The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its ApplicationsThe most comprehensive guide to the botany, history, distribution, and cultivation of all known psychoactive plants • Examines 414 psychoactive plants and related substances • Explores how using psychoactive plants in a culturally sanctioned context can produce important insights into the nature of reality • Contains 797 color photographs and 645 black-and-white illustrations In the traditions of every culture, plants have been highly valued for their nourishing, healing, and transformative properties. The most powerful plants--those known to transport the human mind into other dimensions of consciousness--have traditionally been regarded as sacred. In The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants Christian Rätsch details the botany, history, distribution, cultivation, and preparation and dosage of more than 400 psychoactive plants. He discusses their ritual and medicinal usage, cultural artifacts made from these plants, and works of art that either represent or have been inspired by them. The author begins with 168 of the most well-known psychoactives--such as cannabis, datura, and papaver--then presents 133 lesser known substances as well as additional plants known as “legal highs,” plants known only from mythological contexts and literature, and plant products that include substances such as ayahuasca, incense, and soma. The text is lavishly illustrated with 797 color photographs--many of which are from the author’s extensive fieldwork around the world--showing the people, ceremonies, and art related to the ritual use of the world’s sacred psychoactives. |
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The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications Christian Rätsch No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
absinthe Acacia Aconitum ferox Agave alkaloids Anadenanthera Anadenanthera colubrina ancient angel’s trumpet aphrodisiac Areca Argemone Argyreia Artemisia Artifacts Atropa ayahuasca Aztec Banisteriopsis Banisteriopsis caapi bark belladonna betel Botanical Brugmansia arborea Brunfelsia cactus calamus camphor Cannabis indica Cannabis sativa Cestrum coconut coffee cola Coleus Commercial Forms Constituents contain Coryphantha Cultivation culture Datura discolor Datura innoxia Datura metel Datura stramonium drink drug drunk Duboisia Economic Botany Ephedra essential oil flowers Forms and Regulations Forms and Subspecies frankincense fruits genus hallucinogenic hashish hemp herb herbage incense Indian inebriating ingested Journal of Ethnopharmacology khat known Literature magical marijuana medicine mescal meters Mexican Mexico nightshade nuts palm peyote Phytochemistry Planta Medica poison Preparation and Dosage produce psychedelic psychoactive psychoactive effects Psychoactive Material psychoactive plants pulque Rätsch resin ritual root sacred saffron Schultes scopolamine seeds shamans species stimulating substances Synonyms thorn apple treat tree tropane tropane alkaloids tropical