Ololiuqui: The Ancient Aztec Narcotic

Eating the seeds of the tropical American vine Rivea corymbosa, known in Mexico as ololiuqui, produces a model psychosis. The author describes obtaining seeds from a Harvard University research laboratory, noting the importance of proper botanical identification for reliable experimental results. The account focuses on the psychoactive effects of the plant, which has been compared to peyote.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This is an account of a model psychosis (6) produced by eating the seed of a tropical American plant which is known in Mexico as ololiuqui. It is only quite recently that Schultes (16) has made order from chaos in the matter of the identity of a climbing vine calledRivea corymbosa.I was introduced to ololiuqui by Mr. Leslie LeCron during a visit to Los Angeles in which he showed me Taylor's (22) article where he compares it with the peyote. Mr. LeCron discovered that seeds ofRivea corymbosacould be obtained from Dr. I. D. Clement, Director of the Atkins Gardens and Research Laboratory of Harvard University. I am indebted to Dr. Clement for sending me a supply of the seeds which would otherwise have been very difficult to obtain. It is reassuring for the investigator to know that the substances with which he is experimenting have been collected by skilled scientists who exercise meticulous care, for medical and pharmacological investigators have very often suffered from improper or imperfect botanical determination.