Psychoactive plants contain chemicals that presumably evolved as allelochemicals but target certain neuronal receptors when consumed by humans, altering perception, emotion and cognition. These plants have been used since ancient times as medicines and in the context of religious rituals for their various psychoactive effects (e.g., as hallucinogens, stimulants, sedatives). The ubiquity of psychoactive plants in various cultures motivates investigation of the commonalities among these plants, in which a phylogenetic framework may be insightful. A phylogeny of culturally diverse psychoactive plant taxa was constructed with their psychotropic effects and affected neurotransmitter systems mapped on the phylogeny. The phylogenetic distribution shows multiple evolutionary origins of psychoactive families. The plant families Myristicaceae (e.g., nutmeg), Papaveraceae (opium poppy), Cactaceae (peyote), Convolvulaceae (morning glory), Solanaceae (tobacco), Lamiaceae (mints), Apocynaceae (dogbane) have a disproportionate number of psychoactive genera with various indigenous groups using geographically disparate members of these plant families for the same psychoactive effect, an example of cultural convergence. Pharmacological traits related to hallucinogenic and sedative potential are phylogenetically conserved within families. Unrelated families that exert similar psychoactive effects also modulate similar neurotransmitter systems (i.e., mechanistic convergence). However, pharmacological mechanisms for stimulant effects were varied even within families suggesting that stimulant chemicals may be more evolutionarily labile than those associated with hallucinogenic and sedative effects. Chemically similar psychoactive chemicals may also exist in phylogenetically unrelated lineages, suggesting convergent evolution or differential gene regulation of a common metabolic pathway. Our study has shown that phylogenetic analysis of traditionally used psychoactive plants suggests multiple ethnobotanical origins and widespread human dependence on these plants, motivating pharmacological investigation into their potential as modern therapeutics for various neurological disorders.
Coleus blumei A Golden Guide to Hallucinogenic Plants by Richard Evans Schultes & Elmer W. Smith To Read more: shamanism.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/a-golden-guide-to-hall... Also more information about this plant on the Erowid database. www.erowid.org These plants have been used by people for visionary and ceremonial purposes since time immemorial. They are an immense gift to humankind, and have shaped and enriched our culture. Many of these plants are to be used with great caution due to their powerful effects.
5 Lesser Known Psychoactive Plants Facebook Instagram 5 Lesser Known Psychoactive Plants Leonotis leonurus otherwise known as lion’s tail or wild dagga. Wild dagga is part of the mint family and is r
Beatriz Caiuby Labate & Sandra Lucia Goulart (eds.) Flyer Abstract: This book tackles original ethnographies about various types of use of psychoactive plants, including ayahuasca, magic mushrooms, jurema, coca, tobacco, toé,
Welcome to PlantTeachers and Visionary Convergence online art gallery. May you be inspired, feel connection, take flight and enjoy as these medicine works emanate their healing elements in your direction.
Close-up of a Peyote plant
Intoxication and toxicity can mimic psychiatric symptoms
Datura Sunflower designed by VLAD Stankovic. Connect with them on Dribbble; the global community for designers and creative professionals.
Buycoca seeds, coca leaves, tea, powder and more online from Peru, the sacred Inca plant can be grown...
Psychotria viridis watercolor and graphite on pencil Donna Torres 2012 From: Ancient Conversations
The use of psychedelic plant medicines (or so- called ‘hallucinogens’) has been prevalent since the earliest of times from the drinking of Ayahuasca by
