The Signatures of Plants: Learning Nature’s Alphabet

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There are those who say that they get messages from plants and that plants actually speak to them with a human voice, telling them the healing virtues of an herb. Others (like me) get pictures in their minds that seem to be another form of direct communication from the plant world. Over the millennia many other plant identification and communication systems that do not rely on the written word have been devised.

The Doctrine of Signatures

Centuries ago in Europe, in a time before most people could read, a system called the “doctrine of signatures” was developed to catalog the language of plants. With this plant classification system in their head, illiterate people with no access to a printed herbal could encounter a plant they had never seen before and divine its medicinal properties.

I have successfully used this system to understand the medicinal properties of a plant, and it is great fun to look the plant up later to see if others have determined the same thing. The first thing is to get used to using all of your senses: touch, sight, smell, and taste. Next, be aware that this system works only with wild plants growing in their natural habitat, or with “invasives” that have chosen, without human intervention, to incorporate a certain set of light and soil conditions. Nonnative species that have been planted by humans do not give accurate readings!

Here is an overview of some elements of the doctrine of signatures. Once you have these in your mind, it’s easy to ferret out the properties of an unfamiliar herb.

Habitat

Where is the plant growing, in sunlight or in shade? Plants that crave a lot of sun will generally bring dryness and heat into the body; examples include Elecampane (Inula helenium), Sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Plants that thrive in the shade tend to be cooling; examples include Elderberry (Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis), and Peppermint (Mentha piperita, M. balsamea Willd.).

Is the plant growing in a wet place or a dry place? Plants that thrive in damp areas will help with conditions such as rheumatism, fevers, colds, and coughs; examples include Willow (Salix spp.), Mint (Mentha spp.), Vervain (Verbena hastata, V. officinalis), Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus), Elderberry (Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis), Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), and Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia, D. anglica, D. linearis).

Plants that are used to dry up mucky soil will help dry mucous secretions; examples include Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus).

Plants that grow in or around clear ponds and fast-moving brooks tend to be diuretic and will help clear the urinary tract of waste; examples include Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale), Bedstraw or Cleavers (Galium aparine), Mint (Mentha spp.), and Alder (Alnus serrulata).

Plants that thrive in gravel and rock formations will help clear stone-forming and catarrhal accumulations from the bronchial and alimentary systems; examples include Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale), Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum), Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-­pastoris), Juniper (Juniperus communis), and Sassafras (Sassafras albidum, S. variifolium).

Does the plant grow in thin or disturbed soil? If thin soil, it is a plant that likes to struggle and will bring grit and strength to the body, such as Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale).

Alone or in a Group

Is the plant growing alone or in a group? Solitary plants are telling you they are powerful and need to be treated with cautious respect. For example, you will never see a field of Yarrow, but a field of Clover or Dandelion is often seen. Plants that grow in masses such as Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) are more gentle in action or esculent.

Does the plant grow near people or as far away as it can manage? Plants that grow on your doorstep, like Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and Plantain (Plantago major), can be used safely for a long time. Plants that grow in the deep woods, such as Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), have more specialized uses and should only be used for a short time period. Plants that grow in fields, the middle distance between house and forest, such as Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Saint-John’s-Wort (Hypericum perforatum), can be used for a while but only during special seasons or for a certain period of time.

The Signatures of Stems and Roots

Does the plant have hollow stems? If so, it will help clean tubes in the human body such as the bronchi and alimentary tract; examples include Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), Onion (Allium cepa), Garlic (Allium sativum, A. canadense), Thyme (Thymus serpyllum, T. vulgaris), Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus, Gigartina mamillosa).

Check out the roots. Are they deep or shallow? Thick or thin? Plants with very thin, threadlike stems and roots, which imply the sewing up of lesions, are often skin healers; examples include Bedstraw or Cleavers (Galium aparine), Tormentil or Septfoil (Potentilla tormentilla), Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans), Gold Thread (Coptis greenlandica).

Very fine and meshed roots are a signature for healers of the nervous system; examples include Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus, C. pubescens).

Annuals have small thread-thin roots. These plants are mostly Fire and Air.* They do not live longer than one year and lack strong Earth energy; thus they are not grounding to the body and mind. However, they will help raise a person’s spirits, lighten that person’s outlook, and promote change. Their medicinal properties will be concentrated in the leaves and flowers.

*For an explanation of the four elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air—see the section ­“Classification according to the Four Humors,” page 17).

 

Biennials are plants that grow over a two-year life cycle. They have large fleshy roots that store energy to get them through the dark, cold winter. In their first year they have no flowers or seeds and their healing virtue is concentrated in their roots. In their second year the energy moves to the flowers or berries and ultimately the seeds, which is where their medicinal properties will be found; examples include Carrots and Queen Anne’s Lace or Wild Carrot (Daucus carota), Beets (Beta vulgaris), Burdock (Arctium lappa), Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), Salsify (Tragopogon spp.), Raspberry (Rubus idaeus). These plants tend to have sweet roots that are nutritive due to their high carbohydrate content.

Perennials are plants that come back every year. Some, such as deciduous trees, Reeds (Phragmites communis), and Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), may appear to die back in the winter. Conifers, of course, stay green all year. These plants have very large and deep roots and more even energy distribution. Even in winter their twigs and roots will provide medicinal aid.

Leaf Shapes and Texture

Understanding the structure of leaves can point to the uses of a plant. For example, Liverwort (Hepatica spp.), used to heal liver conditions, has a leaf that is three-lobed, like the liver. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) leaves have “cells” and tiny hairs that look like human skin as seen under a magnifying glass. It is one of the greatest skin healers and a healer of areas of the human body that have small hairs, such as the nose, throat, and intestines.

Plants with very soft leaves will often ease pain in a diseased or injured area; examples include Mallow (Malva rotundifolia), Horehound (Marrubium vulgare), Hollyhock (Althaea rosea), and Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), whose leaves were once used as a wound dressing.

Spotted leaves point to tumorous growths and pus sacks on infected lungs; examples include Saint-John’s-Wort (Hypericum perforatum), Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis).

Overall Shape and Formations

Plants that help the eyes, such as Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis), look like an eye, while the seeds of Skullcap (Scutellaria spp.) resemble a cap or helmet, pointing to its use to help sleeplessness, headaches, and nerve problems.

A skull-like shape reveals a brain healer, such as Walnut (Juglans spp.) and Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora).

Plants with a groin-like shape are used to overcome sterility and sexual lethargy; examples include Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum), Poke (Phytolacca americana), Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), Bryony (Bryonia dioica).

Plants with long trailing root systems and vines that resemble veins and the nervous system of the body are often blood purifiers, nervines, and antispasmodics; examples include Sarsaparilla (Smilax spp.), Woodbine (Lonicera periclymenum), Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), Grapes (Vitis vinifera), Hops (Humulus lupulus), Mints (Mentha spp.), Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans), Dog Grass (Agropyron repens), Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi).

Trees with bark that has openings and tears or “lenticels” are a signature for broken skin and thus skin healers; examples include Birch (Betula spp.), Elder (Sambucus spp.), Cherry (Prunus spp.), Sumac (Rhus typhina).

If a plant has thorns it is probably edible and evolved the thorns to protect itself; examples include Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), Blackberry (Rubus villosus), Rose (Rosa spp.). Thorns are also a signature for sharp pain. Thorny plants relieve pain, not by sedating it but by striking at the root cause of it. Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), for example, is a tonic for angina and all manner of heart conditions. Other such plants are Prickly or Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa, L. serriola), Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus), and Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), which eases labor pains. Strawberry (Fragraria spp.) and Blackberry (Rubus villosus) contain malic and citric acids, which break up formations that lead to kidney and gall stones.

Hairy plants relieve “stitch in the side” types of pain; examples include Nettles (Urtica dioica), Sumac (Rhus typhina), Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), Currant (Ribes spp.), Hops (Humulus lupulus), Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia, D. anglica, D. linearis). Plants that sting stimulate internal circulation of fluids; examples include Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Nettles (Urtica dioica).

Plants with compact flower clusters can deal with an intense accumulation of pus in the throat and tonsils and are astringents for tonsillitis and sore throats; examples include Sumac (Rhus typhina), Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris), Hardhack (Spiraea tomentosa).

Wart-like growths and galls, such as growths on Sumac (Rhus typhina) and galls on Oak (Quercus spp.), contain tannins and gallic acid, which are astringent and pull together the edges of a wound.

Lichens and molds are useful for skin conditions such as psoriasis, which they resemble.

Moisture and Stickiness

Mucilaginous plants will soothe the throat; examples include Acacia (Acacia spp.), Tragacanth (Astragalus adscendens, A. gummifer, A. brachycalyx, A. tragacanthus), Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus), Hollyhock (Alcea spp.), Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva), Mallow (Malva rotundifolia), Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis), Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum).

Plants that contain a lot of resin are often healers of moist lesions, cuts, and ulcers; examples include Balsam of Peru or Tolu Balsam (Myroxylon balsamum pereirae), Benzoin (Styrax spp.), Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), Pine (Pinus spp.), Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), Turpentine (from Pinus spp.), Aloe (Aloe spp.). Plants with a sticky mucilaginous sap are also great itch healers; examples include Aloe (Aloe spp.), Pine (Pinus spp.), Comfrey (Symphytum officinale). If they are very juicy and wet (Aloe spp.), they will help swell excretions and benefit the colon.

If a plant is very dry and lacking in juice, such as Sage (Salvia officinalis), it will be good for drying up secretions such as catarrh and breast milk.

A plant that sticks to itself will cling to and remove hardened mucus; examples include Sage (Salvia officinalis), Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), Horehound (Marrubium vulgare), Life Everlasting (Gnaphalium obtusifolium, G. polycephalum), Mallow (Malva rotundifolia).

Smell

Plants that are highly aromatic are also disinfectant and deodorizing; examples include Thyme (Thymus serpyllum, T. vulgaris), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Lemon (Citrus limon), Juniper (Juniperus spp.). For bad breath and body odor, examples include Marjoram (Origanum marjorana), Mint (Mentha spp.), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Anise (Pimpinella anisum).

Other aromatics are antiseptic, germicidal, and antibiotic; examples include Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), Sage (Salvia officinalis), Savory (Satureja hortensis), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Basil (Ocimum spp.).

Plants that stink are used for indolent, foul ulcers; examples include Stinking Arrach (Chenopodium olidum).

Color

The color red points to the blood and the plant is likely a blood purifier or beneficial to the heart; examples include Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Burdock (Arctium lappa), Rose (Rosa spp.), Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa, M. punctata, M. fistulosa var. menthifolia, M. didyma), Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.).

Yellow flowers are associated with the liver and gall, jaundice, and yellow bile; examples include Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Celandine (Chelidonium majus), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), Lemon (Citrus limon).

White-blooming flowers point to bone healing; examples include Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), Comfrey (Symphytum officinale).

Blue and purple flowers point to a plant that will improve the complexion and may also be a remedy for cyanosis (a blueness of the skin resulting from lack of oxygen in the blood and impaired arterial flow); examples include Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Vervain (Verbena hastata, V. officinalis), Burdock (Arctium lappa), Gentian (Gentiana lutea), Chicory (Chichorium intybus).

Nature in her kindness has given us a signature for poisonous herbs—the color maroon—which we can see, for example, in the berries and stems of Poke (Phytolacca americana), and the streaks of maroon found up and down the stems of Water Hemlock (Cicuta spp.), the herb that did in Socrates.

Taste

There is an old adage: “Bitter taste, sweet to the stomach, sweet taste, bitter to the stomach.” Plants that are yellow and bitter, such as Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), benefit the liver, while plants that are yellow and sweet, such as Astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus) and Elecampane (Inula helenium), are building to the stomach, spleen, and pancreas.

Plants that are sour and taste like lemons are telling you they have a lot of vitamin C. Plants that taste like carrots have a lot of carotene or vitamin A. Lichens will taste of the minerals in the rock they are growing on. Spinach, high in iron, actually tastes like iron ore. Plants that taste like garlic contain sulfur and can help clear heavy metals out of the body.

Pain-killing plants will deaden the lower lip when tasted.

The Signatures of Foods

Slice a carrot and you will find radiating spokes that look like the human eye. Carrots contain vitamin A, which is very beneficial to eye health. Onion cells under the microscope look like human cells. They help clear waste from cells and cause tears, which clean the epithelial layers of the eyes. Tomatoes are red and have four chambers, just like a human heart. They, like all red fruits and vegetables, benefit the heart, blood, and ­circulation. Grapes hang in heart-shaped clusters. Grapes are great blood and lymph cleansers and contain resveratrol, which helps the heart.

Walnuts look like little brains, with left and right hemispheres and wrinkles that resemble the neocortex. Walnuts are known to improve brain function. Kidney beans actually do benefit the kidneys. Sweet potatoes resemble the pancreas and can help balance blood sugar levels. In Chinese medicine orange foods are said to benefit the Earth element and the pancreas.

Avocados are shaped like the female womb, and it takes nine months to grow an avocado from seed to fruit. In turn, ­avocados balance hormones, help women shed pregnancy weight, and prevent cervical cancers. Olives help the ovaries, which they resemble in structure. Pomegranates, which are larger but also resemble the ovary filled with blood and eggs, are cleansing to the female reproductive tract. Citrus fruits, such as grapefruits, oranges, and others, resemble mammary glands. They help move lymph in and out of the breasts.

Figs hang in clusters of two and are filled with seeds. They increase the number and motility of sperm.

The Contribution of Intuition

Once you have the basics down you can let your intuition lead you further. For example, when I sat before a Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), I thought immediately of a fire engine, of burning, redness, fever, and sparks before the eyes. That seemed way too obvious and I didn’t think it could be so easy. Then I went and looked it up in Clarke’s materia medica, and here was what I found:

There is a proving* of Lob. card. by S. D. R. Dubs, who took ten drops of the tincture in one dose. Dubs’ symptoms have been confirmed by a second proving by Kopp (H. W., xxxi. 26). The acrid properties of the plant were immediately felt by Dubs, in burning in mouth and throat, which lasted a long time. Sticking and pricking sensation in various parts, especially left chest and left hypochondrium. Oppression of breathing. Headache at base of occiput burning in tongue and fauces. Many symptoms occurred at 8 a.m. Sleepy but difficulty in sleeping. A lady to whom Cooper gave one dose of Lob. cd. had “flashes of light before eyes every day for a week.” It seems, he says, to have an action distinct from that of other Lobelias, since a dose of it brought back pains which had been relieved by Lob. dort.

*In homeopathy, a dilute amount of the herb, mineral, or other substance is taken until a “proving” or symptom picture results. The symptoms that appear in the provings are compared to those of a sick person; if properly matched, the person who takes the remedy will heal.

 

The Ancient Chinese System 
of Plant Classification

In addition to the system of classification by plant signatures, other systems also were used in ancient times. Thousands of years ago the Chinese developed a system of plant classification based on temperature, flavor, and direction. Armed with this knowledge, an herbalist could identify which plants were most useful for a particular illness.

The Four Natures or Temperatures

Chinese herbalism divides herbs into warm, hot, cool, and cold. A cooling or cold plant is suitable for a “yang” (congested, full, toxic) hot disease, and a hot or warm herb is given for a “yin” (dissipating energy, debilitated, chilly) cold disease. Some herbs are considered “neutral” and can be given for both cold and hot conditions.

The Five Flavors

Plants are also classified according to flavor: sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty.

Sour-tasting herbs are known to stop secretions, contract tissue, and promote digestion and liver function. Examples are Lemon (Citrus limon), Rose hips (Rosa spp.), Hawthorn berries (Crataegus spp.), and Chinese Dogwood (Cornus officinalis).

Bitter-tasting herbs are cooling, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral, and they help clear parasites from the body. They improve stomach function, clean the blood via the liver, clear cholesterol from the venous system, and help the heart. Examples include Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis),* Gentian (Gentiana lutea), Centaury (Centaurium umbellatum, Erythraea centaurium), and Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris).

*Goldenseal root is tonic to the system when taken as no more than one-tenth part of a formula. Taken alone, Goldenseal becomes an antibiotic and must be treated with caution, as with any antibiotic. After a course of Goldenseal, take plain yogurt, sauerkraut, miso soup, raw apple cider, or any probiotic supplement to restore intestinal flora.

 

Sweet-tasting herbs are building and nourishing. Foods and herbs that contain complex carbohydrates, proteins, and sugars are found to be nutritive and building to the body. Examples are Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), Rehmannia root (Rehmannia glutinosa), Date (Phoenix dactylifera), and Barley malt (Hordeum vulgare L.).

Spicy herbs and foods are drying and warming to the body. They are useful for mucous congestion, arthritis, colds, flu, and menstrual cramps when taken internally; applied topically they relieve bruising and injuries. Examples are Red Pepper (Capsicum annuum), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum, C. cassia), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), and Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis, Z. americanum).

Salty-tasting herbs are cooling and moistening to the body, because of the way they help the organs retain water. Seaweeds (marine algae) are a good example of this kind of plant.

Bland-tasting plants such as mushrooms are classified as mildly sweet and diuretic.

The Four Directions

In Chinese philosophy every substance in nature is understood to float, sink, rise, or descend, depending upon its inherent qualities. Seasons are also seen to have these characteristics: summer has floating energy, fall has descending energy, winter has sinking energy, and spring has ascending energy.

Leaves and flowers have ascending energy, making them useful for acute, surface-level diseases such as colds and flu. Barks, roots, seeds, and berries have sinking energy and thus move deeper into the system to aid chronic conditions.

What’s in a Name?

When you look at an herbal you will notice that a plant may have several common names. Pay attention to the folk names for herbs, because the old-timers named them that way for a reason.

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) got its name because it helps the eyes. Liverwort (Anemone hepatica) is called that because it helps the liver (wort is an old word for “herb”).

Mouthroot or Gold Thread (Coptis greenlandica) is good for ulcers and mouth sores. Heartsease (Viola tricolor) leaves are a tonic for the heart. Kidneywort (Cotyledon umbilicus) helps with inflammation and kidney stones. Lungmoss (Lobaria pulmonaria) helps with pulmonary problems. Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is for headaches.

Other examples are Cough Herb (Tussilago farfara), Puke Weed/Asthma Weed/Indian Tobacco (Lobelia inflata), Heal-all (Collinsonia canadensis), Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris), Nosebleed (Achillea millefolium), Colic Root (Dioscorea villosa), Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), Dysentery Bark (Simaruba amara), Feverwort (Erythraea centaurium), Pilewort (Ranunculus ficaria), Scabwort (Inula helenium), and many more. You get the idea.

Classification according 
to the Four Humors

Until the seventeenth century, European herbalists relied on the classification system of Galen and the four elements as understood by ancient Greece and Rome. In this system people were said to be divided into four “humors,” corresponding to the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. This system classified plants and people as hot, cold, dry, or moist.

The Sanguine or “Air” type of person was hot and moist. Such ­persons were cheerful, with a ruddy complexion, but with a tendency to overindulge. They were prone to diseases of excess such as gout and diarrhea and had a tendency to develop inflammatory conditions. Cool and dry herbs such as Burdock (Arctium lappa) and Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa) helped to cleanse and restore these people.

The Energetics of Color

Many spiritual healing systems refer to the chakras, energy nodes that exist in specific areas of the body. The healthy functioning of each of these nodes and the circulation of energy between them can be enhanced by plants of the appropriate color.

Pink and red flowers and fruits benefit the heart, the fourth chakra.

Red-flowering plants such as Wild Ginger (Asarum spp.) will help move energy to the second chakra, the sexual node of the body.

Orange-flowered plants such as Calendula (Calendula officinalis) tend to spread cleansing energy over the whole body.

Yellow (solar) plants such as Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and Elecampane (Inula helenium) enhance the sense of personal power and the (universal) Self. Plants such as Chamomile flowers (Matricaria recutita, Chamaemelum nobile) also strengthen the stomach and solar plexus, or third chakra.

Plants that are mostly green such as Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) are soothing to the eyes and to the entire bodily system

Blue flowers such as those of Mint (Mentha spp.) point to the throat chakra and communication.

Plants with flowers that are indigo, dark blue, or dark purple, such as Gentian (Gentiana lutea) and Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), enhance the third eye (ajna in Sanskrit) and kill pain.

Violet plants such as Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) are attuned to the crown chakra at the top of the skull, to the hormonal and nervous systems and the pineal and pituitary glands.

The Melancholic or “Earth” type was cold and dry, pale, and prone to constipation and depression. They could be visionaries but also suffered from mental or sexual disorders. Hot herbs such as Senna (Cassia acutifolia, C. angustifolia) and Hellebore (Veratrum album) were used restore balance to this type.

The Phlegmatic or “Water” person was cold and moist and sometimes a little slow or dull. They tended toward congestion, mucous accumulation, and rheumatic conditions. Warming and drying herbs such as Thyme (Thymus serpyllum, Thymus vulgaris) and Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) were recommended for these disorders.

The Choleric or “Fire” person was hot and dry, easily angered, and susceptible to liver disease, high blood pressure, rashes, fevers, and sunburn. Cool, moist plants such as Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum), Violets (Viola spp.), and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) were found to be helpful for them.

 

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Secret Medicines from Your Garden by Ellen Evert Hopman © 2016 Healing Arts Press. Printed with permission from the publisher Inner Traditions International. www.InnerTraditions.com

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Is having sex on shrooms a good idea or an accident waiting to happen? Find out in our guide to sex on magic mushrooms.

Gold Cap Shrooms Guide: Spores, Effects, Identification
Read this guide to learn more about the different characteristics of gold cap mushrooms, and how they differ from other psilocybin species.

Guide to Cooking with Magic Mushrooms
From cookies to smoothies and sandwiches, we cover various methods of cooking with magic mushrooms for the ultimate snack.

2020 Election: The Decriminalize Psilocybin Movement
Are you curious if mushrooms will follow in marijuana’s footsteps? Read to learn about how the U.S. is moving to decriminalize psilocybin.

Oregon’s Initiative to Legalize Mushrooms | Initiative Petition 34
Oregon continues to push ahead with their initiative to legalize Psilocybin in 2020. The measure received its official title and now needs signatures.

Canada Approves Psilocybin Treatment for Terminally-Ill Cancer Patients
Canada’s Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu approved the use of psilocybin to help ease anxiety and depression of four terminal cancer patients.

Mapping the DMT Experience
With only firsthand experiences to share, how can we fully map the DMT experience? Let’s explore what we know about this powerful psychedelic.

Guide to Machine Elves and Other DMT Entities
This guide discusses machine elves, clockwork elves, and other common DMT entities that people experience during a DMT trip.

Is the DMT Experience a Hallucination? 
What if the DMT realm was the real world, and our everyday lives were merely a game we had chosen to play?

How to Store DMT
Not sure how to store DMT? Read this piece to learn the best practices and elements of advice to keep your stuff fresh.

What Does 5-MeO-DMT Show Us About Consciousness?
How does our brain differentiate between what’s real and what’s not? Read to learn what can 5-MeO-DMT show us about consciousness.

How to Smoke DMT: Processes Explained
There are many ways to smoke DMT and we’ve outlined some of the best processes to consider before embarking on your journey.

How to Ground After DMT
Knowing what to expect from a DMT comedown can help you integrate the experience to gain as much value as possible from your journey.

How To Get DMT
What kind of plants contain DMT? Are there other ways to access this psychedelic? Read on to learn more about how to get DMT.

How DMT is Made: Everything You Need to Know
Ever wonder how to make DMT? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how DMT is made.

Having Sex on DMT: What You Need to Know
Have you ever wondered about sex on DMT? Learn how the God Molecule can influence your intimate experiences.

Does the Human Brain Make DMT? 
With scientific evidence showing us DMT in the brain, what can we conclude it is there for? Read on to learn more.

How to Use DMT Vape Pens
Read to learn all about DMT vape pens including: what to know when vaping, what to expect when purchasing a DMT cartridge, and vaping safely.

DMT Resources
This article is a comprehensive DMT resource providing extensive information from studies, books, documentaries, and more. Check it out!

Differentiating DMT and Near-Death Experiences
Some say there are similarities between a DMT trip and death. Read our guide on differentiating DMT and near-death experiences to find out.

DMT Research from 1956 to the Edge of Time
From a representative sample of a suitably psychedelic crowd, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who couldn’t tell you all about Albert Hofmann’s enchanted bicycle ride after swallowing what turned out to be a massive dose of LSD. Far fewer, however, could tell you much about the world’s first DMT trip.

The Ultimate Guide to DMT Pricing
Check out our ultimate guide on DMT pricing to learn what to expect when purchasing DMT for your first time.

DMT Milking | Reality Sandwich
Indigenous cultures have used 5-MeO-DMT for centuries. With the surge in demand for psychedelic toad milk, is DMT Milking harming the frogs?

Why Does DMT Pervade Nature?
With the presence of DMT in nature everywhere – including human brains – why does it continue to baffle science?

DMT Substance Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to DMT has everything you want to know about this powerful psychedelic referred to as “the spirit molecule”.

DMT for Depression: Paving the Way for New Medicine
We’ve been waiting for an effective depression treatment. Studies show DMT for depression works even for treatment resistant patients.

Beating Addiction with DMT
Psychedelics have been studied for their help overcoming addiction. Read how DMT is helping addicts beat their substance abuse issues.

DMT Extraction: Behind the Scientific Process
Take a look at DMT extraction and the scientific process involved. Learn all you need to know including procedures and safety.

Microdosing DMT & Common Dosages Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing DMT.

DMT Art: A Look Behind Visionary Creations
An entire genre of artwork is inspired by psychedelic trips with DMT. Read to learn about the entities and visions behind DMT art.

Changa vs. DMT: What You Need to Know
While similar (changa contains DMT), each drug has its own unique effect and feeling. Let’s compare and contrast changa vs DMT.

5-MeO-DMT Guide: Effects, Benefits, Safety, and Legality
5-Meo-DMT comes from the Sonora Desert toad. Here is everything you want to know about 5-Meo-DMT and how it compares to 4-AcO-DMT.

4-AcO-DMT Guide: Benefits, Effects, Safety, and Legality
This guide tells you everything about 4 AcO DMT & 5 MeO DMT, that belong to the tryptamine class, and are similar but slightly different to DMT.

How Much Does LSD Cost? When shopping around for that magical psychedelic substance, there can be many uncertainties when new to buying LSD. You may be wondering how much does LSD cost? In this article, we will discuss what to expect when purchasing LSD on the black market, what forms LSD is sold in, and the standard breakdown of buying LSD in quantity.   Navy Use of LSD on the Dark Web The dark web is increasingly popular for purchasing illegal substances. The US Navy has now noticed this trend with their staff. Read to learn more.   Having Sex on LSD: What You Need to Know Can you have sex on LSD? Read our guide to learn everything about sex on acid, from lowered inhibitions to LSD users quotes on sex while tripping.   A Drug That Switches off an LSD Trip A pharmaceutical company is developing an “off-switch” drug for an LSD trip, in the case that a bad trip can happen. Some would say there is no such thing.   Queen of Hearts: An Interview with Liz Elliot on Tim Leary and LSD The history of psychedelia, particularly the British experience, has been almost totally written by men. Of the women involved, especially those who were in the thick of it, little has been written either by or about them. A notable exception is Liz Elliot.   LSD Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety LSD, Lysergic acid diethylamide, or just acid is one of the most important psychedelics ever discovered. What did history teach us?   Microdosing LSD & Common Dosage Explained Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing LSD.   LSD Resources Curious to learn more about LSD? This guide includes comprehensive LSD resources containing books, studies and more.   LSD as a Spiritual Aid There is common consent that the evolution of mankind is paralleled by the increase and expansion of consciousness. From the described process of how consciousness originates and develops, it becomes evident that its growth depends on its faculty of perception. Therefore every means of improving this faculty should be used.   Legendary LSD Blotter Art: A Hidden Craftsmanship Have you ever heard of LSD blotter art? Explore the trippy world of LSD art and some of the top artists of LSD blotter art.   LSD and Exercise: Does it Work? LSD and exercise? Learn why high-performing athletes are taking hits of LSD to improve their overall potential.   Jan Bastiaans Treated Holocaust Survivors with LSD Dutch psychiatrist, Jan Bastiaans administered LSD-assisted therapy to survivors of the Holocaust. A true war hero and pioneer of psychedelic-therapy.   LSD and Spiritual Awakening I give thanks for LSD, which provided the opening that led me to India in 1971 and brought me to Neem Karoli Baba, known as Maharajji. Maharajji is described by the Indians as a “knower of hearts.”   How LSD is Made: Everything You Need to Know Ever wonder how to make LSD? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how LSD is made.   How to Store LSD: Best Practices Learn the best way to store LSD, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long LSD lasts when stored.   Bicycle Day: The Discovery of LSD Every year on April 19th, psychonauts join forces to celebrate Bicycle Day. Learn about the famous day when Albert Hoffman first discovered the effects of LSD.   Cary Grant: A Hollywood Legend On LSD Cary Grant was a famous actor during the 1930’s-60’s But did you know Grant experimented with LSD? Read our guide to learn more.   Albert Hofmann: LSD — My Problem Child Learn about Albert Hofmann and his discovery of LSD, along with the story of Bicycle Day and why it marks a historic milestone.   Babies are High: What Does LSD Do To Your Brain What do LSD and babies have in common? Researchers at the Imperial College in London discover that an adult’s brain on LSD looks like a baby’s brain.   1P LSD: Effects, Benefits, Safety Explained 1P LSD is an analogue of LSD and homologue of ALD-25. Here is everything you want to know about 1P LSD and how it compares to LSD.   Francis Crick, DNA & LSD Type ‘Francis Crick LSD’ into Google, and the result will be 30,000 links. Many sites claim that Crick (one of the two men responsible for discovering the structure of DNA), was either under the influence of LSD at the time of his revelation or used the drug to help with his thought processes during his research. Is this true?   What Happens If You Overdose on LSD? A recent article presented three individuals who overdosed on LSD. Though the experience was unpleasant, the outcomes were remarkably positive.

The Ayahuasca Experience
Ayahuasca is both a medicine and a visionary aid. You can employ ayahuasca for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual repair, and you can engage with the power of ayahuasca for deeper insight and realization. If you consider attainment of knowledge in the broadest perspective, you can say that at all times, ayahuasca heals.

 

Trippy Talk: Meet Ayahuasca with Sitaramaya Sita and PlantTeachers
Sitaramaya Sita is a spiritual herbalist, pusangera, and plant wisdom practitioner formally trained in the Shipibo ayahuasca tradition.

 

The Therapeutic Value of Ayahuasca
My best description of the impact of ayahuasca is that it’s a rocket boost to psychospiritual growth and unfolding, my professional specialty during my thirty-five years of private practice.

 

Microdosing Ayahuasca: Common Dosage Explained
What is ayahuasca made of and what is considered a microdose? Explore insights with an experienced Peruvian brewmaster and learn more about this practice.

 

Ayahuasca Makes Neuron Babies in Your Brain
Researchers from Beckley/Sant Pau Research Program have shared the latest findings in their study on the effects of ayahuasca on neurogenesis.

 

The Fatimiya Sufi Order and Ayahuasca
In this interview, the founder of the Fatimiya Sufi Order,  N. Wahid Azal, discusses the history and uses of plant medicines in Islamic and pre-Islamic mystery schools.

 

Consideration Ayahuasca for Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Research indicates that ayahuasca mimics mechanisms of currently accepted treatments for PTSD. In order to understand the implications of ayahuasca treatment, we need to understand how PTSD develops.

 

Brainwaves on Ayahuasca: A Waking Dream State
In a study researchers shared discoveries showing ingredients found in Ayahuasca impact the brainwaves causing a “waking dream” state.

 

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a pro cannabis Peruvian Shaman.

 

Ayahuasca Retreat 101: Everything You Need to Know to Brave the Brew
Ayahuasca has been known to be a powerful medicinal substance for millennia. However, until recently, it was only found in the jungle. Word of its deeply healing and cleansing properties has begun to spread across the world as many modern, Western individuals are seeking spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. More ayahuasca retreat centers are emerging in the Amazon and worldwide to meet the demand.

 

Ayahuasca Helps with Grief
A new study published in psychopharmacology found that ayahuasca helped those suffering from the loss of a loved one up to a year after treatment.

 

Ayahuasca Benefits: Clinical Improvements for Six Months
Ayahuasca benefits can last six months according to studies. Read here to learn about the clinical improvements from drinking the brew.

 

Ayahuasca Culture: Indigenous, Western, And The Future
Ayahuasca has been use for generations in the Amazon. With the rise of retreats and the brew leaving the rainforest how is ayahuasca culture changing?

 

Ayahuasca Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
The Amazonian brew, Ayahuasca has a long history and wide use. Read our guide to learn all about the tea from its beginnings up to modern-day interest.

 

Ayahuasca and the Godhead: An Interview with Wahid Azal of the Fatimiya Sufi Order
Wahid Azal, a Sufi mystic of The Fatimiya Sufi Order and an Islamic scholar, talks about entheogens, Sufism, mythology, and metaphysics.

 

Ayahuasca and the Feminine: Women’s Roles, Healing, Retreats, and More
Ayahuasca is lovingly called “grandmother” or “mother” by many. Just how feminine is the brew? Read to learn all about women and ayahuasca.

What Is the Standard of Care for Ketamine Treatments?
Ketamine therapy is on the rise in light of its powerful results for treatment-resistant depression. But, what is the current standard of care for ketamine? Read to find out.

What Is Dissociation and How Does Ketamine Create It?
Dissociation can take on multiple forms. So, what is dissociation like and how does ketamine create it? Read to find out.

Having Sex on Ketamine: Getting Physical on a Dissociative
Curious about what it could feel like to have sex on a dissociate? Find out all the answers in our guide to sex on ketamine.

Special K: The Party Drug
Special K refers to Ketamine when used recreationally. Learn the trends as well as safety information around this substance.

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

Ketamine vs. Esketamine: 3 Important Differences Explained
Ketamine and esketamine are used to treat depression. But what’s the difference between them? Read to learn which one is right for you: ketamine vs. esketamine.

Guide to Ketamine Treatments: Understanding the New Approach
Ketamine is becoming more popular as more people are seeing its benefits. Is ketamine a fit? Read our guide for all you need to know about ketamine treatments.

Ketamine Treatment for Eating Disorders
Ketamine is becoming a promising treatment for various mental health conditions. Read to learn how individuals can use ketamine treatment for eating disorders.

Ketamine Resources, Studies, and Trusted Information
Curious to learn more about ketamine? This guide includes comprehensive ketamine resources containing books, studies and more.

Ketamine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to ketamine has everything you need to know about this “dissociative anesthetic” and how it is being studied for depression treatment.

Ketamine for Depression: A Mental Health Breakthrough
While antidepressants work for some, many others find no relief. Read to learn about the therapeutic uses of ketamine for depression.

Ketamine for Addiction: Treatments Offering Hope
New treatments are offering hope to individuals suffering from addiction diseases. Read to learn how ketamine for addiction is providing breakthrough results.

Microdosing Ketamine & Common Dosages Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing ketamine.

How to Ease a Ketamine Comedown
Knowing what to expect when you come down from ketamine can help integrate the experience to gain as much value as possible.

How to Store Ketamine: Best Practices
Learn the best ways how to store ketamine, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long ketamine lasts when stored.

How To Buy Ketamine: Is There Legal Ketamine Online?
Learn exactly where it’s legal to buy ketamine, and if it’s possible to purchase legal ketamine on the internet.

How Long Does Ketamine Stay in Your System?
How long does ketamine stay in your system? Are there lasting effects on your body? Read to discover the answers!

How Ketamine is Made: Everything You Need to Know
Ever wonder how to make Ketamine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how Ketamine is made.

Colorado on Ketamine: First Responders Waiver Programs
Fallout continues after Elijah McClain. Despite opposing recommendations from some city council, Colorado State Health panel recommends the continued use of ketamine by medics for those demonstrating “excited delirium” or “extreme agitation”.

Types of Ketamine: Learn the Differences & Uses for Each
Learn about the different types of ketamine and what they are used for—and what type might be right for you. Read now to find out!

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

MDMA & Ecstasy Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to MDMA has everything you want to know about Ecstasy from how it was developed in 1912 to why it’s being studied today.

How To Get the Most out of Taking MDMA as a Couple
Taking MDMA as a couple can lead to exciting experiences. Read here to learn how to get the most of of this love drug in your relationship.

Common MDMA Dosage & Microdosing Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing MDMA.

Having Sex on MDMA: What You Need to Know
MDMA is known as the love drug… Read our guide to learn all about sex on MDMA and why it is beginning to makes its way into couple’s therapy.

How MDMA is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make MDMA? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how MDMA is made.

Hippie Flipping: When Shrooms and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Explore the mechanics of hippie flipping and how to safely experiment.

How Cocaine is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make cocaine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how cocaine is made.

A Christmas Sweater with Santa and Cocaine
This week, Walmart came under fire for a “Let it Snow” Christmas sweater depicting Santa with lines of cocaine. Columbia is not merry about it.

Ultimate Cocaine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
This guide covers what you need to know about Cocaine, including common effects and uses, legality, safety precautions and top trends today.

NEWS: An FDA-Approved Cocaine Nasal Spray
The FDA approved a cocaine nasal spray called Numbrino, which has raised suspicions that the pharmaceutical company, Lannett Company Inc., paid off the FDA..

The Ultimate Guide to Cannabis Bioavailability
What is bioavailability and how can it affect the overall efficacy of a psychedelic substance? Read to learn more.

Cannabis Research Explains Sociability Behaviors
New research by Dr. Giovanni Marsicano shows social behavioral changes occur as a result of less energy available to the neurons. Read here to learn more.

The Cannabis Shaman
If recreational and medical use of marijuana is becoming accepted, can the spiritual use as well? Experiential journalist Rak Razam interviews Hamilton Souther, founder of the 420 Cannabis Shamanism movement…

Cannabis Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to Cannabis has everything you want to know about this popular substances that has psychedelic properties.

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a procannabis Peruvian Shaman.

CBD-Rich Cannabis Versus Single-Molecule CBD
A ground-breaking study has documented the superior therapeutic properties of whole plant Cannabis extract as compared to synthetic cannabidiol (CBD), challenging the medical-industrial complex’s notion that “crude” botanical preparations are less effective than single-molecule compounds.

Cannabis Has Always Been a Medicine
Modern science has already confirmed the efficacy of cannabis for most uses described in the ancient medical texts, but prohibitionists still claim that medical cannabis is “just a ruse.”

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