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What are Hawaiian baby woodrose seeds?
Hawaiian baby woodrose (Argyreia nervosa), not to be confused with the Hawaiian woodrose (Merremia tuberosa), is a perennial climbing vine, also known as Elephant Creeper and Woolly Morning Glory. Native to the Indian subcontinent and introduced to numerous areas worldwide, including Hawaii, Africa and the Caribbean, it can be invasive, although is often prized for its aesthetic value. The seeds of the plant are also used as a legal hallucinogen.
History
The plant is a rare example of a hallucinogenic herb, the properties of which have only recently been discovered. While its cousins in the Convolvulaceae family, such as the Rivea corymbosa (Ololiuhqui) and Ipomoea violacea (Tlitliltzin) were used in shamanic rituals of Latin America for centuries, the Hawaiian baby woodrose was not traditionally recognized as a hallucinogen. Its properties were first brought to attention in the 1960s, despite the fact that the chemical composition of its seeds is nearly identical to those of the two species mentioned above, and in fact, contain the highest concentration of psychoactive compounds in the entire family. It is still used by the poorer Hawaiians for a high.
Botanical
Baby Hawaiian woodrose is a member of the Convolvulaceae family which also includes the morning glory (Ipomoea). Argyreia Nervosa grows into a huge climbing vine of great beauty and ornamental value. These 30-foot vines have large, heart-shaped leaves and clusters of 2-3" mauve flowers, which turn into attractive pods that really have the appearance of a wood rose. It is native to Asia, and naturalized and cultivated in Hawaii. Pods dry to a smooth, dark brown, filbert-sized capsule containing one to four furry brown seeds. The capsule is surrounded by a dry calyx divided into five petal-like sections. The seeds are both hallucinogenic and toxic.
Chemistry
Argyreia nervosa seeds contain 0.3-1 % ergot-alkaloids by weight. Ergine (d-lysergic acid amide), isoergine (l-lysergic acid amide), ergometrine, lysergol, isolysergol, elymoclavine and chanoclavine are present. 6, 7 Lysergol and elymoclavine are reduction products of d-lysergic acid. Ergot alkaloids have also been isolated from the fungal sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea.
Effects
LSD-like effects, but less intense, with fewer visuals. Effects are euphoria, extreme lassitude, changes in visual and auditory perception, emotional disturbances and synaesthesias (a phenomenon in which the senses become transmuted). Time and space perception are seriously altered.
The trip lasts 4-8 hours; tranquil feelings may last for an additional 12 hours. Sleep is deep and refreshing after the trip, however, some users may experience a hangover characterized by blurred vision, vertigo, and physical inertia.
Common side effects
Nausea, pupillary dilation, tremor, a slight rise in blood pressure and body temperature.
Medical use
Hawaiian baby woodrose seeds are an important part of Ayurvedic medicine in India and are still used today in various forms for various ailments. Powder of the root is given with "ghee" as an alternative; in the case of elephantiasis, the powder is given with rice water. In the case of inflammation of the joints, it is given with milk and a little castor oil. A paste of the roots made with rice water is applied over rheumatic swelling and rubbed over the body to reduce obesity. The whole plant is reported to have antiseptic properties. The leaves are antiphlogistic; they are applied over skin diseases and wounds; the silky side of the leaf is applied over tumours, boils, sores, and carbuncles; as an irritant to promote maturation and suppuration. The leaves are also used for extracting guinea worms.
Usage
Seed pods contain 4-6 seeds. Seeds are removed from pods and a fungus-like coating is scraped or flamed off. 4-8 fresh seeds are chewed (whole or extracted) on an empty stomach (to minimize nausea).
Seeds sold commercially are generally already removed from the pods. The seeds themselves resemble small chocolate chips, but are hard as rocks and have the coating mentioned above. To prepare the seeds, you don't have to remove all the shell, but just the dark-brown stuff which is loosely on the seed.
For ingestion of these seeds use the following method: grind the seeds up or crush them really well. Then soak the crushed/ground seeds in purified water for about 24 hours. After the 24 hours, strain off the seed mass from the liquid using a pantyhose, a sieve, cheesecloth, or if nothing else is available a coffee filter.
Then to dose, drink the "tea" very slowly over a period of 20-40 minutes, and either drink a small glass of water or a few large "gulps" after each sip of the "tea." This process removes the "toxins" and reduces or negates nausea sometimes associated with taking LSA containing seeds.
Some users advise to not take more than 2-3 seeds the first time. And they have to be chewed for a long time as the active substances are absorbed by the blood vessels in the mouth.
Warnings
Should not be taken by people with a history of liver disorders or hepatitis. Should not be taken by pregnant women. Individuals can respond differently to the same dosage. Best is to have someone with experience with you who can act as a sitter and watch over you (and clean up the mess if you throw up). Do not drive!
Combinations
Hashish or marihuana can intensify the experience and diminish nausea. Usually produces a positive feeling.
Growing
Hawaiian baby woodrose may be grown outdoors in southern California and Florida. Elsewhere it should be grown in a large pot or tub outdoors in the summer and should be brought indoors in wintertime. It may be propagated by cuttings or seeds, and in the spring by division. The seed may be sprouted by making a small nick in the seed coat away from the germ eye. Soak the seed until it swells. Plant 1/2-inch deep in loose rich soil. Do not use bottom heat. After the cotyledons appear, water sparingly, letting the soil surface dry out to a depth of 1/2-inch. Over-watering causes stem and root rot. The plant grows slowly until it develops a half-dozen leaves; after this, it grows quickly. In its first year, this plant grows into a small bush 1-2 feet tall. During this time it may be grown in a large pot and kept indoors during the winter. The next spring it will grow into a very large vine and should produce flowers and seeds. In this second year, it should be planted out, or grown in a tub. In cold-winter areas, the roots should be lifted and stored or the tub kept in a cool place until spring. The methods of increasing the alkaloid content of morning glories (which see) may be applied to this vine.
The seed pots should be harvested when thoroughly dry. They should be stored in a cool, dry place. Their potency may begin to decrease after 6-9 months.
Links / References
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