Halluconogens : Norepinephrine and GABA enhancer

Norepinephrine

neurotransmitter of peripheral sympathetic nervous system, excitations and inhibition of smooth muscle, cardiac excitation, modulates CNS

Peyote Cactus (lophophora williamsii)

spineless cactus, native Mexico, dried pieces of whole used (eaten as mescal buttons), protoalkaloid mescaline

Mescaline

protoalkaloid, CNS nonrepinephrine mimic, blocks acetylcholine release, affects potassium conductance in CNS, from whole peyote cactus/stem tissue of San pedro Cactus (and other Cactus family species)

History of peyote cactus

hallucinogenic entheogen by Mayan/Aztecs, used divination and shamanistic, eaten dried whole (mescal button) or as bitter tea, spanish conquerors tried to ban but use persisted, used today in communion of Native American Church of North America

Western discovery of peyote cactus

Aldous Huxley wrote Doors of perception about his experiences with(and LSD/psilcybin), Carlos Castenada wrote series Teaching of Don Juan describing training of Meso-American shamaism

Effects of mescaline

nausea, chills, vomiting, anxiety/disorientation (triggers fight or flight), strong mental stimulation/hallucinations(brightly coloured), sense enhanced/blended, flashback of trip days or weeks later

San Pedro Cactus (Trichocereus pachanoi/peruviannus)

spiny cactus, native Peru (south America), outer tissue of green steem used, protoalkaloid mescaline, outer tissue sun dried and powdered, taken as powder or bitter tea

History of San Pedro Cactus

used as entheogen by Chavin people (pre Inca), shamanistic and diagnosising

GABA

decarboylation of Glutamic acid, neurotransmitter of CNS, inhibit synaptic transmission

Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)

mushroom, native Eurapsia and North America, muscimol and Ibotenic acid, mycorrhizal associated with coniferous/hardwood trees, believed to be soma by some (Wasson)

history of Fly agaric in Siberia

reindeer herdsman, shamanistic, divination/contact with spirit world, dignose illness, recreational (wedding gift), consumed fresh or dried, ceremonial drinking if urine of mushroom eaters (Reindeers or people)

Muscimol

GABA receptor agonist (mimic), midly sedating, from fly argaric

Ibotenic acid

stimulates glutamate receptors, cause agitated delirium

effect of fly agaric

similar to alcohol intoication with added hallucinations, redding of skin, slurring/incoherent speech, seizure, vomiting, deep sleep like coma, hallucination lasting 2-3 hours (start 30min after ingestion), overdose lethal (Inhibitory effect)

Wasson and Fly agaric

proposed as soma, Aryans wouldve know off before colonizing India/Afganistan, described as without leaves/seed/branches, described as having head/stem/red skin, sheep description matched budding, ritual urine drinking described, lost because Aryan no longer had source

Wild rue (peaganum harmala)

weedy plant, native central Asia, beta-carboline alkaloids harmine and harmaline (where first isolated), Flattery and schwartz propse as soma