Psychedelic Therapy · Plant
Morning glory seeds and ololiuqui
Ipomoea tricolor; Ipomoea corymbosa (Turbina corymbosa) · also called Heavenly blue, flying saucers, tlitliltzin (garden morning glory); ololiuqui, ololiuhqui, coaxihuitl, xtabentun (Ipomoea corymbosa)
In people it has caused nausea, high blood pressure, panic, and psychosis-like states, and strength varies from seed to seed. No trial shows the seeds treat any condition. Ololiuhqui was sacred to the Aztecs, and a 2021 paper says the alkaloids were first isolated from the seeds in 1960.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. Needs Indigenous and cultural review. How this page is made
About Morning glory seeds and ololiuqui
Morning glory seeds (Ipomoea tricolor) and ololiuqui (the seeds of Ipomoea corymbosa, also called Turbina corymbosa) contain lysergic acid amide (LSA) and related ergot compounds. No trial shows they treat anything. Ololiuhqui was a sacred plant of the Aztecs. The alkaloids are made by a fungus that lives on the plant.
Danger first: unpredictable seeds and serious reactions
Seed strength is not predictable. In a lab check of five kinds of Ipomoea seed bought from vendors, only three contained ergot alkaloids, and single seeds differed significantly from each other.
In a four-person study with Hawaiian baby woodrose seeds (a related plant with the same main compound), three people had severe adverse effects, including a psychosis-like state, and the study was stopped. A 2025 systematic review of 17 human studies found about 12% of 219 patients needed medical attention, with single cases of psychosis, a seizure with PRES (a brain swelling syndrome) and a suicide after agitation.
If someone is very unwell, call emergency services. See the Safety tab for numbers.
What the seeds are, and what they are not
Garden morning glory seeds come from Ipomoea tricolor, known as heavenly blue. Ololiuqui is the Nahuatl name for the seeds of Ipomoea corymbosa, also called Turbina corymbosa or Rivea corymbosa. Both belong to the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae.
Many papers write 'Ipomoea violacea' for the garden type. GBIF lists Ipomoea violacea L. as a separate species, the beach moonflower, so a name in a paper may not match a name on a packet.
LSA is the main psychoactive compound named in the sources.
How the alkaloids were identified
A 2021 paper states that ergot alkaloids were first isolated from morning glory seeds in 1960, building on their use by indigenous peoples in Mexico, and cites Hofmann and Tscherter (Experientia, 1960). A 1961 German-language paper by Hofmann and Cerletti is titled as the solution of the 'Ololiuqui puzzle'.
It was a surprise because lysergic acid alkaloids had earlier been found only in fungi. Later work explained why: fungi of the genus Periglandula live on the leaf surface of these plants, make the ergot alkaloids and pass them into the plant. The genus was named in 2011, and a species for Ipomoea tricolor was proposed in 2025.
What is in the seeds
The main alkaloids named are ergine (LSA) and isoergine. Ergometrine, a compound used as a medicine to make the uterus contract, was also found in some seed products. Amounts vary widely: one review gives older figures of about 0.2% by dry weight in one morning glory seed type and 0.02 to 0.06% in ololiuqui seeds, but these figures were not rechecked.
Almost all modern human data come from the related Argyreia nervosa, so numbers from those studies are shown as 'related plant' on this page.
Pregnancy and blood vessels
No study shows the seeds are safe in pregnancy. Ergometrine is used in medicine to make the uterus contract after childbirth, and a 1965 paper title reports a uterine-stimulating principle in ololiuqui extracts. People who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should not treat these seeds as safe.
Ergot compounds can tighten blood vessels. Ergot poisoning from ergot medicines has caused severe limb ischaemia, which can reverse if caught early. No source we read reports this from morning glory seeds, so it is a reasoned concern. Raised blood pressure is reported with the seeds.
Tradition belongs to the peoples who keep it
Sources describe ololiuhqui seeds as used in ceremonies by Aztec priests, and say Spanish clerics judged the practice satanic and persecuted practitioners. Environmental DNA of the vine, called xtabentun in Yucatec Maya, was found in a 2,000-year-old Maya ritual deposit, though details of ancient Maya use are lacking. A review lists the Zapotec among peoples who used Mesoamerican sacred plants, without saying which people used which. We found no source tying the Mazatec to these seeds.
We describe only what outside sources say and do not speak for any people. Tradition is not clinical evidence, and clinical research does not replace tradition.
Law differs by country and changes
We found no entry naming morning glory, Ipomoea or Turbina. How the schedules apply to seeds or plants was not checked.
Other countries differ and some may control the seeds or the compound. This is not legal advice; always check current law where you live.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Ololiuhqui seeds were used by Aztec priests in ceremonies, according to a 2024 archaeology paper (Lentz et al.).
- Environmental DNA of the plant (xtabentun) was found in a 2,000-year-old Maya ritual deposit (Lentz et al. 2024).
- A review lists the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya and Aztec among Mesoamerican peoples who used sacred plants, including ololiuhqui, and says local healers still do (Carod-Artal 2015).
Studied for research
- Mind-altering effects: small case series and reports, not a treatment
- Depression, anxiety, addiction: no studies of these seeds
- Cluster headache: online self-reports only, very low certainty
- Traditional divination: cultural use, not a health benefit
Main compounds
- Ergine (lysergic acid amide, LSA)
- Isoergine and ergometrine (an ergot medicine compound)
- Other ergoline alkaloids (clavines)
Common forms
- Raw seeds of Ipomoea tricolor and Ipomoea corymbosa (strength varies hugely)
- Products sold as LSA, which may not contain it
- Related plant: Hawaiian baby woodrose (Argyreia nervosa), covered on its own page
Research links: Systematic review of LSA in humans, 2025 (full text) · Lab check of ergot alkaloids in Ipomoea seeds (abstract) · Stopped study with Argyreia seeds: severe effects (abstract) · Where the alkaloids come from: the Periglandula fungus (abstract) · 2,000-year-old Maya ritual deposit with ololiuhqui DNA (full text) · Poison Control (US): call 1-800-222-1222 · US eCFR: 21 CFR 1308.13 Schedule III · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Ipomoea tricolor (morning glory seeds) and Ipomoea corymbosa (ololiuqui)
- Naming authority
- Ipomoea tricolor Cav.; Ipomoea corymbosa (L.) Roth
- Synonyms
- Ipomoea tricolor: Ipomoea violacea Lunan; Ipomoea rubrocaerulea Hook.; Pharbitis tricolor (Cav.) Chitt.; Convolvulus rubrocaeruleus (Hook.) D.Dietr.; Ipomoea corymbosa: Turbina corymbosa (L.) Raf.; Rivea corymbosa (L.) Hallier f.; Convolvulus corymbosus L.
- Common names
- Morning glory; heavenly-blue morning-glory (English (GBIF vernacular records)); Flying saucers; pearly gates (English (GBIF vernacular records)); Tlitliltzin (Nahuatl (listed in GBIF and in Graziano 2017 for seeds)); Ololiuqui / ololiuhqui (Nahuatl (seeds of Ipomoea corymbosa)); Coaxihuitl (snake plant) (Nahuatl (Lentz 2024)); Xtabentun (Yucatec Maya (Lentz 2024)); Christmasvine; snakeplant (English (Graziano 2017))
- Family or group
- Convolvulaceae (the morning glory family). The part discussed in the sources is the seed. In Ipomoea tricolor, ergot alkaloids were found in all tissues including roots (Hazel 2025).
- Classification
- Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Solanales > Convolvulaceae > Ipomoea > Ipomoea tricolor; Ipomoea corymbosa
- Native range
- Not checked in Plants of the World Online. Sources say: Ipomoea corymbosa (Rivea) is native across Latin America from Mexico to Peru and widely naturalised elsewhere (Graziano 2017); Ipomoea tricolor is a commonly cultivated morning glory from Mexico (Hazel 2025).
- Habitat
- Not checked.
- What it looks like
- Part used: Seeds. This page does not describe how to recognise the plants or how to use them.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Ipomoea violacea L. (beach moonflower); Note: GBIF lists this as a different species from garden morning glory, yet many papers use 'Ipomoea violacea' for the heavenly-blue seed type. A paper's name may not match a packet's name.; Name: Hawaiian baby woodrose (Argyreia nervosa); Note: A different plant in the same family with the same main compound; most modern human case data are for it.; Name: Other morning glories; Note: Only some morning glories carry ergot alkaloids. In one lab check, two of five seed kinds contained none.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not checked (no IUCN or CITES source read).
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aztec (Nahuatl-speaking) peoples, 16th century | Sources describe ololiuhqui seeds as used in ceremonies by Aztec priests. Spanish chroniclers wrote about the use. One study says Spanish clerics judged it satanic and persecuted practitioners, which drove ololiuhqui cults into hiding. We describe this only as the sources state it. | Lentz et al. 2024; Carod-Artal 2015 |
| Maya (Yucatec), about 2,000 years ago | Environmental DNA of Ipomoea corymbosa (xtabentun) was found in a Late Preclassic ritual deposit at Yaxnohcah, reported as the first find from Maya archaeological contexts. Details of ancient Maya use are lacking. | Lentz et al. 2024 |
| Mesoamerican cultures (Zapotec among those named) | A review lists the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya and Aztec as using peyote, hallucinogenic mushrooms and ololiuhqui seeds, and says local shamans and healers still use such substances in ritual ceremonies. The abstract does not say which people used which plant. | Carod-Artal 2015 |
| Mazatec people | NOT verified. No source we read ties the Mazatec people to morning glory or ololiuqui seeds; the Mazatec sources we saw were about Salvia divinorum and psilocybin mushrooms. | none |
| 1960: identification of the alkaloids | A 2021 paper states ergot alkaloids were first isolated from morning glory seeds in 1960, based on their use by indigenous peoples in Mexico, and cites Hofmann and Tscherter, Experientia 1960. A PubMed record lists a 1961 German-language paper by Hofmann and Cerletti titled 'Active substances of the 3d Aztec magic drug or solution of the Ololiuqui puzzle'. A review notes that lysergic acid alkaloids had earlier been isolated only from fungi. We did not open the original 1960 note. | Beaulieu et al. 2021; Hofmann & Cerletti 1961 (title only); Graziano et al. 2017 |
| 1960s: early human studies | PubMed lists a 1966 paper on the effect of ololiuqui alkaloids in man and a 1968 paper on psychotomimetic effects of ololiuqui. We saw only the titles. | Isbell & Gorodetzky 1966; Heim et al. 1968 |
| 2000s to 2020s: the fungus explained the alkaloids | Researchers showed that the ergot alkaloids in these morning glories are made by Periglandula fungi that live on the leaf surface and pass the alkaloids into the plant. The genus was named in 2011; a species for Ipomoea tricolor was proposed in 2025. | Steiner et al. 2011; Steiner & Leistner 2018; Hazel & Panaccione 2025 |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ergine (lysergic acid amide, LSA, d-lysergamide) PubChem 442072 | ergoline alkaloid | Seeds A 2017 review gives older figures of about 0.2% by dry weight in Ipomoea violacea seeds and 0.02 to 0.06% in Rivea corymbosa seeds; we did not open the originals. Single seeds vary widely (Nowak 2016). | 25 7 20 | Review |
| Isoergine (iso-LSA) | ergoline alkaloid (epimer of LSA) | Seeds Not given. | Named with ergine as a principal alkaloid in the seeds; also found in blood and urine in the Argyreia study. 7 21 | Review |
| Ergometrine (ergonovine) PubChem 443884 | ergoline alkaloid | Seeds Found alongside ergine in some seed products (Nowak 2016). | A medicine that makes the uterus contract; lab data on human uterine muscle. 32 20 5 | Lab |
| d-Lysergic acid methylcarbinolamide | ergoline alkaloid | Seeds Not given. | Named with lysergic acid amide in ololiuhqui seeds by Lentz et al. 2024; not confirmed in the analytical papers we read. 17 | Review |
| Clavines (e.g. chanoclavine, festuclavine) | ergoline alkaloids | Seeds and seedlings Not given. | Ipomoea tricolor seedlings kept clavines in the cotyledons and sent lysergic acid amides to the roots. 1 | Lab |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dopamine D2 receptors (as stated by a review) | DRD2 | One review says the alkaloid seems to inhibit adenylate cyclase and reduce cAMP by activating D2 receptors, citing a cell-culture study. We did not open the original. 7 | Laboratory research |
| Serotonin 5-HT2A receptors (class-level statement) | HTR2A | A 2025 review says hallucinogens generally act by stimulating 5-HT2A receptors, but this was not shown for LSA in anything we read. | Pharmacological theory |
| Where the alkaloids come from | dmaW (fungal gene) | Periglandula fungi on the leaf surface carry the dmaW gene for the first step of ergoline making; the alkaloids pass into the plant. 23 24 | Lab |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Studied only in four volunteers with Argyreia nervosa seeds: serum LSA was measured about 2 hours after ingestion.
- Distribution
- Not established.
- Metabolism
- The epimer iso-LSA was also found in serum and urine in varying ratios. No further metabolism data read.
- Elimination
- LSA was found in urine from 1 to 24 hours and not at 48 hours in that study.
- Bioavailability
- Not established.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
The seeds, the pure compound LSA and the products sold as LSA are different things. Almost all human data are for Argyreia nervosa seeds, not morning glory or ololiuqui. The seeds also contain ergometrine and other ergot alkaloids, so nothing from pure LSA can be assumed for the seeds, or the other way round.
Nutritional composition
These seeds are not a food or a nutrient.
1 very low certainty2 not enough evidence
What was looked at
The 3 benefits and uses checked for Morning glory seeds and ololiuqui, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental-health usesNot enough evidence
- Cluster headache (self-reports only)Very low certainty
- Traditional divination and ritual useNot enough evidence
Lab markers tracked in the studies
Blood level of lysergic acid amide (LSA)Raised blood pressure and heart rate
What is Morning glory seeds and ololiuqui good for?
The uses people ask about and how strong the evidence is. None is proven for these seeds. Read every row together with the Safety tab.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental-health uses
Not enough evidenceNo trial has tested morning glory or ololiuqui seeds for any mental-health condition. One case report with a related plant describes a woman who said it helped cluster headache and low mood.
1 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts or ways of using the seeds.
Studies, doses and limits
Results
No measured outcome for depression, anxiety or addiction.
Why this rating
No trials; only a self-reported case with a related plant.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts or ways of using the seeds.
Who was studied
One 48-year-old woman (case report). No other population.
Limits
One case; self-report; a related plant; no control group.
Why researchers looked
That does not mean the seeds behave the same way.
Traditional use
Mesoamerican peoples used the seeds in divination and healing rites. That is cultural knowledge, not a trial result.
Proposed mechanism Other
No mechanism for any mental-health benefit has been shown for these seeds.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
No condition has been shown to improve with these seeds. They can cause psychosis-like states and should not be treated as a medicine.
Cluster headache (self-reports only)
Very low certaintySome people with cluster headache have reported on online forums that LSA-containing seeds helped them. A 2025 systematic review lists two online surveys and one case report. About one in five of 108 survey respondents found it effective as prevention. These are self-reports with no control group, mostly for a related plant, and cannot show that the seeds work.
1 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts or ways of using the seeds.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Online surveys (108 patients and 12 patients) summarised in a 2025 systematic review, and one case report (Argyreia nervosa seeds). No trial.
Results
About 20% of 108 survey patients found it effective as prevention; nine of 12 patients in a second survey reported relief; the case report describes relief for about two weeks.
Effect sizes as reported
No effect sizes; self-reported percentages only.
Why this rating
Self-selected online reports and one case, no controls, no dose control, and mixed plant sources. The review says robust conclusions cannot be drawn.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts or ways of using the seeds.
Who was studied
People with cluster headache found through online sites; one 48-year-old woman.
Limits
Self-report, recall and selection bias, no placebo, unknown seed strength, other treatments taken at the same time.
Why researchers looked
A 2020 case report says preliminary evidence supports psychedelics for cluster headache, and some patients have tried LSA-containing seeds themselves.
Traditional use
No traditional use for cluster headache is described in the sources we read.
Proposed mechanism Other
No mechanism has been shown for this use.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Reports come from people using LSA-containing seeds (mostly Argyreia) on their own. The seeds can cause serious side effects. This is not advice to use them.
Traditional divination and ritual use
Not enough evidenceSources describe ololiuhqui, the seeds of a morning glory vine, as a sacred plant of the Aztecs, used by priests in ceremonies. DNA from a 2,000-year-old Maya ritual deposit shows the vine was present there too. This is a cultural and historical use, not a health benefit.
3 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts or ways of using the seeds.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Historical and archaeological sources only.
Results
No health outcome measured.
Why this rating
History and tradition describe use; they do not test benefit or safety.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts or ways of using the seeds.
Who was studied
Aztec and Maya peoples (historical); Zapotec named in one review.
Limits
Secondhand historical accounts; details of use are not described in the abstracts we read.
Why researchers looked
Archaeologists and historians study which plants peoples held sacred.
Traditional use
Spanish chroniclers recorded the use in the sixteenth century. Spanish clerics called it satanic and persecuted practitioners, according to one study. We describe only what the sources say and do not speak for any people.
Proposed mechanism Traditional use
Not a clinical question.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Tradition is not clinical evidence, and the seeds carry real risks.
Connections to the rest of health
How Morning glory seeds and ololiuqui connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nervous System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental-health uses Studied for: Cluster headache (self-reports only) | 14 3 17 7 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood level of lysergic acid amide (LSA) | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: increase. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 21 |
| Raised blood pressure and heart rate | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: increase. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 16 |
J. Genes, receptors and enzymes
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dopamine D2 receptor | Preliminary mechanism | In vitro | Receptor a review links to LSA in cell culture. | 7 |
| Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor | Preliminary mechanism | Pharmacological theory | Class-level target for hallucinogens; not shown for LSA in sources read. |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | Same ergoline ring system; the review calls LSA much weaker (secondhand figure). Preparation or compound: LSA (ergine) |
25 7 | ||
| Ergine (lysergic acid amide, LSA, d-lysergamide) | Biological association | Review | Preparation or compound: Seeds |
25 7 20 |
| Isoergine (iso-LSA) | Biological association | Review | Named with ergine as a principal alkaloid in the seeds; also found in blood and urine in the Argyreia study. Preparation or compound: Seeds |
7 21 |
| Ergometrine (ergonovine) | Biological association | Lab | A medicine that makes the uterus contract; lab data on human uterine muscle. Preparation or compound: Seeds |
32 20 5 |
| d-Lysergic acid methylcarbinolamide | Biological association | Review | Named with lysergic acid amide in ololiuhqui seeds by Lentz et al. 2024; not confirmed in the analytical papers we read. Preparation or compound: Seeds |
17 |
| Clavines (e.g. chanoclavine, festuclavine) | Biological association | Lab | Ipomoea tricolor seedlings kept clavines in the cotyledons and sent lysergic acid amides to the roots. Preparation or compound: Seeds and seedlings |
1 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what the research found for 3 outcomes
Each outcome below is one thing researchers measured. Certainty is how far the evidence can be trusted, not how well it works. The full studies are on the next tab.
The evidence
The research centre for Morning glory seeds and ololiuqui. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We searched PubMed and Europe PMC and read the abstracts or open full texts of 20 papers; five 1960s papers are listed by title only. We read the US eCFR Schedule I and III text, the UNODC 1971 convention text and poison-help pages from the US and UK, and checked plant names and chemical identifiers in GBIF and PubChem. Statements we could not verify are marked as such.
Study library: every study we checked 34
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaulieu 2013 Differential allocation of seed-borne ergot alkaloids during early ontogeny of morning glories (Convolvulaceae). J Chem Ecol · PMID 23835852 · DOI |
Laboratory plant study plant |
Seedlings of several Ipomoea species | Seed-borne ergot alkaloids seed Not reported here |
Some morning glories carry Periglandula fungi that produce high concentrations of ergot alkaloids in seeds, up to 1000-fold more than in endophyte-infected grasses. In Ipomoea tricolor, lysergic acid amides were allocated to the roots while clavines stayed in the cotyledons. Each species had four to six unique ergot alkaloids. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Where alkaloids sit in seeds and seedlings Limitations: Plant ecology study; no human data. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Beaulieu 2021 Diversification of ergot alkaloids and heritable fungal symbionts in morning glories. Commun Biol · PMID 34873267 · DOI |
Comparative plant chemistry study (open full text read: introduction) plant/fungus |
Morning glory species (tribe Ipomoeeae) | Ergot alkaloids in seeds seed Not reported here |
Ergot alkaloids are concentrated in four morning glory clades and are more common in species with larger seeds. The introduction states that ergot alkaloids were first isolated from morning glory seeds in 1960, based on their use by indigenous peoples in Mexico, and cites Hofmann and Tscherter, Experientia 1960. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Which morning glories carry ergot alkaloids; history Limitations: Evolution/ecology study; the 1960 reference was read only in the reference list, not opened. Funding and conflicts: No competing interests declared. Read: abstract and full-text introduction |
| Carod-Artal 2015 Hallucinogenic drugs in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. Neurologia · PMID 21893367 · DOI |
Historical/ethnographic review n/a (history) |
Mesoamerican cultures | Psychoactive plants and fungi incl. ololiuhqui seed Not reported here |
States that the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya and Aztec used peyote, hallucinogenic mushrooms and the seeds of ololiuhqui (Turbina corymbosa), which contain mescaline, psilocybin and lysergic acid amide respectively. Chroniclers, mainly Fray Bernardino de Sahagun, described effects in the sixteenth century. Local shamans and healers still use such substances in ritual ceremonies. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Historical use Limitations: The abstract lists peoples and substances together without saying which people used which; no detail on ololiuhqui use by any one people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Chamorro-Cevallos 2022 A Complete Review of Mexican Plants with Teratogenic Effects. Plants (Basel) · PMID 35807626 · DOI |
Narrative review mixed (review) |
Mexican plants | Plants with birth-defect effects various Not reported here |
Found 63 species with teratogenic effects. It also identified a group of alkaloid-rich hallucinogenic plants used by indigenous groups that have had no teratogenic studies. The abstract does not name morning glory or ololiuqui. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Plants with teratogenic effects Limitations: Abstract only; does not name this plant; shows an evidence gap, not safety. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Fanning 2017 A Role for Adrenergic Receptors in the Uterotonic Effects of Ergometrine in Isolated Human Term Nonlaboring Myometrium. Anesth Analg · PMID 28207596 · DOI |
Laboratory study on human tissue human tissue (in vitro) |
33 Uterine muscle strips from 33 women having elective caesarean delivery |
Ergometrine (medicine) in the lab Not reported here |
The abstract describes ergometrine as a uterotonic agent recommended to prevent and manage postpartum haemorrhage. In the lab it increased contraction strength and frequency of human uterine muscle, and alpha-adrenergic blockers reduced the effect. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Strength and rate of uterine contractions Limitations: Lab tissue and a medicine, not seeds; ergometrine was reported in the seeds by Nowak 2016. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Forrester 2018 Argyreia nervosa exposures reported to Texas poison centers. J Addict Dis · PMID 31305228 · DOI |
Poison centre case series |
29 29 exposures to Argyreia nervosa reported 2000 to 2018 (a related plant, not ololiuqui) |
Argyreia nervosa seeds seed Not reported here |
Of 29 exposures, 97% were by ingestion. Outcomes were no effect 3%, minor 31%, moderate 38%, major 7%; the rest not followed. The most frequent effects were gastrointestinal (45%) and neurological (41%). Common treatments were intravenous fluids (28%) and benzodiazepines (21%). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Clinical effects and outcomes Limitations: Poison-centre calls only; Argyreia, not morning glory seeds. Funding and conflicts: Independent researcher. Read: abstract |
| Graziano 2017 Herbal Highs: Review on Psychoactive Effects and Neuropharmacology. Curr Neuropharmacol · PMID 27799032 · DOI |
Narrative review (open full text read: Ipomoea/Rivea section) mixed (review) |
Review of herbal highs including Argyreia nervosa, Ipomoea violacea and Rivea corymbosa | Morning glory seeds / LSA seed Not reported here |
It gives older figures of about 0.2% alkaloid by dry weight in Ipomoea violacea seeds and 0.02 to 0.06% in Rivea corymbosa seeds. It states lysergic acid alkaloids had earlier been isolated only from fungi (Claviceps, Penicillium, Rhizopus), that LSA may act through dopamine D2 receptors (cell-culture reference), and that seed ingestion can cause serious psychotic effects. The seeds were used in divinatory ceremonies by native Americans. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Alkaloids, effects, adverse effects Limitations: Secondhand figures from older papers; Argyreia case reports mixed into the same section; narrative review. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: full text (relevant section) |
| Guarino 1965 A note on a uterine stimulant principle in extracts of the "ololiuqui" morning glory. Am J Pharm Sci Support Public Health · PMID 14280922 |
Journal article (no abstract in PubMed) n/a |
n/a | Extracts of ololiuqui seed seed Not reported here |
Only the title was read. It reports a uterine-stimulating principle in ololiuqui extracts. No findings are quoted here. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Not available (title only) Limitations: No abstract in PubMed; contents not read; we do not know the species of animal or tissue used. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: title only (no abstract in PubMed) |
| Hazel 2025 A new species of Periglandula symbiotic with the morning glory Ipomoea tricolor. Mycologia · PMID 40261263 · DOI |
Laboratory/taxonomy study plant/fungus |
Ipomoea tricolor seeds and plants | Fungus seed Not reported here |
The authors isolated the fungus from empty seed coats of Ipomoea tricolor, a commonly cultivated morning glory from Mexico, and propose the name Periglandula clandestina. It was found most in the hypocotyl (the young stem below the seed leaves), and not in roots, although ergot alkaloids were abundant in all tissues including roots. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Isolation and naming of the fungus from Ipomoea tricolor Limitations: Fungal taxonomy and distribution; no human data. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Heim 1968 Psychotomimetic effects of the Mexican drug "Ololiuqui" (German-language article; English title as listed in PubMed) Psychopharmacologia · PMID 5675457 · DOI |
Journal article (no abstract in PubMed) n/a |
n/a | Ololiuqui seed Not reported here |
Only the title was read. It shows that mind-altering (psychotomimetic) effects of ololiuqui were studied in 1968. No findings are quoted here. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Not available (title only) Limitations: No abstract in PubMed; contents not read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: title only (no abstract in PubMed) |
| Hofmann 1961 Active substances of the 3d Aztec magic drug or solution of the "Ololiuqui" puzzle (German-language article; English title as listed in PubMed) Dtsch Med Wochenschr · PMID 13715087 · DOI |
Journal article (no abstract in PubMed) n/a |
n/a | Ololiuqui seeds (Turbina/Rivea corymbosa) seed Not reported here |
Only the title and journal record were read. The title shows that active substances of the Aztec drug ololiuqui were the subject of this 1961 paper. No findings are quoted here. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Not available (title only) Limitations: No abstract in PubMed; contents not read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: title only (no abstract in PubMed) |
| Hostench-Junoy 2022 Acute Ischemia of Lower Extremities Caused by Ergotamine Toxicity due to Pharmacologic Interaction With Cobicistat in an HIV-Positive Patient. Ann Vasc Surg · PMID 34775015 · DOI |
Case report with brief review |
1 One HIV-positive patient taking an ergot medicine and cobicistat |
Ergotamine (medicine) with cobicistat Not reported here |
Ergot toxicity caused ischaemia of the lower legs through an interaction with the HIV-boosting drug cobicistat. The authors say this was the second reported case of this interaction. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Leg ischaemia Limitations: Ergotamine medicine, not seeds. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Isbell 1966 Effect of alkaloids of ololiuqui in man. Psychopharmacologia · PMID 5923939 · DOI |
Journal article (no abstract in PubMed) n/a |
n/a | Alkaloids of ololiuqui seed Not reported here |
Only the title was read. It shows that alkaloids of ololiuqui were tested in people in 1966. No findings are quoted here. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Not available (title only) Limitations: No abstract in PubMed; contents not read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: title only (no abstract in PubMed) |
| Johnson 2020 Can Psychedelics Alleviate Symptoms of Cluster Headache and Accompanying Mental Health Problems? A Case Report Involving Hawaiian Baby Woodrose. J Psychoactive Drugs · PMID 32375602 · DOI |
Single case report |
1 One 48-year-old woman with cluster headache and mood disorder (Argyreia nervosa seeds) |
Hawaiian baby woodrose (Argyreia nervosa) seeds seed Not reported here |
The woman reported using the seeds to ease cluster headache and accompanying mental health problems. The authors say the case supports the need for further research. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Self-reported headache and mood Limitations: One person; self-report; a related plant, not morning glory or ololiuqui. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Juszczak 2013 Recreational use of D-lysergamide from the seeds of Argyreia nervosa, Ipomoea tricolor, Ipomoea violacea, and Ipomoea purpurea in Poland. J Psychoactive Drugs · PMID 23662334 · DOI |
Analysis of self reports on a recreational website, compared with case reports human (self-report) |
Website users who took seeds of Argyreia nervosa and Ipomoea species | Convolvulaceae seeds seed Not reported here |
The authors report a return of recreational use of Ipomoea tricolor and violacea (morning glory) not described in the medical literature since 1968. The most worrying symptom was suicidal ideation, reported by two people who took Argyreia nervosa and Ipomoea seeds. Seed use was often combined with cannabis or hashish; combination with dextromethorphan was also reported. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Reported effects, doses, co-use, worrying symptoms Limitations: Anonymous self-reports; no verification of what was taken; mixed species. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Kremer 2012 Variable adverse effects in subjects after ingestion of equal doses of Argyreia nervosa seeds. Forensic Sci Int · PMID 21803515 · DOI |
Small human behavioural study stopped early |
4 4 subjects (a related morning-glory-family plant, not ololiuqui) |
Argyreia nervosa seeds seed Not reported here |
A study planned to test driving ability could not continue because 3 of 4 subjects had severe adverse effects: cardiovascular dysregulation in two and a psychosis-like state in one. All recovered completely within 9 hours. Reactions differed greatly between people given body-weight-matched doses, and the authors note fluctuating alkaloid content in seeds and multi-drug intoxications. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Driving-ability study; adverse effects Limitations: Four people; Argyreia seeds. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Lentz 2024 Psychoactive and other ceremonial plants from a 2,000-year-old Maya ritual deposit at Yaxnohcah, Mexico. PLoS One · PMID 38669253 · DOI |
Archaeological environmental DNA study (open full text read) n/a (archaeology) |
Ritual deposit under a Late Preclassic ballcourt at Yaxnohcah | Plant DNA incl. Ipomoea corymbosa seed Not reported here |
Environmental DNA identified Ipomoea corymbosa (xtabentun in Mayan, known to the Aztecs as ololiuhqui) in a roughly 2,000-year-old ritual deposit, reported by the authors as the first find from Maya archaeological contexts. The discussion states that the Aztecs called the plant coaxihuitl (snake plant), that the seeds contain d-lysergic acid amide and d-lysergic acid methylcarbinolamide, that Aztec priests used the seeds in ceremonies, and that Spanish clerics judged this satanic and persecuted practitioners, which the authors say drove ololiuhqui cults into hiding. Details of ancient Maya use are lacking. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Plants present in a Maya ritual deposit; cultural background Limitations: DNA from one deposit shows presence, not how the plant was used; Maya use is inferred from later sources. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract and full-text discussion |
| Liegl 2016 Ergotism: Case Report and Review of the Literature. Int J Angiol · PMID 28031641 · DOI |
Case report and review |
1 One patient with ergotism |
Ergot alkaloid exposure (medicine or contaminated food; not ololiuqui) Not reported here |
Describes ergotism as a non-atherosclerotic cause of peripheral arterial disease (narrowing of the leg and arm arteries). The case shows the vascular changes can be completely reversible if recognised early. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Diagnosis and course of ergotism Limitations: Not about morning glory seeds; shows what ergot alkaloids can do to blood vessels. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Mohamedi 2021 Ergotism with acute limb ischemia, provoked by HIV protease inhibitors interaction with ergotamine, rescued by multisite transluminal balloon angioplasty. J Med Vasc · PMID 33546816 · DOI |
Case report with literature review |
1 One 33-year-old woman taking dihydroergotamine who was then given HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (lopinavir/ritonavir) |
Dihydroergotamine (medicine) with HIV protease inhibitors Not reported here |
One day after starting lopinavir and ritonavir she had acute bilateral limb ischaemia from widespread arterial spasm; limbs were saved with vasodilators, balloon angioplasty and fasciotomies. The authors say the risk of strong cytochrome inhibitors with vasoconstrictors is underestimated. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Limb ischaemia Limitations: Ergot medicine, not seeds. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Nowak 2016 Identification and determination of ergot alkaloids in Morning Glory cultivars. Anal Bioanal Chem · PMID 26873205 · DOI |
Laboratory analysis of commercial seed n/a (lab analysis) |
5 Five kinds of Ipomoea seeds bought from different vendors |
Ipomoea seeds seed Not reported here |
Of five kinds of seeds bought from different vendors, only three contained ergot alkaloids (ergine and ergometrine, plus others). Pack averages were similar, but when single seeds were analysed there were significant differences in ergine and ergometrine between seeds. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Ergine and ergometrine content, other ergot alkaloids Limitations: Only five seed products; species per product not given in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Paulke 2012 Analysis of lysergic acid amide in human serum and urine after ingestion of Argyreia nervosa seeds. Anal Bioanal Chem · PMID 22695498 · DOI |
Analytical method with samples from a small human behavioural study |
4 Volunteers who took Argyreia nervosa seeds (a related morning-glory-family plant, not ololiuqui) |
Argyreia nervosa seeds seed Not reported here |
Serum LSA was 0.66 to 3.15 ng/mL about 2 hours after ingestion. LSA was found in urine from 1 to 24 hours and not at 48 hours; the epimer iso-LSA was also found. Low-nanogram serum levels went with severe vegetative effects (nausea, weakness, fatigue, tremor, raised blood pressure) and a psychosis-like state that led to study termination. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: LSA in serum and urine; adverse effects Limitations: Four people; Argyreia nervosa seeds, not Ipomoea or Turbina; seed content varies. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Ponte 2017 Psychoactive effects of 'legal high': About lysergic acid amide (LSA) (French-language article; English title as listed in PubMed) Therapie · PMID 28457570 · DOI |
Addictovigilance case series |
4 4 cases reported to the Toulouse Addictovigilance Centre in 2016 |
LSA-containing seeds/products seed Not reported here |
Four cases in 2016 had unintended psychic effects and two led to hospitalisation. The authors note other serious LSA intoxications are published, including a death, and that LSA is freely available and sometimes hidden behind various plant names. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Unintended psychic effects, hospitalisation Limitations: Four cases; seed species not given in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Steiner 2011 Periglandula, a new fungal genus within the Clavicipitaceae and its association with Convolvulaceae. Mycologia · PMID 21558502 · DOI |
Laboratory/taxonomy study fungus |
Fungi on Ipomoea asarifolia and Turbina corymbosa leaves | Fungi leaf (fungus site) Not reported here |
Describes two fungi living on the leaf surface, closely tied to secretory glands, and proposes the new genus Periglandula with two species, P. ipomoeae (on Ipomoea asarifolia) and P. turbinae (on Turbina corymbosa). Their DNA includes dmaW, a gene for the first step in ergoline alkaloid making. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Naming and DNA of the fungi Limitations: Taxonomy and genetics; does not measure human effects. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Steiner 2018 Ergot Alkaloids and their Hallucinogenic Potential in Morning Glories. Planta Med · PMID 29499587 · DOI |
Narrative review plant/fungus |
Central American Convolvulaceae (Turbina corymbosa, Ipomoea violacea, Ipomoea asarifolia) | Ergot alkaloids in morning glories seed Not reported here |
Reviews evidence that ergot alkaloids in Turbina corymbosa, Ipomoea violacea and Ipomoea asarifolia are made by fungi of the genus Periglandula living on the leaf surface near glands. The fungi cannot yet be grown in the lab and the alkaloids pass into the host plant. The authors note ergot alkaloids play a role in health care or as recreational drugs in Western and indigenous Mexican societies. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Origin of the ergot alkaloids Limitations: Review by the same group that described the fungi. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| n/a 2026 PubChem compound record: Lysergic acid amide (ergine), CID 442072 (REST API, read 2026-10-25) n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Formula C16H17N3O. IUPAC name (6aR,9R)-7-methyl-6,6a,8,9-tetrahydro-4H-indolo[4,3-fg]quinoline-9-carboxamide. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Chemical identity Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 US eCFR: 21 CFR 1308.13 Schedule III (text current to 21 October 2026, read 25 October 2026) n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Under 1308.13(c) 'Depressants', which covers any material, compound, mixture or preparation that contains any quantity of the listed substances having a depressant effect on the central nervous system, the list includes (8) Lysergic acid and (9) Lysergic acid amide. This is our reading of one section of the published text; it does not say how the schedule applies to seeds or plants, and is not legal advice. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Whether LSA is scheduled in the US Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 US eCFR: 21 CFR 1308.11 Schedule I (text current to 21 October 2026, read 25 October 2026) n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a |
No Schedule I entry names morning glory, Ipomoea or Turbina. Our reading of one section, not legal advice. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Whether plants or LSA are named in Schedule I Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 UNODC: Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, with list of substances in the schedules (PDF read 2026-10-25) n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Lysergic acid amide is not listed in the text we read. Article 32(4) lets a state with wild-growing plants containing Schedule I substances, traditionally used by small, clearly determined groups in magical or religious rites, make reservations about those plants. The edition date of the PDF is not stated, so later changes to the schedules were not checked. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Whether LSA or the plants appear in the 1971 schedules Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Ipomoea tricolor Cav., species key 2928589 (read through the GBIF API 2026-10-25) n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Accepted species in family Convolvulaceae (order Solanales), published by Cavanilles in 1795. Listed synonyms include Ipomoea violacea Lunan, Ipomoea rubrocaerulea Hook., Pharbitis tricolor and Convolvulus rubrocaeruleus. English vernacular names include heavenly-blue morning-glory, flying saucers, pearly gates and tlitliltzin. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted name, synonyms, common names Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Ipomoea corymbosa (L.) Roth, species key 8390235 (read through the GBIF API 2026-10-25) n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Accepted species in family Convolvulaceae. GBIF lists Turbina corymbosa (L.) Raf. and Rivea corymbosa (L.) Hallier f. as synonyms, along with Convolvulus corymbosus L. and Ipomoea sidifolia. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted name and synonyms Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Ipomoea violacea L., species key 2928516 (read through the GBIF API 2026-10-25) n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a |
GBIF treats Ipomoea violacea L. (Linnaeus 1753) as a separate accepted species whose English names are beach moonflower and sea moonflower; its synonyms include Ipomoea tuba and Calonyction species. This is not the same as the synonym 'Ipomoea violacea Lunan' that GBIF places under Ipomoea tricolor. The name 'Ipomoea violacea' is therefore ambiguous in the literature. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Name ambiguity Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 PubChem compound record: Ergometrine (ergonovine), CID 443884 (REST API, read 2026-10-25) n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Formula C19H23N3O2. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Chemical identity Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center, US): poison.org (read 2026-10-25) n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Says to call a poison center at 1-800-222-1222 (free, expert, confidential) or use the online tool, and to call emergency services if the person collapses, has a seizure or has trouble breathing. Outside the US use local procedures. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Poison help line Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 NHS: Poisoning (read 2026-10-25) n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Says to call 999 or go to A&E if someone may have swallowed something harmful, has lost consciousness, has trouble breathing or has a seizure; call NHS 111 if unsure whether something is harmful. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: UK emergency advice Read: full-text |
What we do not know yet
- No controlled trial of morning glory or ololiuqui seeds for any use.
- Almost all human data are for the related Argyreia nervosa.
- No studies in pregnancy, breastfeeding, children or people with heart disease.
- The 1960 identification note and the 1960s human studies were not read.
- No source tying the Mazatec people to these seeds; Zapotec link is a single review sentence.
- Laws outside the US and the 1971 UN convention not checked; conservation status not checked.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each before it changes this page. Regulator statements are rechecked on a schedule.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Other 2
Blood level of lysergic acid amide (LSA)
Increase in trials
The amount of LSA measured in blood serum after seeds were swallowed.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
To link what was in the body to the effects people felt.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Shows the compound is absorbed and cleared within about a day or two, in four people.
Safety implication
Severe effects occurred at these low levels, so a small blood level does not mean a mild effect.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Serum LSA was 0.66 to 3.15 ng/mL about 2 hours after ingestion. LSA was found in urine from 1 to 24 hours and not at 48 hours. Low-nanogram levels went with severe vegetative effects and a psychosis-like state. | Four volunteers | Argyreia nervosa seeds (related plant, not morning glory or ololiuqui) |
Raised blood pressure and heart rate
Increase in trials
Blood pressure or heart rate above the person's usual level after taking the seeds.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Ergot-type compounds can tighten blood vessels, so blood pressure is a safety marker.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A safety signal, not a benefit.
Safety implication
People with heart or blood-pressure problems have no safety data at all.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Cardiovascular dysregulation in two of four volunteers, who recovered fully within 9 hours. | Four volunteers | Argyreia nervosa seeds (related plant) |
| Tachycardia and hypertension were among the most reported symptoms across 219 patients in 17 studies. | 219 patients (mostly Argyreia seeds) | LSA from seeds and products |
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 4
- Danger first: unpredictable strength and psychosis-like reactions. Seed strength varies between products and even between single seeds. In one lab check of five kinds of Ipomoea seed bought from vendors, only three contained ergot alkaloids. In the human data we found, reactions were very uneven: in a four-person study with a related plant, three had severe adverse effects, including a psychosis-like state, and the study was stopped. A 2025 systematic review of 17 human studies found about 12% of 219 patients needed medical attention, with cases of psychosis, a seizure with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and a suicide after agitation. Most of that data comes from Argyreia nervosa seeds, not morning glory or ololiuqui, but the compound LSA is the same. Systematic review 20 16 15
- Blood pressure, heart rate and blood vessels. Raised blood pressure and a fast heartbeat are among the most reported effects. The seeds also contain ergometrine (an ergot compound) according to a lab analysis. Ergot compounds can tighten blood vessels; ergot poisoning (ergotism) with ergot medicines has caused severe limb ischaemia, sometimes reversible when caught early. No source we read reports ergotism from morning glory seeds, so this is a reasoned concern, not a reported event. Pharmacological theory 16 20 18
- Pregnancy: avoid; no safety data. No study shows the seeds are safe in pregnancy. Ergometrine, found in the seeds by a lab analysis, is a medicine used to make the uterus contract after childbirth, and a 1965 paper title reports a uterine-stimulating principle in ololiuqui extracts (we saw only the title). A review of Mexican plants notes that alkaloid-rich hallucinogenic plants used by indigenous groups have had no teratogenic (birth-defect) studies. People who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should not treat these seeds as safe. Pharmacological theory 20 5 8 4
- Products sold as 'LSA' may not contain it. The 2025 review summarises a case series in which products sold as synthetic LSA often lacked LSA altogether, and a French centre warns LSA is sometimes hidden behind various plant names. A name, a label or a photo is never proof of what is inside. Systematic review 22
Side effects 5
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea, vomiting, weakness, fatigue and tremor Data are for Argyreia nervosa seeds, a related plant. | Seen in the small Argyreia study that had to stop; gastrointestinal effects in 45% of 29 Texas poison-centre exposures to Argyreia seeds | mild to severe In the small study, volunteers recovered within about 9 hours | Case series 21 16 6 |
| Raised blood pressure, fast heartbeat No data for people with heart disease. | Among the most reported symptoms in the 2025 review; not given as a percentage | moderate to severe Resolved within hours in the small study | Case series 16 |
| Hallucinations, anxiety, paranoid thoughts, agitation Self-report data. | Reported in the review; 25% of 27 website users described negative experiences such as persecutory thoughts (as summarised in the review) | moderate to severe Usually passes; not always | Case series 15 |
| Psychosis-like state, suicidal thoughts People with a history of psychosis, mania or suicidal thoughts have the greatest reason for caution. | Rare individual reports: suicidal ideation in two website users; one suicide after agitation (Argyreia); psychosis-like state in one of four volunteers | severe Recovered in the volunteer; the suicide was fatal | Case report 15 16 |
| Seizure with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) Attributed to LSA in the case report; seed species not stated in the review table. | One case in the 2025 review (9-day hospital stay) | severe Not described in the review's summary | Case report |
Liver
We did not find liver injury reported for these seeds in the sources we read. No LiverTox record was checked.
How often. Not established.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Morning glory seeds and ololiuqui supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 3
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannabis, hashish, dextromethorphan (cough medicine) and other drugs recreational | Not studied. Website reports describe seeds taken with these. | A review of website reports notes seed use was often combined with cannabis or hashish, and sometimes dextromethorphan. The authors of the small study with Argyreia seeds note multi-drug intoxications make effects harder to judge. | Case series Very low certainty 15 16 | Mixing is unstudied. Tell a doctor or poison centre everything that was taken. |
| Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors such as the HIV drugs ritonavir, lopinavir or cobicistat (shown with ergot medicines, not with seeds) prescription | These drugs slow the breakdown of ergotamine-type medicines. Whether they do the same for LSA or ergometrine in seeds has not been tested. | Case reports describe acute limb ischaemia when ergot medicines were combined with these HIV drugs. Nothing similar has been reported for seeds; this is a reasoned concern. | Case report Very low certainty 12 19 | Anyone on prescription medicines, especially HIV treatment, should ask a doctor or pharmacist; do not stop prescribed medicine on your own. |
| Antidepressants and other serotonin-active medicines prescription | Not studied for LSA in the sources we read. | No source we read tests or reports this combination. See the serotonergic medicines guide for general principles. | Gap Not enough evidence | Ask a doctor or pharmacist before combining any psychoactive substance with prescribed medicines. |
Who should check first 5
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy or trying to become pregnant | No safety data; ergot-type compounds are linked to uterine contraction. Do not treat as safe. | Pharmacological theory 20 5 8 |
| History of psychosis, mania, bipolar disorder or suicidal thoughts | Psychosis-like states and suicidal thoughts are reported. Talk to a doctor; if in crisis seek emergency help. | Case report 15 16 |
| High blood pressure, heart or blood-vessel disease | Raised blood pressure and fast heartbeat are reported and nobody has studied people with these conditions. | Case series 16 18 |
| Driving or operating machinery | A study meant to test driving ability after Argyreia seeds had to be stopped because of severe effects, so no source shows it is safe to drive. | Case series 16 |
| Taking prescribed medicines, especially HIV treatment | Ask a doctor or pharmacist first; do not stop medicines on your own. | Case report 12 19 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. No overdose deaths were recorded in the 2025 systematic review, but it records a suicide and a seizure/PRES case, and says the safety profile is far from benign. Poison-centre data for the related Argyreia seeds show 7% with major effects and 38% with moderate effects among 29 exposures.
Amounts. No safe amount is established in any source we read, and this page gives none.
Onset and course. In four volunteers with Argyreia seeds, serum LSA was measured about 2 hours after ingestion, urine was positive 1 to 24 hours and negative at 48 hours; all recovered within 9 hours. One review says effects last about 4 to 8 hours.
Repeated use. Not established. One review of herbal highs says chronic use of some herbal highs is linked to addiction and cognitive impairment, but it does not say this for these seeds specifically.
Animal data. Not read.
Toxic parts. Seeds are the part discussed. In Ipomoea tricolor, ergot alkaloids were found in all tissues including roots.
Not read. Animal toxicity studies, the 1960s human studies, and any long-term follow-up were not read.
Strength varies widely between seed batches and between single seeds, and some products sold as LSA lack it. We found no source on pesticide or other treatment of garden seeds, so we make no claim either way.
Variability between seeds. Three of five kinds of Ipomoea seed bought from vendors contained ergot alkaloids; single seeds differed significantly in ergine and ergometrine. 20
Products sold as LSA. In a case series summarised in the 2025 review, synthetic samples marketed as LSA often lacked it.
Names. LSA is sometimes hidden behind various plant names (French addictovigilance centre). 22
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| US Drug Enforcement Administration, via the Code of Federal Regulations (United States) | In 21 CFR 1308.13 (Schedule III), under (c) 'Depressants', the list of substances includes (8) Lysergic acid and (9) Lysergic acid amide. This is our reading of two sections, not legal advice; how the schedules apply to seeds or plants, state law, and other schedules were not checked. source | 2026-10-21 |
| United Nations, Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971 (UNODC publication) (International) | Lysergic acid amide is not listed in that text. Article 32(4) lets a state make reservations for wild-growing plants with Schedule I substances traditionally used by small, clearly determined groups in magical or religious rites. Later changes to the schedules were not checked. Laws differ by country and change. source | n/a (edition date not stated in the PDF) |
When to get medical help
- Trouble breathing, collapse, a seizure, or being unable to wake someone: call emergency services now (911 in the US, 999 in the UK).
- Severe confusion, panic, or thoughts of self-harm: get emergency help straight away.
- Very high heart rate, chest pain, or severe pain with cold, pale or blue fingers or toes (a sign of blood-vessel spasm described in ergot case reports): seek emergency care.
- US Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). UK: NHS 111 if unsure, 999 in an emergency. Tell staff everything that was taken.
If someone may be poisoned or in a crisis, contact a clinician or emergency service straight away. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is ololiuqui?
Are morning glory seeds and ololiuqui the same thing?
How were the alkaloids in the seeds identified?
Is a fungus really involved?
Do the seeds treat any condition?
No trial shows this. Some people with cluster headache report relief in online surveys, mostly with a related plant, but these are self-reports with no control group.
What are the main risks?
Is it safe in pregnancy?
Can the seeds affect blood vessels?
Why can't the strength be predicted?
Only three of five kinds of seed from vendors contained ergot alkaloids in one lab check, and single seeds differed significantly. Products sold as LSA may lack it.
Is it legal?
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Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records, GBIF, PubChem and regulator pages.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We searched PubMed and Europe PMC and read the abstracts or open full texts of 20 papers; five 1960s papers are listed by title only. We read the US eCFR Schedule I and III text, the UNODC 1971 convention text and poison-help pages from the US and UK, and checked plant names and chemical identifiers in GBIF and PubChem. Statements we could not verify are marked as such.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted. No affiliate links are shown and none will be added. This page gives no dose, preparation, growing, foraging or sourcing advice.
Sources 34
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Beaulieu WT, Panaccione DG, Hazekamp CS, McKee MC, Ryan KL, Clay K. Differential allocation of seed-borne ergot alkaloids during early ontogeny of morning glories (Convolvulaceae).. J Chem Ecol. 2013. PMID 23835852. DOI 10.1007/s10886-013-0314-z. (abstract)
- Beaulieu WT, Panaccione DG, Quach QN, Smoot KL, Clay K. Diversification of ergot alkaloids and heritable fungal symbionts in morning glories.. Commun Biol. 2021. PMID 34873267. DOI 10.1038/s42003-021-02870-z. (abstract and full-text introduction)
- Carod-Artal FJ. Hallucinogenic drugs in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures.. Neurologia. 2015. PMID 21893367. DOI 10.1016/j.nrl.2011.07.003. (abstract)
- Chamorro-Cevallos G, Mojica-Villegas MA, Garcia-Martinez Y, Perez-Gutierrez S, Madrigal-Santillan E, Vargas-Mendoza N, Morales-Gonzalez JA, Cristobal-Luna JM. A Complete Review of Mexican Plants with Teratogenic Effects.. Plants (Basel). 2022. PMID 35807626. DOI 10.3390/plants11131675. (abstract)
- Fanning RA, Sheehan F, Leyden C, Duffy N, Iglesias-Martinez LF, Carey MF, Campion DP, O'Connor JJ. A Role for Adrenergic Receptors in the Uterotonic Effects of Ergometrine in Isolated Human Term Nonlaboring Myometrium.. Anesth Analg. 2017. PMID 28207596. DOI 10.1213/ANE.0000000000001765. (abstract)
- Forrester MB. Argyreia nervosa exposures reported to Texas poison centers.. J Addict Dis. 2018. PMID 31305228. DOI 10.1080/10550887.2019.1640057. (abstract)
- Graziano S, Orsolini L, Rotolo MC, Tittarelli R, Schifano F, Pichini S. Herbal Highs: Review on Psychoactive Effects and Neuropharmacology.. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2017. PMID 27799032. DOI 10.2174/1570159X14666161031144427. (full text (relevant section))
- Guarino AM, DerMarderosian AH, DeFeo JJ, Youngken HW Jr. A note on a uterine stimulant principle in extracts of the "ololiuqui" morning glory.. Am J Pharm Sci Support Public Health. 1965. PMID 14280922. (title only (no abstract in PubMed))
- Hazel CM, Panaccione DG. A new species of Periglandula symbiotic with the morning glory Ipomoea tricolor.. Mycologia. 2025. PMID 40261263. DOI 10.1080/00275514.2025.2483634. (abstract)
- Heim E, Heimann H, Lukacs G. Psychotomimetic effects of the Mexican drug "Ololiuqui" (German-language article; English title as listed in PubMed). Psychopharmacologia. 1968. PMID 5675457. DOI 10.1007/BF00401617. (title only (no abstract in PubMed))
- Hofmann A, Cerletti A. Active substances of the 3d Aztec magic drug or solution of the "Ololiuqui" puzzle (German-language article; English title as listed in PubMed). Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1961. PMID 13715087. DOI 10.1055/s-0028-1112871. (title only (no abstract in PubMed))
- Hostench-Junoy N, Ramirez-Montoya M, Arefai-Refai B, Estal-Jimenez J, Santana-Rodriguez ZJ, Costa-Perez L. Acute Ischemia of Lower Extremities Caused by Ergotamine Toxicity due to Pharmacologic Interaction With Cobicistat in an HIV-Positive Patient.. Ann Vasc Surg. 2022. PMID 34775015. DOI 10.1016/j.avsg.2021.09.023. (abstract)
- Isbell H, Gorodetzky CW. Effect of alkaloids of ololiuqui in man.. Psychopharmacologia. 1966. PMID 5923939. DOI 10.1007/BF00453511. (title only (no abstract in PubMed))
- Johnson S, Black QC. Can Psychedelics Alleviate Symptoms of Cluster Headache and Accompanying Mental Health Problems? A Case Report Involving Hawaiian Baby Woodrose.. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2020. PMID 32375602. DOI 10.1080/02791072.2020.1762023. (abstract)
- Juszczak GR, Swiergiel AH. Recreational use of D-lysergamide from the seeds of Argyreia nervosa, Ipomoea tricolor, Ipomoea violacea, and Ipomoea purpurea in Poland.. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2013. PMID 23662334. DOI 10.1080/02791072.2013.763570. (abstract)
- Kremer C, Paulke A, Wunder C, Toennes SW. Variable adverse effects in subjects after ingestion of equal doses of Argyreia nervosa seeds.. Forensic Sci Int. 2012. PMID 21803515. DOI 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.06.025. (abstract)
- Lentz DL, Hamilton TL, Meyers SA, Dunning NP, Reese-Taylor K, Hernandez AA, Walker DS, Tepe EJ, Esquivel AF, Weiss AA. Psychoactive and other ceremonial plants from a 2,000-year-old Maya ritual deposit at Yaxnohcah, Mexico.. PLoS One. 2024. PMID 38669253. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0301497. (abstract and full-text discussion)
- Liegl CA, McGrath MA. Ergotism: Case Report and Review of the Literature.. Int J Angiol. 2016. PMID 28031641. DOI 10.1055/s-0034-1376397. (abstract)
- Mohamedi N, Mirault T, Durivage A, Di Primio M, Khider L, Detriche G, El Batti S, Sapoval M, Messas E, Goudot G. Ergotism with acute limb ischemia, provoked by HIV protease inhibitors interaction with ergotamine, rescued by multisite transluminal balloon angioplasty.. J Med Vasc. 2021. PMID 33546816. DOI 10.1016/j.jdmv.2020.12.002. (abstract)
- Nowak J, Wozniakiewicz M, Klepacki P, Sowa A, Koscielniak P. Identification and determination of ergot alkaloids in Morning Glory cultivars.. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2016. PMID 26873205. DOI 10.1007/s00216-016-9322-5. (abstract)
- Paulke A, Kremer C, Wunder C, Toennes SW. Analysis of lysergic acid amide in human serum and urine after ingestion of Argyreia nervosa seeds.. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2012. PMID 22695498. DOI 10.1007/s00216-012-6121-5. (abstract)
- Ponte C, Lapeyre-Mestre M. Psychoactive effects of 'legal high': About lysergic acid amide (LSA) (French-language article; English title as listed in PubMed). Therapie. 2017. PMID 28457570. DOI 10.1016/j.therap.2017.01.012. (abstract)
- Steiner U, Leibner S, Schardl CL, Leuchtmann A, Leistner E. Periglandula, a new fungal genus within the Clavicipitaceae and its association with Convolvulaceae.. Mycologia. 2011. PMID 21558502. DOI 10.3852/11-031. (abstract)
- Steiner U, Leistner E. Ergot Alkaloids and their Hallucinogenic Potential in Morning Glories.. Planta Med. 2018. PMID 29499587. DOI 10.1055/a-0577-8049. (abstract)
- n/a. PubChem compound record: Lysergic acid amide (ergine), CID 442072 (REST API, read 2026-10-25). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. US eCFR: 21 CFR 1308.13 Schedule III (text current to 21 October 2026, read 25 October 2026). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. US eCFR: 21 CFR 1308.11 Schedule I (text current to 21 October 2026, read 25 October 2026). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. UNODC: Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, with list of substances in the schedules (PDF read 2026-10-25). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Ipomoea tricolor Cav., species key 2928589 (read through the GBIF API 2026-10-25). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Ipomoea corymbosa (L.) Roth, species key 8390235 (read through the GBIF API 2026-10-25). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Ipomoea violacea L., species key 2928516 (read through the GBIF API 2026-10-25). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. PubChem compound record: Ergometrine (ergonovine), CID 443884 (REST API, read 2026-10-25). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center, US): poison.org (read 2026-10-25). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. NHS: Poisoning (read 2026-10-25). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
