Tag: Ethnobotany

Evidence suggests mescaline, the primary psychoactive alkaloid found in cacti like peyote, has been used in ceremonial contexts for over 5,700 years. This powerful hallucinogen is the answer to the question, "What drug do you get from cactus?", and it originates from several species native to the Americas.

First used by indigenous Amazonian peoples for millennia, the psychedelic brew ayahuasca contains the potent psychoactive compound N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). However, a less-known fact is that DMT is not orally active on its own; it is the unique combination of plants in the brew that allows the body to absorb it and enables its profound effects.

For thousands of years, indigenous peoples in North and South America have used mescaline-containing cacti for spiritual and ceremonial purposes. However, when people ask 'What cactus fruit makes you hallucinate?', they are often mistaken about the source of the psychoactive compound; the hallucinogenic effects come from the fleshy body of the cactus, specifically the buttons of the peyote plant, not its small, mostly inedible fruit.

Used for thousands of years by indigenous peoples, certain cacti contain the powerful hallucinogenic compound mescaline, leading to the complex question: **Is cactus psychoactive?**. While many cacti have no psychoactive properties, a distinct few have been revered for their mind-altering effects and hold deep cultural significance.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classified the prescription medication Soma as a Schedule IV controlled substance in 2012 due to its potential for abuse and dependence. Given its modern pharmaceutical reality, the answer to the question, "Is Soma a mushroom?" is definitively no, though confusion stems from an entirely separate, ancient historical context.

Depictions of the blue lotus (*Nymphaea caerulea*) were found in King Tutankhamun's tomb, hinting at its deep cultural significance and historical use in ancient Egypt. This discovery, along with its reported mind-altering effects, prompts the question: **Are water lilies psychedelic?** The answer is complex and depends heavily on the specific species, its preparation, and dosage.

Historically, various plants referred to as “white lily” have been used in traditional medicine across different cultures, but the term does not refer to a single, modern pharmaceutical drug. From Mayan rituals using water lilies with psychoactive properties to European folk remedies involving the Madonna lily, the history behind the idea of a 'white lily drug' is complex and refers to several distinct plant species with different effects.

Depictions of the sacred Blue Lotus appear on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs dating back to the 14th century B.C.. Often asked 'What is the blue flower drug?', the answer refers to *Nymphaea caerulea*, a water lily with psychoactive properties that has been used medicinally and recreationally for millennia.

While not a modern pharmaceutical, plants from the *Heliotropium* genus have a long history in traditional medicine across the globe for treating a wide array of ailments [1.2.3, 1.8.5]. So, **what is the drug Heliotropium used for** in these folk remedies, and what do scientific studies reveal about its safety and efficacy?