Entheogens

• From the past to the future
• Terminology
• General absolute contraindications for entheogens
• Known entheogens
• Known research entheogens
• Known chemicals
• Known ancient entheobotanical organisms
• Known preparations
• Known mixtures
• Known entheogens that might cause drug dependency
• Speculative entheogens
• Known endangered species
• Substances with questionable potency
• Substances that are know to not produce any entheogenic effect
• Online books

In order to help solving this problem, please use the term “research entheogens” to describe “research chemicals that produces entheogenic effects” to get entheogens associated with spiritual use, not traditional substances and get them accepted more broadly in scientific research.

Psychedelics, dissociatives and deliriants (commonly known as hallucinogens) but also depressants and stimulants have been used as entheogens.

• Do not operate heavy machinery. Do Not Drive.
• Individuals currently in the midst of emotional or psychological upheaval in their everyday lives should be careful about choosing to use entheogens as they can trigger even more difficulty.
• Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia or early onset mental illness should be extremely careful because entheogens have been known to trigger latent psychological and mental problems.
• Do not use ergolines (eg LSD and morning glories) when pregnant or when breastfeeding; Ergolines is uterine contractors that can increase risk of miscarriage during pregnancy.^[ref]. Ergolines pass into breast milk and should be avoided during breastfeeding.^[ref]
• Do not combine phenethylamines with Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). MAOIs are most commonly found in the prescription anti-depressants Nardil (phenelzine), Parnate (tranylcypromine), Marplan (isocarboxazid), Eldepryl (l-deprenyl), and Aurorex or Manerix (moclobemide). Check with your doctor if you are not sure whether your prescription medication is an MAOI.

Modern substances which may in their own right be considered entheogens, such as MDMA, have not had a tradition of religious use may be seen as an extension and modern application of ancient systems of alchemy.

• Entheogens that might cause drug dependency should only be dosed within the protective index (TD₅₀/ED₅₀) range either in one single dose or in several smaller doses in order to prevent drug dependency. Agreed dose should always be done before the session and should be followed. This is especially important for peak experiences because of the high dose.

Animals is living individuals and therefore not listed as entheogens. List of animal derived substances and animals:

• Fluorination of hallucinogenic tryptamines either reduces or has little effect on 5-HT_2A/C receptor affinity or efficacy
• Brunfelsia
• Caulerpa
• Coleus spp.
• Heimia
• Lactuca virosa
• Merremia tuberosa [Hawaiian woodrose]
• Nymphaea caerulea
• Passiflora spp. [Passionflower]
• Salvia spp. other then Salvia divinorum [Salvia]

• Absinthe: Absinthe is not more entheogenic then other alcoholic beverages: Today it is known that absinthe does not cause hallucinations.^[ref]
• Mescalbean: I have yet to encounter a single reference to modern use of the Mescal bean for that purpose.^{[Jim DeKorne, Psychedelic Shamanism, p154]]}
• Muscarine: Researchers in England, Japan, and Switzerland showed that the effects produced were due mainly to ibotenic acid and muscimol, not muscarine.^[ref]
• Thujone: See “Absinthe”

• Drugs & Mysticism: An Analysis of the Relationship between Psychedelic Drugs and Mystical Consciousness
  by Walter M. Pahkne
• Guided by the Moon: Shamanism and the Ritual Use of Ayahuasca in the Santo Daime Religion in Brazil.
  by Edward McRae, PhD. Courtesy of the Núcleo de Estudos Interdisciplinares sobre Psicoativos (NEIP).
• Ketamine: Dreams and Realities
  by Karl Jansen, M.D., Ph.D. (2000, 2004)
• LSD - My Problem Child
  by Dr. Albert Hofmann Ph.D.
• PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story
  by Alexander and Ann Shulgin
• The Psychedelic Experience: A manual based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead
  By Timothy Leary, Ph.D., Ralph Metzner, Ph.D., & Richard Alpert, Ph.D.
• The Road To Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries
  by Carl A. Ruck, Albert Hofmann, R. Gordon Wasson, Jeremy Bigwood, Jonathan Ott, Carl A. P. Ruck, Huston Smith, Danny Staples
• The Yage Drinker
  by Fernando Payaguaje
• TiHKAL: The Continuation
  by Alexander and Ann Shulgin
• Through the Gateway of the Heart: Accounts of Experiences with MDMA and other Empathogenic Substances
  edited by Sophia Adamson and Ralph Metzner (1985)