Research published in Journal of Ethnopharmacology (page 3)

Bufo alvarius: a potent hallucinogen of animal origin.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1994 A T Weil, W Davis 125 citations

Anthropologists have long speculated that ancient peoples of Mesoameria used a toad, Bufo marinus, as a ritual intoxicant. This hypothesis rests on many iconographic and mythological representations of toads and on a number of speculative ethnographic reports. The authors reject B. marinus as a candidate for such use because of the toxicity of its venom. A more likely candidate is the Sonoran...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(94)90051-5 Full text

Species identification and chemical analysis of psychoactive fungi in the Hawaiian islands.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology September 1, 1993 M D Merlin, J W Allen 18 citations

Several fungi species collected in the Hawaiian Islands have been reported to be psychoactive. Previous chemical analyses together with the present study indicate that 5 coprophilous and one non-coprophilous species occurring in the islands are now known to contain psychoactive alkaloids. At least some of these species are consumed in the Hawaiian Islands, as well as elsewhere, for...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(93)90086-k Full text

Magic and medicinal plants of the Ayoreos of the Chaco Boreal (Paraguay).

Journal of Ethnopharmacology June 1993 G Schmeda-Hirschmann

The Ayoreo is a hunter-gatherer tribe of Amerindians which occupy the central-northern part of the Paraguayan Chaco. The whole Ayoreo culture cannot be disassociated from religious beliefs. Disease is considered of supernatural origin and as the result of breaking or disobeying the tabu which regulates existence. A description of the shamanic practices is given to understand better the position...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(93)90025-z Full text

Psychoactive mushroom use in Koh Samui and Koh Pha-Ngan, Thailand.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1992 J W Allen, M D Merlin 27 citations

This paper presents the results of recent ethnomycological exploration in southern Thailand. Field observations, interviews and collection of fungi specimens were carried out primarily on two islands, Koh Samui and Koh Pha-ngan, situated in the western region of the Gulf of Siam. Some fieldwork was also conducted in the northern Thai province of Chiang Dao and in the southern Thai province of...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(92)90020-r Full text

Does pharmacology corroborate the nicotine therapy and practices of South American shamanism?

Journal of Ethnopharmacology April 1991 J Wilbert

The use of tobacco by South American Indians is deeply rooted in their culture and thought. From early pre-Columbian times to the present, tobacco has functioned as an important psychotropic drug for magico-religious, medicinal and recreational purposes. Native interest in tobacco centers on the nicotine alkaloid it contains. Data culled from about 1800 sources and pertaining to nearly 300...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(91)90115-t Full text

Medicine and magic among the Maka Indians of the Paraguayan Chaco.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology December 1987 P Arenas

The Maká Indians are an ethnic group of hunters and gatherers of the Paraguayan Chaco. In order to heal illnesses and counteract different kinds of evil, they practice shamanism, magic and the use of medicines of vegetal and animal origin. A general review of the history, magic and medicine in this culture is undertaken. A list of the components of their pharmacopoeia, with details of their use...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(87)90104-8 Full text

A multidisciplinary approach to ritual enema scenes on ancient Maya pottery.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology June 1986 P A De Smet, N M Hellmuth

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...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(86)90091-7 Full text

A multidisciplinary overview of intoxicating snuff rituals in the western hemisphere.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology March 1, 1985 P A De Smet 32 citations

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...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(85)90060-1 Full text

Phytochemical investigation of Tabernaemontana crassa.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1985 T A Van Beek, C De Smidt, R Verpoorte 18 citations

From the stembark of Tabernaemontana crassa the alkaloid ibogaine was isolated as the major component. Ibogaine showed activity against the gram-positive Bacillus subtilis. Conopharyngine was identified as one of the minor compounds.

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(85)90096-0 Full text

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors in South American hallucinogenic plants Part 2: Constituents of orally-active Myristicaceous hallucinogens.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology November 1, 1984 D J McKenna, G H Towers, F S Abbott

Alkaloid constituents in Myristicaceous bark and leaf samples and in purportedly hallucinogenic preparations derived from Myristicaceous sources were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using TLC, GC, alkaloid precipitation tests and GC/MS. Fourteen of the 27 bark and leaf samples analyzed contained detectable amounts of alkaloids. The major bases were N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and/or...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(84)90048-5 Liver Animals Rats Plants, medicinal +9

The healing practices of a Peruvian shaman.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology July 1, 1984 L E Luna 78 citations

The use of psychotropic plants among the mestizo population of the northwestern Amazon has already been the subject of some research. However, the field is far from fully investigated. Practitioners locally known by the name of "vegetalistas" or simply "maestros" have preserved considerable knowledge of plant lore, and still today contribute substantially to the health care of both rural and...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(84)90035-7 Full text

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors in South American hallucinogenic plants: Tryptamine and β-carboline constituents of Ayahuasca

Journal of Ethnopharmacology April 1, 1984 Dennis J. Mckenna, G.h.n. Towers, F. S. Abbott 399 citations

Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic beverage derived by boiling the bark of the Malpighiaceous liana Banisteriopsis caapi together with the leaves of various admixture plants, viz. Psychotria viridis, Psychotria carthagenensis , or Diplopterys cabrerana . B. caapi contains harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine while the admixtures contain N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). DMT, a potent hallucinogen,...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(84)90003-5 Ayahuasca Harmine Harmaline Hallucinogen +5

Ethnopharmacology of ska María Pastora (Salvia divinorum, Epling and Játiva-M.).

Journal of Ethnopharmacology May 1, 1983 Leander J. Valdés, J L Díaz, A G Paul 166 citations

Salvia divinorum is a perennial labiate used for curing and divination by the Mazatec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico. The psychotropic effects the plant produces are compared to those of the other hallucinogens employed by the Mazatecs, the morning glory, Rivea corymbosa L., Hallier f. and the psilocybin-containing mushrooms. A discussion of the role of ska María Pastora in the native "pharmacopeia"...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(83)90004-1 Full text

Psilocybin and psilocin levels in twenty species from seven genera of wild mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology May 1, 1982 Michael Beug, Jeremy Bigwood 63 citations

The analysis of twenty species from seven genera of Pacific Northwest mushrooms revealed psilocybin (and in some cases psilocin as well) in seven species from three genera. The species found to contain psilocybin (and psilocin) varied from one collection to another by more than a factor of seven in amount present. Total psilocybin and psilocin levels in species known to be in use for...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(82)90013-7 Psilocybin Hallucinogen Dry weight

Variation of psilocybin and psilocin levels with repeated flushes (harvests) of mature sporocarps of Psilocybe cubensis (earle) singer

Journal of Ethnopharmacology May 1, 1982 Jeremy Bigwood, Michael Beug 42 citations

Analysis of Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Singer grown in controlled culture showed that the level of psilocin was generally zero in the first (or sometimes even the second) fruiting of the mushroom from a given culture and that the level reached a maximum by the fourth flush. The level of psilocybin, which was nearly always at least twice the level of psilocin, showed no upward or downward trend...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(82)90014-9 Psilocybin Horticulture Botany

Plant hallucinogens, shamanism and Nazca ceramics.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology September 1980 M Dobkin de Rios, M Cardenas

The ceramics of the ancient Nazca, an extinct people that lived on the south coast of Peru from 100 to 800 AD, are examined. It is suggested that plant hallucinogens and stimulants including Trichocereus pachanoi, Erythroxylon coca, Datura spp., and Anadenanthera peregrina were utilized in religious ritualism connected with shamanism, stressing personal ecstasy as a means of contact with the...

DOI: 10.1016/s0378-8741(80)81003-8 Full text

Hallucinogenic plant use and related indigenous belief systems in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology April 1, 1979 P Naranjo 41 citations

This review article focuses on the on-going use of plant hallucinogens, especially various Banisteriopsis species, among contemporary aboriginal populations of Ecuador. It surveys the evidence of prehistoric ayahuasca use by interpretations of Ecuadorian archaeological remains, and surveys in detail the use and belief systems connected to major plant hallucinogenic use among the Jibaro Indians...

DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(79)90003-5 Full text

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