Is it safe to experiment with making ayahuasca from hybrid acacia species?

[Tôn Ngộ Không]

Various Acacia hybrids are planted agriculturally all across the world. Swims preferred method of consuming DMT is to soak mimosa hostilis root bark in cold water for five days, then strain and drink as tea.

Would it be safe to try this with the bark of an acacia hybrid that has not previously been investigated by psychedelic medicine researchers? Or are there some species of acacia that contain compounds that are poisonous to humans?

 

[Transform]

Some highly relevant points come up here:

Hello all,

I’m currently working in the Mount Isa Inlier/Northwest Highlands region of Queensland. I’ve been curious whether the local Acacia species, have ever been investigated for their alkaloid content.

To be clear: I have no intention of smoking or ingesting any extracts. Past experiences have left me with anxiety, and I feel that I’ve either overstayed my welcome in that space or that it no longer serves me. My interest is only in the botanical and chemical side — mapping, identifying, and possibly doing preliminary reagent/TLC tests on local species.


From herbarium and WetlandInfo records, the Acacia species present in this bioregion include:

• Acacia acradenia
• Acacia adsurgens
• Acacia alleniana
• Acacia ancistrocarpa
• Acacia aneura var. aneura (Mulga)* — mentioned on Nexus, but reports are inconsistent; no confirmed alkaloid results.
• Acacia argyraea
• Acacia asperulacea
• Acacia bivenosa
• Acacia calligera
• Acacia cambagei (Gidgee) — contains fluoroacetates, toxic, avoided
• Acacia chippendalei
• Acacia chisholmii
• Acacia citriodora
• Acacia colei / var. colei (Cole’s wattle)* mentions from Dr Karl.
• Acacia cowleana
• Acacia cowleana × hammondii
• Acacia delicatula
• Acacia drepanocarpa subsp. drepanocarpa
• Acacia drepanocarpa subsp. latifolia
• Acacia elachantha
• Acacia estrophiolata (Ironwood)
• Acacia excelsa subsp. angusta
• Acacia galioides
• Acacia georginae (Georgina gidgee) — fluoroacetates, highly toxic, avoided
• Acacia gonoclada
• Acacia hammondii
• Acacia hemignosta
• Acacia hemsleyi
• Acacia hilliana
• Acacia holosericea (Silky wattle)* — noted mainly for traditional food use, not strong alkaloid presence.
• Acacia hyalinaura
• Acacia laccata
• Acacia latifolia
• Acacia ligulata (Sandhill wattle)* — previously mentioned; usually in food context, little chemical data.
• Acacia limbata
• Acacia lysiphloia
• Acacia megalantha
• Acacia melleodora
• Acacia monticola / × phlebocarpa
• Acacia orthocarpa
• Acacia phlebocarpa
• Acacia platycarpa
• Acacia plectocarpa subsp. tanumbirinensis
• Acacia retivenea / subsp. retivenea
• Acacia sericophylla
• Acacia shirleyi (Lancewood)
• Acacia sp. (Urandangi L.Pedley 2025)
• Acacia spondylophylla
• Acacia stipuligera
• Acacia tenuissima
• Acacia thomsonii
• Acacia torulosa
• Acacia tropica
• Acacia umbellata
• Acacia victoriae subsp. fasicaria* — discussed on Nexus; bushfood seeds well known, little mention of alkaloids.
• Acacia victoriae subsp. victoriae* — as above.

I understand that some of these trees, especially the gidgees (A. cambagei, A. georginae), are known for their toxicity due to fluoroacetates. Because of this I feel it’s best to avoid those species altogether, regardless of curiosity. My interest would only be in the non-toxic species.

I was wondering if others here think it would be worthwhile to collect small samples (say ~50 g dried phyllodes, twigs or bark) for extraction and reagent/TLC testing, and adding results here over time as I locate and identify each species. If so, what species would anyone recommend I look at first?

I’m approaching this with respect for the plants, for science, and for the community ethos of responsible exploration. Any guidance on methodology, record-keeping, or prior research in this specific bioregion would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Positive ID and preferably some kind of mini-analysis are highly preferable. Fluoroacetate is no joke - deadly rat poison!

Sorry for the tardy reply, maybe you'll get to see this...

 

[Jivecat_the_Magnificent]

Of course I can't say for sure, but presumably anyone that would claim it's safe to try this out with bark from hybrids that haven't been investigated or tested by researchers would be taking quite a risk. I wouldn't be too keen to be the guineapig.

 

[acacian]

Definitely a bad idea to drink brews of species that haven't been tested.. its a huge risk. Some Acacias can have some incredibly toxic compounds in them..

 

[acacian]

Fluoroacetates and cyanogenic glycosides are a couple nasty examples.. I would not experiment with a plant orally until you know the smoked extract like the back of your hand. Then start taking that orally.. if that proceeds safely then you could incrementally start with low doses of just the plant brewed.. I wouldn't add any MAO inhibitors until you've already practiced a bit with the plant by itself. Either that or see if there is any indigenous lore/existing traditions surrounding said plant.. that might also put your mind at ease.