Siniciuchi (Heimia Salicifolia)

[RoboCop]

Anyone tried this ancient divination plant? I'd like to hear any reports of those of you who have tried it because it has not been mentioned on this forum at all. I bought an ounce of it and tried about 5 gram in tea it was to low of a dose to do anything however but it did make my muscles sore after about an hour into drinking the tea. Still have 23 grams of it but Im waiting for the right time to do it.

[Smarthead]

"Plant of the yellow vision" A flowering shrub from Mexico employed by the Aztecs during trance rituals. Native from Mexico to Argentina. Sinicuichi has been called an Auditory hallucinogen. Heimia salicifolia is still used by some Mexican shamans as a tool for divination. The natives hold Sinicuichi to be sacred and endowed with supernatural powers and that it helps them recall vividly the events of many years earlier.


Heimia salicifolia is a shrub with numerous small dark green leaves, and often dozens of tiny bright yellow flowers. Hallucinogenic properties are attributed to Five quinolizidine alkaloids in Hemia salicifolia. The Sinicuichi leaves are used to prepare a tea taken for a wide variety of problems and has been tested and proven to have euphoric, general relaxation and pleasant drowsiness effects. The genus is currently being investigated for its anti-inflammatory properties.


The genus Heimia was named in honor of the German physician Ernst Ludwig Heim (1747-1834). The psychoactive effects were first reported in 1896 by Calderon and described as a yellowing of the vision and altered acoustic perception. This plant typifies an hallucinogen of which the hallucinogenic characteristics are mainly auditory.


It is traditionally prepared by with 10 grams of leaves for about 3 or 4 cupfuls of boiling water. The plucked leaves are allowed to wilt slightly, are crushed in water, permitted to ferment for a day in the sun, and drunk. Dried herb may be steeped in hot water and allowed to sit in the sun for 1 day before drinking. Less than 10 grams dried herb or equivalent of fresh leaves suggested as starting dose.



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[thydarkprevails]

smoking it gives you a mild euphoria for about 10 minutes....as well..

[Chaote]

Has anyone ever tried this plant i have smoked to jointd with small effects possibly placebos and recently have made a crude extraction by boiling leaves and making a goo, any info would be great

[BlackEyed]

Yes I too have an intrest in sinicuichi I bought 4oz of foiliage I made
a tea with about 7g of it and had no effects, i also tried smoking
about two bowls of the leaf i picked out and had no effects. So I just
sold it. But i thought maybe i wil try it again buying only the leafs
and flowers this time to smoke it rather than making a tea from it.

[Chaote]

Has no one on this forum tried it? Am I t be the lone psychonaught to take that first step?

[seriousmoose]

I made a tea with about 7 grams but i boiled it twice so i had double
the amount, i drank 90% of it, tasted like bitter green beans.



I started getting super sore, i smoked a few bowls of weed, and played
counterstrike with some friends, the soreness got too bad so i went
home and got in bed. i was shivering like fuck and sore everywhere, but
i put on music. my hearing was soo distorted. yeah i just listened to
music for a few hours in bed till i fell asleep. i'd say it was fun
listening to the music distorted but it's not worth the soreness.
the next day my sight was okay, meaning the sun didn't "open" on me.



I had to go to work, i was still a bit sore, everything sounded okay
till the break siren came on, it's sounded so fucked up. so my
hearing took about 2-3 days to return to normal.

[OneOfMany]

I haven't tried either, but am interested in other's experiences too.


(bump)

[Chaote]

Well last night I drank my vile of 25ml of extract i made by boiling 10-15 g in approx 2-3 cups od water.
First off i had a soar throat and this did not help i drank it in the span of 20 mins with no effects in 2hrs so i went to sleep and awoke with soar muscles and very sensistive (most noticably my scalp and testicles, each time i sat down it was like a kick in the groin)Maybe a larger dose is needed but seriousemoos seems to have had less than me with great effects so im at a loss

[OneOfMany]

I did read somewhere that there are 2 versions of this plant, with only one having the usually desired effects. No word on there for how to tell the difference (ifa wayexists).

[sunyata]

From what I've read, the traditional preparation of Sinicuichi-tea is to let it ferment in the sun, so maybe you need alcohol to extract theactive substance(s).


I once made tea from 1g 10x extract, but there were no effects.

[ethergnome]

Ive got a heimai plant growing that I ordered. Since recieving it I've
tried a small dose of fermented tea with little to no results, probably
due to such a small dose. Though I will be sure to report again once
the plant has produced a large enough ammount of leaves.

[Smarthead]

What is Heimia salicifolia?

This plant was called ‘Sinicuiche’ [or sinicuichi] by the Aztecs and is still used by Mexican shamans as a trance-divination catalyst. (Jim DeKorne, Psychedelic Shamanism)

Lythraceae (Loosestrife). Heimia salicifolia grows to 10 feet and has small yellow flowers. (Erowid Herb Vaults)

Heimia salicifolia is still used by some Mexican shamans as a tool for divination. (Horizon Herbs)

Heimia salicifolia is native to most of the tropical regions throughout the Western Hemisphere, specifically Texas, Mexico, El Salvador, and all areas between Colombia and Argentina - most commonly found in ditches and other wet soils. (Kent University Biology Page)

Heimia salicifolia is a bush with numerous small dark green leaves, and often dozens of tiny bright yellow flowers. It can grow to well over 4 feet in height, with just as large a circumference.

Technically speaking:

Shrubs, 1-2(-4) m, stems numerous from the base, glabrous, the youngest portions 4-angular. Leaves opposite or subopposite, sessile, broadly to narrowly elliptic, 20-100 x 5-15 mm. Inflorescences leafy racemes, flowers solitary in the axils, pedicels 1-4 mm long. Flowers 6-merous, campanulate, 5-8 mm long, calyx lobes ca. 1/4 the length of the floral tube; appendages prominent, horn-shaped, ascending; petals 6, bright yellow, 6-14 mm long; stamens (10)12(-18), exserted; ovary 4-carpellate; style exserted; nectary absent. Capsules globose,included within the persistent floral tube, loculicidally dehiscent; seeds many, obpyramidal, 1 mm long. n = 8. 3 spp/1NAmer. Flowering and fruiting throughout most of the year. (Kent University Biology Page)

What chemicals are in Sinicuichi?

Five quinolizidine alkaloids have been found in Heimia salicifolia. The major psychoactive alkaloid appears to be vertine (cryogenine)…(Shultes, R.E., The New World Indians and their Hallucinogenic Plants)

Active Constituents:

Vertine (cryogenine) is generally regarded as the primary psychoactive component and is also generally the most abundant constituent of alkaloidal extracts. Clinically demonstrated effects include anticholinergic, antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, hyperglycemic, hypotensive, sedative, tranquilizer, and vasodilator activity. There is another chemical called cryogenine which should not be confused with vertine.
Lythrine (the third most abundant alkaloid) has been found to have diuretic activity (it encourages urination).
Heimidine (a minor alkaloid) has been found to have antiinflammatory activity.
Sinicuichine has been found to act as a tranquilizer.
Other alkaloids include lyfoline (the second most abundant alkaloid) and lythridine (a minor alkaloid).
Not all the effects of these alkaloids are known, nor is it known what constituents are responsible for the reported occurrence of auditory hallucinations. Some of the listed activites come from Dr. Duke's Phytochemical Database [http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/].


Both chemicals known as ‘cryogenine’ have potential as antipyretic drugs, but keep in mind, cryogenine (hydrazine derivative) and cryogenine (vertine, the quinolizidine alkaloid) are NOT related.

“Two alkaloids from Heimia salicifolia, cryogenine [vertine] and nesodine, were respectively 2.48 and 2.24 times as potent as aspirin as inhibitors of prostaglandin synthetase prepared from bovine seminal vesicles. Reference compounds, indomethacin and phenylbutazone, were respectively 2800 and 8.75 times as potent while a synthetic analogue of cryogenine, JB-1-0, was 0.656 times the potency of aspirin. This activity may help to explain the traditional medicine use of H. salicifolia in the Americas.” (Prostaglandin synthetase inhibition by alkaloids of Heimia salicifolia. Lema WJ, Blankenship JW, Malone MH)

Looking further into the chemical make-up of Sinicuichi, we come across not only the anti-inflammatory nesodine, but lyfoline and lythrine as well. As presented below, lythrine holds potential as a hydrodiuretic.

“Its four most studied alkaloids are vertine, lyfoline, lythrine and nesodine. Most of the animal studies discussed here have focused on the ataractic, antiinflammatory and antispasmodic potential of vertine and on the hydrodiuretic potential of lythrine and decine, a structurally related alkaloid found in Decodon verticillatus. The ataractic activity of vertine does not appear to be dependent on the depletion or blockade of catecholamines, while its antiinflammatory capacity seen in both exudative and immunologic systems seems to be dependent in part on an intact pituitary-adrenal system and in part on inhibition of prostaglandin synthase. The antisplasmodic activity of vertine has been demonstrated on many isolated tissues using different agonists, but appears to be largely musculotropic in nature. Only lythrine and decinine have been shown to be true hydrodiuretics and may prove to be useful in treating Addison's disease and general nephrosis. A number of synthetic 4-arylquinolizidines and related compounds appear to possess antiinflammatory potential.” (Heimia salicifolia: a phytochemical and phytopharmacologic review. Malone MH, Rother A)

The following quote falsely mentions both cryogenine and vertine as components of Sinicuichi, thus giving the impression that they are two separate chemicals within the plant, when indeed, they are one and the same as far as H. salicifolia goes.

“Leaves contain the potent tranquilizer sinicuichine which relaxes muscles, relieves experimental anxiety, and stabilizes blood pressure. Several alkaloids are reported: abresoline, anelisine, cryogenine, dehydrodecadine, heimine, lyofoline, lythridine, lythrine, nesodine, sinine, and vertine.”(Dr. James Duke's CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs)

The fact that the above reference has so blatantly (but unknowingly) confused vertine and cryogenine is a prime example of what is found in much of the literature available on this plant. This snafu needs be hollered about from roof tops, before confused psychonauts start ingesting pure 1-carbamyl-2-phenylhydrazine.

How do I use Sinicuichi?

Traditionally, the leaves are removed and allowed to wilt a bit, crushed and combined with cold water, then placed in the sun for a day to make a tea. The following procedure for dried foliage is consistent, and repeated endlessly wherever one finds information about Heimia.

If fresh material is not available, dried herb may be steeped in hot water and allowed to sit in the sun for 1 day before drinking. Ten grams dried herb or equivalent of fresh leaves suggested as starting dose. (Legal Highs FAQ)

Take 10 g. of dried leaves, mix with hot water and put in the sun for one day, then drink the mixture. (Nature's Treasures)

"I decided to make up a tea from 10g. of the leaves. I poured about 3 cupfuls of boiling water over the dried leaves and let them sit for a while. Deciding this was going to be too much to drink I heated the mixture and boiled off perhaps a cup of the mixture. I left it for about an hour. I poured the mixture minus the leaves into two cups.” (KenR, the old EDot forums)

"I always picked fresh leaf by pruning off the top 6" of a bunch of plants grown close together hedge like. I picked the leaves off the stem, allowed them to wilt for about 1/2 hour, then would put em in a blender with a small amount of water. Then I'd put the whole concoction in a closed mason jar and set it outside where it would catch the sun. I'd leave it out for approx. 24 hr. Then I would strain it, squeeze the last of the juice out and drink. I never weighed it, the most I ever tried was a half of a cereal bowl full of fresh leaves." (MrPotato, the old EDot forums)

What will Sinicuichi do to me?

Given the tested and proven euphoric, relaxant and anti-inflammatory properties of Sinicuichi, the following excerpts are reliable.

General relaxation, acoustic hallucinations, improvement of memory performance. (Nature's Treasures)

[The] tea is inebriant, euphoriant, hallucinogenic. (How to Stay High and Healthy; by Edward Everett-Ronning)

Sounds seem to come distorted from a great distance. The natives hold sinicuichi to be sacred, endowed with supernatural powers; that it helps them recall vividly events of many years earlier, that it permits them even to remember pre-natal events. (Shultes, R.E., The New World Indians and Their Hallucinogenic Plants)

…pleasant drowsiness, skeletal muscle relaxation, slowing of heartbeat, dilation of coronary vessels, inhibition of acetylcholine, enhancement of epinephrine, slight reduction of blood pressure, cooling of body, mild intoxication and giddiness, darkening of vision, auditory hallucinations (sounds seem distant), and increased memory function. (Legal Highs FAQ)

I have been unable to confirm within the scientific literature the above suggestions that the actives of Sinicuichi inhibit acetylcholine and enhance epinephrine. The blocking of acetylcholine has been found with the ingestion of scopolamine and atropine, where the actions of these alkaloids (scopolamine and atropine) cause a heating of the body, an inability to sweat or spit, and dilation of blood vessels within the skin. These side-effects have not been noted with Sinicuichi. As well, enhancement of epinephrine does not cause relaxation or slowing of the heartbeat. (The Second Brain; by Michael D. Gershon, M.D.) Additionally, the increased availability of acetylcholine has been found to enhance memory funtion. So, once again, it seems that the Legal Highs FAQ is only partially correct.

"Within 20 minutes, definite effects were being felt, the body initially becoming chilled even in the direct sun. The chill intensified, but not to an unpleasant degree. There was also dryness to the mucous membranes (eyes, nose and mouth). At thirty minutes the body was awash in a pleasant, calm euphoria. Walking around the room was not interesting, and there was a desire to just sit and see what comes. Visual acuity was affected, and at 40 minutes, the "darkening of surroundings" was very noticeable. Closed eyes had no visual interest." (MCsquared, the old EDot forums)

"Personally, I find it to be like a good kava emulsion only more euphoric with special sound effects. It wasn't bitter, but wasn't pleasant tasting. It smelled like the water in a vase of cut flowers." (MrPotato, the old EDot forums)

“As one might expect the brew tasted revolting and was extraordinarily bitter. I proceeded to drink it however, and had finished both cups within say half an hour. Some effects started to manifest within 15 minutes. Notably, a heaviness in the head, sedation and perhaps some pain relieving effect. There was a slight tingling in the extremities at times. I found it difficult to do anything terribly productive, particularly at close range. I don't think my thoughts were particularly affected. There might have been some mild improved sense of well-being. There was little in the way of nausea beyond what was caused by simply drinking the bitter tea. The effects faded within 2 hrs.” (KenR, the old EDot forums)

What type of side-effects should I expect from using Sinicuichi?

Sinicuichi does not seem to take too much out of you as far as energy levels go, and does not have the lingering apathetic tint that Cannabis sometimes can. The only side-effect I have found (that being something which can last many hours after the experience) is that of yellow or light green-tinted vision. But even this is not definite.

“After a dose consisting of a quart-sized jar full of fresh leaves: Slept for four hours, and upon waking there was a remarkable yellow glow or aura permeating everything, which is in accordance with most of the literature, and the name sun-opener. I spent the rest of the day in this glow, which left residuals even the following day, although less intense." (MCsquared, the old EDot forums)

As to long-term heavy use of Sinicuichi, memory problems may persist, however, the number of people who have a history of ‘heavy long-term use’ with Sinicuichi is extremely limited, and this problem will likely never affect 98% of those who try the herb.

Is all this safe?

Little is know about the safety of ingesting Heimia salicifolia, especially if taken regularly at doses high enough to cause psychoactive effects. A now defunct online health library (Thrive Online Health Library) rated it as "slightly dangerous", but had so little information as to suggest this was arbitrarily assigned to the plant.

There are some reports that continued high-dose use may result in worsening short term memory. (Erowid Herb Vaults) The original author of this FAQ (RevMeO) does not think this is a concern for the casual user.

"Classed as a narcotic hallucinogen; long-term use may impair the memory." (Dr. James Duke's CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs)

Is all this legal?

Heimia salicifolia is 100% legal in the United States, and as far as I can tell, throughout the entire world. (Erowid Herb Vaults) Thus, feel free to grow, harvest, extract, consume, etc…

Further, since Sinicuichi is all-natural and does not contain any controlled substances, it should be legal to market as an herbal remedy.

How can I grow Sinicuichi?

Woody perennial, half-hardy. Very small seed must be sprinkled on surface of flat, misted or bottom watered. Despite the small size of the seed, germination is usually quite easy. This is an upright bush, bright green with numberous yellow flowers. Ethnopharmaceutical sources describe smoking of this plant to promote a sense of well-being, vision tinted with yellow, hence the common name, "sun opener." Nice landscaping plant, good for topiary. (Horizon Herbs)

“Planted in the ground in well draining slightly acidic soil. Watered on a daily basis in the spring and summer and fed with miracle grow every 10 days or so, receiving about 4 hours of direct sunlight daily, heavy to partial shade the rest of the time. The plant is now about 4' in height, and almost the same width with a bushy habit and sending out new shoots from the base.” (MCsquared, the old EDot forums)

Indeed, it has been my experience that Heimia salicifolia is an extremely hardy and simple to grow plant! When in partial shade with sufficient water, there’s no stopping it! As well, the plant lets a countless amount of seed, which often you will find have fallen off and sprouted. One sad time, a winter storm hit without any warning…the Heimia outside was covered in ice…I dug it up in an extremely sloppy manner, severing some roots…and the next spring…the plant grew back as strong as ever!

It…needs lots of root space and becomes pot-bound very quickly. (Jim DeKorne, Psychedelic Shamanism)

Abstracts:

Malone MH, Rother A. Heimia salicifolia: a phytochemical and phytopharmacologic review. J Ethnopharmacol. 1994 May; 42(3): 135-59.
Heimia salicifolia grows wild from Mexico to Argentina. The aerial parts have a wide folk reputation for antisyphilitic, sudorific, antipyretic, laxative and diuretic activity, and are reported to be useful in preparing post partum baths and to enhance wound healing. Its four most studied alkaloids are vertine, lyfoline, lythrine and nesodine. Structural relationships of the Heimia alkaloids and certain synthetic 4-arylquinolizidines are reviewed here. Preliminary clinical evaluation indicates that vertine and lythrine given orally appear to lack the psychodysleptic activity that has been touted for native brews said to incorporate H. salicifolia. Most of the animal studies discussed here have focused on the ataractic, antiinflammatory and antispasmodic potential of vertine and on the hydrodiuretic potential of lythrine and decine, a structurally related alkaloid found in Decodon verticillatus. The ataractic activity of vertine does not appear to be dependent on the depletion or blockade of catecholamines, while its antiinflammatory capacity seen in both exudative and immunologic systems seems to be dependent in part on an intact pituitary-adrenal system and in part on inhibition of prostaglandin synthase. The antisplasmodic activity of vertine has been demonstrated on many isolated tissues using different agonists, but appears to be largely musculotropic in nature. Only lythrine and decinine have been shown to be true hydrodiuretics and may prove to be useful in treating Addison's disease and general nephrosis. A number of synthetic 4-arylquinolizidines and related compounds appear to possess antiinflammatory potential.

Rother A. The phenyl- and biphenyl-quinolizidines of in-vitro-grown Heimia salicifolia. J Nat Prod. 1985 Jan-Feb;48(1):33-41.
Under the conditions delineated in this paper, alkaloid synthesis was not detectable in heterotrophic callus and suspension cultures of Heimia salicifolia. However, in vitro-grown shoots are active in alkaloid biosynthesis, yielding the biphenylquinolizidine lactones vertine (1), lytrine (5), and lyfoline (7), the ester alkaloids demethoxyabresoline (14) and epidemethoxylabresoline (11), the phenylquinolizidinols demethyllasubine-I (10) and demethyllasubine-II (12), and several minor alkaloids that had not been previously shown to occur in H. salicifolia.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	nice compact info
	copy & paste, but very useful c&p
	well researched, informative post!

[Smarthead]

SINICUICHI
Loosestrife family (Lythraceae)

Two species of Heimia are used as hallucinogens. They are:

Heimia myrtifolia Link. Similar to H. salicifolia, but much smaller, growing only 3 feet tall. The narrow leaves are 2 inches long, and the yellow flowers are 1/5 of an inch long. Native of Brazil.

H. salicifolia Link. A perennial herbaceous shrub growing to 10 feet tall, with narrow 3.5 inch long leaves. The flowers are yellow, 0.75 inch long, and are followed by a ribbed capsule. Native from Mexico to Argentina.

Cultivation and Propagation: These Heimias can be grown outdoors in California and the South. Elsewhere they may be grown as tub plants. Both prefer a well-drained soil, but a good supply of water. Heimia seeds are very small, and should be sown very thinly on the surface of fine soil that has previously been firmed with a brick. When dealing with a small quantity of seed, it is best to plant them singly, spacing them an inch apart or more. Do not cover the seed, just press them into the soil with a small flat object. The flat should be watered only by a fine spray or by perfusion from the bottom. Keep the flat somewhat shaded and the surface moist until most of the seeds have germinated. When the first true leaves show, begin exposing the flat to more sun and let the surface dry between waterings. If you have sown them too thickly, either thin out to an inch or so apart or prick them out and space an inch apart in another flat. Be careful while transplanting, as Heimia seedlings have very large root systems in relation to their size. Seedlings less than 0.25 inch tall often have 2 inch long roots. When the seedlings are an inch or so tall, pot singly, or plant them out to their permanent positions. Water thoroughly but infrequently to encourage deep rooting. Heimia may also be propagated by cuttings and layers.

Harvesting: The fresh leaves may be harvested after the plant is established well enough to replace the leaves.

[Smarthead]

In Xochitl, In Cuicatl: Hallucinogens and Music in Mesoamerican Amerindian Thought.

Caceres, Abraham D. (1984).
Bloomington, IN: Indiana University.


ISBN: none

Description: Hardcover, unpublished doctoral dissertation, printed on right-hand pages only, xi + 339 pages.

Contents: 7 chapters, postscript, bibliography, appendices: 1. Illustrations, 2. Texts of the Mushroom Ceremony, 3. Music Transcriptions, 4. English Translations of Spanish Passages.

Note: Available from UMI, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI., in full page or half-page size, both in softcover or hardcover, also in microfilm.

Excerpt(s): I discovered in 1978 that there was an Aztec glyph which Western Naguatl scholars called "music." The most well known representation of this glyph appears on page four of the Codex Borbonicus. Part of the glyph consists of a flower which I was fortunate to be able to identify as sinicuichi, Heimia salicifolia (H.B.K.) Link.

I was surprised to discover that sinicuichi is a psychodysleptic which purportedly affects audition. My initial hypothesis was that sinicuichi and music were interrelated elements in the mystical experience. The logic was as follows. An altered state of consciousness (ASC) was interpreted as communication with the supernatural world. Sinicuichi was the flower that created ASC, and that somehow sinicuichi created "musical" sounds associated with this experience. Furthermore, there was historical evidence that music and dance were also used to create an ASC. (pages 2-3)

A review of the data revealed that sinicuichi was not the only xochitl, flower, associated with cuicatl, song or music. Ololiuhqui and teonanacatl were also associated with cuicatl. In fact it may be that psychodysleptics in general, metaphorically referred to as xochitl, and music were and are interrelated elements in the mystical experience. It appears that all three of the psychodysleptics discussed in this dissertation are conceived of as being auditory stimulants, and furthermore, that music as an "auditory stimulant" is conceived of being a psychodysleptic. The dimensions and details of this hypothesis are the subject of this dissertation. (pages 4-5)

Although we have no recorded examples of pre-hispanic music, and though there was no system of music notation, there did exist a glyph which approximates in some ways our term "music," and which is associated with psychodysleptics. This dissertation therefore revolves around the analysis of this glyph. I attempt to uncover the dimensions or levels of meaning which this glyph had for the Aztecs. (page 15)

Having reviewed the literature concerning these three psychodysleptics, sinicuichi, ololiuhqui and teonanacatl, several common ideas seem to emerge. First of all, it is clear that the Amerindians recognize the "visionary" aspect of the psychodysleptic experiences, but tend to emphasize the auditory component more greatly and in fact, seem to place greater value on he latter. We can infer this from the continuous emphasis on "hearing voices" and the acquisition of information via the auditory channel. Through sinicuichi one is able to remember prenatal events and hear the voices of ancestors. Through ingestion of ololiuhqui and teonanacatl one is able to hear the voices of deities. (page 114)

In each case, the glyph consists of two basic elements, a psychodysleptic and speech scroll. We can now assert at least three meanings of the glyph cuicatl. First, the individual components represent the speech or communication possible with the supernatural world upon ingestion of the psychodysleptic. Second, all partakers of a psychodysleptic can see a vision, but the primary goal of the nonspecialist is to hear the voice of the deity. Third, when the individual components of the glyph are combined, they represent another glyph, related to , but distinct form its components. This composite glyph is cuicatl. Cuicatl is the song-invocation-formula which one may receive while under the influence of a psychodysleptic. (pages 115-116)

It has often been said that Western cultures are visually oriented whereas "traditional" cultures are auditory oriented. Whereas this dichotomy is obviously somewhat simplistic, there is some truth to this idea. Various authors, such as Walter J. Ong, for example, have suggested that the invention of writing and the proliferation of literacy are some of the more important changes which pushed Western cultures towards the emphasis of the written and the visual ...

The end result is what Westerners, or at least Western scholars, for the most part have suppressed the auditory component of the hallucinogenic experience in favor of the visual, whereas the Amerindians have interpreted this experience with their greater auditory propensity, which is, of course, culturally determined. It is for these reasons that the ideas of morning glories that speak or mushrooms that sing sound rather strange to our ears, but are perfectly natural to the Nahuatl or Mazatec.

When I first applied Ong's idea of the auditory-visual dichotomy to the present material, I expressed it in two terms. I suggested that one may speak of the cosmovision Occidental, Western worldview, but should probably speak about the cosmoaudicion Indigena, the Amerindian worldaudition, or auditory perspective. I coined the term cosmoaudicion to express the greater value which the Amerindians place on the auditory component of the psychodysleptic experience. ... For the Westerner, psychodysleptics are "hallucinogens," for the Amerindian they are medicine. Many of the medicinal properties attributed by the Amerindians to sinicuichi and several of those attributed to ololiuhqui have been duplicated in the laboratory. Whereas ololiuhqui awaits to be more closely examined from this perspective, teonanacatl remains virtually virgin territory in this area. Yet, experience has taught us that we must not take lightly the Amerindian claim that the psychodysleptics are medicine. The Huichol have for centuries called peyote medicine, but it was not until recent years that biologists identified an antibiotic, hordenine, in the cactus. (pages 117-119)

For example, Wasson focuses on in xochitl. I agree with Wasson's interpretation of Xochipilli as the God of Rapture, of Ecstasy. But he is only partially correct, because for him Xochipilli is the God of the flower induced rapture. He ignores completely the fact that Xochipilli is also the deity of song and dance.

Likewise, Leon-Portilla offers his interpretation and insights in the following paragraph:

The idiomatic expression, in xochitl, in cuicatl, which literally means 'flower and song', has a metaphorical sense of poem, poetry, artistic expression, in a word, symbolism. Poetry and art, 'flowers and songs', are for 'those-who-know' [wisemen, Magi, soothsayers] an occult and veiled term that may sweep man off on the wings of symbol and metaphor, stammering, may project him beyond himself, thus perhaps in a mysterious manner bringing him nearer to his origins. 'Flower and song' seem to affirm that true poetry implies a peculiar way of knowledge, the fruit of an authentic interior experience.....[Italics mine. -Translation by Wasson]

As Wasson implies in his analysis of Leon-Portilla's interpretation, the latter conveys the feeling of the metaphysical, mystical nuances of the phrase in xochitl, in cuicatl, although he prefers to emphasize the poetic nature of the phrase. Both Wasson and Leon-Portilla overlook, however, that the poetry to which in xochitl, in cuicatl refers, consists primarily of texts of songs.

By bringing together the foci of these two important interpretations and juxtaposing them as in the original metaphorical construct, we approach a more complete understanding of its meaning. In xochitl and in cuicatl represent the rapture, ecstasy: they are interrelated elements in the mystical experiences in all the dimension discussed in this work. Xochipilli is the deity of the flower induced ASC, but he is also the deity of the song induce ASC. In xochitl can produce in cuicatl and vice versa. Together they are the juncture between the existence of the supernatural on earth, the man's earthly existence amidst the supernatural. As such, according to the mesoamerican cosmoaudicion, each is incomplete without the other, hence the metaphorical construct, in xochitl, in cuicatl. (pages 207-209)

The first scholars to depict the "receiver" as an active participant in a hallucinogenic experience were Dobkin de Rios and Katz. They suggest that the songs provide a series of bannisters and pathways which enable one who partakes of a psychodysleptic (a client) to negotiate his experience. I add the concept of the songs as aural signposts which enable the client to know where in the trip he may be at any given time. I also demonstrated that the shaman taps the background knowledge that a client brings with himself to a mushroom ceremony, and how the client actively strives to be in concert with the suggestions made by the shaman. The client is therefor and active participant in a mushroom ceremony. (pages 213-214)

Although this pychopharmocological data was of import to me, my resulting concept of the Amerindian cosmoaudicion may be of use to psychopharmacologists. Much of the work on psychodysleptic induced changes in perception currently focuses primarily on changes in visual perception. However, it is important to recognize that if the active principle of the psychodysleptics in question affect both the visual and auditory channels, then the result of a double blind laboratory test in which a psychodysleptic is administered to a Westerner will not only reflect that individual's reaction to the active principles, but his culturally determined bias vis a vis one channel or another. (page 215)

[Smarthead]

Confessions of an English Sinicuichi Smoker

1) Introduction
2) Preparations
2.1) Smoking
2.2) Tea
2.3) Extraction
3) Effects
4) Musings
4.1) Audio?

1) Introduction

Sinicuichi is one of the lesser known entheogens, and there is a worrying lack of recorded experience about the plant. Of the two experience reports currently on Erowid, neither deals with Sinicuichi alone. Elsewhere on the internet there is scattered and unauthenticated information. All is not gloom, however, Rev. MeO's Sinicuichi FAQ is both informative and useful, dealing with the generalities of the herb and its alkaloids. This document will not attempt to supplant the FAQ, but will attempt to add information on specific methods of preparation and share this individual's experiences.

2) Preparations

2.1) Smoking

Before I began to smoke sinicuichi I tried to find any information on this method. I was worried that smoking might be dangerous in some way I hadn't anticipated, beyond the regular combustion carcinogens that smoking always exposes you to. I couldn't find anyone who had done this before. Another worry was that the smoke from the leaves was unreasonably harsh and for a non-smoker like me, impossible to inhale without choking. This, I found, was easily solved by rolling a sinicuichi cigarette and using a filter tip. The filter also stops tiny bits of leaf from flying into your mouth and throat.

Since I'm no good at rolling cigarettes, especially with little dry bits of leaves, I use a rolling machine. This results in a tight cigarette that burns steadily, in comparison to my unassisted efforts which burn rather too much. The smoke tastes and looks pleasant and looks quite like tobacco cigarette smoke, although since the sinicuichi cigarette burns faster, it produces more smoke. Liquorice-flavoured papers make the smoke taste even nicer.

When I smoke, I generally use two to four cigarettes, depending on how deep an effect I want. It's a good idea to start off with one to see what effect it'll have on you.

2.2) Tea

I made and drank sinicuichi tea twice before I decided that there had to be a better way. In truth, I have yet to find a liquid that is more difficult to drink. The liquid doesn't taste bad, as such, just incredibly bitter. This was a problem for me the first time I drank the tea, because I could only manage to drink half of it before it began to bounce up into my mouth again. The second time, I boiled it down to 50ml, so that I only needed to take one gulp. In my opinion, tea is the least effective method of consumption. As a note of interest, boiling doesn't seem to affect the potency of the resulting liquid in any way. Unless you have reasons to folllow the traditional method, I suggest the following:

Put 10g of crushed, dried sinicuichi in a pyrex dish with around half a pint of water. Boil this for half an hour until the water turns the color of tea. Strain the leaves from the water and discard them (boiling again in fresh water and combining the two extractions will probably lead to a more potent liquid.) Now, boil the liquid down until you have a shot-glass worth's. Gulp this down and have orange juice or similar to wash the taste away. A piece of chocolate or candy will also help.

2.3) Extraction

Not being a chemist, I can only perform a very crude extraction of the alkaloids from Sinicuichi. This is, in my opinion, enough for spectacular effect.

Follow the directions as per tea, but continue to boil away the water. A yellow film should appear on the sides of the bowl as the water level decreases. Eventually there will be a gummy brown residue boiling in the bottom of the bowl. Turn the heat off and allow to cool. The residue will harden. Scrape everything off the bowl using some form of blade (a flat headed x-acto knife is very useful for this) and collect. It will glitter, because there are many tiny crystals in the residue. You should be left with a nice, slightly sticky, burnt-sugar colored powder. I found that 1/16th of this was an enjoyable dose, but be sensible and test the smallest amount of your extraction that you can before putting yourself in danger using larger amounts of unknown potency.

3) Effects

Effects vary for every person, the following is merely the things that have happened to me. Be responsible and don't assume that the same will happen to you. Effects also vary slightly between methods of ingestion. In spite of the claims that sinicuichi causes audio hallucinations, they have never happened to me. Another thing to consider is that there's no traditional use of extract (I'm the first and only person that I've known to use sinicuichi in its extract form) so the dangers aren't known.

In general, regardless of method of ingestion, a moderate dose of sinicuichi causes the following effects: A feeling of wellbeing and contentment, heaviness of the limbs, drowsiness, hot/cold flushes, disinterest in sex, slight visual distortion, flowing thoughts, reduced pain, loss of the ability to do anything that requires much effort. After effects have included aching muscles and diarrhea, particularly with tea. Smoked sinicuichi is quite like marijuana; personally, I prefer sinicuichi.

Extraction is notable in that it has led me to full-blown psychedelic effects. Closed-eye visuals started with pulsing colors only ten minutes after ingestion and were noticeable with eyes open twenty minutes later. There was also swirling of textures and glimpses of objects 'in' walls. Things looked disconnected. Thought-patterns were also affected.

Sinicuichi generally lasts between one and two hours, regardless of ingestion method. I experience a slight tolerance effect after heavy use, but it doesn't appear at all addictive.

4.1) Audio?

In my research I came across this document... www.csp.org/chrestomathy/in_xochitl.html which, in addition to being an interesting read, seems to hint at the origin of the deceptive notion that sinicuichi is an aural hallucinogen. Given the importance of set in any psychedelic experience, it doesn't seem inconceivable that portraying sinicuichi in this way could prime people to experience audio effects, to the exclusion of visual elements. If sinicuichi is as powerful as other psychedelics (and in my opinion it is) it seems sad to abandon it to the niche it currently occupies.

[snapper]

Fermented leaves are hallucinogenic. Smoking leaf or extract also said to have cannabis like high. Said to tint vision yellow, hence 'sun opener'.
Mostly inactive in trials with a few different sources so far.
Snapper

[Bajeda]

Has anyone used this substance without getting soreness?


Swim is going to get some in a month or so but wants to know if anyone had success with this substance. If not, I will post about swim's experience here after he attempts to use sinicuichi.