The most comprehensive guide to the botany, history, distribution, and cultivation of all known psychoactive plants

Examines 414 psychoactive plants and related substances

Explores how using psychoactive plants in a culturally sanctioned context can produce important insights into the nature of reality

Contains 800 color photographs and 670 black-and-white illustrations

Description: In the traditions of every culture, plants have been highly valued for their nourishing, healing, and transformative properties. The most powerful plants?those known to transport the human mind into other dimensions of consciousness?have traditionally been regarded as sacred. In The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants Christian Ratsch details the botany, history, distribution, cultivation, and preparation and dosage of more than 400 psychoactive plants. He discusses their ritual and medicinal usage, cultural artifacts made from these plants, and works of art that either represent or have been inspired by them. The author begins with 168 of the most well-known psychoactives?such as cannabis, datura, and Opium Poppy?then presents 133 lesser known substances as well as additional plants known as ?legal highs,? plants known only from mythological contexts and literature, and plant products that include substances such as ayahuasca, incense, and soma. The text is lavishly illustrated with 800 color photographs?many of which are from the author?s extensive fieldwork around the world?showing the people, ceremonies, and art related to the ritual use of the world?s sacred psychoactives.