Calea zacatechichi, also known as Dream Herb, Cheech, and Bitter Grass, is a plant used by the indigenous Chontal of the Mexican state of Oaxaca for oneiromancy (a form of divination based on dreams.) It has been scientifically demonstrated that extracts of this plant increase reaction times and the frequency and/or recollection of dreams^[1] versus placebo and diazepam. It is also employed by the Chontal people as a medicinal herb against gastrointestinal disorders, and is used as an appetizer, cathartic anti-dysentery remedy, and as a fever-reducing agent. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants (also angiosperms or Magnoliophyta) are one of the major groups of modern plants, comprising those that produce seeds in specialized reproductive organs called flowers, where the ovulary or carpel is enclosed. ... Magnoliopsida is the botanical name for a class of flowering plants. ... Families Alseuosmiaceae Argophyllaceae Asteraceae - Daisies Calyceraceae Campanulaceae (incl. ... Diversity About 1500 genera and 23,000 species Type Genus Aster L. Subfamilies Barnadesioideae Cichorioideae Tribe Arctotidae Tribe Cardueae Tribe Eremothamneae Tribe Lactuceae Tribe Liabeae Tribe Mutisieae Tribe Tarchonantheae Tribe Vernonieae Asteroideae Tribe Anthemideae Tribe Astereae Tribe Calenduleae Tribe Eupatorieae Tribe Gnaphalieae Tribe Helenieae Tribe Heliantheae Tribe Inuleae Tribe Plucheae... Calea or CALEA may refer to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies [[Communications Assistance forhttp://upload. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Mayas at San Juan Chamula, Chiapas Mexico has defined itself, in the second article of its constitution, as a pluricultural nation, in recognition of the diverse ethnic groups that constitute it. ... The United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos or Mexico) comprises 31 states (estados) and one federal district (Distrito Federal), which contains the capital, Mexico City. ... Catedral de Santo Domingo The Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca or simply Oaxaca   is one of the 31 states of Mexico, located in the southern part of Mexico, west of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. ... Oneiromancy is a form of divination by the analysis and interpretation of dreams. ... For other uses, see Divination (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Dream (disambiguation). ... Reaction time, in humans, is the elapsed time between the receiving of stimuli and the subsequent reaction. ... For other uses, see Placebo (disambiguation). ... Diazepam (IPA: ), first marketed as Valium by Hoffmann-La Roche, is a drug which is a benzodiazepine derivative. ... For the group of Hokan languages spoken in Oaxaca, please see Chontal languages. ... Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. ... Dysentery (formerly known as flux or the bloody flux) is frequent, small-volume, severe diarrhea that shows blood in the feces along with intestinal cramping and tenesmus (painful straining to pass stool). ...

Use

Dried leaves and flowers of C. zacatechichi

The Chontal medicine men, who assert that this plant is capable of "clarifying the senses", call it thle-pela-kano, meaning "leaf of God". Whenever they desire to know the cause of an illness or the location of a distant or lost person, dry leaves of the plant are smoked, drunk in infusions, and put under the pillow before going to sleep. Reportedly, the answer to the question comes in a dream.^[2] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixels, file size: 135 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A picuture of dried Calea zacatechichi leaves. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixels, file size: 135 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A picuture of dried Calea zacatechichi leaves. ... Medicine man is an English term used to describe Native American religious figures; such individuals are analogous to shamans. ...

Preparation & Dosage

Crushed dried leaves are steeped in hot water, and the resulting tea is drunk slowly, after which the user lies down in a quiet place and smokes a cigarette of the dried leaves of the same plant. The human dose for divinatory purposes reported by the Chontal people is a handful of the dried plant. The user knows that he or she has taken a large enough dose when a sense of tranquility and drowsiness is experienced and when he or she hears the beats of his or her own heart and pulse. Calea is a rather bitter herb. Many users prefer to smoke it rather than drinking the tea. There are no reports of hangover or other undesirable side effects. Two unlit filtered cigarettes. ... ˌ For other uses, see Pulse (disambiguation). ...

Cultivation

A C. zacatechichi cutting developing new roots in a humidity tent

Growing Calea from seeds is a difficult task, the most common way to grow it is propagation from cuttings. The Calea plant likes full sun, good drained soils and a lot of irrigation. A good soil mix for calea cultivation is: 1/3 of a rich substrate, 1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 of humus. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (768 × 1024 pixels, file size: 142 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) a picture of a cutting of Calea zacatechichi in a humidity tent growing new roots. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (768 × 1024 pixels, file size: 142 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) a picture of a cutting of Calea zacatechichi in a humidity tent growing new roots. ...

Propagation from seeds can be tried with the following method: Sow the seeds in a pot with the soil mix indicated as above. Don't cover the seeds, moisten the seeds with water and cover with a plastic bag. This little greenhouse needs from 4 to 6 hours of light to germinate. If the seeds dry out during this period, the plants will not germinate.

Law

Calea zacatechichi is an unscheduled substance in the United States, meaning that it is completely legal to grow and sell. However, Louisiana State Act 159 makes the substance illegal to grow, cultivate, harvest or sell in that state if intended for ingestion. The act applies to more than 40 types of plants. ^[3] Signed into law Jun 28, 2005 and effective Aug 8, 2005, Louisiana State Act No 159 made 40 plants illegal when intended for human consumption, excluding specifically possession, planting, cultivation, growing, or harvesting the plants for strictly for aesthetic, landscaping, or decorative purposes. ...

Tennessee proposed a bill that would have made many "hallucinogenic" plants, including Calea zacatechichi, illegal when "intended for human consumption," but the law was changed to only ban Salvia divinorum. ^[4] Binomial name Epling & Játiva[1] Salvia divinorum, also known as Diviners Sage,[2] Magic Mint,[2] María Pastora,[3] Sage of the Seers, or simply Salvia (although the genus name is shared among many plants), is a powerful psychoactive plant, a member of the sage genus and...

References

1. ^ Psychopharmacologic Analysis of an Alleged Oneirogenic Plant Calea zacatechichi L Mayagoitia, JL Diaz, CM Contreras, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 18 (1986) 229-243 Eleavier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd
2. ^ Ethnopharmacology and taxonomy of Mexican psychodysleptic plants. Diaz JL. J Psychedelic Drugs. 1979 Jan-Jun;11(1-2):71-101.
3. ^ Erowid. "Calea zacatechichi Legal Status Erowid.org. Jun 20 2006.
4. ^ Erowid E. "Comments on New State Laws Controlling the Consumption of Hallucinogenic Plants." Erowid.org. Jun 20 2006.

External links

• Calea Zacatechichi resources at Erowid
• Calea Zacatechichi resources at Lycaeum
• Calea Zacatechichi- Dream Herb

Images

http://www.weberseeds.de/species/calea_zacatechichi.htm