This paper provides a short overview of ritual African hallucinogens. In addition to examples already listed by Schultes and Hofmann in their classic text books, Boophane disticha, Alchornea floribunda, Monadenium lugardae, Mostuea spp. and Voacanga bracteata are identified as African botanicals with proven or alleged hallucinogenic potential.
There are various enema scenes on classic Maya pottery, which undoubtedly represent rituals and may very well indicate that the ancient Maya took intoxicating enemas in a ritual context. This idea is quite contrary to the traditional view that the ancient Maya were a contemplative people, who did not indulge in ritual ecstasy. The occasional display of vomiting actors would seem to provide a...
Part one of the paper discusses ethnobotanical, chemical and general pharmacological aspects of intoxicating snuff rituals in the western hemisphere. Four categories of ritual snuff ingredients arise from this multidisciplinary approach: It is well established that the plant contains one or more psychoactive principles and the Indian use of the plant as a ritual snuff ingredient is confirmed or...