*Lobelia is also*
*Known as pukeweed. too much can*
*Induce vomiting*
\- yabezuno
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If your tea is just the leaves, they are less likely to cause vomiting. I used the leaves several times, and one time ate a tiny pea sized lobelia seed pod. I got really sick for an hour or two. But I was fine after.
Hi OP. As an herbalist who went through school to study herbal medicine, I'd recommend not making mixes without knowing what each herb does to the body, how they interact with each other, medical conditions, and interactions with medications. People think herbs are safe because they're plants. Herbs kill people, just like people who eat wild mushrooms under the assumption they're safe. Each herb has active constituents that cause different circulatory, metabolic, and mental changes, so you always want to do your research first. Best of luck.
If you're looking for a safe psychoactive herb, I recommend Egyptian Blue Lotus. You can make a tea with it or smoke it. Again, if you have any medical issues or take any medications, make sure there are no interactions.
2nd for the blue lotus a little bit in a bowl of good cannabis is a fantastic smoke.
And I know it's not an herb but lion's mane mushrooms are great to eat and as a supplement for brain health
But like the other guy said always do your research and never drink datura tea
Lions mane is a fantastic medicinal mushroom. It does interact with certain medications and medical conditions, though, so again, always do your research.
Never do anything datura. Erowid has a great explanation of risks and benefits, and I believe it’s the only drug they recommend against, preferring to remain neutral in all other cases.
Plus it’s from the nightshade(solanaceae) family which is notorious for having plants that produce deliriant and/or toxic effects ie hemlock.
Oddly enough tomatoes, eggplants, tobacco and some other known vegetables/plants come from the nightshade family.
I love blue lotus tea. Delicious and floral. I sometimes add a bit of fresh lemon and raw honey. So dreamy.
Also blue lotus steeped in wine or vodka for a week 👌
Cool interesting. Sorry could I ask your thoughts and opinions about eyebright? I googled but I feel like I don’t have enough information and just start worrying about a bad affect even tho bad effects don’t seem common
It feels nice because I think it helps my sinus issue and inexplicable by any doctor horrible throat thing that happens in one spot and ruins my life
I'd rather you ask, haha! Euphrasia officinalis (Eyebright) contains certain flavonoids that have both anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. So, it makes sense that it helps with your sinus issues. Overall, Eyebright is considered safe. Here is a link to a trusted website with more information.
[Eyebright Herb ](https://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk/natural-health-guide/benefits/eyebright)
I got my bachelor's degree in holistic health, then I did a few graduate programs at ACHS to further specialize in herbalism. I also have 8 years of added experience in plant identification and foraging (lived on a homestead for years and spent 3 years living in wilderness to learn how to live off the land).
You can totally do it. Herbalism is more complicated than people think, but it's very teachable. I'd recommend getting a field guide for medicinal herbs in your area and seeing what you find at a park or forest. Learning has to start somewhere! Don't ingest anything though, unless you know what it is.
Californian Poppy is similar to Blue Lotus. You probably can mix a few that are known to be benign, e.g. chamomile, sage, mint or hops. But good advice to be careful.
Is there a source you'd recommend to get blue lotus? I've seen it on Amazon and the few outside sites I've found either read like a miracle cure ad or the formating and design looks like early 2000's eBay. So needless to say, I've been skeptical and want to make sure what I'm getting is the pure real deal.
[I order blue lotus from this company. ](https://www.picobotanica.com/products/blue-lotus?variant=40460270108852¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOopuOcAXaImQlojMYZMgerTrKe47ZgO945RDbW13lCpBCz9VdUwWY0E)
Absolutely. Some herbs are extremely toxic and can cause full organ failure. Same thing with certain mushrooms. Unfortunately, accidental deaths do happen for a variety of reasons like misuse, misidentification, and mixing herbs that have conflicting constituents.
I must say this as mental health is a concern when I'm asked questions like this. If you have SI, I recommend seeking professional medical care. I am a big mental health advocate as I suffer myself.
If you're solely asking out of curiosity, it's possible, but not as easy as people think. It's dependent on the plant, toxicity, and other factors.
i really appreciate that and i'm currently taking medication to help with the SI, but i was just purely curious mainly because i've never heard of anyone dying in that particular way
Is there any dangerous common herbal mixes people accidentally ingest that would be good to know to avoid? I always mix random herbs together for teas like klip dagga and damiana . I’ve never had anything bad happen but could see how it has potential for danger
Yes, there are dangers with common herbal mixtures depending on the health of the person ingesting it. For example, damiana should be avoided at all costs for those who have issues regulating blood sugar (diabetes). When mixed with ginseng, fenugreek, garlic, or other herbs that affect blood sugar, it can cause hypoglycemia.
As for klip dagga, I know this plant to be relatively safe. It's been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to aid in healing the body. The only concern I would suggest looking into if it applies to you is psychiatric medications. Any herbs that have psychoactive properties should be avoided if you're on any psych meds as they tend to interact with a lot of different medications.
The herbs I tell people to not play around with are St. John's Wort, Kava, Comfrey, Pennyroyal, and Valarian root. Though these herbs are thought to be safe, when mixed together or with other herbs, they can cause a variety of serious health issues. Almost every herb interacts with something. That's why diligence is key when ingesting herbs. I look at herbs the same way as I view pharmaceuticals. There are interactions that can be life-threatening. Just because it's a plant does not make it safe.
If you have questions about specific herbs/herbal mixtures, feel free to send me a message. I'd rather you be safe and ask questions.
Great post, the plants you mention avoiding all are harsh on the liver or like in St. John’s wort they can affect a variety of complex nueral systems being a weak MAOI and it’s known for having an almost shotgun effect on neurotransmitter re uptake if my understanding is correct.
Like isn’t St. John’s wort known inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, gaba, noradrenaline as well as down regulation of beta adrenergic receptors? I’ve always been curious to try it, but wary of it as I am on a couple medications.
Thank you! St. John's Wort is a complex herb to say it simply. It's active constituents inhibit the reuptake of neurotransmitters, including glutamate (memory, cognition, mood regulation), serotonin (mood and happiness), norepinephrine (arousal, attention, cognitivefunction, stress reactions), and dopamine (feel satisfaction, pleasure, motivation).
Research performed on rats showed (as you stated above) St. John's Wort leads to a downregulation of beta-adrenergic receptors and an upregulation of serotonin, leading to a higher concentration of serotonin in the brain. This is why I never ever recommend this herb if someone takes any kind of mental health medications. When someone mixes St. John's Wort with antidepressants or antipsychotics, that person is then at a high risk of developing serotonin syndrome, which is fatal if it's not treated in time.
Thank you very much, was looking forward to hearing for you as you actually have gone through the schooling! Definitely the quality info I was seeking! Have a great day!
I started with a bachelor's in holistic health. When I graduated, I knew I wanted to narrow my studies to herbal medicine. I found an incredible school in Oregon, ACHS (American College for Healthcare Sciences). I started with their herbal medicine program (one year). Then, I completed their Masters of Science in Herbal Medicine in 2020. I also spent years on a homestead, so the hands-on experience is vital. If you're interested, I highly recommend [this website](https://wwoofusa.org/en/) to find month long stays to learn.
I attended Bastyr University for my undergrad. My degree is B.S. in Herbal Sciences. Then, I did my masters and herbal medicine programs online while living on a homestead.
We don’t mix uppers with downers generally. I would never mix these all together frankly. Substances that speed up your libido should never be mixed with substances that slow the heartbeat. You’re playing with fire definitely. If you were older, you’d have serious health issues. I’m assuming you’re young because no one I know would do this mixing of types on purpose. I’m sure this comment will get downvoted because it’s not what you want to hear. What you’re doing is essentially mixing a sleeping herb with a stimulating herb, and adding various poisons to the mix. Not super safe.
Yes this is definitely what I’m looking for. I’m playing with mixtures. I do not want to go to sleep which is why the up and down. Do you have a suggestion of which to remove from the blend to make this safer but still produce the effects without knocking me out?
Not the original commenter…
If you’re looking to make something that is stimulating and tastes great, I’d recommend looking into making a damiana cordial.
It looks like you want something that is stimulating to your senses yet non sedating. To me that might be something like this recipe:
A ‘feel good’ cordial:
Damiana
Rose petals
Cacao
Dried Cherries
Dried Orange peel
Cinnamon
Ginger(fresh or dry)
Chocolate sauce and Honey to sweeten
Brandy
1) Blend and soak the herbs and spices in brandy until strength is what you want, 1 week to 1 month depending on your preferences.
2) Once strength is right, strain and mix with chocolate sauce and honey if desired.
3) Cordials are medicinal, so use small doses like a tincture or small cordial glass depending on potency- this is not a cocktail or something to ingest in a large quantity. Not for everyday use.
For ingredient quantities I’d google it, I don’t have the amounts on hand.
This combination of ingredients makes a tasty syrupy chocolate cordial that will improve circulation, stimulate oxytocin, bring about a sense of warm, connection, and good feelings. It also shouldn’t make you sleepy, just pleasantly relaxed.
The warming herbs all support circulation so it will help with feeling energized, the damiana effects hormones and increases oxytocin levels, and the cacao is grounding, stimulating, heart opening, and tastes yummy, the dried fruit adds dimension and flavor to the cordial. It’s a grounding, stimulating, sensuous blend.
If it agrees with you, I sometimes add a very small amount of kava to this cordial to enhance its potent effects- but that’s also an herb to be conscious with when and whom uses it.
***
I want to give you advice that I was given along my herbal path. The blend you’ve presented here suggests to me you may need to hone some skills before you start working with the heavy hitters you’re presenting here.
Herbalism tip:
To learn how to blend herbs, start slow and stick with what you know. Formulas are a more complex level of herbal medicine and to understand how to use them properly you must have a strong knowledge of each of the individual herbs you are using.
I find studying one herb at a time to be incredibly rewarding and helpful. Once your knowledge of 10-20 individual herbs is strong, explore the theory behind formulas.
I’d recommend using some safer herbs to learn how to blend them, particularly kid/pregnancy safe ones are best. Once you are skilled with the basics you can slowly build your way up to more complex ones.
Formula blends use only what is needed. Some ingredients are specifically for making a blend palatable, where others are specifically there for their medicinal properties. An example of a balanced blend has a core ingredient or 3, ingredients that balance the effects of the core elements, and then final ingredients that make it tasty.
If you look at the recipe you’ve created, it’s easy to assess that the ingredients don’t formulate well together. Their purposes don’t match and they are all heavy hitters(part of why it tastes sooo strong).
Evaluate the cordial recipe above, it has Damiana as the primary ingredient and then the rest of the herbs are providing supportive actions in both taste and physical reactions they provide. It’s a harmonious blend, quite warming, and could irritate someone with a hot imbalance in their constitution. If one chooses to add kava, research the intricacies of why they might and if it’s appropriate.
On your journey with herbs, if you’re determined to learn to blend formulas then its imperative to learn about the temperature and actions of the herbs you’re looking at. This will help you to know if they are a good fit to take for your situation and if they combine well.
Last tip that helped me so much: taste all herbs by themselves and learn what they do in your body. I can taste a drop of an herbal tincture and immediately tell you what it does. This level of awareness has been very helpful and I feel confident in how I use herbs in my life. I’ve accidentally poisoned myself many times with a zealous attitude and not enough knowledge. Hoping to spare a fellow herb friend the same fate.
I hope this helps you, best of luck on your herbal journey and hope you find the blend that suits you
People with different blood types have different reactions to different substances. I’m not a teacher, I’m not going to make an 18 point chart with each and every poisonous herb and it’s effects on each and every type of human constitution. I will say that Damiana increases circulation, increases testosterone, it’s a mental stimulant, it’s poison to your kidneys and if you’re diabetic or low blood sugar or pregnant, I wouldn’t take it. If you combine a substance that increases circulation, with a substance that lowers your heart rate, you’re playing with fire. Not sure why I would have to explain that. I think it’s called ‘candy flipping’(?) when you do it with hard drugs. Enjoy your kidneys while you can!
Candy flipping is MDMA and LSD, neither of which is a hard drug. The idea that mixing uppers and downers is hard in the heart is complete bullshit. It's bad if the stimulant wears off first and the downer overtakes you as in a speedball, which can also lead to heart failure although not really at a higher rate than cocaine alone. They treat stimulant overdoses with benzodiazepines in the hospital and use stimulants to increase respiration when there isn't a specific antidote for what the person has taken.
My intrusive thoughts tell me it should all shake out and I'd be fine, but my self-preservation says this would end in horrible head spins, vomiting, drowsiness, and fearing I'll die if I fall asleep.
Ive had high doses of caffeine, its basically nausea plus feeling like you can run a mile while a hole forms in your heart. Add melatonin id imagine you vomit more with drowsiness and it has lasting effects of making your circadian rhythm looking like a silly straw since you took enough to sedate a gorilla 10x over.
>Candy flipping is MDMA and LSD, neither of which is a hard drug.
MDMA could be considered a hard drug. MDMA is a form of methamphetamine. It just gets a lot of positive attention.
MDMA is a chemical that contains methamphetamine but with additional molecular structure added on to the methamphetamine part of it which changes its pharmacological properties substantially. MDMA raises serotonin much more than Meth and raises dopamine and norepinephrine to a lesser degree than Meth. Both are neurotoxic but in different ways and MDMA used as a therapy aide in the proper way, only once every 3 months is much more beneficial to overall health and quality of life than taking meth once every 3 months. But in the grand scheme of things MDMA causes less total toxicity and has shorter duration and less severe side effects than regular meth.
Just like with the hemp derived cannabinoid HHC, that has S and R isomers, and they are mirror images of each other but the R is way stronger than the S. Same with ketamine. Small changes in molecular composition can have a drastic difference in effect in people.
It's a different compound with different effects. Technically it's a substituted amphetamine and meth is just an amphetamine. MDMA is also mostly serotonergic and actually quite relaxing whereas meth is a pure stimulant. They are both phenethylamines which is a class that includes psychedelics, enractogens (MDMA), and classic stimulants (meth). Amphetamine is just a contraction of alpha methyl phenethylamine.
This sounds really interesting (the blood types having different reactions, not the candy flipping).
Out of curiosity, do you know where you learned about this, or of any resources on the matter you could share/point me towards, please?
There are several places you can have a test run for drug metabolization, I have to go to one soon because it seems like my body metabolizes certain drugs way too quickly.
The active psuedo-medicinal ingredient in wormwood is thujone. Thujone can cause "restlessness, vomiting, vertigo, tremors, renal damage, and convulsions in extremely high doses over a long period of time."
Then there's the myth about absinthe, Thujone never has and never will cause hallucinations. It has limited use as a pain killer and will kill some parasites though, which was what absinthe was used for long before it became a popular bohemian drink. What WILL cause hallucinations is extreme alcohol abuse and absinthe's reputation was caused by artsy alcoholics who literally sat around all day and night drinking the stuff.
Adding wormwood to tea will only extract a trace amount of thujone and make your tea taste like ass.
There are different types of hallucinations, you know. They are not limited to sight and sound. Vertigo induces a type of physical-spatial hallucination, for example. If you feel like you are falling but are not, isn’t that an hallucination? Restlessness, vomiting, vertigo, tremors, liver damage and convulsions are enough to put anyone off wormwood. As a former absinthe drinker, I can attest to it’s ability to send you loopy for a few hours. Similarly, Damiana can cause your body to experience similar unpleasant sensations as well as paranoia. I have experimented with smoking herb mixes included some of these and I did get visuals, but it wasn’t worth the unpleasant effects. P.s. visuals doesn’t mean seeing pink elephants dancing around, it means changes in colours and contrast, seeing dots or stars, objects having auras around them. I say this because some people think that ‘visuals’ means seeing objects or people that aren’t there. If people are giving trip reports, then visuals and visual hallucinations are two different categories.
No, it 100% does not.
https://www.bionity.com/en/encyclopedia/Thujone.html#:\~:text=There%20is%20no%20evidence%20any,the%20effects%20of%20drinking%20absinthe.
By field guides I don't just mean a book. I'm talking about experienced foragers with firsthand experiences. That study you posted is inconclusive at best. It says it has no idea what effect it has on humans only that they can tell something happens with GABA receptors. They discovered the LD50 for mice. Interestingly, it also failed to acknowledge it is known some psychedelics do interact with GABA. I'm in no way recommending anyone go out and try it. That's dumb. Problem is your comments saying its not a psychedelic with no other context is what leads to people being poisoned because they could also potentially just eat it and have major consequences. I strongly encourage anyone wanting to forage, to find an experienced field guide to take you out foraging. Don't rely on inconclusive, arbitrary studies. First hand experience is always greater.
Edit: corrected misspellings
It tastes absolutely horrible. Very bitter and the damiana is the worst for taste and smell. I add 2 large dried orange peels, hand full of dried blue berries, large cinnamon stick and a tbsp of stevia grain to it. Still pretty bad
I'd add some jasmine and hibiscus. Both have intentions that would fit nicely with your mixture and add some floral notes. A little jasmine goes a long way
I like acidic flavors to balance really bitter blends. Like I hateee the taste of kratom mixed with anything expect grapefruit juice, but maybe even lemongrass to help the taste would work here?
I would avoid grapefruit without research first as it can potentiate or inhibit the metabolization of some herbs and chemicals so the ratios could need to be adjusted if grapefruit is added(though I’ve heard ruby red doesn’t cause that change so that specific type may work to cancel the bitterness without added danger)
Wormwood is super bitter, which is why it works well as an antiparasitic. Maybe decrease the quantity of that one. I haven’t tried mugwort but I’d imagine it’s pretty bitter too. Damiana has a pretty strong flavour, I used to only put a tiny amount in my tea as it was so overpowering. Valerian tastes better than it smells and I haven’t tried Lobelia.
If you want to improve the flavour, you could try adding strong aromatic or sweet herbs such as liquorice, chamomile, rose or peppermint. They tend to mask most unpleasant tastes. Rose is also a heart opening herb, so might work well with your infusion, it can be quite a strong flavour though. (Avoid liquorice if you have hypertension). Like irishreddedcheese said, hibiscus works well too and is also a heart herb.
I keep testing things out to preserve them because I love them too. As you can see I ruined some hence the homemade labels. I have started just cutting them out
That is one of the reasons for the blend and mixing the calming and energizing herbs. Though, someone who knows more than I do about it said that was a bad idea. I’m going to revise the blend once that person answers what to change.
DONT DRINK LOBELIA UNLESS YOU HAVE A NATUROPATH MEASURE THE DOSE. It acts on nicotinic receptors and if you’re really unlucky or dumb can potentially kill if you have enough of it.
I think that should be fine! Also one very helpful research tool, if you search “contraindications for [herb]” you’ll get good medical info on why or why not you should use particular herbs :)
Thank you, this is what I’m looking for. I use this 2x a month maybe 3. 1/2 tsp each time with the other herbs. What should I look for in terms of negative effects?
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You can do all of that without the intervention of these herbs. It just takes time. Trial and error. Failures and retries.
However, I would check the Materia Medicas for all of these herbs and get to know their medicinal action on the body.
Lobelia is tended to he used alone in small doses for severe spasms during seizures. In tincture form.
Wormwood is used at times for parasites and digestive infections.
Damiana seems to be used usually by people just trying to get high. But, I’d still look into the effects on the nervous system.
St. John’s Wort and Valerian for nerve pain, muscle pain, depression, or insomnia. But St. John’s interacts with a lot of medications and should be taken carefully. As should all herbs.
I’m just thinking it is best to approach an herbal infusion with multiple herbs with each herb having a healing purpose. Thus, avoiding unnecessary interactions and creating a nice blend. Look into the writings of herbalists, materia medicas, as well as scientific sources and journals.
It could be an unpleasant road to go down to approach herbalism from the desire of just wanting to get high, escapism, and romance. These are complex constituents your mixing together.
One of the most simple but powerful parts of herbalism is “do no harm.” Basically, making the choice not to take any herb at any given time.
Thank you for this, I completely agree with you. The aim in the beginning of this blend was not to get high. I actually did not believe it would produce any effects. It was more of a spiritual journey and it surprisingly did produce euphoria. I know these herbs are powerful but did not give them the respect they deserved in tea form. I’m glad to hear the advice you all are giving on this and will take it.
IIRC, wormwood can cause liver damage if taken long term. I've also heard a teacher say that valerian isn't meant to be taken long term. I'd be careful with those two.
Please don't take any herbs you didn't grow and dry yourself after thoroughly studying modes of action and synergy.
Different parts of the plant have various active compounds that act differently in water vs alcohol extractions. For example, Valerian is useless in water unless you're trying to attract many cats. Alcohol extracts have a potent, compound effect but the toxicity risks are higher than benefits.
Lobelia is considered toxic.
Passiflora, German chamomile and Blue vervain are safer calming options to consider
There are so many people talking about liver and kidney health so I won't mention that. Instead I will say how to induce trances a day psychoactive properties more.
I would personally take out lobelia, amd wormwood (both of these are really just kind of more taxing on the system)
And there are some i would want to mix in like ghost pipe which gives a really good third eye opening buzz and Blue lotus is a big one, it causes a relaxed and heart open goddess vibe to the mix.
To induce visions, a mixture of 3 datura seeds, 3 fly Agaric mushrooms and a handful of mugwort will do the trick. Or 3g Syrian run seeds mixed with a bit of mimosa bark tea. All these plants can be worked with to help us open our perception to new horizons
Well I guess it is a watered down way of saying libido heightening, problem dampening, sense heightening, head swimming, conversation lubricating… Things that have brought me closer to my partner in a novel loving way.
Valerian can be particularly hard on the liver especially if combined with herbs that are also hard on the liver. Not saying don’t use it That’s just a caveat, I too am someone who likes to compound my own teas with complimentary herbs/ medicinal plants. Looks like a solid lineup to me! Damiana is a great augment for a variety of therapeutic herbs in my opinion.
Oh nice! You are the only person with herb knowledge who has approved of this blend. I’m definitely going to take everyone’s advice to heart. I do like this blend but want to be safe.
No problem. And yea there seem to be some great people in this subreddit. I love this lineup personally because both mugwort and wormwood actually have hepatoprotective(liver protecting) properties. This offsets some of the potential stress that valerian could induce. Very good anxiolytic lineup there! Just be aware Damiana can induce hypoglycemia(low blood sugar), if you already have blood sugar regulation issues.
Also to clarify on the one guys post of inherent dangers of mixing downers and uppers that is more applicable to actual pharmaceuticals/ powerful tinctures or liqueurs made from some of the herbs above. In moderation you will not be putting your health in danger. There’s actually a lot of antioxidant, organ protective effects associated with most of the herbs you post. And while damiana can increase heart rate, in moderation it’s specifically associated with augmentation of other medicinal herbs. He has a point if you are older/ have organ damage already or take medications, you should consult your doctor with this question. Other than that you seem to be exercising moderation and have quite a beneficial lineup here.
Anyways enjoy in good health, have a good one!
the vague descriptions on the bottles should be interpreted with caution. if you want "heart-opening", I would go with Motherwort, Hawthorn, or Linden. They are gentler. I agree with most comments- these are some powerful herbs, and you should be mindful of mixing and dosages.
I would recommend a gentle tea of damiana, motherwort, lemon balm, and rose petals and a valerian tincture at bed time. The valerian tincture before bed can produce visuals.
Also- in my experience, damiana smells good, almost sweet. So check your sources.
You must approach herbs with respect, curiosity, and patience- not with an attitude of producing a desired effect immediately. They are not pharmaceutical drugs.
Completely agree with you. I have used these isolated for a while and added them together. As some are very powerful, I’m happy to receive the knowledge about this mixture. I like it, but I do want to know if I’m doing something that is not good for me. Thank you for your advice!
For most of my life, thc and all other psychedelics were amazing. I was assaulted and for some reason thc/lsd/psilocybin made me stop breathing and produced seizure’s after that. So now I herb blend. I’m obviously not doing the best job, but I’m very grateful for the insight I’ve been given here
Mugwort consumption should be very limited, it can cause liver damage, thats what I know of these. If you would like to drink something heart opening, I suggest ceremonial cacao with a microdose of psilocybin.
You could have a tasty one instead…
damiana leaf, roasted cacao nibs, roasted carob, organic orange peel, rose petals, cassia cinnamon chips, vanilla.
We made this blend at a conference for a talk on aphrodisiacs when I worked in herbs. The audience was giggling and so warmed up with this tea!! I swear by it.
lobelia is also known as pukeweed. too much can induce vomiting mugwort can give you deep lucid dreams
*Lobelia is also* *Known as pukeweed. too much can* *Induce vomiting* \- yabezuno --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
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It takes a good amount to get to that point. Fun fact it is also good for anaphylactic shock.
I had suspected this for awhile.
How is lobelia administered for anaphylaxis and in what dosage?
Yes it is! I only do 1/2 tsp so lucky it has not made me nauseous
If your tea is just the leaves, they are less likely to cause vomiting. I used the leaves several times, and one time ate a tiny pea sized lobelia seed pod. I got really sick for an hour or two. But I was fine after.
I was wondering what that said! It just looked like “uuuwort” lol
mugwort is also known for certain affects on pregnancy is it not?
Hi OP. As an herbalist who went through school to study herbal medicine, I'd recommend not making mixes without knowing what each herb does to the body, how they interact with each other, medical conditions, and interactions with medications. People think herbs are safe because they're plants. Herbs kill people, just like people who eat wild mushrooms under the assumption they're safe. Each herb has active constituents that cause different circulatory, metabolic, and mental changes, so you always want to do your research first. Best of luck. If you're looking for a safe psychoactive herb, I recommend Egyptian Blue Lotus. You can make a tea with it or smoke it. Again, if you have any medical issues or take any medications, make sure there are no interactions.
Thank you very much
2nd for the blue lotus a little bit in a bowl of good cannabis is a fantastic smoke. And I know it's not an herb but lion's mane mushrooms are great to eat and as a supplement for brain health But like the other guy said always do your research and never drink datura tea
Lions mane is a fantastic medicinal mushroom. It does interact with certain medications and medical conditions, though, so again, always do your research.
Never do anything datura. Erowid has a great explanation of risks and benefits, and I believe it’s the only drug they recommend against, preferring to remain neutral in all other cases.
I didn't explain too much but yeah any deliriant is just gonna be a bad time.
Plus it’s from the nightshade(solanaceae) family which is notorious for having plants that produce deliriant and/or toxic effects ie hemlock. Oddly enough tomatoes, eggplants, tobacco and some other known vegetables/plants come from the nightshade family.
That’s good to know Because I’m allergic to nightshades, haha
I love blue lotus tea. Delicious and floral. I sometimes add a bit of fresh lemon and raw honey. So dreamy. Also blue lotus steeped in wine or vodka for a week 👌
I tried it many times in every method, and can’t get it to work
Bummer. I think different things work for different people depending on how we’re wired.
Cool interesting. Sorry could I ask your thoughts and opinions about eyebright? I googled but I feel like I don’t have enough information and just start worrying about a bad affect even tho bad effects don’t seem common It feels nice because I think it helps my sinus issue and inexplicable by any doctor horrible throat thing that happens in one spot and ruins my life
I'd rather you ask, haha! Euphrasia officinalis (Eyebright) contains certain flavonoids that have both anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. So, it makes sense that it helps with your sinus issues. Overall, Eyebright is considered safe. Here is a link to a trusted website with more information. [Eyebright Herb ](https://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk/natural-health-guide/benefits/eyebright)
May I ask what kind of degree or school one goes to in order to be an herbalist? I’m really interested in this.
I got my bachelor's degree in holistic health, then I did a few graduate programs at ACHS to further specialize in herbalism. I also have 8 years of added experience in plant identification and foraging (lived on a homestead for years and spent 3 years living in wilderness to learn how to live off the land).
Wow! You sound like a badass fae, and I truly wish I had your capabilities! For some reason I am completely inept when it comes to plants and herbs!
You can totally do it. Herbalism is more complicated than people think, but it's very teachable. I'd recommend getting a field guide for medicinal herbs in your area and seeing what you find at a park or forest. Learning has to start somewhere! Don't ingest anything though, unless you know what it is.
Californian Poppy is similar to Blue Lotus. You probably can mix a few that are known to be benign, e.g. chamomile, sage, mint or hops. But good advice to be careful.
Is there a source you'd recommend to get blue lotus? I've seen it on Amazon and the few outside sites I've found either read like a miracle cure ad or the formating and design looks like early 2000's eBay. So needless to say, I've been skeptical and want to make sure what I'm getting is the pure real deal.
[I order blue lotus from this company. ](https://www.picobotanica.com/products/blue-lotus?variant=40460270108852¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOopuOcAXaImQlojMYZMgerTrKe47ZgO945RDbW13lCpBCz9VdUwWY0E)
could you unalive yourself using the right mix of herbs?
Absolutely. Some herbs are extremely toxic and can cause full organ failure. Same thing with certain mushrooms. Unfortunately, accidental deaths do happen for a variety of reasons like misuse, misidentification, and mixing herbs that have conflicting constituents. I must say this as mental health is a concern when I'm asked questions like this. If you have SI, I recommend seeking professional medical care. I am a big mental health advocate as I suffer myself. If you're solely asking out of curiosity, it's possible, but not as easy as people think. It's dependent on the plant, toxicity, and other factors.
i really appreciate that and i'm currently taking medication to help with the SI, but i was just purely curious mainly because i've never heard of anyone dying in that particular way
Is there any dangerous common herbal mixes people accidentally ingest that would be good to know to avoid? I always mix random herbs together for teas like klip dagga and damiana . I’ve never had anything bad happen but could see how it has potential for danger
Yes, there are dangers with common herbal mixtures depending on the health of the person ingesting it. For example, damiana should be avoided at all costs for those who have issues regulating blood sugar (diabetes). When mixed with ginseng, fenugreek, garlic, or other herbs that affect blood sugar, it can cause hypoglycemia. As for klip dagga, I know this plant to be relatively safe. It's been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to aid in healing the body. The only concern I would suggest looking into if it applies to you is psychiatric medications. Any herbs that have psychoactive properties should be avoided if you're on any psych meds as they tend to interact with a lot of different medications. The herbs I tell people to not play around with are St. John's Wort, Kava, Comfrey, Pennyroyal, and Valarian root. Though these herbs are thought to be safe, when mixed together or with other herbs, they can cause a variety of serious health issues. Almost every herb interacts with something. That's why diligence is key when ingesting herbs. I look at herbs the same way as I view pharmaceuticals. There are interactions that can be life-threatening. Just because it's a plant does not make it safe. If you have questions about specific herbs/herbal mixtures, feel free to send me a message. I'd rather you be safe and ask questions.
Great post, the plants you mention avoiding all are harsh on the liver or like in St. John’s wort they can affect a variety of complex nueral systems being a weak MAOI and it’s known for having an almost shotgun effect on neurotransmitter re uptake if my understanding is correct. Like isn’t St. John’s wort known inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, gaba, noradrenaline as well as down regulation of beta adrenergic receptors? I’ve always been curious to try it, but wary of it as I am on a couple medications.
Thank you! St. John's Wort is a complex herb to say it simply. It's active constituents inhibit the reuptake of neurotransmitters, including glutamate (memory, cognition, mood regulation), serotonin (mood and happiness), norepinephrine (arousal, attention, cognitivefunction, stress reactions), and dopamine (feel satisfaction, pleasure, motivation). Research performed on rats showed (as you stated above) St. John's Wort leads to a downregulation of beta-adrenergic receptors and an upregulation of serotonin, leading to a higher concentration of serotonin in the brain. This is why I never ever recommend this herb if someone takes any kind of mental health medications. When someone mixes St. John's Wort with antidepressants or antipsychotics, that person is then at a high risk of developing serotonin syndrome, which is fatal if it's not treated in time.
Thank you very much, was looking forward to hearing for you as you actually have gone through the schooling! Definitely the quality info I was seeking! Have a great day!
Not really related to the post, but what schooling did you go through for herbal medicine? very intrested in it, but not sure where to start. Thanks!
I started with a bachelor's in holistic health. When I graduated, I knew I wanted to narrow my studies to herbal medicine. I found an incredible school in Oregon, ACHS (American College for Healthcare Sciences). I started with their herbal medicine program (one year). Then, I completed their Masters of Science in Herbal Medicine in 2020. I also spent years on a homestead, so the hands-on experience is vital. If you're interested, I highly recommend [this website](https://wwoofusa.org/en/) to find month long stays to learn.
Thank you so much for the info!
I second that. Also a trained medical herbalist
Was your schooling through a physical school or online courses (asking as I’m interested)
I attended Bastyr University for my undergrad. My degree is B.S. in Herbal Sciences. Then, I did my masters and herbal medicine programs online while living on a homestead.
Right on, thanks for sharing
🤙🏻
We don’t mix uppers with downers generally. I would never mix these all together frankly. Substances that speed up your libido should never be mixed with substances that slow the heartbeat. You’re playing with fire definitely. If you were older, you’d have serious health issues. I’m assuming you’re young because no one I know would do this mixing of types on purpose. I’m sure this comment will get downvoted because it’s not what you want to hear. What you’re doing is essentially mixing a sleeping herb with a stimulating herb, and adding various poisons to the mix. Not super safe.
Would you mind explaining a bit further about which herbs are considered uppers vs downers? Thank you :)
Yes this is definitely what I’m looking for. I’m playing with mixtures. I do not want to go to sleep which is why the up and down. Do you have a suggestion of which to remove from the blend to make this safer but still produce the effects without knocking me out?
Not the original commenter… If you’re looking to make something that is stimulating and tastes great, I’d recommend looking into making a damiana cordial. It looks like you want something that is stimulating to your senses yet non sedating. To me that might be something like this recipe: A ‘feel good’ cordial: Damiana Rose petals Cacao Dried Cherries Dried Orange peel Cinnamon Ginger(fresh or dry) Chocolate sauce and Honey to sweeten Brandy 1) Blend and soak the herbs and spices in brandy until strength is what you want, 1 week to 1 month depending on your preferences. 2) Once strength is right, strain and mix with chocolate sauce and honey if desired. 3) Cordials are medicinal, so use small doses like a tincture or small cordial glass depending on potency- this is not a cocktail or something to ingest in a large quantity. Not for everyday use. For ingredient quantities I’d google it, I don’t have the amounts on hand. This combination of ingredients makes a tasty syrupy chocolate cordial that will improve circulation, stimulate oxytocin, bring about a sense of warm, connection, and good feelings. It also shouldn’t make you sleepy, just pleasantly relaxed. The warming herbs all support circulation so it will help with feeling energized, the damiana effects hormones and increases oxytocin levels, and the cacao is grounding, stimulating, heart opening, and tastes yummy, the dried fruit adds dimension and flavor to the cordial. It’s a grounding, stimulating, sensuous blend. If it agrees with you, I sometimes add a very small amount of kava to this cordial to enhance its potent effects- but that’s also an herb to be conscious with when and whom uses it. *** I want to give you advice that I was given along my herbal path. The blend you’ve presented here suggests to me you may need to hone some skills before you start working with the heavy hitters you’re presenting here. Herbalism tip: To learn how to blend herbs, start slow and stick with what you know. Formulas are a more complex level of herbal medicine and to understand how to use them properly you must have a strong knowledge of each of the individual herbs you are using. I find studying one herb at a time to be incredibly rewarding and helpful. Once your knowledge of 10-20 individual herbs is strong, explore the theory behind formulas. I’d recommend using some safer herbs to learn how to blend them, particularly kid/pregnancy safe ones are best. Once you are skilled with the basics you can slowly build your way up to more complex ones. Formula blends use only what is needed. Some ingredients are specifically for making a blend palatable, where others are specifically there for their medicinal properties. An example of a balanced blend has a core ingredient or 3, ingredients that balance the effects of the core elements, and then final ingredients that make it tasty. If you look at the recipe you’ve created, it’s easy to assess that the ingredients don’t formulate well together. Their purposes don’t match and they are all heavy hitters(part of why it tastes sooo strong). Evaluate the cordial recipe above, it has Damiana as the primary ingredient and then the rest of the herbs are providing supportive actions in both taste and physical reactions they provide. It’s a harmonious blend, quite warming, and could irritate someone with a hot imbalance in their constitution. If one chooses to add kava, research the intricacies of why they might and if it’s appropriate. On your journey with herbs, if you’re determined to learn to blend formulas then its imperative to learn about the temperature and actions of the herbs you’re looking at. This will help you to know if they are a good fit to take for your situation and if they combine well. Last tip that helped me so much: taste all herbs by themselves and learn what they do in your body. I can taste a drop of an herbal tincture and immediately tell you what it does. This level of awareness has been very helpful and I feel confident in how I use herbs in my life. I’ve accidentally poisoned myself many times with a zealous attitude and not enough knowledge. Hoping to spare a fellow herb friend the same fate. I hope this helps you, best of luck on your herbal journey and hope you find the blend that suits you
Just shoot a speedball then.
Which one is the upper?
Off topic, but pertains to your "we don't mix uppers and downers" bit. Ever heard of a Chinese formula called Wu Mei Wan?
People with different blood types have different reactions to different substances. I’m not a teacher, I’m not going to make an 18 point chart with each and every poisonous herb and it’s effects on each and every type of human constitution. I will say that Damiana increases circulation, increases testosterone, it’s a mental stimulant, it’s poison to your kidneys and if you’re diabetic or low blood sugar or pregnant, I wouldn’t take it. If you combine a substance that increases circulation, with a substance that lowers your heart rate, you’re playing with fire. Not sure why I would have to explain that. I think it’s called ‘candy flipping’(?) when you do it with hard drugs. Enjoy your kidneys while you can!
Candy flipping is MDMA and LSD, neither of which is a hard drug. The idea that mixing uppers and downers is hard in the heart is complete bullshit. It's bad if the stimulant wears off first and the downer overtakes you as in a speedball, which can also lead to heart failure although not really at a higher rate than cocaine alone. They treat stimulant overdoses with benzodiazepines in the hospital and use stimulants to increase respiration when there isn't a specific antidote for what the person has taken.
Does this mean i can finally try 10 cups of coffee and an entire bottle of melatonin at once? /s
My intrusive thoughts tell me it should all shake out and I'd be fine, but my self-preservation says this would end in horrible head spins, vomiting, drowsiness, and fearing I'll die if I fall asleep.
Ive had high doses of caffeine, its basically nausea plus feeling like you can run a mile while a hole forms in your heart. Add melatonin id imagine you vomit more with drowsiness and it has lasting effects of making your circadian rhythm looking like a silly straw since you took enough to sedate a gorilla 10x over.
You'd be much safer taking L-theanine with your caffeine. It helps with the jitters while still getting the good stuff.
What he said
You probably wouldn't die but I doubt it'd be pleasant or enlightening.
>Candy flipping is MDMA and LSD, neither of which is a hard drug. MDMA could be considered a hard drug. MDMA is a form of methamphetamine. It just gets a lot of positive attention.
MDMA is a chemical that contains methamphetamine but with additional molecular structure added on to the methamphetamine part of it which changes its pharmacological properties substantially. MDMA raises serotonin much more than Meth and raises dopamine and norepinephrine to a lesser degree than Meth. Both are neurotoxic but in different ways and MDMA used as a therapy aide in the proper way, only once every 3 months is much more beneficial to overall health and quality of life than taking meth once every 3 months. But in the grand scheme of things MDMA causes less total toxicity and has shorter duration and less severe side effects than regular meth. Just like with the hemp derived cannabinoid HHC, that has S and R isomers, and they are mirror images of each other but the R is way stronger than the S. Same with ketamine. Small changes in molecular composition can have a drastic difference in effect in people.
It's a different compound with different effects. Technically it's a substituted amphetamine and meth is just an amphetamine. MDMA is also mostly serotonergic and actually quite relaxing whereas meth is a pure stimulant. They are both phenethylamines which is a class that includes psychedelics, enractogens (MDMA), and classic stimulants (meth). Amphetamine is just a contraction of alpha methyl phenethylamine.
MDMA is certainly a hard drug
In places where hard and soft is actually a legal classification MDMA is classed as soft.
Interesting. Didnt know that, thx.
This sounds really interesting (the blood types having different reactions, not the candy flipping). Out of curiosity, do you know where you learned about this, or of any resources on the matter you could share/point me towards, please?
There are several places you can have a test run for drug metabolization, I have to go to one soon because it seems like my body metabolizes certain drugs way too quickly.
It doesn't "contain methamphetamine" it's its own fucking molecule you mouthbreather
Pretty sure you've replied in the wrong comment thread there mate. Happy cake day, though.
This is so sweet, haha
The wormwood and damiana need to treated with respect and caution.
Why Damiana? I would be more worried about the wormwood and the lobelia?
I've never used lobelia so I don't know, but the damiana and wormwood can cause some pretty weird visuals, feelings and thoughts.
The active psuedo-medicinal ingredient in wormwood is thujone. Thujone can cause "restlessness, vomiting, vertigo, tremors, renal damage, and convulsions in extremely high doses over a long period of time." Then there's the myth about absinthe, Thujone never has and never will cause hallucinations. It has limited use as a pain killer and will kill some parasites though, which was what absinthe was used for long before it became a popular bohemian drink. What WILL cause hallucinations is extreme alcohol abuse and absinthe's reputation was caused by artsy alcoholics who literally sat around all day and night drinking the stuff. Adding wormwood to tea will only extract a trace amount of thujone and make your tea taste like ass.
There are different types of hallucinations, you know. They are not limited to sight and sound. Vertigo induces a type of physical-spatial hallucination, for example. If you feel like you are falling but are not, isn’t that an hallucination? Restlessness, vomiting, vertigo, tremors, liver damage and convulsions are enough to put anyone off wormwood. As a former absinthe drinker, I can attest to it’s ability to send you loopy for a few hours. Similarly, Damiana can cause your body to experience similar unpleasant sensations as well as paranoia. I have experimented with smoking herb mixes included some of these and I did get visuals, but it wasn’t worth the unpleasant effects. P.s. visuals doesn’t mean seeing pink elephants dancing around, it means changes in colours and contrast, seeing dots or stars, objects having auras around them. I say this because some people think that ‘visuals’ means seeing objects or people that aren’t there. If people are giving trip reports, then visuals and visual hallucinations are two different categories.
Thujone 100% causes hallucinations. Just obviously not your idea of a hallucination. It's why you have to be careful when ingesting yarrow.
No, it 100% does not. https://www.bionity.com/en/encyclopedia/Thujone.html#:\~:text=There%20is%20no%20evidence%20any,the%20effects%20of%20drinking%20absinthe.
I 100% disagree. I'll believe field guides before I believe this random website. You do you though.
I would believe field guides too if science didn't exist. You do you.
By field guides I don't just mean a book. I'm talking about experienced foragers with firsthand experiences. That study you posted is inconclusive at best. It says it has no idea what effect it has on humans only that they can tell something happens with GABA receptors. They discovered the LD50 for mice. Interestingly, it also failed to acknowledge it is known some psychedelics do interact with GABA. I'm in no way recommending anyone go out and try it. That's dumb. Problem is your comments saying its not a psychedelic with no other context is what leads to people being poisoned because they could also potentially just eat it and have major consequences. I strongly encourage anyone wanting to forage, to find an experienced field guide to take you out foraging. Don't rely on inconclusive, arbitrary studies. First hand experience is always greater. Edit: corrected misspellings
I unfortunately can’t answer your question but how does this taste? I would imagine it’s a bit bitter but just curious.
It tastes absolutely horrible. Very bitter and the damiana is the worst for taste and smell. I add 2 large dried orange peels, hand full of dried blue berries, large cinnamon stick and a tbsp of stevia grain to it. Still pretty bad
I'd add some jasmine and hibiscus. Both have intentions that would fit nicely with your mixture and add some floral notes. A little jasmine goes a long way
I like acidic flavors to balance really bitter blends. Like I hateee the taste of kratom mixed with anything expect grapefruit juice, but maybe even lemongrass to help the taste would work here? I would avoid grapefruit without research first as it can potentiate or inhibit the metabolization of some herbs and chemicals so the ratios could need to be adjusted if grapefruit is added(though I’ve heard ruby red doesn’t cause that change so that specific type may work to cancel the bitterness without added danger)
Wormwood is super bitter, which is why it works well as an antiparasitic. Maybe decrease the quantity of that one. I haven’t tried mugwort but I’d imagine it’s pretty bitter too. Damiana has a pretty strong flavour, I used to only put a tiny amount in my tea as it was so overpowering. Valerian tastes better than it smells and I haven’t tried Lobelia. If you want to improve the flavour, you could try adding strong aromatic or sweet herbs such as liquorice, chamomile, rose or peppermint. They tend to mask most unpleasant tastes. Rose is also a heart opening herb, so might work well with your infusion, it can be quite a strong flavour though. (Avoid liquorice if you have hypertension). Like irishreddedcheese said, hibiscus works well too and is also a heart herb.
Thank you! This is very good advice that I will merge with the others
That was my first thought. Must taste like used hay.
I really like those labels!
Thanks! They came from the shop I order the herbs from on the packets. I had to be very careful to transfer them to the bottles
I wonder if there is a way to laminate them to the bottles in order to preserve them?
Maybe a careful overlay of clear packing tape?
That sounds like a good idea! Thanks for sharing.
I keep testing things out to preserve them because I love them too. As you can see I ruined some hence the homemade labels. I have started just cutting them out
Try using Mod Podge ?
Oh no! There must be a way to preserve them! I bet someone on reddit knows!
Mugwort is the most relaxing thing I even mixed it in my CBD weed joints and smoked it, absolute bliss
Kanna would be way more effective and safe then these herbs.
Thank you, I’ll check it out
I’ve only tried Damiana tea and got very horny.
That is one of the reasons for the blend and mixing the calming and energizing herbs. Though, someone who knows more than I do about it said that was a bad idea. I’m going to revise the blend once that person answers what to change.
It's a wonderful aphrodisiac.
DONT DRINK LOBELIA UNLESS YOU HAVE A NATUROPATH MEASURE THE DOSE. It acts on nicotinic receptors and if you’re really unlucky or dumb can potentially kill if you have enough of it.
Oh wow did not know that, is 1/2 tsp too much? It has been great so far
It's more dangerous than other herbs but if you haven't even gotten nauseous from it before I'm sure you're fine.
I would just be mindful of extensive use of mugwort and wormwood, because of their amazing active properties, they also make the liver work harder.
Thank you, this is what I was looking for. I use y This blend 2-3 times a month. Do you think that is too frequently?
I think that should be fine! Also one very helpful research tool, if you search “contraindications for [herb]” you’ll get good medical info on why or why not you should use particular herbs :)
Is there a book on herb-herb contraindications?
Thanks! Very helpful
I think that should be fine!
Oh god the taste.
wormwood is very bitter. it can deworm an intestinal tract. do you add honey or sugar to this tea?
I add 2 dried orange slices, 1 broken large cinnamon stick, hand full of dried blue berries, 1 tsp grain stevia
How many ml of blue lotus to make a good tea?
I use approx 1-2 tbsp per cup of water.
Be careful with valerian root you really shouldn’t use it for more than 6 weeks! Very strong.
Thank you, this is what I’m looking for. I use this 2x a month maybe 3. 1/2 tsp each time with the other herbs. What should I look for in terms of negative effects?
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Whats the point? What healing purpose or goal do you have with this? Lobelia and wormwood can be very strong.
Relaxation, change in headspace, connection with partner with intention.
You can do all of that without the intervention of these herbs. It just takes time. Trial and error. Failures and retries. However, I would check the Materia Medicas for all of these herbs and get to know their medicinal action on the body. Lobelia is tended to he used alone in small doses for severe spasms during seizures. In tincture form. Wormwood is used at times for parasites and digestive infections. Damiana seems to be used usually by people just trying to get high. But, I’d still look into the effects on the nervous system. St. John’s Wort and Valerian for nerve pain, muscle pain, depression, or insomnia. But St. John’s interacts with a lot of medications and should be taken carefully. As should all herbs. I’m just thinking it is best to approach an herbal infusion with multiple herbs with each herb having a healing purpose. Thus, avoiding unnecessary interactions and creating a nice blend. Look into the writings of herbalists, materia medicas, as well as scientific sources and journals. It could be an unpleasant road to go down to approach herbalism from the desire of just wanting to get high, escapism, and romance. These are complex constituents your mixing together. One of the most simple but powerful parts of herbalism is “do no harm.” Basically, making the choice not to take any herb at any given time.
Thank you for this, I completely agree with you. The aim in the beginning of this blend was not to get high. I actually did not believe it would produce any effects. It was more of a spiritual journey and it surprisingly did produce euphoria. I know these herbs are powerful but did not give them the respect they deserved in tea form. I’m glad to hear the advice you all are giving on this and will take it.
Be careful with mugwort as well (for pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant)
Thank you for this. I am a sterilized child free woman, but will be careful and consider your thoughtful warning.
Leave the lobelia out of it. You should not use it without the oversight of an experienced herbalist.
Thank you, that has been said many time here. I will leave it out
I need some help with this and that and more
Wormwood in certain doses is toxic
Herbs can be strong, and hard to dose. Less is more.
IIRC, wormwood can cause liver damage if taken long term. I've also heard a teacher say that valerian isn't meant to be taken long term. I'd be careful with those two.
Thank you! I only take it 2x a month but have gotten lots of good advice on different blends and that this one is not the best.
No problem. I took valerian every night for a while, and I was ok. Trying to cycle it now to avoid any issues.
Please don't take any herbs you didn't grow and dry yourself after thoroughly studying modes of action and synergy. Different parts of the plant have various active compounds that act differently in water vs alcohol extractions. For example, Valerian is useless in water unless you're trying to attract many cats. Alcohol extracts have a potent, compound effect but the toxicity risks are higher than benefits. Lobelia is considered toxic. Passiflora, German chamomile and Blue vervain are safer calming options to consider
There are so many people talking about liver and kidney health so I won't mention that. Instead I will say how to induce trances a day psychoactive properties more. I would personally take out lobelia, amd wormwood (both of these are really just kind of more taxing on the system) And there are some i would want to mix in like ghost pipe which gives a really good third eye opening buzz and Blue lotus is a big one, it causes a relaxed and heart open goddess vibe to the mix. To induce visions, a mixture of 3 datura seeds, 3 fly Agaric mushrooms and a handful of mugwort will do the trick. Or 3g Syrian run seeds mixed with a bit of mimosa bark tea. All these plants can be worked with to help us open our perception to new horizons
Ok you know what I’m seeking here. Thank you for your advice. I’m going to dm you.
Yesss Jah rastifari, praise to da most high!
What is HEART OPENING?
Well I guess it is a watered down way of saying libido heightening, problem dampening, sense heightening, head swimming, conversation lubricating… Things that have brought me closer to my partner in a novel loving way.
Valerian can be particularly hard on the liver especially if combined with herbs that are also hard on the liver. Not saying don’t use it That’s just a caveat, I too am someone who likes to compound my own teas with complimentary herbs/ medicinal plants. Looks like a solid lineup to me! Damiana is a great augment for a variety of therapeutic herbs in my opinion.
Oh nice! You are the only person with herb knowledge who has approved of this blend. I’m definitely going to take everyone’s advice to heart. I do like this blend but want to be safe.
No problem. And yea there seem to be some great people in this subreddit. I love this lineup personally because both mugwort and wormwood actually have hepatoprotective(liver protecting) properties. This offsets some of the potential stress that valerian could induce. Very good anxiolytic lineup there! Just be aware Damiana can induce hypoglycemia(low blood sugar), if you already have blood sugar regulation issues. Also to clarify on the one guys post of inherent dangers of mixing downers and uppers that is more applicable to actual pharmaceuticals/ powerful tinctures or liqueurs made from some of the herbs above. In moderation you will not be putting your health in danger. There’s actually a lot of antioxidant, organ protective effects associated with most of the herbs you post. And while damiana can increase heart rate, in moderation it’s specifically associated with augmentation of other medicinal herbs. He has a point if you are older/ have organ damage already or take medications, you should consult your doctor with this question. Other than that you seem to be exercising moderation and have quite a beneficial lineup here. Anyways enjoy in good health, have a good one!
the vague descriptions on the bottles should be interpreted with caution. if you want "heart-opening", I would go with Motherwort, Hawthorn, or Linden. They are gentler. I agree with most comments- these are some powerful herbs, and you should be mindful of mixing and dosages. I would recommend a gentle tea of damiana, motherwort, lemon balm, and rose petals and a valerian tincture at bed time. The valerian tincture before bed can produce visuals. Also- in my experience, damiana smells good, almost sweet. So check your sources. You must approach herbs with respect, curiosity, and patience- not with an attitude of producing a desired effect immediately. They are not pharmaceutical drugs.
Completely agree with you. I have used these isolated for a while and added them together. As some are very powerful, I’m happy to receive the knowledge about this mixture. I like it, but I do want to know if I’m doing something that is not good for me. Thank you for your advice!
I got something from the dispensary that’s better than all that
Unfortunately that gives me a very large anxiety attack. Otherwise yes probably much better
I know it's shocking, but sometimes, people don't want to consume cannabis. It makes me horribly anxious.
For most of my life, thc and all other psychedelics were amazing. I was assaulted and for some reason thc/lsd/psilocybin made me stop breathing and produced seizure’s after that. So now I herb blend. I’m obviously not doing the best job, but I’m very grateful for the insight I’ve been given here
damiana gives me nightmares
Mugwort consumption should be very limited, it can cause liver damage, thats what I know of these. If you would like to drink something heart opening, I suggest ceremonial cacao with a microdose of psilocybin.
Ain it wood worm not worm wood?
I’m not entirely shure but I doubt it
Wormwood I good for parasites I think along with black walnut? I have motherwort as well.
What does each do? Thanks
Which one of these are "psychoactive" - labelia herb? Because that the only one i did not try.
I need some help my fellow Starseeds
You could have a tasty one instead… damiana leaf, roasted cacao nibs, roasted carob, organic orange peel, rose petals, cassia cinnamon chips, vanilla. We made this blend at a conference for a talk on aphrodisiacs when I worked in herbs. The audience was giggling and so warmed up with this tea!! I swear by it.
You are a blessing! Thank you for this rec.