Effects of Ayahuasca- Study
I found another good article on the effects of Ayahuasca on the brain. It has some good data and really shows the regions of the brain in pretty good detail through low resolution electromagnetic tomography.
Here is the Abstract:
Ayahuasca, a South American psychotropic plant tea obtained from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria virids, combines monoamine-oxidas-inhibiting B-carbpline alkaloids with N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a psychedelic agent showing 5-HT agonist activity. The spatial distribution of ayahuasca-induced changes in brain electrical activity was investigated by means of low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings were obtained from eighteen volunteers with prior experience in the use of psychedelics after the administration of the 0.85 mg DMT/kg body weight dose of encapsulated freeze-dried ayahuasca and placebo. The intracerebral power density distribution was computed with LORETA from spectrally analyzed data. Statistically significant differences with placebo were observed at 60 and 90 minutes after dosing. Ayahuasca decreased power density in the alpha-2, delta, theta and beta1 frequency bands. This pattern of effects in analogous to that of the classical psychedelics and point out the involvement of 5-HT receptor agonism in the neurochemical effects of ayahuasca. Power decreases in the delta, alpha-2 and beta-1 bands were found predominantly over the temporo-parieto-occipital junction, whereas theta power were reduced in the temporomedial cortex and in frontomedial regions. The present results suggest the involvement of unimodal and heteromodal association cortex and limbic structures in the psychological effects elicited by ayahuasca.
Read the whole article here
Soma siddhas and alchemical enlightenment: psychedelic mushrooms in Buddhist tradition
I recently found this journal article that was very interesting. It talks about how the Buddhist traditions have ties to the uses of the hallucinogenic mushroom Amanita muscaria to help them reach enlightenment. In relation to the other book I have been reading by McKenna “Food of the Gods” it would make sense and I am sure McKenna would support this theory. Here is some of the paper:
Conclusions
In suggesting the connections between the symbols in these legends and the Amanita muscaria, it is certainly not my intention to pound a square peg into a round hole. If any of my suggested interpretations can be shown to be incorrect, this will trim the deadwood, and my case will stand on the points that remain. I hope the few loose ends left above will not detract from the fabric of my argument regarding Abhayadatta’s legend of Karnaripa. I hope my efforts to examine every possible clue will not be mistaken for Wassonian ‘monomaniacal… paranoid.., mycocentricity’ (Weil, 1988, pp. 489-490). The suggestion that some Buddhist siddhas used a psychedelic drug will be dismissed out of hand by many. The use of ‘intoxicants’ is against the contemporary orthodox Buddhist ethic. In a footnote to his interpretation of a beer-brewing recipe as a metaphor for the process of enlightenment, Ardussi (1977, n. 37, pp. 123-124) denies ‘that Vasubandhu’s reference to magical powers deriving from the use of herbs (Abhidharmakosa VII. 53) suggests a type of mystical experience comparable to, or contributing to the better understanding of experiences obtained otherwise through meditation’. I believe I have demonstrated that some contemporary nonorthodox Buddhist ‘alchemists’ find precedents in the Mahasiddhas Nagarjuna and Aryadeva, who agreed, ‘We need to eat the alchemical medicine’. Perhaps my analysis of these legends and sym-bols can provide a basis for new research by scholars of Buddhism, Tantra, alchemy, Soma studies, Eddic studies, ethnopharmacology, comparative mythology, transpersonal psychology, shamanism and history of religion. The relationship of a drug-induced psychedelic experience to ‘genuine’ mystical experience or to Buddhist enlightenment is debated today (Ratsch, 1989; Tart, 1991) as earnestly and as inconclusively as it was in the early years of wide-spread use of psychedelic drugs. I believe my identification of Amanita muscaria as the alchemical agent which brought ‘realization’ to these Buddhist adepts can help determine the value of the psychedelic experience in Buddhist tradition. Orthodox scholars may object but they can no longer ‘Just say No’.
You can read the full paper here
Effects of a Psychedelic Ayahuasca, on the EEG
I found this really intresting abstract for a study done with Ayahuasca:
Abstract Eight channels of EEG from 12 volunteers participating in a workshop in Brazil were recordedunder field conditions before and after a shamanistic ritual in which the psychoactive tea, ayahuasca, was consumed. Following three doses of the tea, the subjects showed strong and statistically significant increases of both EEG alpha (8-13Hz) and theta (4-8Hz) mean amplitudes compared to baseline while beta (13-20Hz) amplitudes were unchanged. The strongest increases of alpha activity were observed in the occipital lobes while alpha was unchanged in the frontal lobes. Theta amplitudes, on the other hand, were significantly increased in both occipital and frontal areas. Our data do not support previous findings of cortical activation with decreased alpha and increased beta activity caused by psychedelics (e.g. LSD, mescaline, psilocybin). They rather point to a similarity between the altered states produced by ayahuasca and marihuana which also stimulates the brain to produce more alpha waves. We suggest that these findings of increased EEG alpha and theta activity after drinking ayahuasca reflect an altered state of consciousness. In this state thesubjects reported increased awareness of their subconscious processes. This is an altered state comparable to, however more profound than, the meditative state. Our results suggest that ingesting Ayahuasca may provide individuals with increased access to subconscious processes and feelings while in a wakeful, relaxed state. Thus, Ayahuasca has the potential to become a potent tool in the process of psychotherapy.
Very interesting stuff as the article is saying that the effects of Ayahuasca seem to increase alpha and theta waves in the brain which represent meditative states or relation to stages of drowsiness and stage 2 of sleep.
If you want to read the full article here is the information you need:
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, USA
Spring 2001, pp 25-30
Effects of a Psychedelic, Tropical Tea, Ayahuasca, on the
Electroencephalographic (EEG) Activity of the Human Brain
during a Shamanistic Ritual
Erik Hoffmann, Jan M. Keppel Hesselink, Yatra-W.M. da Silveira Barbosa
Honey McKenna
Over the last few days I have been reading the book “Food of the Gods” and it really is a great read. I am not one to be really interested in Terence McKenna in the past as he seems to be more of a Timothy Leary of his time, with individuals flocking to his teaches and seeming to be more of a religious teacher than anything, but after reading his book (or the most of it) I have become to really see why people would want to come hear him teach. In his book Food of the Gods, McKenna provides us a very detailed history of how drugs were used and why they are used like they are today.
One of the many things that I found interesting is how McKenna theorizes alcohol use came about. He talks about how psychoactive mushrooms were put into honey in order to be preserved for long periods of transportation as honey was used a preservative, even for bodies. It was most likely found that honey was fermented over time and increased the affects of the mushrooms and produced its own mind altering experience. Mead was made and produced at this point and after clutres came into power that didnt allow for mind altering mushrooms to be used (at least for the average person) then mead started to become more popular.
I found it interesting as well that McKenna points out that throughout history humans have always used substances that alter consciousness, and most importantly when they are told that they cant use those substances, they revolt.
Anyways a great read and highly recommended. I can not even come close to providing a justly informative summery of his book as it is full of important information in understanding why the drug situation is what it is today.
Acacia Confusa: Bad info
So I was doing some research in a handy dandy book I have ” The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants and found another plant with a higher concentration of DMT. Though Acacia confusa does rate a high percentage of DMT, Diplopterys cabrerana contains 1.75% DMT in its fresh dried leaves. I dont know where that article received is information but clearly it is not the highest contain source known to mankind. It is though true that Acacia confusa recently was studied to find out what kind of active compounds were located in the plant, and DMT was one of those.
Psychoactive Plants in Tantric Buddhism
Yesterday I also found an interesting article about The Buddhist practices of tantra and the psychoactive plants that they used. According to the article, it wasn’t until recently that we were able to translate some of the ancient texts which were vital in understanding the Buddhist practices, and through those translations reliable information has been found that both Cannabis and Datura have been used along with the tantric practices as common practice. Datura also has its ties with the Buddhist and Hindu gods.
Datura is associated with several Hindu and Buddhist deities. Vämana Puräëa, a pre-modern devotional text dedicated to Vishnu (date unknown), tells that datura sprouted from the chest of the god Çiva.18 Its flowers are sometimes used as ceremonial offerings—a practice that continues to this day in Nepal.
You can read more about the article here
Biblical Entheogens: Continued
After reviewing the article that was written by Benny Shanon in 2008, I would like to say that it was a very informative read. I am currently reading the book “Failed God” by John A. Rush where he talks about Christianity, Judaism, and Isam to be started with the use of entheogens. Interesting enough Shanon’s work with this article pretty much sums up all of Rush’s work in a few pages. Shanon also goes into what plants may be the tree of knowledge and focuses on the “newly” researched Acacia Tree as being the source of the large amounts of DMT. Though recently we have been able to determine how much DMT is located in the Acacia Confusa, it still has had the focus as a high yielding DMT source and involved in religious practices for thousands of years.
Over all, anyone that is interested in learning some good hypotheses on the use of hallucinogens in ancient religious practices, you should read Shanon’s article.
read the article: here
Acacia Confusa: High With DMT
Recently new research has shown a new plant on the block containing the highest amounts of DMT to be found yet. Acacia Confusa a plant that grows in the United States including some Pacific areas contains yelds up to 1.15% of N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Dont eat the seeds though as they can cause death.
Read more about the recent discovery here
or check out more about the plant and where it from from these two links:
Biblical Entheogens: a Speculative Hypothesis
After searching the internet for a few hours trying to find some other information on some specific plants, I managed to find a good read by accident that was written by Benny Shannon about his hypothesis of what types of plants may have been involved in the starting of religions. I have yet to had the chance to read through it all, but so far its a good read. Shannon has written other great books on the subject of entheogens and all have been great reads. Here is the link to start your own reading on this paper.
http://www.psychointegrator.com/down/biblical_entheogens.pdf
Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer’s Guide
Ryan Hurd over at http://www.dreamstudies.org gives us one of the most knowlagable books on sleep paralysis today. In his Ebook, he talks about how to overcome sleep paralysis by an number of affective ways that have worked for him as well as others who have overcome the terrifying experience during the state of sleep. I have had the chance to read over his work and highly recommend his book for anyone who is interested in understanding what sleep paralysis is, who may have kids who experience sleep paralysis, or have the experience themselves and would like to find ways of coping with the experience or possibly even enjoying some of the effects of the paralysis as it allows for further lucid dreaming. Ryan’s book is easy to understand and makes a complete understanding of what really sleep paralysis is backing his findings with real research. Heres a little bit about what he says about his book:
Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer’s Guide is a powerful how-to ebook designed to help you stop sleep paralysis, get over your fear of the terrifying hallucinations, and learn how to use sleep paralysis as a gateway to extraordinary dream states like lucid dreaming, out-of-body experiences, and creative hypnagogia.
Read more about his book here
