Ten drugs the ancients were addicted to

(Health with Henry) Ten ancient drug [addiction] epidemics that erased entire civilizations

Ayahuasca: Amazon's potent healing brew

(Metta Beshay) The Ayahuasca we've been told about is a lie

Tribal ayahuasca medicine work

Indigenous Shipibo ladies, Amazon, 2011

The Shipibo-Conibo are an indigenous (Native American) people along the Ucayali River in the Amazon rainforest of Peru.

Formerly two groups, they eventually became one tribe through intermarriage and communal rituals and are currently known as the Shipibo-Conibo people [2, 3].

Lifestyle, tradition, and diet

Kené pattern on Shipibo-Conibo textile

The Shipibo-Conibo have lived in the Amazonian rainforest for millennia. Many of their traditions are still practiced, such as ayahuasca medicine work.

Medicine songs have inspired artistic tradition and decorative designs found in their clothing, pottery, tools, and textiles. Some of the urbanized people live around Pucallpa in the Ucayali region, an extensive indigenous zone. Most others live in scattered villages over a large area of jungle forest extending from Brazil to Ecuador. More

Ayahuasca (Yage, Capi) Brew:

• Chakruna leaves (Psychotria viridis) = DMT
• Banisteriopsis caapi (Vine of the Dead)
• Harmala alkaloid = Harmaline (MAOIs)

Hamilton Morris: Tales from the Trip

Hamilton Morris made his own “pharmahuasca” and spoke in tongues: Tales from the Trip

(Animated) Oh, Hamilton Morris (Hamilton's Pharmacopeia), will you never learn? We are reminded of that hippie from Reality Sandwich and the blond gal from Neuro Soup. Hamilton Morris takes pharmahuasca and screams in tongues. Then someone animates it to bring it to life for sober viewers who envy his journey. Potential travelers, beware. Wyrd is no place to wander.

(Family Guy, Season 2, Episode 14) Seth MacFarlane writing team does it

You used to be such a nice, clean-cut boy, Hamilton! Now you're Lennon

• The toad venom pamphlet that changed psychedelia forever | Hamilton's Pharmacopeia (VICE TV) Haunted by his past mistakes, Hamilton embarks on a journey to correct an error in his reporting while identifying the origin of an international "toad venom" smoking phenomenon. In Season 3 of Hamilton's Pharmacopeia, the Ham Man continues his odyssey into the historical, chemical, and societal impacts of some of the world's most mind-blowing drugs. He learns more about LSD (acid), bufotenine (bufo or 5-MeO-DMT), DMT (the spirit molecule), and more. Why? It's because he wants to free his mind so his butt will follow.

Kids, listen to Lando: Avoid toad

(Family Guy) Brian the Dog is addicted to drugs

Love Tales from the Trip? Watch every episode here: • Tales from the Trip. (Paramount+ has a way to stream all favorite shows that are now on Paramount+. Try it FREE at bit.ly/3qyOeOf #TalesFromTheTrip #HamiltonMorris #HA. Tales from the Trip merch is now available. Head over to comedycentralstore.com or click this link to check it out: bit.ly/2QumT2E.

ABOUT: Tales from the Trip: Don’t have the time, money, or connections to take drugs (even entheogenic ones) with comedians? Tales from the Trip is here to help. Go on an animated psychedelic journey with funny people as they recount their hilarious, scary, and sometimes dangerous experiences with DMT, acid, shrooms (psilocybin or Amanita muscaria), salvia divinorum, molly (MDMA, ecstasy), and more.

Credits: Live Action, Video Directors: Greg Washburn, Nik Kazoura. Animation Director: Grant Lindahl. Editor: Nik Kazoura. Lead Animator: Ben Luce. Lead Animator: Jasmine Soompholphakdy.

What'd booze 'n drugs ever do for Homer Simpson?

ABOUT: Looking for funny cartoons? Comedy Central’s Animated channel is a one-stop shop for animated comedy that’s fun – but not always appropriate – for the whole family. Immerse in clips, livestreams, and compilations from new and legendary series alike. Check out brand-new episodes of Tales from the Trip and other originals, or catch up on old favorites like Dr. Katz and TripTank. Subscribe to Animated: @comedycentraloriginals.

More Comedy Central: comedycentral. Follow Comedy Central: Twitter: comedycentral. Facebook: comedycentral. Instagram: comedycentral.

• Reality Sandwiches, poetry by Allen Ginsburg
• Hamilton Morris, Animated, Comedy Central, Nov. 10, 2021; Hamilton's Pharmacopeia, Dec. 7, 2021; Family Guy; The Simpsons; Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Calm herbs, Planting Medicine (radio)

Classes (Now and Then Herb School)

Sam Roberts (Now and Then Herb School) explores herbal preparations to treat FEAR.

Hear it in Berkeley on KPFA or Los Angeles on KPFK. What does the Nature's plant farmacy have to help us on our journey to calm and ease?

Planting Medicine airs Tuesdays at 1:00 pm (Pacific Time). The show enhances the community’s knowledge of HERBAL MEDICINE by sharing voices of traditional, holistic healers and healing practices.

• 
  LISTEN: Herbs for Fear | KPFA Planting Medicine – 1:00 pm, March 18, 2025 (heard on March 11th)
• Hear/download: Online Archives - KPFK
• Planting Medicine (KPFA program)
• The Herbal Highway Archives | KPFA

Hosted and produced by Emiliano Lemus and Renée Camila. Find archived episodes of The Herbal Highway hosted and produced by Emiliano Lemus and Renée Camila. Archived episodes: The Herbal Highway.

Why study herbalism?

Renée Camila, Mount Shasta, California

“I don't identify as an herbalist, healer, or have a particular interest in medicine.

“So initially I wasn't sure why I felt so drawn to participate in the first cohort of The Home Herbalist (previously the Now and Then Herbal Apprenticeship).

“Several years later, I continue to thank my lucky stars that I followed that impulse and connected with Sam, Renée, and the beautiful cohort I was privileged to be a part of.

Who has time to learn about sacred herbs?

“I think about conversations we had and lessons I learned from them just about every day. With deeply thoughtful, grounded, informative, compassionate, and soulful curriculum, teaching, and guidance, I don't hesitate to recommend this program even if, like me, you don't identify as an herbalist or healer.

“For me it was a loving investment in my own everyday relationship to plants, magic, and medicine on a personal level.

“Watching Sam and Renée follow their paths and cultivate meaningful work in community and relationship is a joy and an inspiration.”

Listen to show at KPFA or archive.kpfk.org

• CLASSES | Renée Camila | Herbalism and Birthwork
• CLASSES | Sam Johnson | Home and Hearth Herbs
• Pacifica Free Speech Radio, Berkeley and Los Angeles, archive.kpfk.org, 1:00 pm, March 11, 2025; Kellly Ani and Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Buddhist botany: What plant was 'Soma'?

The shamanic Fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria) is used as a European entheogen.

(Rajada's World) "Soma: The Psychedelic Origins of Religious Experience"

Altered states of consciousness? The first ever monthly Universal Quest Salon (universalquest) was held on Sunday, August 23, 2015, in Conference Room 2 inside the India International Centre IIC). Founder, filmmaker, and inner-explorer (psychonaut) Raja Choudhury gave a talk and presentation followed by an open Socratic discussion in the company of Dr. Singh and friends, exploring how India's religions (and most religions of the world) have their origins in the psychedelic (entheogenic and sometimes hallucinogenic) experiences of shamans (priestesses and priests), seers, and mystics and how Soma became a sacred and integral part of Indian religious life even after its hallucinogenic use was abandoned with the evolution of advanced forms of Yoga and other inner-techniques.

Confusion and Denial: Historical Attempts to Identify the Soma Plant, Part 1

We can trade these worldwide

(On Paradise Earth) The exclusive use of poetic and metaphorical language to describe the soma-plant [the secret ingredient in the drink known as amrita or Greek ambrosia] in Vedic hymns is one of various explanations for the failure of modern linguists to ascertain the botanical identity of India's famous "plant of the gods [devas]."

Yet, related uses of symbolic and iconographic imagery in mythical literature during classical time periods provide additional evidence on which to base our general impressions of the plant itself, its habitat preferences, and the manners in which the plant was employed during libation ceremonies.

• Soma (a name for the moon deity, moon, and Monday) was also called the "elixir of life" [longevity, immortality = ionic (eternal now/timeless) life]."
• INGREDIENTS: Wasn't soma Afghani cannabis (ganja) steeped in fermented mare's milk (kumiss) with blue lotus (utpala)? No asafoetida. Add some Fly agaric or psilocybin and, pow, right to the moon, because these are forms of DMT (the Spirit Molecule in magic mushrooms)
• Isn't it strange that what we call "LSD" or "acid" is actually a mushroom (ergot fungus)? Now science distinguishes plants and fungi, but people do not. From ancient times, mushrooms were just very strange plants popping up. So might an ingredient have been contaminated rye or barley?
• Harvard doctor (Wm. Hurt) becomes obsessed with Altered States

Community of seekers (psychedelicsangha.org)

Scholarly efforts have yet to settle on an agreeable determination of the soma-plant's identity.

But many conjectures and hypotheses on the issue have been proposed over the last two centuries, with many specialists favoring the plant's identification as an Ephedra species from the arid steppes of Central Asia.

What do entheogens do to perception?

Nevertheless, from a strictly botanical perspective, most if not all previous proposals on soma's identity are questionable at best.

This video explores some of the latest hypotheses and considers their unlikely relevance to soma's enigmatic nature and identity.

[It surely had to include a strain or variety of cannabis, perhaps referring to more than one brew (elixir), the way ayahuasca is composed of different sets of ingredients that have the same effect so are all simply called ayahuasca, yage, caapi, or natema.]

• On Paradise Earth, April 13, 2023; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Pat Macpherson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Kava Bar & Botanical Lounge (the Valley)

KBBL (kavabotanicallounge.com), Reseda, Los Angeles; Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Dhr. Seven, Jen Bradshaw (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

The root of this plant has special properties.

What if someone in Los Angeles opened a kava bar? You know, a lounge that serves kava drink from the South Pacific. The kava plant is from the island of Vanuatu, where such bars are called Nakamal, traditional meeting areas to build community.

Drinking kava is ceremonial. Gradually traditional Nakamals became less prominent, and they started functioning as prep and serve sites for groups.

As the popularity of kava grew, kava bars began to spread from the South Pacific to the USA. In recent years, they have been sprouting up in different cities across the country, such as Sedona, Arizona, but tropical Florida still leads the pack.

Current trends make kava a great social drink because people loosen up, relax, and plunge into a happy and relaxed mood. The best part is it gives one a good night’s sleep without the dreading have to nurse a nasty hangover the following morning.

Its popularity is on the rise, gaining momentum as a healthier alternative to alcohol. Some claim it offers the potential for weight loss. Is it the next innovation for coffee shops from coast to coast?

Learning about Kava

Maybe it’s a misspelling of Spain’s famous sparkling wine “Cava”? Kava is from the South Pacific with a long history and robust flavor that is experiencing a rise in interest in major US cities.

Made from the ground root of the kava plant, fans of the intoxicating beverage say it produces a state of calm relaxation and can reduce anxiety. Research suggests that frequent use does not impair cognitive function.

Its popularity has led to the opening of several kava bars that serve as pleasant social lounges, a new sort of cafe with comfortable seats, relaxed lighting, and lots of conversation.

Kava bartenders, kavatenders, are encouraged to socialize, talking up the plant’s history.

Positive Effects of Kava

Patrons of the kava community often hear a cheer from Fiji. It’s the catchall phrase “Bula!” when sharing drinks.

What is it? Most of KBBL’s kava is sourced from Fiji and Vanuatu, but there are also showcase strains from other islands. It is the root of the pepper plant Piper methysticum, hand squeeze into a semi-intoxicating drink customers find helps reduce stress, relieve muscle aches, and lubricates socializing for wallflowers.

Traditionally, kava was ceremonial on the islands bringing together friends and neighbors. Kava has a reverse tolerance. So those new to it should let KBBL know to help ensure an excellent first experience.

The more often it is consumed, the less of it that is needed to feel the effects. A bula is a shared experienced.

Customers at Kava Bar & Botanical Lounge, a non-alcoholic bar in the Valley in Los Angeles, enjoy traditional kava and premium organic mock-tails inspired by ancient island tradition.

The atmosphere in Reseda is unlike any other: Conversing, studying, gaming in the arcade are just some of the things visitors enjoy. There is a private outdoor patio, Live Music Fridays, and a plethora of events planned for this calendar year.

The community is extremely welcoming and provides a much-needed alternative for those who crave a social experience better than the average bar scene. Alcohol is so 2023. KBBL is embarking on a journey to grow the biggest sober scene in LA.

Looking for a kava bar? Look no further then Reseda’s Kava Bar & Botanical Lounge.

• Website: kavabotanicallounge.com
• MAP: Kava Bar LA & Botanical Lounge

Ethnobotany Walk: Autumn Plant Dyes (10/15)

Chris Nyerges, School of Self-Reliance; Ananda (DBM), Xochitl, Seven, Wisdom Quarterly

Enjoy a plant day with guest leader and fiber-arts artisan Amy Stewart and Rob Remedi for another plant-dyeing and ethnobotany class, this time focusing on the plants and colors of the fall season.

The native plants featured are black walnut (brown), cactus-cochineal (pink), sagebrush (yellow), and orange (an over-dye).

Chumash Cecilia Garcia and Dr. Adams, USC

The class will also have an ethnobotany walk. This class starts with a short easy walk identifying plants and their uses, as well as which ones yield color.

Upon return from our walk, we'll learn the plant dyeing process and how to prepare different fibers (wool, cotton, silk) for dyeing, then make the dye bath and take home a fabric of choice.

This is a fun, informative, and hands-on class, exploring nature's colorful and useful bounty.

• $45.00 per person for a 100% cotton bandana and a lengthy wool yarn strand
• $50.00 per person for a 100% silk scarf and a lengthy wool yarn strand
• RSVP required. 5-person minimum; 10-person limit
• King Gillette Ranch, 26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, California
• FOR INFO, CALL CHRISTOPHER: (626) 791-3217
• RSVP: Colors of Autumn: Plant Dyeing & Ethnobotany Walk, Sun, Oct 15, 2023, 10:00 AM | Meetup
• May be applied toward Ethnobotany Certificate

Ethno-Botany class: Wild Plants (8/26)

Christopher Nyerges (School of Self-Reliance); Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

No: While the species has medicinal uses, clones are raised for low-CBD high-THC abuse.

.

Plants for Your Food Forest

ETHNOBOTANY SERIES, WILD AND USEFUL PLANTS, Session 1: Learn how to study wild plants, how to identify plant families, uses, medicinal value, how to keep records...

This is an introduction to the art of foraging, and medicinal plants. (It is part of the School of Self-Reliance's certificate and certification program).

Native American wisdom (USC)

The session begins with a walkabout, getting to know some of the common local plants. We’ll cover botany basics to have a sense of context of the types of plant groups, as well as their relationships. Instruction on use of plant press and how to make field records for own use.

Take this session by itself or sign up for all four classes. We will sample a wild food salad as part of class. Bring notebook. Price: $65 per class ($45 senior/student)

• Ethnobotany @ The School of Self-Reliance
• Location sent on registration
• Books and products available for purchase
• Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
• Ethnobotany 101, $45.00–$65.00
• Events calendar – School of Self-Reliance

After Apocalypse LA suburbs will hard to forage

Wild Food Foraging Nature Walk, L.A.

WILD FOOD FORAGING AND ETHNO-BOTANICAL WALK

School of Self-Reliance books

Join an approximately 1.5 hour walk to explore the edible, medicinal, and useful qualities of many of the plants found in the urban Los Angeles environment, which has many introduced plants.

Native and invasive (non-native) plants will be seen. This is a leisurely walk with a chance to taste some of the foraged wild plants.

Bring comfortable footwear and drinking water. This class may be credited towards the School of Self-Reliance's Ethnobotany Certificate.

$45 (seniors and students $30). RSVP. This is a unique urban location, a one-acre site in Highland Park, next to Pasadena west of Figueroa Blvd. at 5835 Burwood Ave., Highland Park, 90024 — or call for details.

• Info: schoolofself-reliance.com/event/ethno-botanical-walk-2
• FORAGING WALK — WILD FOOD OUTING, Thursday, March 2, 2023, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Meetup

Mushroom Hunt, Wild Food Walk, L.A. (1/14)

Christopher Nyerges (schoolofself-reliance.com); Xochitl, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

We're looking for tree oysters. This is not them.

DETAILS:  Exact location sent upon registration ($65 or $45 for students and seniors). Saturday, January 14h, 2023, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm led by author and survivalist Christopher Nyerges in the Arroyo watershed are (near JPL).

We’ll venture into the watershed area through weeping willows and derelict waterways to see the now-greening flora of winter.

• VIDEO: Jimmy Kimmel and Guillermo go foraging for wild plants and pseudo-psychedelic mushrooms in wet Los Angeles with Nicole (comedy)
• Survival Skills Class at Pasadena City College, 5 weeks, Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, 7:00 PM | Meetup

Guide to Wild Foods & Plants

We're in search of MUSHROOMS, WILD FOODS, and the unique RIPARIAN PLANTS of Tongavaar (as the Native American Tongva/Kizh called this area), now Los Angeles.

During this mushroom hunt/plant walk, we’ll learn about the unique riparian (riverside) things that grow, and the many uses of what we’ll see. We’ll see oaks, alders, sages, mulefat, mugwort, horehound, willow, nettles, and so on.

There are many other riparian plants, which we may or may not see, depending on conditions. We are sure to see many wild edibles that sprout at this time of year when it’s wet. And we should see a half dozen or so varieties of mushrooms sprouting chaotic from their beds.

The plan is to cook some of the edible ones if and when we find them. (Not all beautiful things are edible). There are always lots of surprises in store on these walks.

• Disclosure Project: Mushroom Hunt and Wild Food Walk, Pasadena, Sat, Jan 14, 2023, 10:00 AM | Meetup
• Nature Center: Mushroom Hunt and Wild Food Walk, Pasadena, Sat, Jan 14, 2023, 10:00 AM | Meetup
• PasaDharma: Mushroom Hunt and Wild Food Walk, Pasadena, Sat, Jan 14, 2023, 10:00 AM | Meetup

World's youngest mushroom expert

Bring water, and dress comfortably. This nature walk can be applied towards the School of Self-Reliance Ethnobotany certificate.

• schoolofself-reliance.com
• WALKABOUT FOR MUSHROOMS, WILD FOODS, AND RIPARIAN PLANTS
• Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, 10:00 AM | Meetup
• Location given at registration or call (323) 605-7283

Led by prolific author, local expert, and full-time survivalist Christopher Nyerges.

How to Survive Anywhere (Christopher Nyerges)

Healing w/ Native Plants: Dr. Adams (11/13)

Chris Nyerges (School of Self-Reliance (Meetup), Xochitl, Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Healing with Medicinal Plants (Garcia & Adams)

ETHNOBOTANY SERIES: This event is part of the School of Self-Reliance's certification program. It is a rare opportunity to learn directly from USC Professor James Adams, Ph.D., and his associates.

This field session focuses on local MEDICINAL PLANTS with Dr. James Adams, apprentice to Native American Shaman Cecilia Garcia, and co-author of Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West.

Dr. Adams will share his two decades of training in the subject of Chumash (Southern California Native American) healing herbs, and he will demonstrate how certain pain-relieving products are easily made with local ingredients.

See the specific herbs used in Chumash healing (like a very effective tincture of Cowboy's Cologne), and see how to prepare it for use.

USC Prof. Emeritus Dr. Jim Adams, Ph.D.

Dr. Jim Adams is professor emeritus at the USC School of Pharmacy. His students Michelle Wong and Enrique Villaseñor are native plant educators and healers. They will lead the plant walk on the medicinal uses of California native plants. The three -- along with Native American Shaman Teacher Cecilia Garcia -- are co-authors of the book Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West.

Enrique Villasenor and Michelle Wong will present traditional recipes for making healing medicines and will be available afterward to sign their book. They will discuss the uses of elderberry, white sage, black sage, California sagebrush, California bay, mugwort, and many more plants.

Learn specific recipes for making foot soaks, external liniments, and healthful drinks.

New edition of Garcia's book

NOTE: Bring a folding chair for comfort. We’ll discuss some literature about healing with herbs and some of the herbs that can be grown in the yard. Books by Dr. Adams will be available, as well as pre-made herbal liniments.

Special requests? Let the team know ahead of time: schoolofself-reliance.com

• Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, 1:00-5:30 pm
• $45.00 – $65.00 (applies to series)
• RSVP: Wild Food and Self Reliance Discover Meetup

How to heal nearly any pain

I'm in pain, and nothing helps! - This will.

PAIN RELIEVING LINIMENT: We learned how to make an analgesic painkiller out of California sagebrush ("Cowboy's Cologne," Artemisia californica), isopropyl alcohol (70%), one blade of white sage, and a cut up avocado pit (for its oil). Combine as much of the sagebrush (which is not an actual sage) as fits in a jar, and white sage and cut up avocado pit, in glass mason jar and fill with alcohol. Allow to steep for six (6) weeks in the dark then transfer the liquid into a brown glass spray bottle. Spray on any pain. Since pain comes from the skin, not from within the body or brain, expect relief in 20 seconds to a minute. It works even on chronic pain, sore joints, stiff neck, headaches, and in particular back pain of all kinds. Bottles of this concoction are available from Dr. Adams and his students (about $40 for 8 oz.), but the ingredients are nearly free, store well, and can be made in abundance just by foraging the California sagebrush when it is fragrant and green. We also learned about a near instant cure for acute and persistent eczema (scaly, itchy skin):

ECZEMA HEALING SALVE: Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum or Tongva huutah) + steeped for six weeks then heated over stove with bee's wax [or hard virgin coconut oil, cocoa butter, or organic palm oil]. Apply salve at least twice a day, and expect improvement in a few days no matter how bad the eczema. This product was conceived of by Dr. Adams (in relation to an Amazonian female spirit) to cure his "Adam's disease" (which he described and named and put in the books).

• Drugs? Get a load of this Florida woman’s eyes | The Smoking Gun