Turbina corymbosa
Rivea Corymbosa is a species of morning glory plants, originating in Latin America, thriving in Mexico, but also found in Peru. Widely, it has been naturalized in the present day. A perennial climbing vine, the beauty of the white flowers make it a popular choice for home gardens as an ornamental plant. These flowers secrete an abundance of nectar, attracting honey bees. In Cuba, it is considered one of the main honey plants.
Known to the local indigenous tribes in Mexico as Ololiuqui, or ’round thing’, the seeds of this incredible plant were likely the most common hallucinogenic drug used by local natives. First discovered in 1941, and being further identified as a psychedelic with an ergoline alkaloid structure similar to that of LSD. The seeds of this climber plant contain LSA, which is a hallucinogen bringing the user into a dreamlike state. Long ago, the Aztecs used these seeds to communicate with the gods.
Most people eat and digest the seeds for the effects. First, the seeds must be finely shopped. Afterward, they are steeped in distilled water. It is important to used distilled water, as contaminants in the tap water may break down the psychoactive ingredient LSA. To ensure you digest all of the material, it is recommended to chew the seeds before you swallow as you drink the tea infusion. Take your time when doing so, many people experience nausea during the onset and digestion stage of consuming this hallucinogenic substance. After an hour or two, that feeling will subside, and you will start to fall into deep relaxing and euphoric state.
The effects of digesting rivea corymbosa is similar to that of magic mushroms, peyote, or LSD, however they don’t often invoke immediate hallucinations. What you can expect is that they will bring you into an almost trance like dream state, with a euphoric feeling and vivid visions. The durations of these Ololiuqui trips range from 10-14 hours, but is highly dependant on the dosage.
Opinions on the appropriate dosages are divided. It is said that the Aztecs used roughly 20 seeds for a single trip, however many people say you need anywhere from 50 up to one hundred seeds! As with any psychedelic trip, please be smart with your decisions. Do not operate a motor vehicle or combine it with any other active substances. It is not recommended for those suffering from depression, anxiety, or any type of psychoses.
Ololiuqui seeds have a long history of use in Central Mexico and have been used ritualistically since Pre-Hispanic times by the Aztecs. There are many benefits for consumption, to alleviate pain, ulcers, inflammation. Or even use it as a ‘psychic serum’, read more about the ancient uses in this article.
The Maya use R. corymbosa as a diuretic treatment for bruises and external wounds. In Guatemala, the leaves are used to treat tumors. In ancient Mexican folk medicine, R. corymbosa served as a diuretic, an anti-flatulence aid, a remedy for venereal troubles, a pain reliever, a treatment for wounds and bruises, and as medicine thought to dissolve tumors. It was also believed to assist in women in giving birth (Schultes 1941).
In modern times, dried or fresh R. corymbosa seeds are added to alcoholic beverages such as mescal or pulque (agave), aguardiente (sugar cane liquor), tepache (maize beer, also known as chicha), and balché. Fresh seeds are crushed, added to the beverage, and then allowed to steep for at least a few hours. This drink is known as piule, and is used to enter hypnotic states (Ratsch 1998, 515).
Fifteen or more seeds may be ground and allowed to soak in a half cup of water. According to the Zapotec, a shamanic dose consists of thirteen pairs of seeds. Other traditional doses are fourteen or twenty-two seeds. For Western studies, doses from sixty to one hundred seeds were used. Doses as high as five hundred seeds have been tested, but such high doses almost always lead to very unpleasant results, complete with vomiting and diarrhea (Brenneisen 1994 cited in Ratsch 1998, 515).
The fresh seeds of R. corymbosa contain up to 0.07% ergot alkaloids, primarily ergine. Terpene glycosides and galactomannanes have also been isolated. The leaves and the stalks also contain psychoactive indole alkaloids at lower concentrations (Cook & Kealand 1962).
Reported effects of R. corymbosa include apathy and increased sensitivity to visual stimulation. After four hours, a phase of relaxation and well-being generally begin. Doses that are too high usually result in vomiting. According to native shamans, the seeds provide very strong visionary effects, but most Western users find the experience to be primarily hypnotic and sedating. There may be genetic or cultural differences which cause these marked discrepancies in reported experiences (Ratsch 1998, 517).
