Other Psychoactive Plants: Yopo, Morning Glory Seeds and More

Safety first. These plants are much less studied than psilocybin or mescaline, and the amount of active compound in seeds or bark varies unpredictably. In a German laboratory study of Hawaiian baby woodrose seeds, the research had to stop because 3 of 4 participants had severe adverse effects, including cardiovascular problems in two and a psychosis-like state in one; all recovered within 9 hours. [1] If someone is confused, very agitated, has chest pain or a seizure, or cannot be roused, call 911 (US) or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222: plant and mushroom poisoning. This page does not help identify plants and gives no preparation or use instructions.

Evidence labels: preclinical (cells or animals only), insufficient evidence, evidence of harm. "Proper evidence not found" means we looked and found nothing usable.

Yopo (Anadenanthera peregrina)

Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Speg. is an accepted name; Piptadenia peregrina is listed as a synonym. [2] Yopo is described as a hallucinogenic snuff made from the ground seeds of this tree. A paper from Venezuela says ethnographic work on these snuffs has been limited and that practices differ between peoples; it studied the Piaroa. [3] We do not describe preparation or ceremony. Cultural context should come from the peoples concerned; see Indigenous traditions, ethics and conservation.

Research on this species is thin. For a close relative, A. colubrina, a review reports bufotenine isolated from the seeds and linked to hallucinogenic activity, says most medicinal claims rest on laboratory and animal tests, and notes that the species is among Brazilian medicinal species with priority for conservation. [4] Label: preclinical for medicinal claims; Proper evidence not found for clinical trials in people. Do not carry findings from one species over to the other.

Ololiuqui and morning glory seeds

Several different plants are involved, and names are easy to mix up.

• Turbina corymbosa (ololiuqui, ololiuhqui) is a synonym in the GBIF taxonomy backbone, whose accepted name is Ipomoea corymbosa. [5] A review of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica says the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya and Aztec used seeds of ololiuhqui, which contain lysergic acid amide. [6]
• Ipomoea tricolor is an accepted species. [7] A study of online user reports and medical case reports found recreational use of I. tricolor and I. violacea had reappeared after no reports in the medical literature since 1968. The most worrying symptom was suicidal ideation in two users, and use was often combined with other drugs such as cannabis and dextromethorphan. [8] Label: evidence of harm (reports, not controlled studies).
• Argyreia nervosa (Hawaiian baby woodrose) is an accepted species. [9] Its seeds contain lysergic acid amide (LSA), chemically related to LSD but a different compound. [10]

Health effects of traditional ololiuqui use in people: Proper evidence not found in the sources we checked.

What documented harms look like

• Poison center data. Texas poison centers received 29 exposures to A. nervosa in 2000 to 2018. Medical outcomes were minor in 31%, moderate in 38% and major in 7%; the most frequent effects were gastrointestinal (45%) and neurological (41%). [11]
• Unpredictable content. Seeds of different origin and labeling showed different ergot alkaloid content, and the authors say a consumer cannot foresee seed quality. [12] A review adds that LSA concentration varies highly and that adverse effects are not related to LSA dose. [10] We therefore give no typical content or equivalence.
• Psychosis. A case report describes drug-induced psychosis in an adolescent after consuming seeds; the authors note case reports of remission and also intoxication-related death, and that no treatment recommendations exist. [10]
• Variable reactions at equal doses. See the laboratory study above. [1]
• Special groups, medicines, pregnancy: Proper evidence not found specific to these seeds. See how interactions work and psychedelic adverse effects and contraindications.

Mimosa tenuiflora (also sold as "Mimosa hostilis")

Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. is the accepted name, and Mimosa hostilis Benth. is a listed synonym, so the two names are the same species in this taxonomy. [13] The only recent research we read is a mouse study: an alkaloid fraction of root bark, in which DMT was identified, showed anxiolytic-like effects in two behavior tests. [14] Label: preclinical. Human effects, safety and benefit: Proper evidence not found. It is a plant source of DMT, which is not the same as ayahuasca. See DMT: compound guide and DMT vs ayahuasca.

Legal status

Not legal advice; laws change. In the United States, bufotenine and DMT are named in the federal Schedule I list. [15] Lysergic acid amide appears by name in the Schedule III list. [16] We did not find the plants named in the lists we read (21 CFR 1308.11 to 1308.15), and how the law treats seeds or bark that contain these compounds: not verified here. Other countries and states: not verified. See legal status by country.