Ethnomedical, Botanical and Phytochemical Aspects of Natural Hallucinogens

Over 200 plant species and numerous basidiomycetes have been reported as hallucinogenic or euphoriant, but only a few have been scientifically confirmed. This review catalogs plants with a proven hallucinogenic effect in humans or strong ethnobotanical evidence, while also listing unsubstantiated reports to encourage further study. Hallucinogenic higher plants span 146 genera across over 50 families, and their active constituents are chemically unique to each genus or close relatives. Notably, only two species—Cannabis sativa and Tabernanthe iboga—are federally prohibited in the United States, with a few others restricted in certain states.

Study at a glance

Abstract

More than 200 species and/or varieties of higher plants, as well as numerous species of basidiomycetes, are reported in the literature to have been used for their hallucinatory and/or euphoriant effects.Due to a paucity of research, only a few of these have been confirmed as definitely hallucinogenic in man or animals.This article reviews all of those plants now known to have a scientific basis for producing hallucinogenic effects in man or for which reliable ethnobotanical data are available to indicate that they could be hallucinogenic.Those plants alleged to be hallucinatory, but where substantive proof of this effect may be lacking, are summarily included for completeness and in the hope of stimulating investigation.The hallucinogens of higher plant origin alone are found in 146 genera in more than 50 families.In virtually every instance in which the active constituents are known, their chemical skeletons are unique to a specific genus or to a very closely related genus.It is interesting to note that of more than 200 species of hallucinogenic plants only two are legally prohibited from use in the United States by Federal law: Cannabis sativa and Tabernanthe Iboga.Two or three others are illegal in a few states.