Heimia salicifolia - psychotherapeutic potential?

[Alchemica]

I've been doing some research for a previously active member who is now blind, if you have input that would be great.

 

He believes Heimia is a potent medicinal plant and can sometimes have an effect where it causes a 'detached life-review' where one can allow processing of negative life experiences and memories in a more compassionate, less self-critical and non-judgmental way and thus, has potential for PTSD etc. I'm yet to encounter such effects but would be interested in hearing if anyone has had that sort of effect, or otherwise therapeutic experience with it? He also states significant potentiation of more classical serotonergics. I'm trying to get him to do a recorded talk or something at a later stage but curious on other's experiences with it so I can give him feedback.

Compared to other entheogenic plants, H. salicifolia has been said to have softer, less potent effects [1]. Though H. salicifolia has a long history of traditional use, little is properly known about its possible therapeutic effects, particularly psychopharmacologically.  While some people seem to hold Heimia in high regard, it seems to sometimes gain a reputation of being "not worth it" due to unpleasant experiences, including muscle aches, fatigue etc
 

• There are 24 known alkaloids from the plant, the three most abundant (in order) being cryogenine/vertine, lyfoline, and lythrine (Rother, 1990) with others including nesodine, heimidine, sinicuichine, dehydrodecodine, lythridine (Kitajima et al., 2018; Kitajima et al., 2019). They all belong to a class of alkaloids known as biphenyl quinolizidine lactones, which are the primary biologically active compounds.  Within the genus, there are marked differences in the concentration of the individual alkaloids (Rother, 1990).  
   

Heimia alkaloids 

The Lythraceae alkaloids have four centers of chirality-three chiral carbon atoms at the quinolizidine ring C-1, C-3, and C-5, and the biphenyl or biphenyl ether link. 
 

The quinolizidine ring of Lythraceae alkaloids can exist in both trans and cis configurations.  Structurally, vertine has a cis-fused quinolizidine ring while lythrine, lyfoline and nesodine possess trans-fused quinolizidine rings. The nitrogen lone pair in those alkaloids with a cis ring juncture is less hindered, as below:

Cryogenine/vertine

 

Lythrine

 

 

Various alkaloids present and their configuration

 

Rother in 1994 reported absence of any 'psychodysleptic' effects in a “double blind” screening of both vertine and lythrine. 

Cryogenine/vertine:

- cholinergic affinity/mAChR/anti-cholinergic?

- anti-inflammatory/ prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor 

- induces sedation/tranquilising

- spasmolytic activities

- decreases spontaneous motor activity

- dose-related hypothermia

- skeletal and passivity without muscle involvement 

- hyperglycemic

- hypotensive

- vasodilator
 

Cryogenine/vertine has been reported to have tranquilising properties - the central nervous system depression caused by it is selective in nature and pharmacologically distinct from that caused by conventional major tranquilisers.
 

Lythrine may have psychological benefits, particularly in terms of reducing anxiety, in addition to its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, sedative, anti-hypertensive, and vasorelaxant properties. Given lythrine’s vasodilation and resulting blood pressure and heart rate reduction, it was reasonable to assume that it may have anxiolytic effects similar to clonidine. So far, previous research noted, at the doses tested, lythrine did not produce significant anxiolytic effects. Lythrine is the most effective vasorelaxant alkaloid in the plant and potentially has an effect mediated in part, by muscarinic receptors

Four major alkaloids were isolated with their abundance varying considerably: cryogenine/vertine (2.0-8.6 mg/g of dry-weight aerial parts), lyfoline (1.8-6.6 mg/g), lythrine (0.55-0.66 mg/g) and nesodine (0.09-0.55 mg/g) (Blomster et al., 1964; Appel et al., 1965; Dobberstein et al., 1975; Rother, 1989). 
 

•  Sinicuichine and lyfoline were shown to undergo catabolism, while cryogenine was degraded very slowly, if at all. Evidence is presented for the conversion of lyfoline to lythrine
   

The sequential appearance and metabolism of alkaloids in Heimia salicifolia

Whereas vertine and lyfoline are the major compounds, the biphenyl quinolizidines sinicuichine, heimidine, lythrine, nesodine, dehydrodecodine and lythridine accumulate in the field-grown plants, and in much larger amounts than the biogenetically simpler phenylquinolizidinyl esters abresoline, demethoxyabresoline and its H-l0 epimer. The phenylquinolizidinols demethyllasubine-I and -II are only metabolites of young (5- to 10-day-old) plantlets. 

- roots and seeds have been shown to be alkaloid-free
 

In explaining it's diverse herbal action and multitude of potential applications, such treating inflammation, fever, bladder control, constipation, and syphilis, some phytotherapists suggest it may be important to consider how it acts synergistically with other plants/phytoconstituents:
 

It "may contain a variety of active constituents, which must be selected either through the process of preparation, or by the addition of other plant extracts which "turn on" or "turn off' particular chemical compounds. "

 

None of the reported psychoactive effects brought on by the consumption of the entire plant have yet been matched by any of the single alkaloids discovered so far, but serotonin and dopamine systems in the brain have been hypothesised [1] to potentially interact with Heimia alkaloids, which may help explain the plant's mental effects. 

 

 Effects normally reported:

• Pleasant drowsiness
• Relaxation of skeletal muscle
• Slowing of the heartbeat
• Dilation of coronary vessels
• Inhibition of acetylcholine
• Enhancement of epinephrine 
• Mild reduction in blood pressure
• Cooling of the body
• Mild intoxication and lightheadedness
• Blurred vision
• Auditory changes (sounds seem distant); and
• Altered memory function. 

 

Some have mentioned that it may be important to study the correctly prepared material, which may have novel constituents; "It is necessary to study both the fermented product and the dry leaf infusion in order to isolate the compound responsible for the reported mental effects"
 

What is the (sun) fermentation doing to potentially change Heimia's chemistry and psychoactivity?

 

It has long been believed that fermenting tea before drinking it lessens associated negative effects 

 

 Is such a process accomplishing:

• enzymatic bioconversions in plant material post-harvest?
• chemical oxidation reactions or degradations, similar to tea fermentation?
• something like a a light/UV mediated photoisomerisation/conversion of alkaloids?

Light-induced (can also be enzyme-catalyzed) cis-trans (geometric) isomerisations (photoisomerisations) of double bonds can impact the biological activity eg The pungent amides in black pepper undergo light-induced photoisomerisations to differing compounds with altered levels of biological pungency

• a bioconversion of alkaloids by yeasts/lactic acid bacteria? [seems unlikely with short duration fermentation normally mentioned]

Fermentation can substantially alter the secondary metabolite composition of plant-based products due to a series of microbial actions such as hydrolysis, methylation, and carboxylation etc. Microbial fermentation is considered to provide a multi-enzyme complex consisting of esterases, dihydrogenases, decarboxylases, and de-aminating and CC-cleaving enzymes etc 

• Something else?
  
   

In a case-study, analysis has been undertaken of a sample from a person who created a brew of Heimia fermented over 24 h by adding yeast and sugar. No mention of light exposure during fermentation was made. Undesirable effects were noted, it resulted in muscle pain of the extremities and the tongue as well as slightly raised temperature, night nausea, headache 

 

This (yeast-enhanced) fermentation created an alkaloid profile of  demethyllasubine I, demethyllasubine II, heimidine, lythridine, abresoline, 10-epi-desmethoxyabresoline, desmethoxyabresoline, lyfoline, anelisine, dehydrocodine, vertine, nesodine, sinicuichine and lythrine

 

Other constituents:

 

Presence of chlorophyll, mucilage, fatty oils, tannins, quinones,  polyphenols, pigments, gum, glucose, starch, and alkaloids within the members of the family. 

 

Flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol have been detected, ellagic acid, a sterol known as stigmasterol, as well as triterpenes like ursolic acid

 

It is a good source of phenolic compounds: Apigenin-7-O-rutinoside, protocatechuic acid; vanillic acid; apigenin-4'-O-methyl ether 7-O-glucoside (acacetin-7-O-β-glucoside); methyl gallate; gallic acid; apigenin-7-O-β-D-4C1-glucoside; 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3-methoxyflavanone (dihydrokaempferol-3-O-methyl ether); dehydrotrigallic acid; 3,4,3'-trimethoxyellagic acid; 3,3'-dimethoxyellagic acid; 3-methoxyellagic acid; ellagic acid; apigenin; and kaempferol. 1,6-di-O-dehydrotrigalloyl-β-D-4C1-glucopyranose, 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3-methoxyflavanone (dihydrokaempferol-3-O-methyl ether)

 

Properties of the individual alkaloids including colour, crystal morphology and mp etc can be found here

 

[1] Chapter 30 Sinicuichi (Heimia salicifolia (Kunth) Link Lythraceae) Rahmatullah Qureshi, Bushra Jabeen, and Noureddine Chaachouay

 

The effect of light on the production of Heimia alkaloids
 

Heimia salicifolia: A phytochemical and phytopharmacologic review
 

Biosynthesis of Lythraceae Alkaloids
 

Edited September 4, 2025 by Alchemica

[Starward]

@Alchemica thanks for you post. I have four Heimia salicifolia plants however they are on the small side 20 cm pots.

 

Do you know anything about when the best time to harvest Heimia salicifolia? Such as how large the plant should be, what stage of growth cycle, etc etc.

 

With spring coming I am going to pot my four plants up and hopefully they will grow into full size examples.

 

I am keen to try Heimia salicifolia because of its spasmolytic and vasodilator properties as it may help me with a condition that has perplexed medical specialists. 

 

Do you think their would be an advantage to longer fermentation, say 4 to 7 days?

 

Something that is not often talked about is the water source. Chlorine inhibits fermentation, and this is why home brewers filter out Chlorine. I think using distilled water or filtered watered would be advised.

 

Hypothesizing - it might be worth experimenting with the addition of a small amount of dextrose, sugar, or honey might improve the fermentation by providing wild yeast/bacteria found on the plant material extra food, to facilitate further or more complete chemical conversion.

 

Which might raise the possibility of adding Heimia salicifolia to beer, or san pedro.

 

 

[Alchemica]

This friend harvests the shoot tips of mature multi-year old plants, basically where the woody stems turn into pliable new green growth as he thinks those parts are superior for some uses (?). This might contain simpler phenylquinolizidinyl esters and in the very new growth, the phenylquinolizidinols? He then slowly lets them wilt and dry, where they release a pleasant, sweet odour, and proceeds from there. I'm not sure it's the optimal, just what he's done after lots of experimentation. I've mainly played around with woody stems and old leaves in the past.

 

Quote

Do you think their would be an advantage to longer fermentation, say 4 to 7 days?

 

From another source: The most common and most widely reported preparation is Sinicuichi fermented tea. Tribes collected fresh leaves and allowed them to wilt, then crushed them and soaked them in a cup of cool water. The cup was then placed outside under the sun for one day to allow the concoction time to ferment. Honey was sometimes added to improve the taste, although this is not an essential ingredient. When fresh leaves are unavailable the dried leaves and branches are used with equal success, following the same procedure, except that the dried material is steeped in hot water instead of cold water. After 24 hours, the infused water is strained and the juices are squeezed from the leaves to make a tea."

Longer could help, not too sure.

 

I experimented a bit a long time ago:
 

Some of the more experienced people get an opaque milky sun fermented tea, that's the medicine they relate to. That makes me wonder if they are inducing some kind of (bacterial/yeast) bioconversion in their fermentation. Even as a clearer tea that's sun exposed for a day, I find it nice. Good flavours. Nice bit of meditativeish effect. Feeling of more that things are "OK".
 

I wanted to see what providing some other conditions does to Heimia.

Prepared 80g/L tea from woody stems and leaf:

I had two batches, one sun-expose and lacto-ferment with broad-spectrum probiotic strains. It's possible that the alkaloids will bioconvert and highly likely the polyphenols will...
 

Was quite slow in starting to notably ferment vs other ones -  could be more interesting with yeasts?

Tastes quite nice nearing 3days, mellow flavours... By day 4 it's a nice brew. Seemed to provide a typical mild Heimia effect.

The other, UV irradiated @254nm for some time, see if there's a UV conversion/some kind of photoisomerisation etc that takes place, hence the reason for using sun fermentation. Gave this other batch a good period of UV but it didn't change the brew into a milky suspension, didn't particularly expect it to (more that it might change some alkaloids if photounstable) after over an hour of decent irradiation. I'm more hopeful about a milky tea fitting descriptions with the bacterial bioconversion, as I've seen with chamomile.

Gave this over 6hrs of intense UV exposure. Note the vivid fluorescence.

This didn't develop the same taste as sun fermented... much milder flavour.

@equivalent 10g dry "shamanic initiation dose" on just diet and exercise, after a bit of time, it feels seemingly on par with more traditionally sun fermented material at the same dose, light mellow relaxation with enhanced 'presence' so far. Nice walk in the sun.

Wouldn't say it's uncovered anything different effect-wise nor a drastic potency increase that warrants using UV, from initial impressions.
Might up the tea levels soon.

@20g, the walk was "much more interesting" in the moonlight, saturation of being in the moment, somewhat anxiolytic, soaking up the present
Followed up with 10g the following morning, to mild, similar effect. This didn't develop the same taste as sun fermented... much milder flavour.
 

 

Quote

• Hypothesizing - it might be worth experimenting with the addition of a small amount of dextrose, sugar, or honey might improve the fermentation by providing wild yeast/bacteria found on the plant material extra food, to facilitate further or more complete chemical conversion.

I'm really not sure on a good fermentation procedure but yeah it might be worth trying to encourage bioconversions with yeast/sugar and longer fermentation times as you mention. This pdf covers some of the bioconversions that might apply - I've done it with Sceletium, see yeasts to encourage bioconversion

[TheMooseZeus]

On 9/4/2025 at 7:50 PM, Starward said:

With spring coming I am going to pot my four plants up and hopefully they will grow into full size examples.

I can't talk much on drinking or preparation but nothing will stop this plant growing (maybe frost). These things really take off and readily set seed.

 

There is a nice H. salicifolia hedge in the Sydney botanic gardens if anyone is interested. I can't really describe the location but I believe its behind a bench near one of the ponds near the cafe.

[withdrawl clinic]

it's a very tough plant, that can take care of it selfe, it's very drought hardy, and survives in my garden without any care.

once every two years or so, after plenty of rain, i run the lawn mover over it, on highest setting.

than it reshoots with lush grow. without pruning it almost only produces very small leaves and seed in abundance.

 

 

[Alchemica]

Adding this as this is the first time I've seen Heimia added to a commercial supplement:

 

Each serve (1scoop/5g) of Dream by Axe Laboratories has:

Sceletium Tortuosum, Heima Salicifolia, Stephanea, Rotunda, Valerian, Trytophan, Griffonia Simplicifolia Seed Extract, ZMA, Sucralose, Flavour and Iron.

 

[withdrawl clinic]

synergies are a big factor, reading this my instincts said, withania and heimia, could be a good mix.

this suggestion has never been tried by me, so be carefull. maybe alchemica could shed more light on this combo.

 

remeber i managed to get brown x talls with heimia, only using water (water used as extraction fluid and recrystallizatin liquid).

withania could be purified the same way, my instincts tell me. withania can produce erotic feelings, just like opium...