Coleus anyone?

[Oncewas]

Supposedly this is a mild hallucinogen? I can't find much of any information on it, some of the experiences on erowid appear to be very promising.

Wondering if anyone else has tried it?

 

[jamie]

ive grown it, chewed it, smoked tons of it..no effects though.

 

[Phlux-]

ditto - except i didnt try smoking it.
i ate a few houseplants of coleus - a few kinds.
perhaps there is some potent color variety i never found.(hope so)

 

[Oncewas]

Thanks for the reports my friends! I never know what to believe these days, but I know you two know your stuff and I trust your words far more than any random google search .

 

[Chalchiuhtlicue]

"In the traditional taxonomy of the Mazatecs, Salvia divinorum is related to two forms of labiates. Salvia is known as the "mother" (la hembra), Coleus pumilus is considered to be the "father" (el macho) and Coleus blumei is known as el nene (the child) and el ahiajado, the godchild. The fresh leaves are used just as those of Salvia divinorum--that is, they are chewed like chewing tobacco. This connection give the Coleus the reputation of being spychoactive plants." pg. 165, "Plants of the Gods", Schltes, Hofmann & Ratscho, Healing Arts Press, 1998.

 

[Phlux-]

u know very deep down - i just want to beleve this works for some reason - i have high hopes for coleus that i just cant kick.

 

[Oncewas]

Maybe the relationship is similar to that of MAOI and Tryptamine? Maybe the coleus mostly boosts the salvia? Awe I'm just dreamin haha.

 

[Ginkgo]

Maybe the relationship is similar to that of MAOI and Tryptamine? Maybe the coleus mostly boosts the salvia? Awe I'm just dreamin haha.

Coleus was/is reportedly used by the Mazatec when Salvia is not obtainable, which again was/is used when Psilocybe mushrooms was/is not obtainable. Only totally fresh Salvia is ever used, so your theory can sadly not be the case. I think a possibility is that the Coleus we are experimenting with may be another subspecies than the psychoactive ones, or perhaps that they need certain growing conditions in order to be psychoactive. I would just love to travel to Oaxaca and hunt down a shaman with knowledge about Coleus... I do also really feel there is something to be found in Coleus, something wonderful.

 

[Bancopuma]

^^I've heard this theory of Mazatec use as well, but I've not encountered a detailed ethnobotanical description of use, and thus am suspicious. I've also read/heard that rumours of Mazatec use of Coleus may be untrue, and that the plant is simply grown for its foliage, and there is no actual shamanic use of it, and this been misinterpreted at some point.

An interesting thing worth mentioning...both Salvia divinorum and Psilocybe mexicana are native species to the area of Mexico the Mazatec inhabit, and have likely been used ritually by them for a long time. The origin of Coleus blumei is Southeast Asia and Malaysia. When shamans employ plants and fungi, they typically employ those species native to the particular ecosystems they inhabit. Thus I think that Coleus has made a much more recent appearance there. Psilocybe cubensis I believe was originally of Asian origin, and while the Mazatec do employ this species, it considered the least desirable species to work with (an introduced, weed mushroom that grows on dung, better off sold to tourists), apparently Mazatec shaman Maria Sabina refused to work with it. Whatever the case, it is interesting as there are quite a few Erowid Coleus reports, describing activity.

 

[newdimensions]

I recall reading an Erowid report of someone who believed that Coleus worked like Salvia divinorum, only on dreams instead of waking life. I believe he either smoked or chewed Coleus leaves before going to sleep, and had crazy dreams.

 

[mogascreeta]

I recall reading an Erowid report of someone who believed that Coleus worked like Salvia divinorum, only on dreams instead of waking life. I believe he either smoked or chewed Coleus leaves before going to sleep, and had crazy dreams.

i also have chewed and swallowed coleus leaves before bed and had very ccrazy dreams that were easier than normal to remember, it was certainly beyond a placebo...