The ancient Aztecs employed a variety of entheogenic plants and animals within their society. The various species have been identified through their depiction on murals, vases, and other objects. The plants used include ololiuqui (Rivea corymbosa), teonanácatl (Psilocybe spp.), sinicuichi (Heimia salicifolia), toloatzin (Datura spp.), peyotl (Lophophora williamsii) and many others. The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ... This entry covers entheogens in the strict sense of the word (i. ... Binomial name Rivea corymbosa (L.)Hallier f. ... Binomial name Rivea corymbosa (L.)Hallier f. ... Species See text. ... Species Heimia myrtifolia Heimia salicifolia Sinicuichi (Heimia), also known as Sun Opener or Shrubby Yellowcrest, is a genus of two or three species of shrubs in the family Lythraceae, native to the New World, from northern Argentina north to the southernmost United States (southern Texas). ... Species see text Datura is a genus of herb and shrub plants belonging to the Solanaceae. ... Binomial name Lophophora williamsii Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a small spineless cactus whose native region extends from the southwestern United States (including the states of Texas and New Mexico) through central Mexico. ... Binomial name Lophophora williamsii Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a small spineless cactus whose native region extends from the southwestern United States (including the states of Texas and New Mexico) through central Mexico. ...

History

There are many pieces of archaeological evidence in reference to the use of entheogens early in the history of Mesoamerica. Olmec burial sites with remains of the Bufo toad (Bufo marinus), Maya mushroom effigies, and Spanish writings all point to a heavy involvment with psychoactive substances in the Aztec lifestyle. Mesoamerica is the region extending from central Mexico south to the northwestern border of Costa Rica that gave rise to a group of stratified, culturally related agrarian civilizations spanning an approximately 3,000-year period before the European discovery of the New World by Columbus. ... The Olmec were an ancient people living in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, roughly in what are the modern-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. ... Binomial name Bufo marinus Linnaeus, 1758 The Giant Neotropical Toad (Bufo marinus) is native to the Americas from southern Texas to northern Argentina. ... The word Maya or maya can refer to: The Maya – a Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America the modern Maya people the pre-Columbian Maya civilization the Maya language Maya – a concept in Hindu/Vedic philosophy a state of misperception of reality the inherent force of... A psychoactive drug or psychotropic substance is a chemical that alters brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness, or behaviour. ... The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ...

The Florentine codex contains multiple references to the use of psychoactive plants among the Aztecs. The 11th book of the series contains identifications of five plant entheogens. R. Gordon Wasson, Richard Evans Schultes, and Albert Hoffman have suggested that the statue of Xochipilli, the Aztec 'Prince of Flowers,' contains effigies of a number of plant based entheogens. The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ... Entheogens are psychoactive substances that have traditionally been used in a religious context, such as psilocybin-containing mushrooms and Peyote cactuses. ... R. Gordon Wasson (September 22, 1898 – December 23, 1986) was an author, amateur researcher and banker. ... Richard Evans Schultes (January 12, 1915 – April 10, 2001) may be considered the father of modern ethnobotany, not only in his devotion to the study of native uses of entheogenic or hallucinogenic plants, especially in the Amazon, in his lifelong collaborations with chemists, but also in his charismatic influence as... Dr. Albert Hofmann Dr. Albert Hofmann (born 11 January Swiss scientist and best known as the father of LSD. He was born in Baden, Switzerland, and studied chemistry at the University of Zurich. ... In Aztec mythology, Xochipilli was the god of love, games, beauty, dance, flowers, maize, and song. ... Entheogens are psychoactive substances that have traditionally been used in a religious context, such as psilocybin-containing mushrooms and Peyote cactuses. ...

The plants were primarily used by the priests, or tlamacazqui, other nobility, and visiting dignitaries. They would use them for divination much as the indigenous groups of central Mexico do today. The priests would also ingest the entheogens to engage in prophecy, interpret visions, and heal. This man in Rhumsiki, Cameroon, tells the future by interpreting the changes in position of various objects as caused by a fresh-water crab through nggàm[1]. Divination is the practice of ascertaining information from supernatural sources. ... The word indigenous is an adjective derived from the Latin word indigena, meaning native, belonging to, aboriginal; and has several applications: Indigenous peoples, communities and cultures native or indigenous to a territory; Indigenous (band), a Native American blues-rock band; In biology, indigenous means native to a place or biota... Prophecy, in a broad sense, is the prediction of future events. ... In religion, visions comprise inspirational renderings, generally of a future state and/or of a mythical being, and are believed (by followers of the religion) to come from a deity, directly or indirectly via prophets, and serve to inspire or prod believers as part of a revelation or an epiphany. ...

The Aztecs also utilized the psychoactive properties of their plants to cause harm in others. Mixitl, Ololiuqui, Toloatzin, Tlapatl and many others were used in malevolent ways, by either mixing it in the intended victims food or a beverage such as cacao. The Aztecs also gave psychedelics to their prisoners prior to being sacrificed. The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ... Binomial name Rivea corymbosa (L.)Hallier f. ... Binomial name Theobroma cacao L. For the town in French Guiana see Cacao, French Guiana Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is a small (4-8 m tall) evergreen tree in the family Malvaceae (formerly Sterculiaceae), native to tropical South America, but now cultivated throughout the tropics. ... The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

Ololiuqui and Tlitliltzin

Ololiuqui (Coatl xoxouhqui) was identified as Rivea corymbosa in 1941 by Richard Evans Schultes. The name Ololiuqui refers to the brown seeds of the Rivea corymbosa plant. Tlitliltzin was identified later as being Ipomea violocea by R. Gordon Wasson. This variation contains black seeds and usually has bluish hued flowers. Binomial name Rivea corymbosa (L.)Hallier f. ... Binomial name Rivea corymbosa (L.)Hallier f. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Richard Evans Schultes (January 12, 1915 – April 10, 2001) may be considered the father of modern ethnobotany, not only in his devotion to the study of native uses of entheogenic or hallucinogenic plants, especially in the Amazon, in his lifelong collaborations with chemists, but also in his charismatic influence as... Binomial name Rivea corymbosa (L.)Hallier f. ... Binomial name Rivea corymbosa (L.)Hallier f. ... Binomial nomenclature Ipomoea violacea L. Ipomoea violacea is a species of morning glory that occurs throughout the tropics. ... R. Gordon Wasson (September 22, 1898 – December 23, 1986) was an author, amateur researcher and banker. ...

The seeds of these plants contain the psychoactive tryptamine d-lysergic acid amide, or LSA. The preperation of the seeds involved grinding them on a metate, then filtering them with water to extract the alkaloids. The resulting brew was then drank to bring forth visions. Tryptamine (3-(2-aminoethyl)indole) is a monoamine compound that is widespread in nature. ... LSA is an acronym standing for: Linguistic Society of America d-Lysergic acid amide Latent semantic analysis Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (Skin disease) Link-state advertisement A Linseed Sunflower Almond mix used in Dr Sandra Cabots Liver Cleansing Diet (Linseed is called Flaxseed in the USA) This page concerning... A metate is the large stone slab on which grain is crushed with a mano. ...

The Florentine Codex Book 11 describes the Ololiuqui intoxication: Binomial name Rivea corymbosa (L.)Hallier f. ...

It makes one besotted; it deranges one, troubles one, maddens one, makes one possessed. He who eats it, who drinks it, sees many things which greatly terrify him. He is really frightened [by the] poisonous serpent which he sees for that reason.

The morning glory was also utilized in healing rituals by the ticitl. The ticitl would often take ololiuqui to determine the cause of diseases and illness. It was also used as a anastethic to ease pain by creating a paste from the seeds and tobacco leaf, then rubbing it on the affected body part. Ipomoea indica in Baja California Morning glory is one of several climbing plants of the following species, all belonging to the Convolvulaceae. ... Binomial name Rivea corymbosa (L.)Hallier f. ... Species N. glauca N. longiflora N. rustica N. sylvestris N. tabacum Ref: ITIS 30562 as of August 26, 2005 Tobacco (, L.) refers to a genus of broad-leafed plants of the nightshade family, which is indigenous to North and South America, or to their dried and cured leaves. ...

Teoanácatl

Known as teonanácatl, or "flesh of the gods," the psilocybe species of mushroom has a long history of use within Mesoamerica. The members of the Aztec upper class would often take teonanácatl at festivals and other large gatherings. According to Tezozomoc, it was often a difficult task to procure mushrooms. They were quite costly as well as very difficult to locate, requiring all-night searches. Species See text. ... Tezozomoc was a Tepanec leader who ruled the city-state of Azcapotzalco from 1371 to 1426. ...

Both Fray Bernardino de Sahagún and Fray Toribio de Motolinía describe the use of the mushrooms. The Aztecs would drink chocolate and eat the mushrooms with honey. Those partaking in the mushroom ceremonies would fast before ingesting the sacrament. The act of taking mushrooms is known as monanacahuia, meaning to "mushroom oneself". Chocolate comes in dark, milk, and white varieties with cocoa solids contributing to the brown coloration. ... Honey Honey (born May 26, 1990 in New York City, America) is an international supermodel. ... The abbreviation FAST may have several meanings, depending on context: Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope – The world largest single dish radio antenna in southwest China. ... A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace. ...

At the very first, mushrooms had been served...They ate no more food; they only drank chocolate during the night. And they ate the mushrooms with honey. When the mushrooms took effect on them, then they danced, then they wept. But some, while still in command of their senses, entered and sat there by the house on their seats; they did no more, but only sat there nodding.

Perhaps the best known uses of the mushrooms are among the feasts of Montezuma. At his coronation ceremony, many prisoners were sacrificed, had their flesh eaten, and their hearts removed. Those who were invited guests to the feast ate mushrooms, which Diego Durán describes as causing those who ate them to go insane and many to take their lives. Montezuma is an older English spelling of the name now more correctly spelled Moctezuma (or hypercorrectly as Motecuhzoma). ... Diego Durán (c. ...

Sinicuichi

Not much is known of the use of sinicuichi (alternate spelling sinicuiche) among the Aztecs. R. Gordon Wasson identified the flower on the statue of Xochipilli and suggested that from its placement with other entheogens that it probably used in a ritualistic context among the Aztecs. Multiple alkaloids have been isolated from the plant; with cryogenine, lythrine, nesodine being the most important. Species Heimia myrtifolia Heimia salicifolia Sinicuichi (Heimia), also known as Sun Opener or Shrubby Yellowcrest, is a genus of two or three species of shrubs in the family Lythraceae, native to the New World, from northern Argentina north to the southernmost United States (southern Texas). ... The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ... R. Gordon Wasson (September 22, 1898 – December 23, 1986) was an author, amateur researcher and banker. ... In Aztec mythology, Xochipilli was the god of love, games, beauty, dance, flowers, maize, and song. ... The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ... Cryogenine, alo known as Vertine or (10α)-4,5-dimethoxy-2-hydroxylythran-12-one, is an alkaloid of unique structure from Heimia salicifolia. ...

Sinicuichi could be the plant tonatiuh yxiuh from the Aztec Herbal of 1552. The tonatiuh prefix refers to the sun. This is interesting because today in Central and South America, sinicuichi is often called abre-o-sol, or the "sun opener." Tonatiuh yxiuh is described as being a summer blooming plant, as is Heimia. Species Heimia myrtifolia Heimia salicifolia Sinicuichi (Heimia), also known as Sun Opener or Shrubby Yellowcrest, is a genus of two or three species of shrubs in the family Lythraceae, native to the New World, from northern Argentina north to the southernmost United States (southern Texas). ... Species Heimia myrtifolia Heimia salicifolia Sinicuichi (Heimia), also known as Sun Opener or Shrubby Yellowcrest, is a genus of two or three species of shrubs in the family Lythraceae, native to the New World, from northern Argentina north to the southernmost United States (southern Texas). ... Species Heimia myrtifolia Heimia salicifolia Sinicuichi (Heimia), also known as Sun Opener or Shrubby Yellowcrest, is a genus of two or three species of shrubs in the family Lythraceae, native to the New World, from northern Argentina north to the southernmost United States (southern Texas). ...

The Herbal also includes a recipe for a potion to conquer fear. It reads:

Let one who is fear-burdened take as a drink a potion made of the herb tonatiuh yxiuh which throws out the brightness of gold.

One of the effects of sinicuichi is that it adds a golden halo or tinge to objects when ingested. Species Heimia myrtifolia Heimia salicifolia Sinicuichi (Heimia), also known as Sun Opener or Shrubby Yellowcrest, is a genus of two or three species of shrubs in the family Lythraceae, native to the New World, from northern Argentina north to the southernmost United States (southern Texas). ...

Tlapatl and Mixitl

Tlapatl and mixitl are both Datura species, Datura stromonium and Datura innoxia, with strong hallucinogenic qualities. The plants typically have large, white or purple hued, trumpet-shaped flowers and spiny seeds pods. The active alkaloids are atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. Species see text Datura is a genus of herb and shrub plants belonging to the Solanaceae. ... Structure of atropine (hyoscyamine) Atropine is a tropane alkaloid extracted from the deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) and other plants of the family Solanaceae. ... Scopolamine, also known as hyoscine, is an tropane alkaloid drug obtained from plants of the Solanaceae family (Nightshade), such as henbane or jimson weed (Datura stramonium). ... Hyoscyamine is a chemical compound, a tropane alkaloid it is the levo-isomer to atropine. ...

The use of datura spans millenia. It has been employed by both many indigenous groups in North, Central, and South America for a variety of uses. Called toloache today in Mexico, datura species were used among the Aztec for medicine, divination, and maleovalent purposes. Species see text Datura is a genus of herb and shrub plants belonging to the Solanaceae. ... Species see text Datura is a genus of herb and shrub plants belonging to the Solanaceae. ... The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ...

For healing, tlapatl was made into an ointment which was spread over infected areas to cure gout, as well as applied as a local anesthetic. The plants were also utilized to cause harm to others. For example, it was believed that mixitl would cause a person to become paralyzed and mute, while tlapatl will cause those who take it to be disturbed and go mad.

Peyotl

The cactus known as peyotl, or more commonly peyote (Lophophora williamsii), has a rich history of use in Mesoamerica. It's use in northern Mexico among the Huichol has been written about extensively. Peyotl was identified from the Xochipilli statue. It's thought that since peyote only grows in certain regions of Mexico the Aztecs would receive dried buttons through long-distance trade. Peyote was viewed as being a protective plant by the Aztec. Sahagún suggested that the plant is what allowed the Aztec warriors to fight like they did. Binomial name Lophophora williamsii Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a small spineless cactus whose native region extends from the southwestern United States (including the states of Texas and New Mexico) through central Mexico. ... Binomial name Lophophora williamsii Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a small spineless cactus whose native region extends from the southwestern United States (including the states of Texas and New Mexico) through central Mexico. ... Mesoamerica is the region extending from central Mexico south to the northwestern border of Costa Rica that gave rise to a group of stratified, culturally related agrarian civilizations spanning an approximately 3,000-year period before the European discovery of the New World by Columbus. ... The Huichol are an indigenous ethnic group of Western Central Mexico that live in the Sierra Madre Occidental. ... Binomial name Lophophora williamsii Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a small spineless cactus whose native region extends from the southwestern United States (including the states of Texas and New Mexico) through central Mexico. ... In Aztec mythology, Xochipilli was the god of love, games, beauty, dance, flowers, maize, and song. ... Binomial name Lophophora williamsii (Lem. ... The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ... For other uses of the word button, see Button (disambiguation). ... The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ... The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ...

Pipiltzintzintli

R. Gordon Wasson has posited that the plant known as pipiltzintzintli is in fact Salvia divinorum. It's not entirely known whether or not this plant was used by the Aztecs as a psychotropic, but Jonathan Ott argues that although there are competing species for the identification of pipiltzintzintli Salvia divinorum is probably the "best bet." There are references to use of pipiltzintzintli in Spanish arrest records from the conquest, as well as a reference to the mixing of ololiuqui with pipiltzintzintli. R. Gordon Wasson (September 22, 1898 – December 23, 1986) was an author, amateur researcher and banker. ... Binomial name Salvia divinorum Salvia divinorum (also known as Diviners sage, María Pastora or simply Salvia) is a psychoactive plant, a member of the sage genus and the Lamiaceae (mint) family. ... The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Binomial name Salvia divinorum Salvia divinorum (also known as Diviners sage, María Pastora or simply Salvia) is a psychoactive plant, a member of the sage genus and the Lamiaceae (mint) family. ... Binomial name Rivea corymbosa (L.)Hallier f. ...

Contemporaneously, the Mazatec, meaning "people of the deer" in Nahuatl, from the Oaxaca region of Mexico utilize Salvia divinorum when Psilocybe spp. mushrooms are not available. They chew quids of fresh salvia leaves to enter into a shamanic state of conscioussness. The Mazatec use the plant in both divination and healing. Perhaps the Aztec used it in a similar way. Image:Wassonsalviaphoto1. ... Nahuatl is a native language of central Mexico. ... The Mexican state of Oaxaca (Pronounced wa-HA-ka) is in the south west of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. ... Binomial name Salvia divinorum Salvia divinorum (also known as Diviners sage, María Pastora or simply Salvia) is a psychoactive plant, a member of the sage genus and the Lamiaceae (mint) family. ... The tertium quids (sometimes shortened to quids) was a faction of the Republican Party during the early 1800s. ... This article is about the sage plant; for other uses see Sage (disambiguation) Species Salvia aethiopis L. Salvia amissa Epling Salvia apiana Jepson Salvia argentea L. Salvia arizonica Gray Salvia azurea Michx. ... Image:Wassonsalviaphoto1. ... The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ...

Picietl

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), or picietl, was also used among the Aztecs. This plant was identified on the Xochipilli statue as well as on other items such as snuff boxes. The Aztec smoked and chewed tobacco, and possibly drank infusions of the plant to induce visions. Certain rites and ceremonies required the use of tobacco. One dedicated to Tlaloc involves chewing tobacco to enter an altered state: Species N. glauca N. longiflora N. rustica N. sylvestris N. tabacum Ref: ITIS 30562 as of August 26, 2005 Tobacco (, L.) refers to a genus of broad-leafed plants of the nightshade family, which is indigenous to North and South America, or to their dried and cured leaves. ... In Aztec mythology, Xochipilli was the god of love, games, beauty, dance, flowers, maize, and song. ... The word Aztec is usually used as a historical term, although some contemporary Nahuatl speakers would consider themselves Aztecs. ... Tlaloc, as depicted in the Magliabechi Codex Tlaloc was, in Aztec mythology, the god of rain and fertility. ...

In another ritual a priest would climb a mountain naked and painted black, carrying fir boughs and a conch trumpet. He would chew tobacco and periodically blow the horn. After piercing his ears and thighs with spines to let blood, he would retrace his steps stumbling.

Sources

• De Rios, Marlene Dobkin. "Hallucinogens, cross-cultural perspectives." University of New Mexico Press. Albuqueque, New Mexico, 1984.
• Dibble, Charles E., et al. (trans). "Florentine Codex: Book 9." The University of Utah. Utah, 1959.
• Dibble, Charles E., et al. (trans). "Florentine Codex: Book 11 - Earthly Things." The School of American Research. Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1963.
• Elferink, Jan G. R., Flores, Jose A., Kaplan Charles D. "The Use of Plants and Other Natural Products for Malevolent Practices Among the Aztecs and Their Successors." Estudios de Cultura Nahuatl Volume 24, 1994.
• Furst, Peter T. "Flesh of the Gods: The Ritual Use of Hallucinogens." Waveland Press, Prospect Heights, Illinois, 1972.
• Gates, William. "The De La Cruz-Badiano Aztec Herbal of 1552." The Maya Society. Baltimore, Maryland, 1939.
• Hofmann, Albert. "Teonanácatl and Ololiuqui, two ancient magic drugs of Mexico." UNODC Bulletin on Narcotics. Issue 1, pp.3-14, 1971.
• Ott, Jonathan. "On Salvia divinorum" Eleusis, n. 4, pp.31-39, April, 1996.
• Schultes, Richard Evans. "The Plant Kingdom and the Hallucinogens." UNODC Bulletin on Narcotics. Issue 4, 1969.
• Steck, Francis Borgia. "Motolinia's History of the Indians of New Spain." William Byrd Press, Inc. Richmond, Virginia, 1951.
• Townsend, Richard F. "The Aztecs." Thames & Hudson Inc. New York, New York, 2000.

External links

• Erowid
• Lycaeum
• Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments: An Entheogen Chrestomathy