5 replies

kavalactone extraction

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 20:08:08 GMT

does any one any good methods of extracting kavalactones?

posted in Ethnobotany - 36 replies

Posting on illegal activities a question for the mod?

LLB — Sat, 08 May 2010 00:03:35 GMT

So this subject came up recently on another post.
many forums, and many I used to either post on or moderator for or admin for have a rule and sort of etiquette on comprimising your own or anothers security, outing people or responding to posts asking to buy drugs, or ways to get a hold of people working with entheogens. The rule is never incriminate your self or another person ever. On many forums this is grounds enough to get your self booted.
This forum is an ethnobotany forum, and not a drug forum and so these guide lines where never really put out there in the intro box. Tribes also does not have any sort of sticky feature for posts so this cant be sitckied either.

SO seeing how for many people erthnobotany has some how related almost strickly to entheogen conversations these days it might be a good idea to put in the intro box at the top of the tribe screen that people may want to be aware that they should by all means NOT attempt to incriminate themselves or others OR answer any requests to find or connect with people who do any sort of illegal activity.

This keeps our communities safe and it keeps this work going, and this work needs to keep going until we can do enough covert research to bring the current legislation on entheogens out of the dark ages.

posted in Ethnobotany - 15 replies

Ushpahuasa or Ushpahuasca

luna — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 03:19:07 GMT

Hi. Does anyone know the latin name for this plant? or have a photo of it? It's known by this name by the Shipibo around Pucallpa but can't find out any more info about it. My Mestizo shaman in Iquitos hasn't heard of it by this name. It's apparently good for opening the heart. Joan Parisi Wilcox diets this plant in her book about Ayahuasca.

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Felony for a gram of medical marijuana

michael — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:09:41 GMT

http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/9179165/article-Anniston-man-finds-one-state%E2%80%99s-medicine-is-another%E2%80%99s-illicit-drug?
I came home for christmas and got arrested for my doctor recomended medicine.If you can speak up.Shout at the top of your lungs.My medicine has never killed anyone and they are threating me with 2- 10 years for a joint.

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Manifesto of the psychedelic conservative

LLB — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:55:43 GMT

http://vinceynzunza-thisweekingrooviness.blogspot.com/2010/08/manifesto-of-psychedelic-conservative.html

this is wondrous to behold.

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Spirit Possesion

pupcorn — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:15:10 GMT

This is some interesting info on possesing spirits from a High Level Buddha Master, it delves into the dangers of these entities that entice one with abilities and powers:

Spirit Possession

A lot of us in the cultivation world might have heard of stories about animals, like maybe foxes, weasels, ghosts, or snakes, taking possession of human bodies. And what are these things all about? Some people say that practicing qigong develops supernatural abilities, but the truth is, it’s not that it develops supernatural abilities—those "supernatural abilities" are just a person’s innate abilities. It’s just that as society moves forward, people pay more and more attention to the visible things in this material dimension of ours, and they come to rely more and more on our sophisticated tools. So our human innate abilities have steadily atrophied, and now it’s come to the point where they’ve totally vanished.

If someone wants to have abilities, he has to go through cultivation, return to his original, true self, and bring them out through cultivation. But animals, on the other hand, they don’t have complicated thoughts like people do, and so they’re connected to the nature of the universe and do have their inborn, innate abilities. Some people say that animals know how to cultivate, that foxes know how to make elixir, that snakes and such-and-such animals know how to cultivate, and so on. It’s not that they know how to cultivate. At the start they didn’t know a thing about cultivating—it’s only that they had those innate abilities. So under certain conditions, in certain environments, and after a long time their innate abilities might take effect, and they’ll be able to get gong, and have abilities come out.

Now that things have gone this way, that animal gets some special abilities. At one time we would have said they’d "acquired subtle powers" or "gained special abilities." A lot of people seem to think animals are just incredibly fierce and that they can control people easily. Actually, I’d say they aren’t fierce—they’re nothing before a true cultivator. Big deal if they’ve cultivated almost 1,000 years, a pinky is more than enough to crush them. So now that we know animals have innate abilities and can have some special abilities, there’s another law in this universe of ours: animals aren’t allowed to succeed in cultivation. That’s why you’ve read in ancient books that they’re killed once every several hundred years in large catastrophes or small calamities. When an animal’s gong grows to a certain level after some time, it’ll be destroyed, struck by a thunderbolt, or something else will happen to stop it from cultivating. That’s because they don’t have the essential nature that humans have, and they aren’t able to cultivate like humans do. It’s guaranteed they’d be demons if they succeeded in cultivation since they don’t have human traits. So they aren’t allowed to succeed in cultivation, and that’s why they’re slain by Heaven. They too know that. But like I said, the world is sliding downhill bigtime, and there’s no evil some people won’t do. When it’s hit this point, isn’t the world in danger?

"When something reaches the extreme it reverses"! We’ve discovered that every time the world was destroyed in the different cycles of prehistoric ages, it was always when the human race’s morals were terribly degenerate. Right now the dimension where we human beings exist and a lot of other dimensions are in great danger. And the same goes for other dimensions at this level. The beings there, too, want to leave as quickly as possible, they want to climb up to higher levels. They think that by going up to higher levels they can escape. But that’s easier said than done, isn’t it? If you want to cultivate you have to have a human body, and that’s one reason we’re seeing qigong practitioners get possessed.

Maybe some of you are thinking, "How come all those Great Enlightened Beings and all those powerful masters aren’t doing anything about it?" In our universe there’s another law: if it’s about something you’re seeking or just want, nobody can stop you. Here we’re teaching you to take the right path, and along with that, we’re teaching you the Law inside and out and encouraging you to have your own understanding of it, but it’s still up to you whether you decide to learn it. "The master leads you through the door, but cultivation is up to you." Nobody’s going to push you to cultivate. It’s up to you whether you cultivate. Or to put it another way, when you choose your own path, when you decide what you want, or when you’re trying to get something—nobody will stop you. They can only try to kindly persuade you.

You see some people doing qigong exercises there, but it’s actually the possessing spirit that gets it all. How did they attract possessing spirits? Just consider all the people around the country who practice qigong, do you know how many of them have possessing spirits on their backs? If I told you, a lot of people wouldn’t dare to do qigong. The number is scary! So what would bring something like that about? Those things are really wrecking the ordinary world. So how did something so serious come about? It’s people’s own doing. Because mankind is going bad, demons are everywhere. The worst is those fake qigong masters, they all have possessing spirits on their bodies, and when they pass on their practices they’re transmitting that stuff. Never in history were animals allowed to get on human bodies, and if they did they’d be killed—whoever saw it wouldn’t stand for it. But would you believe, in today’s world some people pray to them, they want them, and they make offerings to them. Some people won’t be too happy to hear this—"But that isn’t what I asked for!" You didn’t ask for it, but you asked for abilities, and would the Enlightened Beings of a true cultivation give them to you? Asking for those kinds of things is an attachment that ordinary people have, and that kind of desire has to go. Then who do you think would give them to you? Only demons and different kinds of animals that are in other dimensions. Isn’t what you did just like asking them for those things? So they came right over.

How many people are there who have proper thoughts when they do qigong exercises? When a person practices qigong he has to take virtue seriously, do good things for others, and be kind—he should discipline himself this way in every action and in every circumstance. Take all the people doing qigong exercises in the parks and all the ones doing them at home, and how many do you have thinking that way? To be honest, when some people are doing their qigong, who knows what they’re doing, they’ll be exercising away, swinging their bodies all around, and at the same time going off about things—"Ugh! That daughter-in-law of mine has no respect for me," "My mother-in-law is such a wretch!" Some people even go on and on, from talking about things at their company right on to headline news—there’s nothing they don’t babble about, and the things they don’t agree with will blow their fuse. Tell me, is that doing cultivation exercises? And then there are people doing a standing exercise right there, getting so tired their legs shake, but his mind isn’t at rest, "Things are so expensive these days. Prices have gone up, and my company can’t make the payroll. Why can’t my practice bring out some abilities? If I got some abilities I’d be a qigong master, and I’d get rich—I could make money by giving people treatments." Once he sees that other people’s abilities have come out he gets even more agitated. He gets obsessed with getting abilities, with getting the Third Eye, and with getting healing skills. Now think about it, isn’t that about as far as you can get from the nature of our universe, to be True, Good, and Endure?! He’s simply turning his back on it. To put it a little more seriously, he’s practicing in an evil way! But he isn’t aware of it. The more he thinks like that, the worse the thoughts are that his mind emits. That kind of person doesn’t have a handle on it, he doesn’t know he should take virtue seriously, and he thinks that by doing those movements he can get gong, and that he can get whatever he wants by seeking after it—he thinks that’s how it is.

A person attracts bad things precisely because his thoughts aren’t proper. Then the animal sees it, "This guy wants to get rich off qigong, and that guy wants to get famous and get abilities. Boy, his body is pretty good and what he has is pretty good. But his mind is really bad—he’s after abilities! Maybe he has a master, but even if he does, I’m not afraid." It knows that the master of a true cultivation will see him seeking abilities like that, and the harder he seeks after them the less likely the master will give him them, since that’s exactly an attachment he should get rid of. The more he thinks that way, the less the chance he’ll be given any abilities, so basically the more oblivious he is to how it works, the more he wants them and the worse his thoughts get. Finally that master gives a deep sigh when he sees that this guy is finished, and he won’t have anything more to do with him. Some people don’t have masters, and maybe somebody who happens to pass by will look after them for a while, since there are so many Enlightened Beings in different dimensions. An Enlightened Being might take a look at him, watch him and follow him for a day, and leave him after he sees that he’s not good. The next day another one comes by, takes a look at him, finds out he’s no good, and off he goes.

The animal knows that whatever kind of master he has, be it a regular one or a passing-by one, his master won’t give him what he’s seeking. Animals can’t see the dimensions where Great Enlightened Beings are, so they aren’t afraid, and they’ve taken advantage of a loophole: our universe has a law, that when somebody wants to seek something, or wants something, normally he shouldn’t be stopped. It takes advantage of that loophole—"He wants them, then I’ll give him them. It’s not wrong for me to help him, right?" So it gives them to him. At first the animal doesn’t dare get on his body, so it starts by giving him a little gong as a test-run. The person keeps seeking it, and one day he really gets it, and he can even heal people. The animal sees that it’s worked pretty well, and it’s just like playing a prelude before the show really starts. "He wants them, so I’ll get right on his body. And once I’m there I can give him more, I’ll pour it on!" "You want the Third Eye, right? This time I’ll give you it all." So it gets right on him.

While he’s having that thought about wanting it, right there doing that, his Third Eye pops open, he’s able to send out gong, and he’s even got a few little abilities. He’s beside himself with joy, and he thinks that he’s sought and sought these things and finally got them, and he thinks they came from his practice. But actually, his practice didn’t bring him anything. He thinks that he can see through a human body and see where the problems are in someone’s body. In reality, though, his Third Eye isn’t open one bit—it’s that the animal is controlling his brain. That animal sees things with its eyes and then reflects what it sees into his brain, and he thinks his Third Eye is open. "Want to send out gong? Go for it." When he holds out his hands to send out gong, the animal’s little paws extend out from behind his body. When he sends out gong, the forked tongue from the little snake’s head comes out to lick the sick or swollen area. There are a lot of things like this. Those spirits that possess these people come only because they asked for them.

So he seeks after them, he dreams about getting rich, and about getting famous. "Okay then!"—he gets abilities, he can heal people, and he can see with his Third Eye. That makes him happy. The animal takes a look, "You want to get rich, don’t you? Okay, I’ll make you get rich." It’s way too easy to control an ordinary person’s head. The animal can control a lot of people and make them come to him for treatments, and they’ll come in droves. Oh my goodness!—while he sees patients right here, it’s stirring up reporters over there to promote him in newspapers. It manipulates ordinary people to do these things. When someone who comes for a treatment doesn’t pay him enough, he won’t let them off the hook, and he’ll make you have a headache. What it comes down to is that you just have to give him a lot of money. The guy pulls in both fame and wealth—he’s made a bundle, he’s become well-known, and now he’s a qigong master. People like him usually don’t care about character and they’ll dare to say anything, "I’m second to none but Heaven." They go as far as saying they’re the reincarnations of well-known deities, like the Queen Mother or Jade Emperor, and they even go as far as saying they’re Buddhas. They haven’t really gone through character cultivation, so they seek abilities when they do their exercises and end up getting possessed by animals.

Maybe some of you are thinking, "What’s wrong with that? It’s okay as long as I can make money, or get rich, and I can get famous." That’s what a lot of people are thinking. But I’ll tell you, that animal isn’t doing it without a purpose, it turns out, and it doesn’t give you something for nothing. There’s a law in this universe: no loss, no gain. What does the animal get? I talked about this earlier, didn’t I? It’s trying to get that bit of essence in your body to cultivate into a human form, so it just gathers the essence from the human body. But there’s only this one share of essence in a human body, and if somebody wants to cultivate, he only has this one share. And if you let the animal take it from you, you can forget about cultivating—how would you cultivate then? You’ll have lost everything, and you won’t be able to cultivate at all. Maybe some people will say, "I don’t want to cultivate. I just want to get rich. All’s well as long as I have money. I couldn’t care less!" Look, I’ll tell you: you want to get rich, but after I explain how it really works, then you’ll change your mind. So what happens? If it leaves your body not too late your limbs will feel like lead, and you’ll be like that for good, because it drained you of too much of your essence. But if it leaves your body late, you will become a vegetable and lie in bed for the rest of your life hanging on by a thread. Even if you had money, would you be able to spend it? Even if you had fame, would you be able to enjoy it? Wouldn’t it be horrible?

These things have become really serious and they’re common among people who practice qigong these days. The animal doesn’t just possess the body, it also kills the person’s master soul, and it burrows into the person’s Niwan Palace and squats there. The person looks like a human being, but he’s not. You even see things like that nowadays. Mankind’s morals have changed, so when some people do bad things, and you tell them they’re doing bad things, they just don’t believe you. They think that making money, wanting money, and getting rich are their birthright, and that these are the right thing to do. So they harm other people, they hurt others, and they’ll stop at nothing to make money—they’ll do anything! The animal won’t gain if it doesn’t lose. Would it give you something for nothing? It wants to get the things that are in your body. Of course, we’d say that people invite all those troubles just because that idea they have isn’t right, and their thoughts aren’t proper.

Let’s see what our Falun Dafa has to say about this. When you cultivate in our discipline, as long as you can always keep up your character, "one good can overcome a hundred evils"—you won’t run into any trouble. On the other hand, if you can’t keep up your character well, if you seek after all sorts of things, you’re sure to invite trouble. Some people just can’t let go of the things they used to practice. We all know that you have to commit to one discipline when you do qigong—in true cultivation you just have to. Some qigong masters have written books, but so what. You know what, their books are such a mess they’re like those things they practice—snakes, foxes, and weasels, they’re all in there. When you read those books that stuff will jump out from the words. I have to tell you, those fake qigong masters outnumber true qigong masters by a lot, and you can’t tell who’s who. So you have to know what you’re doing. It’s not like I won’t settle for anything but your cultivating in my Falun Dafa. Actually, you can cultivate in the discipline of your choice. But there’s an ancient saying, "No true teachings for thousands of years, better than wild heresy for one day." So you really have to know what you’re doing, and really cultivate a true teaching. Don’t mix anything into your cultivation—don’t even add thoughts. Some people’s Law Wheels have gotten all out of shape. Why is that? They get defensive, "But I didn’t practice that other qigong." But whenever they do the exercises, their thoughts just keep pumping in the things they practiced before—wouldn’t that add it in? That’s all I want to say about spirit possession.

Cosmic Language

What is "cosmic language"? It’s about a person suddenly being able to speak gibberish, like mumbo jumbo, and even he doesn’t know what he’s saying. People with telepathic abilities can get the general idea, but they can’t make out the specifics of what he’s talking about. And some people can speak a few languages. What’s more, some of them think they’re just incredible and think they’re really talented and have an ability. Let’s be clear, that’s not an ability, and it’s not a cultivator’s talent, and it doesn’t stand for your level, either. So what’s it about? It’s actually that your mind is being controlled by a foreign spirit. But for some reason you think it’s pretty good, you like having it, and you’re happy to have it. And the happier you are, the tighter its grip on you. If you think of yourself as a true cultivator, how could you just let it control you? And its level is really low. So a true cultivator shouldn’t invite this kind of trouble.

Human beings are the most precious, and they’re the wisest of all creatures. How could you be controlled by those things? You don’t even want your body anymore—how sad! Some of those things latch onto the body, and some don’t latch onto the body but they still manipulate you and control you, even though they’re at a little distance. When you want to speak it, they’re all too glad to do that, so you’ll go and spew mumbo jumbo. And it can be passed on—another person comes along and wants to learn it, he gets up his nerve and opens his mouth, and he starts spewing it, too. Those things actually come in nests, and when you want to speak it one of them will pounce right on your body and help you speak it.

So how’s that allowed to happen? Again, like I said, it wants to raise its level, but there’s no hardship over there so it can’t cultivate or improve itself. So they came up with an idea—to help people do good things for others. But they don’t know how. Yet they do know that the energy they send out can have the effect of slowing people’s sicknesses down a little and relieving the pain sick people have at the time, but it can’t cure the ailment. That’s how it is, and they know that using a person’s mouth to send it out can have that effect. Some people call it Heaven’s language, and then there are people who call it Buddha’s language. That’s blaspheming Buddhas! That’s just reckless!

You know, Buddhas don’t speak frivolously. If they went and said something in our dimension, they could cause earthquakes in the human world—it’d be terrible! Just think about that thundering sound. Some people have said, "I saw with my Third Eye that he talked to me." He didn’t talk to you. And the same goes for those people who saw my Law Bodies. They didn’t talk to you. The thought that he sends out is in stereo sound, so when you hear it, it sounds like he’s talking. Usually he can speak in his dimension, but once it’s transmitted over here you can’t hear what he says clearly. That’s because the concepts of space-time are different in the two dimensions, in our dimension, a small block of time is about two hours nowadays, but in that large dimension, our small block of time is equal to a year in their time. Our time is slower than theirs, it turns out.

There’s an old saying, "Only one day in the heavens, but a thousand years on Earth." That refers to the unitary paradises where there’s no concept of space and no concept of time, or to be more specific, the worlds where Great Enlightened Beings stay, like the Western Paradise, the Emerald World, the Falun World, the Lotus World, and so on—it’s those places. But the time in those large dimensions is faster, contrary to what you’d expect. If you’re able to receive and hear their talking (some people’s Celestial Ears are open, and when those Ears are open they can hear them talking) you can’t hear them that clearly. Everything you hear sounds the same, like birds chirping, or like a turntable playing at a fast speed—it’s all garbled. Of course, some people can hear music and they can hear people talking. But they have to have an ability that serves as a vehicle to eliminate the time difference before the sound is transmitted to your ears, and only then can you hear it clearly. That’s how it works. Some people call that stuff Buddha’s language, but nothing could be further from it.

When two Enlightened Beings meet they know all that there is to know with just a smile. That’s because it’s silent, mental telepathy, and what’s received has stereo sound. When they smile at each other they’ve already exchanged their ideas. They don’t just use that one form, sometimes they use another method. You know, in Tantrism Tibetan lamas take doing hand signs seriously. But if you ask a lama what hand signs are, he’ll tell you that it’s "meta-yoga." And what exactly is that? They don’t know themselves. It’s actually a language of Great Enlightened Beings. When there are a lot of people, they make those large hand signs, which are incredibly beautiful, and they make all kinds of large hand signs. And when there’s a small audience they use the small hand signs, and they’re beautiful, too, they use small hand signs in all kinds of poses, and they’re really involved and rich since they’re a language. These all used to be Heaven’s secrets, and now we’ve unveiled them all. What they use in Tibet are only a few movements that are just for doing their practice. They’ve catalogued them and made them into a system. Those are only a one-dimensional language for their practice, and they just have that handful of practice forms. Real hand signs are a lot more complex.

Full book can be downloaded here:

http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/pdf/zfl_new.pdf

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Future of the Village herbalist: Supplement companies and the FDA

LLB — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:53:07 GMT

This last year I spent some time working for a small but famous company making mushroom products, many for the supplement industry. While working there i began to learn of the new industry standards in herbal medicine and alternative self care that where begining to take foot. I beleive the magazine herbal gram is a good reasource to look at to keep more informed, but what I had gathered from workign there was that the supplement industry is begining to make a tremendous amount of money off of alternative health care "products" ie dietary supplements. Because of this there has been many buisnesses taking advantage of this causeing quality to become lower and people taking these products to bear the brunt of the low quality. What this has caused is in increase of legislation on how herbal supplements are produced. Supplement companies now have to have their products produced by a certified LAB, even if its as simple as a tincture. What this has done is run out the small time herbalist from being able to commercially sell their products legally ( though its rarely policed on local levels, but this could change). an herbalist can not sell their products commercially unless they are produced in a lab. As a result of this Bastyr college has started a new program training herbalists not to be pracitioners but to produce herbal products for the supplement industry ( which are taking the same road as the pharmacutical companies if you ask me). On the one hand this is keeping hebralism alive and as an alternative to pharmacuticals in health care, but it is also re-shaping the role of the village herbalist. The herbalist must only produce in a FDA lab and because of the cost of this must be funded by a larger entity inorder to do the work they are called in life to do. They must also go into debt to do so, learning to do their work at a BA level, from costly colleges, thus going into debt and having to pay off that debt by working for these larger supplement comapnies, or the smaller ones if they are lucky.

I do not have to paint the picture in much more detail to show where this is going. More controls, academic inflation, and profiteering off of what is being precieved as a "new industry". The village herbalist wwill be squashed out to the point where it will be more and more difficult for people to practice. As it is int he state of washington where I live there is no state certification that must be paid to practice as an herbalist but this too will change in time, as it did with massage, and it did with counseling practice. Counselors used to be able to practice with no education at all in private practice. Now it is totally under the control of the state and only masters level counselors can practice counseling in WA state. This is primarily profit driven legislation with the veneer of quality control and the saftey of the public health.

Potential sollutions to this problem:
One thought I had recently would be to create a slow medicine movement, much liek the slow foods movement. I know that most people want their medicine fast, but thats not the idea that it be slow, but that care, and ingenuity not be driven qucily by profit focused supplement companies but instead by community pracitioners that care, that wild craft carefully and grow their plants or source them responsibly. Part of the slow medicine movement would be to start cooperative labs that are FDA approved, one could call them herbal guilds if one so deisired ( just a thought), like a local herbal medicine union or collective where herbal medicines could be produced by local herbalists and sold locally and be FDA approved. When a group works together it makes it possible for the high expense of FDA lab certification to be worked with and not avoided. Local herbalists could work with a handful of Certified herbal lab techs, compile money together to rent lab space and buy equipement. This Of coarse seems unessecary to many herbalists... but as time goes on in america at least it will become nessecary to avoid being squashed out of our calling. Contracted or collective labeling could be be a tactic for producing herbal products locally at this point. Reducing the FDAs and large pharmacutical company styled supplement companies form making the decisions we need to make for our selves by having the larger options pushed by having a diversified system of local herbal health providers.

These are just some random thoughts... and not all of the information I am basing this on is accurate but speculative based on observed trends and what I learned while workign for a small supplement company. If any one has any info or could corret any of the above statements I welcome it. As well, if any one has any bright ideas, I would love to hear them. It would be wonderful if we could start moving things to make this possible. I also think that this is key to creating bioregional based medicine practices, a fascinating idea to me personally.

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Dr. Bronners soap

LLB — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:30:15 GMT

On May 27, at the recommendation of David Bronner, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps granted MAPS $100,000, of which MAPS passed on $5000 to the Wo/mens Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM) and $8,150 to Erowid.

http://www.maps.org/index.html

http://www.drbronner.com/

posted in Ethnobotany - 33 replies

Los Drogas: Mexicos drug legalisation

LLB — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:32:51 GMT

I have posted this hear because a war on drugs is also a war on cultural relationships to plants, as well as plants themselves. The impact of drug legislation in mexico has impacted people in so many ways its unbeleivable, whether it was paraquat being sprayed on pot farms in mexico, the impact of of the drug trade on the lives of individuals or the power of the cartels, the impact has been beyond measure.

"Vicente Fox backs Mexico drugs legalisation Mr Fox says prohibition does not work Former Mexican president Vicente Fox has called for the legalisation of drugs, arguing that prohibition has failed to curb rising drug-related violence and corruption.

Mr Fox said legalisation did not mean that drugs were good.

But he said it was a strategy that could reduce the power of the cartels.

The current Mexican president, Felipe Calderon last week called for a debate on legalisation, but he said he personally opposed the idea.

More than 28,000 people have died in drug-related violence since Mr Calderon took office and deployed the army to fight the cartels.

Terrible cost

Vicente Fox was also a supporter of the US-led campaign against drugs when he was president from 2000 to 2006.

He and Mr Calderon both belong to the conservative PAN party.

But writing on his blog, Mr Fox said the cost of of the war had been "enormous" for Mexico.

As well as the loss of life, the conflict had damaged Mexico's international image and economy, and had consumed vast resources that could have been used for other things, he argued.

"We should consider legalising the production, sale and distribution of drugs," he wrote. "Radical prohibition strategies have never worked."

"Legalisation does not mean that drugs are good," Mr Fox added.

"But we have to see it as a strategy to weaken and break the economic system that allows cartels to make huge profits, which in turn increases their power and capacity to corrupt."

Mr Fox also criticised Mr Calderon's decision to deploy the Mexican army to fight the cartels, saying it had damaged their image and exposed them to human rights violations.

"They are not prepared for police work," he argued. "They should return to the barracks."

President Calderon called last week for a debate on the legalisation of the drug trade.

But he has stressed that he himself was against the idea.

While legalisation would reduce the financial power of organised crime, he said in an interview with Colombia's radio Caracol on Sunday, it would also make drugs much cheaper, leading "millions and millions" more people to take drugs.

Mr Calderon insisted he would continue his military-led campaign against the cartels despite rising violence, saying that Colombia had provided a useful example.

"When Colombia decided to confront the criminals with determination, crime began to retreat and the state began to win," he said.

Mr Fox's support for drugs legalisation puts him alongside other former Latin American presidents who have called for a new approach to the problem.

in 2009, Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil, Cesar Gaviria of Colombia and Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico jointly argued that prohibition had failed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10921975

posted in Ethnobotany - 4 replies

Growing Atropa belladonna

mosbaugh — Sun, 04 May 2008 04:41:11 GMT

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 - 2 replies

muck...it;s on my blog

Judith — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:38:24 GMT

I decided it has very little to do with plant wisdom, but some of you were interested in the little discussion we got into about human nature and medical animal "sacrifice" and more...so you can check out my tribe.net blog by clicking my profile.

posted in Ethnobotany - 3 replies

Papaver somniferum Paeoniflorum- extraction

tuesdaystar — Tue, 29 May 2007 02:44:55 GMT

What is the extraction process - opium poppy

posted in Ethnobotany - 48 replies

NAHUALLI ENCOUNTER JOURNEY a sacred journey across mexico

darkodelik — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:45:51 GMT

http://www.fifthsunjourneys.com/index.html
http://fifthsunjourneys.blogspot.com/

NAHUALLI ENCOUNTER TRIP

...A journey exploring the ancient civilications and indegenous legacy of Mexico. Travel through relics of the Aztecs, Toltecs, Otomi, Zapotecs and Mixtecs, experience traditional medicine(teonanacatl sacred mushrooms) and let your spirit soar and feel negative energies lift away with a cleansing Limpia and Temazcal Ceremony( The Temazcal Ceremony is recognized as a ritual ceremony place that improves both spiritual and emotional health)and relax in the healing waters of hot thermal springs alongside awe inspiring waterfalls.
DAY 1
We start our journey in the Zocalo, the heart of Mexico City, once the great capital of the Aztecs, Tenochtitlan. Here we will visit the museum and ruins of the Main Temple and the incredible murals of Diego Rivera, that depict life in prehispanic Mexico and its dramatic history. After lunch, we will visit the Archeological Museum, where it is easy to spend hours wandering through the most important artifacts and treasures of all the cultures of Mexico, both ancient and current.
DAY 2
Today we travel to the impresive ancient ceremonial centre of Teotihuacan, one of the most important archaeological sites in Mesoamerica and at least 3000 years old. Once the largest city in the Americas, whose influence reached as far south as Honduras in Central America, Teotihuacan was of great importance, because according to legend it was the place where the fifth sun was created. We are able to climb the impressive Pyramids of the Sun and Moon and walk down the Avanue of the Dead see the intricate Quetzalcoatl Temple. After this we drive to Meztli Calli, a contemporary ceremonial and cultural center where we will indulge in a Temazcal, a traditional steam bath and spend the night.
DAY 3
Today we make our way to Tula, the legendary capital of the Toltec Empire, which was founded in 750 A.D, during the downfall of Teotihuacan. Famous for its magnificent sculptures of Toltec warriors, there is no other place quite like this. We continue our way to Grutas de Tolatongo, a beautiful place to explore and relax with caves behind a waterfall, and thermal waters of renowned healing properties. These thermals are fed from an underground spring at temperatures of 95 -100 degress farenheit. The warm currents of moisture have formed stalactites and stalagmites within the cave. Here you can witness the birth of the Tolantongo River where both the waterfall and the underground stream join together.
DAY 4
Today we drive North to the state of San Luis Potosi, where we will visit the astonishing surreal gardens of Las Pozas (The Pools). Built by the British eccentric, poet, artist and supporter of the arts, Edward James, it is a strange and amazing place to be, with surreal sculptures and unearthly structures being engulfed by the surrounding jungle. Quietly nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, we will be able to wander through this strange fantasy world, swim in the clear waters and weather permitting, camp nearby.
DAY 5
Today we continue driving to the north, as the landscape changes from jungle to desert, we head to the Catorce mountain range and the isolated yet magical town of Real de Catorce. Founded in the year 1639 as a silver mining town, it sits at the altitude of 2,750m, and is accessed through a long tunnel through the mountain that surrounds it. This place has long been a pilgrimage site for the Huichol people, who arrive to the valley of Catorce to collect peyote, and to the sacred lands of Wirikuta to deliver the holy offerings to their gods. It also has being discovered by the international community, drawn by the desert ambience and reputed spiritual energy.(special oportunity here )
DAY 6
We travel South today to the World Heritage listed Colonial town of San Miguel de Allende. Standing out amongst the beautiful old buildings is the towering cathedral build in a Gothic style. There is a large foreign community of artists and a vibrant cultural scene, buzzing with cafes, markets, historical buildings, and interesting shops filled with locally made art and craft. We will have a free afternoon to explore the picturesque town and sample some of the delicious food on offer.
DAY 7
Today our destination is the Ceremonial Centre of the ancient and ongoing people of Otomi, in the state of Toluca. Within the same land that their ancestors deemed sacred, the traditional people in recent times have built an incredible architectural feat, rich with symbols, geometry and fluidity to honor and preserve their culture. Nestled in amongst the surrounding forest, the centre is used by the Otomi to perform their ceremonies. Here we will visit the museum, have the chance to see and buy Otomi art, and camp in the beautiful forest nearby.
DAY 8
We continue our journey to Xochicalco, one of the most exciting and richest archaeological sites in all Mexico. The name Xochicalco means "Place of Flowers", and was one of the most important cities along with Teotihuacan and Tula. The flourish of Xochicalco came after the fall of Teotihuacán, and the architecture and iconography shows affinities with both Teotihuacan and the Mayans and it is probable that the city of Xochicalco was a multicultural city, making it unique in
Mesoamerica. We then make our way to nearby Tepozotlan, a magical town amongst the mountains, also known as a mystical center, where we climb to the Tepozteco pyramid, considered a powerful energetic place. In the evening we stay in teepees at a local eco village.
DAY 9
We eat breakfast early; we travel to the Cacahuamilpa caves in the state of Guerrero, an incredible experience and one of the largest cave systems in the world with two subterranean rivers. It is a "live" cave system, meaning that groundwater still filters down into it, and that the formations there are still growing. Inside the cavern system are ninety large salons separated by large natural rock walls and connected to one another. After exploring the caves we will drive in comfort to Oaxaca City to spend the night there.
DAY 10
In the morning we have a early breakfast in Oaxaca City’s bustling market and then head just outside the city to the enormous Tula Tree. With the widest trunk in the world, the tree is over 2000 years old. We then drive to Teotitlan del Valle , a weaving village world renowned for the use of natural dyes, where we see the process of making woolen rugs. We continue on to Mitla, an important ceremonial site, meaning place of the dead, with geometric designs that have influenced the folk art for thousands of years. On top of the mountains we will visit the petrified
waterfalls at Hierbe el Agua where we can swim in the stunningly beautiful mineral springs. We finish our day trip with the mescal factory to see the process and sample the different mescals. The evening is free to rest , visit the pitcuresque zocalo or sample some of the best bars.
DAYS 11, 12, 13
We leave early into the mountains to San Jose del Pacifico where we will undertake a three day guided healing experience with qualified guides and thearpists from this area who have upheld the traditional use of the sacred mushrooms or Teonanacatl, at the Maliollin Traditional Medicine Centre. The guided journey will incorperate different activities to connect with self, and the group will be staying comfortablely in the centre’s own log cabins for the its duration. More information on the Indegenous Experience.
[This Indegenous Experience has been designed by the healers from 38 years of experience and based on the melenial wisdom of the ancestors of the region with the objective of pulling us out of the daily life confusion and suffering.
The program consists of various activities which motivate the participants to engage and interact with the teonanacatl. In addition you are invited to enjoy the incomparable nature and environment, habitat of the sacred teonanacatl, the delicious culinary options, the quality and comfort of the furnished log cabins, the peaceful living and trecking. You will be cared for and guided in every moment by the spiritual healer and experienced terapists.
This program of self healing is directed to those who want a higher quality of living or have trouble living and finding their place in this marvelous universe; to those who are open to finding and speaking with their internal healer.
CREATIVE AND PROJECTIVE EXPRESSION With the help of the clay we establish and internal dialogue, form to our images and emotions.
The figures project our personal moment and establish topics with which we`ll work throughout the various activities
RITUAL TO RETAKE THE STRENGTH FROM OUR ANCESTORS Through this therapeutic transgenerational ritual of family constelating, we put the participants in contact with the strength of their origins and recover their family sytem without excluding anyone. We retake the place that corresponds to us, receive the ancestral blessings, sincronizing ourselves with our particular destiny and accept the responsability that bonds to it.
CEREMONIAL DANCE Through movement of our body temple we activate the energy in our cells and connect with the harmony that is nature. The dance awakens the conscience, elevates the spirit, honoring life and death. The sound from the drum unites with our heart beat bringing us closer to mother earth and this life given by the gods.
CEREMONIAL TEMAZCAL The presence of water, heat and darkness inside the womb of the temazcal, propiciates the power of rebirth and in darkness we see through the eyes of our soul, allowing us to comfront the causes of our pain and fears, healing the body, mind and spirit.
CEREMONY OF THE TEONANACATL (Sacred Mushroom) Within the forest, amongst the teonanacatl, we coexist with it and sense the light and shadow
of our being, descovering the true healer within each of us.
DAY 14
After the healing journey we travel down the mountains to the beautiful beach at Zipolite, on the southern coast, to relax and process our experiences of the days before. Here we will be staying at Shambala, a peaceful place with its own meditacion areas, vegetarian restaurants and amazing view with islands dotting the coastline. You will be able to spend the day resting in a hammock, wetting yourself in the surf and getting amoung the alternative vibe that has been alive since the 70s. Feel free to wander about the town, there are many great places to eat and fresh coconuts and mangos are in abundance. In the evening we will all share a meal together at a restaurant on the beach to end our journey as a group and wish each other well for the future.
The price include
ACCOMMODATION(comfortable nice bungalows , ecovillages ,cabins,hostals)
TRANSPORT ( vehicle equipped with air conditioning and tv
ENTRANCE to all the places (arquelogical sites ,waterfalls rivers,markets,museums, ceremonial centers
TEMAZCAL (2 Mexican tradicional steam bath)
CLEANSING (with an expert shaman)
3 DAY HEALING EXPERIENCE WITH SACRED MEDICINE
NAHUALLI ENCOUNTER JOURNEY $1500 USD for 15 day experience
For more info dont hesitate to contact us ,If you planning to travel to Mexico this is a great opportunity to realy get a whole vision of the ancient practices of Mexico .
you can book in our website or just send an email to: fifthsunjourneys@gmail.com we will be glad to hear from you . the form of
payment can be via paypal .
http://www.fifthsunjourneys.com/index.html
http://fifthsunjourneys.blogspot.com/See More

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Johns Hopkins Survey of Psilocybin and Spiritual Experience

LLB — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:15:57 GMT

Johns Hopkins Survey of Psilocybin and Spiritual Experience
http://csp.org/hopkins/psilocybinsurvey.html
Thank you for your interest in this questionnaire study of psilocybin and spiritual experience. This research is being conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and has been approved by the Johns Hopkins University Institutional Review Board (IRB).

We are currently recruiting only women for this study because women were underrepresented during the first phase of study enrollment.

Purpose and inclusion criteria:
The purpose of this research project is to characterize profound spiritual and personally meaningful experiences that people may have after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms (also known as magic mushrooms or shrooms). You are invited to participate in this research project if you fulfill six criteria:

You are at least 18 years old.
You speak and write English fluently.
You are female.
You have taken an active dose of psilocybin mushrooms that produced moderate to strong psychoactive effects.
You have had a profound, personally meaningful experience after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms -- whether or not you would use the word 'spiritual' to describe that experience.
The experience referred to above (#5) occurred when you were between 18 and 70 years old and did not occur in the context of an official university/hospital research study.
Participation in this study involves filling out an online survey that will take approximately 30 minutes. You will be required to complete the survey in one sitting.

Why should I participate?
The investigators believe that this study is scientifically important and may be personally worthwhile. This research will contribute to a better understanding of uniquely human and potentially transformative experiences about which little is known scientifically. We would like you to participate because we need to collect responses from many different people with different unique experiences in order to fully characterize spiritual and personally meaningful experiences that occur after taking psilocybin mushrooms. The findings from this research may have broad implications for understanding spiritual and religious traditions across cultures. In addition, you may find completing the survey to be a positive exercise, because it may prompt you to contemplate more deeply or remember forgotten dimensions of your meaningful experience. We hope you enjoy filling out the survey, but there is a chance that you will be bored. Although there is no monetary compensation for participation, you will be making a unique and important scientific contribution and you may gain further insights into your experience.

What kind of information will I be providing?
The primary focus of the survey will involve questions about a profound spiritual or personally meaningful experience you have had after taking psilocybin mushrooms. At the beginning of the survey you will be asked questions about your background, religion, and spirituality. At the end of the survey there will be an optional open-ended section that could add an additional 10-15 minutes to the total duration. You will not be required to complete the open-ended section in order to participate.

Is my participation confidential?
Your responses will be confidential and we do not collect identifying information such as your name, email address or IP address. The results of this study will be used for scholarly purposes only and may be shared with Johns Hopkins University representatives. To help protect your confidentiality, the results to most questions will be presented in aggregate. In some cases, however, we may quote directly from your textual responses in the optional open-ended section without providing identifying information such as gender or age.

What will become of the results from this study?
The investigators intend to publish the results from this study in scholarly literature and by presenting results at scientific meetings. We will also make the results publicly available by posting a notice of any scholarly publications on the website for the Council on Spiritual Practices (www.csp.org).

Your responses will not be used in this study if you do not complete the survey. Your participation in this research study is voluntary. Your completing this survey will serve as your consent to be in this research study. If you decide to begin the survey, you may stop answering the questions at any time. If you stop early, your specific responses will not be used in the study. At the end of the survey, you will have a final opportunity to consent to submit all of your responses to be used in this study.

How do I start?
You can begin the survey by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. This survey will take approximately 30 minutes (plus a 10-15 minute optional section) and you will be required to complete the survey in one sitting.

It is important that you complete the survey only once, and that you answer each question honestly and seriously. If you are not ready to complete the survey now, please return to this page at a time that is convenient for you.

Clicking on the link below indicates that:

you have read the above information
you fulfill the inclusion criteria
you voluntarily agree to participate
you are at least 18 years old
you are female

posted in Ethnobotany - 7 replies

Ayahuasca Healing in Vancouver

Kim — Wed, 05 May 2010 23:34:54 GMT

Hails,

My searches have brought me to the tribe and I ask for advice. I am looking to partake in an Aya ceremony in Vancouver. I have experienced other psychedelics but this would be my first experience with Aya/DMT. Because of this and because of my motivations (see below) it is important that I find an safe, experienced, discreet and compassionate guide - I am open to group or private ceremonies.

I am looking only for shamans in BC, preferable the lower mainland. I also do not have much in the way of finances due to saving up all I can to afford 90 day residential treatment.

Any suggestions or contacts as to what I seek (see below) would be greatly appreciated - please message me names privately.

A little about me:
I became addicted to pain killers at a very young age and soon went on methadone at the age of 17. It was a huge mistake because 10 years later I am still on it and it has done me great harm. Having been on methadone my whole adult life I have been terrified over the years to get off it but still I desire my body to be free of it more than anything.

I have tried to detox many times but the horrific physical withdrawal symptoms always had my back on methadone. Because methadone is a long-lasting, extremely potent synthetic opiate the agony lasts for 4-8 weeks while heroine in is only 7-10days. After 3-4 weeks of cold sweats, agonizing pain, insomnia, anorexia, gastric upset I have always relapsed.

I am planning to detox once again but I want to make sure that this is the right thing to do - it is a great point of spiritual and mental turmoil. There are many complex layers of emotional, spiritual and physical turmoil associated with this aspect of my life. I also realize that being addicted to anything can cause barriers of self-delusion and denial that I must remove. I want to be successful this time by not just addressing the physical and mental aspects of withdrawal but also the spiritual aspects as well.

I am hoping that by consulting a shaman and experiencing ayahuasca I can start to gain the valuable and necessary insights into this and other issues such as life-long depression and my relationships with men. I have watched the years slip by - but no more. It is time to reawaken, face my demons and finally begin to heal from this horrible drug methadone.

Thank-you for any help.

posted in Ethnobotany - 27 replies

Aho! I am now an Affiliate of BBB, a great source of ethnobotanicals.

Manjushri — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:52:09 GMT

Just copy and paste the WHOLE link, clicking on it will not get the affiliate number... Help a brother out.

www.bouncingbearbotanicals.com?ref=2950

All of the Ethnobotanicals available from this site are sold for research, education and propagation purposes only. None of the Ethnobotanicals sold are for human consumption. Some of the Ethnobotanicals available are poisonous. The Herbals available have not been evaluated by the FDA. Research all Herbals before using. Use at your own risk. Customers must be over 18 years of age to purchase anything from this site. Bouncing Bear, anyone and anything related to Bouncing Bear and this site can not be held accountable for any of your actions or choices.
By placing an order, you are agreeing to the disclaimer

posted in Ethnobotany - 38 replies

Add Blazing Color to Your Gardens With Oriental Poppies

jdizon — Thu, 27 May 2010 09:03:39 GMT

Oriental poppies can light up any perennial flower bed or border with their vibrant blooms in early summer. They belong to the Papaver genus, which includes over 50 species, both annual and perennial. Poppies are native to many areas, including Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and South Africa.

Oriental poppies were first introduced into France and Holland from eastern Turkey in the 19th century. The development of many of the cultivars we enjoy can be credited to Amos Perry of England. In 1906 he found a pink flowering poppy among his red ones. Later, he developed a white one. Since then, many gardeners and horticulturists have created varieties ranging in colors from white with eggplant-black blotches to true pinks and orange pinks to oranges and reds and deep maroons.

All show a rosette of hairy deep green leaves that are deeply cut and up to 25 cm in length. The plants, in bloom, can be as much as four feet tall. From this basal rosette of fern-like foliage rise erect majestic stems that bear the striking blooms. They can measure up to 15 cm in diameter.

http://www.morpoppy.com/

posted in Ethnobotany - 1 reply

Changa, old ways embrace new.

chachicorrigan — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 02:32:25 GMT

A new way to work with the medicine.

this is an important way to learn more with the medicine... check it out. Such good healing comes from this guys work....

http://changaya.blogspot.

posted in Ethnobotany - 16 replies

New Tribe Devoted to water use technologies and policies: Water World

dr-e — Sun, 09 May 2010 16:13:35 GMT

This tribe is wet, soaking wet. Discussions on integrated Water Management, Including water efficiency, rainwater, greywater, stormwater, blackwater, xeriscaping. water management, new technologies, how systems work, water quality issues.

http://tribes.tribe.net/waterworld

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Spammers & Ethnobotany

sandpiperkim — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:18:48 GMT

I have heard 2 sides of the story regarding recent "spamming" issues on this tribe.

I deleted someone from the tribe, but I regret that perhaps my efforts were mis-founded.

If topics are targeted toward plants, plant medicine, education, and overall interest to this tribe than there should be no reason to remove anyone.

Girlmark you are welcome back if you would like to join. Please keep topics focused.

I will moderate closer and remove "spammers" as they appear.

Thank you all for keeping me informed.

posted in Ethnobotany - 3 replies

Communicating with plant spirits

Azazeal — Sun, 25 May 2008 05:07:20 GMT

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 - 32 replies

list of upcoming herbal medicine conferences and events

girlmark — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 07:23:14 GMT

We've been compiling a list, at the Herbal Medicine tribe, of upcoming herbalist conferences and events happening around the US this year. It's a bit too much stuff to cross-post in entirety, but here's the link to the original thread:

http://tribes.tribe.net/herbalmedicine/thread/e9720fc7-82d8-4482-a08c-74accc30a892

posted in Ethnobotany - 6 replies

Contact anti-Salvia legislators

JohnWilly — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:25:27 GMT

Early draft:

Dear Rep. de Macedo,

Pass sensible legislation, please, regarding Salvia divinorum. I understand protecting children from nature they can't understand and I will support a law identical to what Maine and California have passed and Maryland has proposed - the age restriction.

Salvia divinorum is a sacred plant, spirit of our Earth and an ally, Vinny. Fear of plants, a ridiculous but genuine phobia, persists because plants aren’t respected as powerful, hallowed life. People such as myself, working with the plant, are indeed working with the planet to learn more about our Earth and we should all have the liberty to do so. Salvia divinorum is not dangerous, nor is it a recreational good time high which is, again, why I will support the age restriction.

"The purpose of these sacraments is to purify, and to open the road. When it opens,
it's as clear as the blue sky, and the stars at night are as bright as suns."
—Aurelia Aurora Catarino (Mazatec shaman)

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

New Herbal Medicine Tribe

chachicorrigan — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 06:47:33 GMT

A new departure from the usual forums:

http://tribes.tribe.net/flintsherbalmedicine

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

coevolution of floral secondary compounds and human fitness

Nolan — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:58:48 GMT

hello friends

I am doing a research project on how humans and psychoactive plants have evolved together through time. How these plants herbivory deterrent alkaloids have been evolutionarily manipulated by humans to favor fitness and eventually lead to more direct route ingestion and addiction.

I would greatly appreciate any direction, comments, questions, or wisdom on this topic.

thank you for your time

I love you,
Nolan Hapeman
nolanhunderground@gmail.com
Egoless arts

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

2012 Time for a Change, Screenings

daniel_pinchbeck — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:09:27 GMT

Hello everyone,

We are having the debut screenings of 2012 Time for a Change next month in San Francisco, the same weekend as Greenfest. We will also have a booth at Greenfest. We would love to see all of your awesome (r)evolutionary faces out there. Here is a link to the trailer and a little bit about the film, plus the links to buy your tickets and make sure you get a seat.

www.realitysandwich.com/video/..._teaser

Daniel, It's out world to change
www.evolver.net
www.realitysandwich.com

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Codex Alimentarius the real threat to world health

mutumbawarrior — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:49:44 GMT

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 - 1 reply

Finally found a good source for Salvia divinorum cuttings!

Chuck — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:08:02 GMT

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 - 3 replies

Jon Sloan and Bouncing Bear Botanicals Raided by the FDA and KBI

jeff — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:28:39 GMT

On February 4, 2010, 24 officers of the Food and Drug Administration, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and local law enforcement raided Bouncing Bear Botanicals, a legal botanical shop and warehouse in Lawrence, Kansas. With guns drawn, the officers burst into the building and handcuffed everyone, including senior citizens. Jonathan Sloan, the 29-year-old owner, was immediately arrested and jailed.
Officers confiscated $700,000 worth of products and property, and seized all operating accounts, including Jon’s personal and business accounts, as well as his six-year-old son’s savings. Jon was left with nothing in the bank, making it impossible for him to post bond or hire a lawyer.
The employees of Bouncing Bear hired a lawyer and Jon was released the following day. The conditions of his release state that he is not allowed in his place of business or talk to employees, associates, or customers. He is denied the ability to run his lawful business and generate income to mount a credible defense.
Jon faces 75 years in federal prison. Among the eight felony charges against him are:
• Unlawful manufacturing of controlled substances: Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), Mescaline, Lysergic Acid Amide.
• Unlawful cultivation or distribution of controlled substances: Mescaline (San Pedro cactus), Dimethyltryptamine (Chaliponga, Chacruna, Illinois Bundleflower, Epena, Cebil seeds, Bufotenine), Lysergic Acid Amide (Morning Glory seeds, Rivea corymbosa).
• Unlawful possession of certain drug precursors and drug paraphernalia: Plastic jugs and filters used or intended for unlawful use to manufacture, cultivate, plant propagate, harvest, test, analyze, or distribute a controlled substance.

The State of Kansas has also imposed a $906,000 drug tax on Jon, although most of the controlled substances he was accused of selling are available at any gardening store and Wal-Mart. In Kansas, illegal drug dealers are required to attain a drug tax stamp to place on the illicit drugs they sell, or face the seizure of all assets including bank accounts and property, without being first convicted of the crime of which they are accused. This is a clear violation of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution that states, “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, … nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”
Jon and Bouncing Bear Botanicals were not selling or in possession of illicit drugs. Sacred plants available from Bouncing Bear are not intended for conversion into usable drugs for human consumption. Disclaimers on the web site and purchase agreements state this very clearly.
For the past 10 years, Bouncing Bear Botanicals has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted online suppliers of sacred plants in the United States. In a day where many “legal highs” are advertised for sale at exorbitant prices, Bouncing Bear has respectfully offered sacred plants that are ecologically harvested, and at a fair price to the grower and end-user.
The attack on Bouncing Bear Botanicals and Jon Sloan affects every American who wishes to obtain rare and sacred plants. Many online retailers have already pulled Chaliponga, Chacruna, Mimosa hostilis, sacred cacti, and Morning Glory seeds from stock since the Bouncing Bear raid.
Jon Sloan is not allowed to leave his house, go grocery shopping, or pick up his son from school. His bank accounts are liquidated, and he is faced with $200,000 in legal fees to be represented in court. Your donations will help Jon in his legal battle, and all those interested in sacred plants. To learn more, visit http://www.savejon.org

posted in Ethnobotany - 7 replies

HID lighting vs SUNLIGHT

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:42:21 GMT

where should i look for information if i want to look into the comparative effect of these types of light on edible plants and vegetables?
what should i consider?

thanks!

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

new tribe: Ethnobotanical Garden

Dzikus — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:35:17 GMT

Hello,

I have started a new tribe: Ethnobotanical Garden. The tribe focuses on the *cultivation* of plants that are revered in different parts of the world as sacred or otherwise special.

I hope some of you will feel inspried to join us.

http://tribes.tribe.net/ethnobotanicalgarden

Blessings,
Dzikus

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

Jamu

Mystic Rose — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:37:01 GMT

So, I have been trying to find out more about Indonesia's ancient herbal medicine known as Jamu. I have found a few recipes here and there but not much else. Has anyone used jamu or know where I might find information about this amazing practice. I find it curious that there have been no mentions/discussions of this herbal art form on tribe yet. thanks.
~Rose

posted in Ethnobotany - 0 replies

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

Aya — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:10:44 GMT

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

Mel — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:13:59 GMT

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

Looking for a source of Hawaiian caapi leaves

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:08:34 GMT

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

Fully — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:42:45 GMT

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

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

Rak — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:20:40 GMT

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

Please note.

The Man — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:34:53 GMT

Trafficking in and ingesting illegal substances is against the law.

posted in Ethnobotany - 10 replies

After ingesting the psychedelic plant

JohnWilly — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:58:47 GMT

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

hiski — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:01:16 GMT

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?

Julia — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:47:26 GMT

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

jeau — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:42:51 GMT

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

Ricky — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:08:28 GMT

Fascist hypocrite sham.

http://www.xanaduxero.blogspot.com

posted in Ethnobotany - 2 replies

Psychedelics In The Sea

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:06:01 GMT

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

Leonida — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:51:09 GMT

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?

Blackgrass — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:08:17 GMT

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

bearsky — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:05:11 GMT

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

heidski — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:07:01 GMT

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

Phoenix_Fire_Nectar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:07:42 GMT

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

aleX — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:46:30 GMT

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!

Emma — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:15:07 GMT

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

bearsky — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:09:02 GMT

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...

carlostanner — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:54:49 GMT

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!!

Beacon — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:57:47 GMT

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

bearsky — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:29:55 GMT

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

abhi dhamma — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 18:20:21 GMT

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

omega — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 21:09:25 GMT

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

bearsky — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:53:58 GMT

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

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:14:24 GMT

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

Dean — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:00:21 GMT

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?

Azazeal — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:06:39 GMT

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?

gamatron — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:50:07 GMT

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?

Gatito/Michael — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:55:52 GMT

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

Steffan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:24:45 GMT

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!

aleX — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 02:35:04 GMT

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

shamanic intensive Training Course in Bolivian Andes & Amazon

Miguel — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:31:32 GMT

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)

sahajananda — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:49:36 GMT

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

Azazeal — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:12:42 GMT

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!!

travism — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:43:13 GMT

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

Geert — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:23:41 GMT

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

rawkcuf — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:31:29 GMT

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?

Dean — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:21:50 GMT

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

Deer — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 06:13:48 GMT

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