fyzygy

Taken from a scientific article, I'd have to go digging for details. But yes. The article was over my head in terms of chemical analyses and such, but the infographic caught my eye.

There's an app (and I think, a web version) called Pl@ntnet -- which is useful for identification of plants based on photograph. I'm guessing it's probably not that great for distinguishing acacias or trichocereus varieties, especially in the absence of flowers or other mature characteristics. It will probably recognise a Haworthia spp., no worries. The aloe thingy with the bumps.

Wow. Great questions. I remember doing a course on "appropriate technology" way back in the 90s. Entire villages, in India, with gas cookers in their huts all fuelled by cow dung, the only free resource remaining to the villagers. Setup was extremely simplistic. Beyond gas-flame cooking, though, I'm really not sure. (The polar opposite: Australian-government "foreign aid" programs that decimated Indian villages and forests, installed unaffordable infrastructure, and delivered financial dividends exclusively to Australian corporations and shareholders). Try small, for starters. The only way to learn?

The aloe thingy, if it's rough and bumpy to the touch, might be Haworthia spp? Others not sure, long spines looks interesting (but I wouldn't have guessed Terscheckii).

I'm still reeling, with gratitude. From the fragrance alone. Beautiful bundles of joy!

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-07/peyotes-ayahuasca-sydney-psychoactive-cacti-growers/102303642

^ In which jurisdiction(s)? On this question, bona fide experts seem to be lacking. As for the cat having already been let out of the bag: I'm yet to see a Bunnings label advertise SP cactus as a good source of mescaline, or mention made of this in any online listing (though I've seen plenty of incriminating innuendo pushed by an unscrupulous seller on eBay). Until this year, I'd never encountered a discussion of sacred cactus in the Australian news media. San Pedro etc. have been conspicuous absences in public and scientific discussions of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics (I know of one paper from a few years back, which wasn't in English, and I could never track down its author). Researchers have been relatively uninterested for a variety of reasons (such as relative lack of potency or longer duration of the mescaline trip). Liam's advocacy would have more credibility if it weren't linked to commercial enterprise. $10 per columnar centimetre (a click or two away from the ABC online reportage) is a strong incentive for opportunists, both cactus thieves and gardeners seeking unreasonable returns on their investments. Under the radar, it is possible to keep one's treasure hidden ... in plain sight! It's not a bad survival strategy either (think of the Taoist parable about the useless tree). How publicity and marketing feed into programs for cactus conservancy (another of Liam's passions) remains to be seen.

I didn't mean to cast aspersions, on anyone. Personally, have no strong opinions regarding media exposure, one way or another. My opinion of the ABC is exceptionally low. So was never really sure what the kerfuffle was all about? Cactus thieves are a relatively minor concern.

I've always wanted to grow a giant sunflower, or two. Sigh. The Giant Russian seeds I bought from eBay didn't yield a viable plant. I'd say they didn't germinate, but maybe they did and the sprouts were just too tasty. I'm keen to try again though.

San Pedro gets barely a look-in, amid copious reportage on psilocybin or even DMT. Over the past 10 years or so, I would wager. That's in the mainstream media; even in the research literature, references to therapeutic use of mescaline are few and far between. That low profile is one of the medicine's best attributes. It's quite nice here, under my rock.

^ Under the radar, no more? (relatively speaking, of course)

https://adi.deakin.edu.au/latest-opportunities About the Scholarship A full-time PhD scholarship is available for a First Nations student to study relationships between Cultural Burning and medicinal plants. This is a mixed-methods project to be undertaken among Community and on Native Title Land that is subject to Cultural Burning. This scholarship is part of an ARC funded DECRA project entitled: Narrating the Roles of Animals in Cultural Burning. This project recognises the holistic nature of First Nations land management practices and seeks to produce detailed knowledge of how people, plants and animals co-construct landscapes via the medium of cultural fire. About the Supervisor Marcus’ research interests include relations between humans and large carnivores and the new wave of animal domestication in Australia. He is the author of Among the Bone Eaters: Encounters with Hyenas in Harar and Crocodile Undone : The Domestication of Australia's Fauna.

TMG#77 looks kinda special. Let's all chip in to buy a chunk.

I have, just now. Only, I don't really have any spiritual insights to feed DALL-E2. More like cues for visual cliches. I also tried outputting a botanical illustration, with a given species name, but nothing even remotely plausible came back.

There's probably a lot of hype around ceremonial cacao, to justify the added value. According to one purveyor: There are two major common types of cacao beans–Criollo and Forastero. Forastero beans are more common for their sweetness and resilience to destruction in industrial farming. Therefore, those beans are more commonly used in today’s cacao products. On the other hand, ceremonial cacao powder is made using only Criollo beans, which are milder and have a higher concentration of restorative properties. Many advertise a "100% pure" ceremonial product -- although it's reported by scientists that cadmium contamination is an issue, depending on which region the beans were grown in.

I would like to try growing this. PM if you can supply me with a plant or cutting, etc.

NSW Coroner is examining two kambo-related deaths. This one, with a bit of "DMT toxicity" thrown in for good measure. https://www.echo.net.au/2023/05/inquest-into-death-of-jarrad-antonovich-begins/

^ Timeframe, dosage, etc.? The SSRI family are roughly comparable with placebo, in terms of treatment of depression, with a few adverse effects (like suicidal ideation, loss of libido) being added to one's laundry list of symptoms, for good measure. It's good to know about Kanna as a potential remedy. Personally, I've never noticed much of an effect -- is it something that takes repeated administrations in order to become effective?

The etiquette/policy of non-intervention in another's Ayahuasca "journey" seems draconian, under the circumstances. Purging seems to have been counter-therapeutic in this case, if the oesophageal tear (from excessive vomiting) was indeed the cause of death. I'd probably feel safer if my facilitator were trained in basic first aid, as well as traditional healing practices. Is kambo and ayahuasca an inherently dangerous combination?

Iresine spp., Pedilanthus tithymaloides, and Hippobroma longiflorum Brugmansia arborea, B. candida, B. sanguinea (Rätsch)

I have read that Iresenii herbstii is added to cimora for purposes of "black magic." Rätsch states that the Pernettya species known as "toro-maique" is used as a fortifying additive to the San Pedro drink. Brugmansia is also mentioned in his Encyclopaedia of Psychoactive Plants. Other additives such as "hornamo" and "condorillo" have not been botanically identified with accuracy, although his book gives references to some research literature.

Does anyone know how/why cannabis impairs REM sleep (for better or worse) and is there a workaround? I'd like to understand this phenomenon better. Would herbs like Calea zacatachechi counteract this effect? Or would cannabis tend to negate the effects of Calea z.? Is apparent dreamlessness an effect of habitual/chronic cannabis use, or would even occasional use impair the quality of REM sleep states?

Daffney/Gaffney - typo? Any info on traditional use of these plant/parts?