KNOX BIOL 320 - Plants and Human Cosmologies
School name Knox College
Pages 47

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Plants and Human CosmologiesCosmologiesThe sacred Maori Waka HuiaFrom William BlakeEntering the Another WorldQuanah Parker – Last Commanche Chief, co-founder of Native American ChurchAreas where special plants are used to enter another worldCover of English edition Of Phantastica by Louis LewinCategories of Psychoactive Plants - from Lewin PhantasticaSlide 10HallucinogensSlide 12NarcoticMethodological ConsiderationsCurandero and Tobacco Ceremony South AmericaPsychoactive plants as a communal experiencePiper methysticum – source of KavaKava Chemical ActivitySamoan women prepare Kava for the Kava ceremonyDifferent varieties of KavaMore rapid entry to another worldChemical structure of serotonin and psychoactive chemicalsVirola theiodora – source of EbenaJusticia pectoralis – also used in EbenaEbena – “The Semen of the Sun”Ebena ChemicalsWaika Indian inhales Ebena snuff blown through a tubeSteps involved with preparation of Ebena snuff“Vine of the soul” - Banisteriopsis caapi – Source of AyahuascaAyahuasca or YajePsychotria viridisPainting by Pablo Amaringo, Peruvian shaman – showing visions received from AyahuascaAdvantages of AyahuascaWysoccan – Datura sp.Native Virginians - 1673Black Elk’s Vision QuestWysoccan - Datura stramoniumMarijuana – Cannabis sativaAncient Use of CannabisSlide 40Slide 41Al-Hasan ibn al-SabbahIntroduction to EuropeThe Hotel PimodanModern Water Pipe and HashishBob Marley and the Wailers Album Cover - 1973Cannabis smoker – Southeast AsiaPlants and Human CosmologiesCosmologiesCosmologies are branches of philosophy which deal with the origins and structures of the universe - religions that explain how the universe formed and our place within it are one kind (a very powerful kind) of cosmologyThe sacred Maori Waka HuiaFrom William Blake•"If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern." – The Marriage of Heaven and Hell - 1793Entering the Another World•In the western tradition, plants and plant products are used symbolically. •Ritual intoxication is the point of many religions that use plants to enter another world.Quanah Parker – Last Commanche Chief, co-founder of Native American Church“The white man goes into his church and talks about Jesus; the Indian goes into his tipi and talks to Jesus.”Areas where special plants are used to enter another worldCover of English edition Of Phantastica by Louis LewinCategories of Psychoactive Plants - from Lewin Phantastica1. Euphorica - sedatives of mental activity - this group included opium and its derivatives morphine and heroin, as well as cocaine2. Phantastica - drugs that cause evident cerebral excitation in the form of hallucinations, illusions, and visions - may be accompanied by unconsciousness or other symptons of altered cerebral activity - this group included plants like Datura sp., belladonna, peyote, ayahuasca from Banasteriopsis sp., ebena from Virola sp., fly agaric, Psilocybe and related mushroomsCategories of Psychoactive Plants - from Lewin Phantastica3. Inebriantia - substances produced primarily by chemical synthesis or some other manipulation of raw materials - such as alcohol, chloroform, ether, benzene - these produce a primary phase of cerebral excitation, followed by a state of depression4. Hypnotica - substances that induce sleep, such as kava5. Excitantia - stimulants that result in apparent excitation of the brain without altering consciousness - coffee, cola nuts, betel nuts, tobaccoHallucinogens•Hallucinogens are defined as: a nonaddictive substance that consistently produces changes in perception, thought, and mood, occurring alone or in concert, without causing serious disabilities like major disturbances to the autonomic nervous system. •High doses may elicit disorientation, memory disturbances, hyperexcitation, stupor, or narcosis, but these reactions are not characteristic.Hallucinogens•Strictly speaking hallucinogens should be limited to those chemicals that mimic serotonin – the indolalkylamines like psilocybin, and phenethylamines such as mescaline.•But sometimes other substances that cause changes in mood and perception along with causing disability are included as hallucinogens. Such substances include tropane derivatives like scopolamine, and dibenzpyran derivatives like THC, tetrahydracannabinol.Narcotic•Strictly speaking narcotic refers to morphine and related substances that are addictive and sedatives. But narcotic sometimes is used for any drug that alters mental state.Methodological Considerations1. When studying the plants it is critical to study them in a controlled clinical setting. There is a considerable placebo effect with hallucinogenic and psychoactive plants. 2. But it is also essential that we test the plants in the way indigenous people use them. If they eat the plant, the plant must be eaten. Indigenous people use psychoactive plants in many different ways.Curandero and Tobacco CeremonySouth AmericaPsychoactive plants as a communal experience•Many psychoactive plants have very subtle effects and appear to facilitate social interactions among people - plants included in this group include plants that yield recreational beverages such as beer, wine, herba mate, coffee, chocolate, and teaPiper methysticum – source of KavaKava Chemical Activity•The active chemicals in kava are lactones •The two most important ones are kavain and dihydrokavain – •As Polynesians moved east, they tended to select plants rich in kavain and poor in dihydrokavainSamoan women prepare Kava for the Kava ceremonyDifferent varieties of Kava•There are 9 major groups of kava plant clones - each differs in chemical activity •A Samoan clone called “fellowship and brotherhood” makes one feel very friendly•Another called “the white pigeon” imparts a sense of heightened perception, as though one were flying over the rain forest like a pigeonMore rapid entry to another world•Many plants have been used around the world to enter another realm - as hallucinogens which permit one to travel to the spirit world •They have been discovered in many parts of the world and interestingly all have somewhat similar chemical structure •They all have features similar to serotonin - a major chemical messenger in the brainChemical structure of serotonin and psychoactive


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KNOX BIOL 320 - Plants and Human Cosmologies

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