|
|
|
|
 |
Information |
 |
|
|
|
|
(Argyreia nervosa)
INTRODUCTION :
Argyreia nervosa, a climbing vine native to India, has large heart-shaped silvery foliage and can reach 10 meters in height. The plant is valued in ayurvedic medicine since antiquity, but shamanic use of Argyreia nervosa is unknown. EFFECTS :
Euphoria, extreme lassitude, changes in visual and auditory perception, emotional disturbances and synaesthesias (phenomenon in which the senses become transmuted). Time and space perception are seriously altered
Autonomic effects: nausea, pupillary dilation, tremor, rise of blood pressure and body temperature.
DURATION :
The effects start within an hour after ingestion and last three to six hours.
Dosage and preparation
Three to eight seeds produce psychedelic effects6. The seeds can be ground and prepared as a cold-water infusion, but they can also be chewed. The seeds taste quite bitter
 Figure: A. nervosa seeds
Botanical aspects :
A. nervosa is a climbing vine that belongs to Convolvulaceae and which is found geographically in some regions in Africa, Australia and from India to Sri Lanka. This genus comprises of approximately 90 species that are often difficult to distinguish from A. nervosa. At the present time the plant is cultivated in all the tropical regions as an ornamental and as a narcotic.
A. nervosa has large heart-shaped foliage (hairy from the bottom and 30 cm acros), violet coloured funnel-shaped flowers and round fruits that contain one to four seeds. The vine can reach 10 meters in height and can be propagated vegetatively (by cuttings) and by seeds.
 Figure: A. nervosa
Both propagation methods are easy and effective. When the seeds are tamped in a humid soil and the temperature is kept warm (20-25°C) the seeds will germinate within three weeks. The germinating period may be shortend by filing the seed coats gently, without damaging te inner core. Cuttings should be made of a growing twig. These can be sticked into humid soil or be put in a glass of water for two to three weeks.
Phytochemistry :
Argyreia nervosa seeds contain 0.3-1 % ergot-alkaloids by weight. Ergine (d-lysergic acid amide), isoergine (l-lysergic acid amide), ergometrine, lysergol, isolysergol, elymoclavine and chanoclavine are present. 6, 7 Lysergol and elymoclavine are reduction products of d-lysergic acid.
Ergot alkaloids have also been isolated from the fungial sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea.
Table 1.7: Lysergic acid derivatives from A. nervosa
R1 R2 Lysergic acid derivatives
H H Lysergic acid amide (ergine, LSA)
H CH(CH3)CH2OH Ergometrine
C2H5 C2H5 Lysergic acid diethylamide (= LSD, a semi-synthethic)
Pharmacology :
Ergine, isoergine, ergometrine, elymoclavine and lysergol are responsible for the psychedelic effects. The structurally similarity between these alkaloids and the neurotransmitters dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonine might explain the hallucinogenic activity by mutual influence on the active sites of the central nervous system; it appears that the psychoactive constituents are partial agonists on the G-protein-linked a-adrenergic- and on various serotonergic- receptors (the serotonergic receptor-subtype 5-HT2A appears to be involved in hallucinogenic activity).
MODIFIERS :
- Ascorbic acid ( vitamin c ) doesn't change the intensity of the experience, but it alters it's quality. One can concentrate better, developes less paranoia and is also less tired at the end of the experience.
- MAO-inhibitors and sympathomimetic amines (amphetamine, ephedrine etc.) have positive synergistic effects; they prolong and intensify the experience.
- Hashish or marihuana can also intensify the experience. Usually produces a positive feeling.
- Tricyclic-antidepressants antagonize the effects.
NOT to be combined with MAO-inhibitors
See paragraph 1.5 monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI).
DANGEROUS COMBINATIONS :
do NOT use when pregnant!
REFERENCES :
- Etnopharmacological search for psychoactive drugs
(proceedings of a symposium held in 1967)
- Gottlieb, Adam
Legal highs
- Hoffer, Abraham and Humphry Osmond
1967, The hallucinogens
- Hoffmann, Albert and Richard Evans Schultes
1973, The botany and chemistry of hallucinogens
- Ratsch, Christian
1998, Enzyklopadie der psychoaktiven pflanzen
- Shulgin, Alexander and Ann Shulgin
1997, Tihkal, the continuation
- Snyder, Solomon h.
1996, Drugs and the brain
- Stafford, Peter
1974, The psychedelic encyclopedia
|
|
|
| 0 items |
|
|
|
|
Quick Find |
|
|
|
Looking for... |
|
|
|
Most popular |
|
|
Also visit our friends from SmartBotanics!
SmartBotanics. Specialist in Magic Mushroom growers supplies and the only official site for the easy to use PF-TEK growing method. |
|
|
