Lecture 25: Hallucinogenic Plants 1

Question 1

Psychoactive plants were often used as a ______.

Answer 1

Healing tool

Question 2

What are two examples of how people used psychoactive plants as a healing tool

Answer 2

Either to communicate with the spirit world in order to find the best “real” treatment (e.g. based on non-hallucinogenic plants).

Or to bring the sick person to the spirit world for healing.

Question 3

True or False: Humans seem have a natural drive to pursue ecstatic experiences.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

True or False: Only a few cultures have developed methods for inducing such experiences.

Answer 4

False, all cultures

Question 5

True or False: Every culture in the world (has) used psychoactive plants.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

How many hallucinogenic plants exist?

Answer 6

We don’t know exactly!

We know of a few thousand sp., however, probably there are more.

Question 7

The ____ may transform a medicinal plant into a hallucinogenic or a poisonous plant.

Answer 7

dose

Question 8

What are 3 types of psychoactive solanaceae in Europe and Asia?

Answer 8

Mandragora offcinarum (mandrake)

Hyosciamus niger (henbane)

Atropa belladonna (Belladonna or Deadly nightshade)

Question 9

The psychoactive solanaceae were often called ______ because of their use by the “witches” of Europe.

Answer 9

“hexing herbs”

Question 10

Solanaceae contain Contain a mixture of alkaloids: _______(3) , which are all inhibitors of ______.

Answer 10

hyoscyamine, atropine, scopolamine

acetylcholine

Question 11

Psychoactive Solanaceae were used by ancient cultures (Assyrians, Greeks) as ______.

Answer 11

anesthetics

Question 12

____ roots have a human shape and was associated with supernatural powers (probably the psychoactive properties)

Answer 12

Mandrake

Question 13

Why did they use dogs to pull up mandrakes?

Answer 13

when the root is dug up it screams and kills those who hear

Question 14

_____ have a campanulate corolla and yellow-orange berries.

Answer 14

Mandrake

Question 15

What are the psychoactive effects of hexing herbs?

Answer 15

Within 15 min: psychomotor disquiet and general arousal, not infrequently of erotic nature, confused speech; great euphoria but also fits of crying; increasing states of excitation culminating in frenzy, rage, madness, with complete lack of ability to recognize surroundings

Question 16

______ hallucinations are dark and frightening.

Answer 16

Hexing herbs

Question 17

What are the physiological effects of hexing herbs?

Answer 17

Very dry mouth; increased pupils; increased pulse

Inhibit formation of memory

Question 18

What are the effects of mandrake at a high dose?

Answer 18

respiratory paralysis and death

Question 19

What are the 2 chemicals in hexing herbs?

Answer 19

Atropine, scopolamine

Question 20

______ has a stimulant effect on the central nervous system and heart, whereas _______ has a sedative effect.

_______ = antiemetic, against motion sickness

Answer 20

Atropine, scopolamine x2

Question 21

What were flying oitments made of?

Answer 21

hexing herbs

Question 22

How was flying ointments applied?

Answer 22

Skin

Vaginal or anal

Question 23

True or False: The use of enemas or clysters for administering medicines (including henbane) was known in Europe long before medieval times.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

_______ died accidentally when tried a “flying ointment”.

Answer 24

Karl Kiesewetter

Question 25

________ had a terrifying flight experience

Answer 25

Will-Erich Peukert

Question 26

When did the witch culture start?

Answer 26

in Europe and the Church; early 7th century

Question 27

Why were more woman perceived as witches according to the Malleus Maleficarum?

Answer 27

“Women, by their weaker nature and inferior intellect, are naturally more prone to the lure of Satan”.

Question 28

What were the 8 recurring beliefs of witches?

Answer 28

1. The ride by night
2. The pact with the Devil
3. The formal repudiation of Christianity
4. The secret nocturnal meeting
5. The desecration of the crucifix
6. The orgy
7. Sacrificial infanticide, and
8. Cannibalism

Question 29

The accusations against witches were almost identical to those used by _______ against ______.

Answer 29

3rd-century Romans against early Christians

Question 30

What were the effects of the Great European witch hunt?

Answer 30

40,000 to 60,000 executions

Damage not only to the animistic knowledge but to the science progress in general.

Question 31

What are the three pyscohative solanceae in the Americas?

Answer 31

Nicotiana spp.
Tabacco

Datura spp. (Jimsonweeds or Thorn apple spp.).

Brugmansia spp.
(Angel trumpet)

Question 32

True or False: Brugmansia and Datura contain the same alkaloids as Mandragora, Hyosciamus & Atropa. Nicotiana contains nicotine

Answer 32

True

Question 33

_____ have been traditionally used in many South American indigenous cultures in medical preparations and as a ritualistic hallucinogen for divination, to communicate with ancestors, as a poison in sorcery and black magic, and for prophecy

Answer 33

Burgmansia

Question 34

In a concentrated or refined form, ________ from Brugmansia is used as a rape drug, to commit robberies or even murder.

Answer 34

scopolamine

Scopolamine inhibits the formation of memories (induces amnesia), self-awareness and the ability to make decisions.

Question 35

______ use has been linked to many deaths, especially at higher dosages (contains lots of scopolamine).

Answer 35

Datura, teenagers trying to see what it is

Question 36

Question: “Hexing” herbs produce?

Answer 36

Answer: Dark and frightening hallucinations

Question 37

Question: One of the solanaceae is bogus.

Answer 37

Answer: Hexing nightshade (Solanum diabolicum)