Bufo toads and bufotenine: fact and fiction surrounding an alleged psychedelic.
Journal of psychoactive drugs January 1, 1996 T Lyttle, D Goldstein, J Gartz 84 citations
The Bufo toad and its chemical bufotenine have been surrounded by myth and misinformation for centuries. Used in ancient magic and medicine, the toad was later seen as both a cure and a poison. In the 1960s, it became a countercultural icon when people reportedly licked or smoked its secretions to get high. Bufotenine has been scientifically debated since 1893. This paper reviews the extensive literature to clarify the facts and separate them from popular and scientific confusion, providing a comprehensive bibliography for further research.