RE: [Aroid-l] aroid hallucinogen

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>From: Brian Williams <pugturd@alltel.net> >Reply-To: Discussion of aroids <aroid-l@gizmoworks.com> >To: Discussion of aroids <aroid-l@gizmoworks.com> >Subject: [Aroid-l] aroid  hallucinogen >Date: Fri, 05 Nov 2004 21:18:49 -0500 >

Dear Friends,

Just a bit more info on these plants---Dr. Sue Thompson gave a most informative talk on this complex, she concluded that the N. American species is different to the species commonly grown/used in Europe/Asia, the N. American one was commonly used by Native Americans, and can be used medicinally, eaten, etc., but warned about trying to use the European/Asian one in the same ways.    She noted that there was much confusion and mixing of information concerning these plants, so be careful!!!

Julius

>I found this while looking up some info on the net. I know this has

>now been moved out of the Araceae family but still very interesting. > >CALAMUS -- Sweet flag, rat root (_Acorus calamus_). Family Araceae >(Arum family). >Material: Roots of tall, fragrant, sword-leaved plant found in >marshes and borders of ponds and streams in Europe, Asia, and North >America from Nova Scotia to Minnesota, southward to Florida and >Texas. >Usage: Roots are collected in late autumn or spring, washed, >voided of root fibres and dried with moderate heat. Root may be >chewed or broken up and boiled as a tea. Doses range from 2 to 10 >inches of root. Root deteriorates with age. Usually inactive after 1 >year. Store closed in cool dry place. >Active Constituents: Asarone and beta-asarone. >Effects: A piece of dried root the thickness of a pencil and >about 2 inches long provides stimulating and buoyant feelings. A >piece 10 inches long acts as a mind alterant and hallucinogen. (See >ASARONE.) >Contraindications: The FDA frowns upon the sale and use of >calamus and has issued directives to certain herb dealers not to >sell >it to the public. An FDA directive is simply a polite word for a >threat of hassling without a law to back it. At present there are no >laws against calamus. Some experiments have indicated that excessive >amounts of calamus oil can increase the tumor rate in rats. Many of >the Cree Indians of Northern Alberta chew calamus root for oral >hygiene and as a stimulating tonic. They apparently suffer no >unpleasant side effects. In fact, those who use it seem to be in >better general health than those who do not. >Supplier: Dried root, MGH; viable root, RCS, GBR. >_______________________________________________ >Aroid-l mailing list >Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com >http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

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