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Written by The Wraith
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Tuesday, 21 December 1999 |
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Page 12 of 16
In two minutes or less after drinking it, the effects begin to be apparent. The Indian turns deadly pale, trembles in every limb and horror is in his aspect. Suddenly contrary symptoms succeed; he bursts into perspiration and seems possessed with reckless fury, seizes whatever arms are at hand... and rushes to the door while “he inflicts violent blows on the ground and doorposts, calling out all the while: Thus would I do to mine enemy [naming him by name] were this he!
In about ten minutes the excitement has passed off, and the Indian grows calm but appears exhausted.”
Since Spruce’s time, this drug has been mentioned often by many travelers and explorers, but little has been accomplished until recently. In fact, it was not until 1969 that chemical analysis of Spruce`s material, collected for such examination in 1851, was carried out.
Much remains to be learned about Ayahuasca, Caapi, Yajé. There is little time before increasing acculturation and even extraction of whole tribes will make it forever impossible to learn about these age-old beliefs and uses of one of the most fascinating culturally powerful of the hallucinogens.
“Vine of the soul”
Taken from: “Plants of the gods, their sacred, healing and hallucinogenic powers” By Richard Evans Schultes and Albert Hofmann (Healing Arts Press, Rochester, Vermont)
ISBN 0-89281-406-3
MAPACHO (NICOTIANA TABACUM)
SOLANACEAE
A. L. Jussieu
Nightshade Family, Potato Family
The approximately 66 species and many subspecies, strains or cultivars of herbaceous or rarely shrubby or arborescent plants of Nicotiana are native in North and South America, especially in the Andes (45 species) and in Polynesia and Australia (21 species).
The two commercially important species are Nicotiana tabacum, cultivated in warm areas for smoking tobacco, and N. rustica, cultivated mainly for insecticidal use. Both species are believed to be of hybrid origin.
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