Plants of the Gods
by K. F. Peace - December 14, 2009
For as long as humans have been on earth, evidence shows that they have been consuming psychoactive substances. Many psychoactive substances are used as part of a religion. When a psychoactive substance is used in a religious context is called an entheogen. Many of the worlds oldest religions are entheogenic.
I first became interested in entheogens after watching a documentary about Amazonian shamanism on the Discovery channel. I then did a lot of research online and read a couple books on the subject. To me entheogens and the taboos surrounding them are very interesting. The question of whether or not these substances really can help one contact the spirit world is a very controversial and fascinating topic to me.
Many people believe that these drugs, most of which are hallucinogens, simply trick ones mind into inventing its own alternate reality, sometimes featuring gods, other realms, spirits and more. Others believe that these substances really can connect one to the spirit realm or at least give them a spiritual experience.
Studies have even been done on the spiritual significance of these substances. I recently read about a study done in 2006 at Johns Hopkins University, on the effects of psilocybin mushrooms. Psilocybin is the ingredient that puts the magic, in magic mushrooms, or shrooms. In the study, dozens of volunteers were given a standard dose of psilocybin in a controlled environment. They then filled out a questionnaire on the type of experience they had. 61% reported a "life changing mystical experience," and 92% reported that they had at least somewhat of a spiritual experience. Two months later, 79% of the participants reported moderately to greatly increased life satisfaction and sense of well-being. Six months later four participants claimed to of changed the religion that they practiced, and nine participants who were not previously religious, claimed to of become religious. This study as well as others clearly demonstrates the spiritual significance of at least one entheogen.
Psilocybin mushrooms have been used by Mexican indigenous peoples, such as the Nahua and the Zapotecs, for thousands of years, as a part of there shamanistic religion. Shamanism is the belief and practice of communication with the spirit world. I learned a lot about shamanism during my research on entheogens, because they are very closely related. Most shamanism does use entheogens, but shamans also use other medians to contact the spirit realm, such as meditation, ceremonies, and astral projection.
Hundreds of plants, fungi, and even animals are considered to be entheogens. Some well known entheogens that I have researched include, Psilocybe mushrooms, ayahuasca, Peyote and San Pedro cactus, marijuana, tobacco, morning glory seeds, fly agaric, Salvia divinorum, and Bufo alvarius.
The most well known entheogen is probably Peyote, a small hallucinogenic cactus used by Native Americans, such as the Apaches and Navaho. Peyotism is the most widely practiced religion by Native Americans. It is legal for Native Americans to ingest peyote in the United States, as long as it is part of a bona fide religious ceremony.
Peyote is a small flowering spineless cactus that grows naturally in the south west United States and throughout Mexico. The active ingredient in Peyote is mescaline, a powerful schedule I illegal hallucinogen. The effects of mescaline include hallucinations, euphoria, time distortion, strengthening of the senses, and mixing of the senses. Users usually report seeing kaleidoscope patterns, similar to LSD. Native Americans claim to contact the spirit world, and often report seeing gods, spirits, and even ancestors. A general feeling of well being is usually reported as well as a feeling of connection to others, and compassion for others. Senses are usually heightened and users report things like colors looking more vibrant and music having more depth. On higher doses mixing of the senses is also common, such as seeing sounds and smelling colors. Among Native Americans Peyote is used during ceremonies to help connect then to their gods. They also use Peyote as a medicine to treat ailments anywhere from toothaches to diabetes. So far no negative long term effects of Peyote use have been discovered, but positive effects have been documented such as a higher level of psychological well being and a lower tendency to develop depression.
An entheogen that I researched a lot, and the one that I find the most interesting is ayahuasca. Ayahuasca a tea brewed by Amazonian natives. It is an extremely powerful hallucinogen, even more powerful then Peyote. Ayahuasca is brewed using the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, also called ayahuasca vine, and a DMT containing plant. DMT is the most powerful psychoactive substance known to man. DMT is a naturally occurring tryptamine found in many plants as well as the human brain. In the human brain DMT is produced along side Melatonin, in your Pineal gland. DMT plays roles in REM sleep, where it is though to help produce dreams, and in near death experiences. Ever heard that when you die your life flashes before your eyes? Well the reason is that during near death experiences, the human brain is believed to release massive quantities of DMT. DMT is in more plants then its not, some just have much more then others. The DMT plants used to make Ayahuasca are usually Psychotria viridis, often called chacruna, or Diplopterys cabrerana, commonly called chaliponga. These DMT containing plants are combined with ayahuasca vine, which contains MAOIs, because DMT is not usually orally active unless taken with an MAOI. The MAOIs, or Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, allow the DMT to diffuse unmetabolized past the stomach membranes, heavily increasing DMTs effects on the body.
Ayahuasca is medically proven to be nonaddictive and safe to ingest. Medical uses of Ayahuasca have been documented such as the treatment of colorectal cancer, and it is often used to treat cocaine and heroin addiction. Ayahuasca can also rid the body of tropical parasites through the vomiting and diarrhea sometimes experienced during the onset of the trip, parasites are also killed by harmala alkaloids in the MAOIs. Isabel Allende, a well known author of books such as The House of the Spirites, City of the Beasts, and for her work on "The Chronicles of Narnia" movies, claims to of cleared a bad case of writers block through an intensely spiritual and scary ayahuasca trip.
Ayahuasca literally means "spirit vine" or "vine of the souls" it is also called Yage, or Natem, in different parts of the Amazon. It is used by hundreds of Amazonian tribes such as the Urarina of Peru. In Amazonian tribes ayahuasca is usually used during ceremonies. These ceremonies can be held for dozens of reasons, anywhere from youths initiation into adulthood, to cleansing a tribe of a spiritual disease. Natives say that ayahuasca heals the soul. They even blame many physical ailments on sickness of the soul, which can be healed using Ayahuasca.
Ayahuasca trips are usually extremely intense and spiritual, and they last about 4 to 6 hours. Most users start feeling the effects around 15 minutes after drinking the tea. Hallucinations and euphoria usually occur at around thirty minutes, then the tripper often passes out. After passing out users usually enter a completely different world. Some talk to objects, some talk to god, some enter deep space, and some just don't remember anything. Most report seeing different entities, like spirits, or gods. These entities often guide them through their trip, ushering them through various places and times. Some people report waking up as a completely different person in a different part of the world or at a different time. They claim to live someone else's life only for a few moments, than snap back into reality. The most common type of trip occurs in deep space. People say they wake up on a completely different planet, or just floating in space. Usually some kind of spirit appears and guides people. This spirit is usually extremely comforting to the user, like a mother. Some people compare this to being back in the womb. Other people claim to die, and pass into the afterlife, many believe they literally go into heaven, this theory is supported by DMTs connection to death. As you have probably figured out, different people experience completely different trips, because literally anything can happen.
There are many other entheogens, used all over the world. Fly agaric, Amanita muscaria mushroom, has been used been European shamans for centuries. Some believe it is also the Soma from the Rig Vedas, the sacred Hindu text, where it is used by the priests, and many hymns are dedicated to it.
Salvia Divinorum, a mint plant, is another extremely powerful hallucinogen that has been used by Mexican shamans for hundreds of years. Salvia contains Salvinorum A, the active ingredient, which surprisingly is still legal in the United States.
Bufotenin is a powerful tryptamine, chemically similar to DMT. "I like to think of bufotenin as orally active DMT" (Strassman 49) Incase you were wondering why I said some animals are considered to be entheogenic, this is the reason. Bufotenin is excreted through the glands of a species of toad called Bufo alvarius, which I mentioned earlier.
Marijuana is also used as an entheogen by Rastafarians, who consider it to be a holy herb, and smoke it to cleanse their soul and bring them closer to god. They even believe that the bible advocates the use of marijuana in verses such as (Psalms 104:14) "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man." Some Hindus also worship the god Shiva, by smoking cannabis.
Another entheogen is LSA, a "chemical precursor to LSD." LSA can be found in morning glory seeds, as well as other species of flowers. The seeds can be eaten, usually around a hundred, to produce LSD like effects.
Dozens of more entheogens are used all around the world as parts of all different types of religions.
After all of my research and everything I learned, I am not sure what to conclude about entheogens. I certainly would not like to advocate drug use in this essay, and so I will not make a conclusion on whether or not I think anyone should try these substances. However everyone should be educated about them and about the different cultures that use them. I am not sure whether or not ayahuasca really can allow someone to talk to god, or Peyote can connect people to their dead relatives. However I do believe though that these substances can have positive effects on people's lives, and at least help people find the god within themselves.
Works Cited
Strassman, Rick M.D. DMT: The Spirit Molecule. Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 2001.
Cole, K. A. Lysergic 2nd ed. Indianapolis, IN: Dog Ear Publishing, 2005.
History of Entheogens 2009. NeuroSoup. 26 Apr. 2009 <http://neurosoup.com/entheogenhistory.htm>
Wassum, R. Gordon Soma: Divine Mushroom of Immortality Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1972
Dockstrader, Fredrick J. "Peyotism" Encyclopedia Americana 2009. Grolier Online. Scholastic. LBSS Library, Burke, VA. 28 Apr. 2009 <http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0310150-00>.
