Plant Medicine & Psychedelics
An A-Z, educational and harm-reduction reference on psychedelics, plant medicines, and other substances people use across cultures. Each guide covers history, effects, risks, interactions, addiction potential, and legal status.
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These guides are for education and harm reduction only. They are not medical, legal, or professional advice, and they are not an endorsement of drug use. They are written for adults. Most of these substances are controlled and illegal in many countries, and many carry serious health risks. Never mix depressants such as alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines, and be aware that combining serotonergic substances (such as MDMA, ayahuasca, or DMT) with antidepressants can be life threatening. If you or someone else is in a medical or mental-health emergency, contact your local emergency services right away.
Psychedelics
Psilocybin Mushrooms: Effects, History, Risks, and Safety
Psilocybin mushrooms are fungi containing a natural psychedelic that alters perception and mood. This educational, harm-
LSD (Acid): Effects, Risks, History, and Harm Reduction
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a long-acting psychedelic that alters perception, mood, and thought by acting on ser
DMT: Effects, Risks, and Harm Reduction Facts Explained
DMT is a powerful, short-acting psychedelic found in ayahuasca and made synthetically. This educational reference covers
MDMA (Ecstasy): Effects, Risks, and Harm Reduction
MDMA, commonly called ecstasy or molly, is a synthetic stimulant and empathogen that releases serotonin and heightens em
Mescaline: Effects, Risks, History, and Legal Status
Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychedelic found in peyote and San Pedro cacti, used ceremonially for thousands of y
2C-B (Nexus): Effects, Risks, History, and Harm Reduction
2C-B is a synthetic psychedelic phenethylamine first made by Alexander Shulgin in 1974. This educational guide covers it
Plant Medicines & Entheogens
Ayahuasca: Effects, Risks, Interactions and Legal Status
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive Amazonian brew combining DMT with MAO-inhibiting harmala alkaloids, used ceremonially for ge
Peyote and Mescaline: Effects, Risks, and Sacred Use
Peyote is a mescaline-containing cactus with a long ceremonial history and real risks. This educational, harm-reduction
San Pedro (Huachuma): Effects, Risks, and Sacred Use
San Pedro, also called huachuma or wachuma, is an Andean columnar cactus containing mescaline, a long-acting psychedelic
Iboga and Ibogaine: Effects, Risks, and Legal Status
Iboga is a Central African shrub whose main alkaloid, ibogaine, produces long dream-like states and can interrupt opioid
Cannabis and Bhang: Effects, Risks, Harm Reduction Guide
Cannabis, including the traditional South Asian preparation bhang, is a psychoactive plant with genuine physical and men
Kava: Effects, Risks, Interactions, and Cultural History
Kava (Piper methysticum) is a Pacific Island plant whose root produces a relaxing, mildly sedating drink used ceremonial
Kratom: A Harm-Reduction Guide to Effects and Risks
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a Southeast Asian tree whose leaves contain mitragynine, an alkaloid acting on opioid rec
Blue Lotus: Effects, History, Risks, and Legal Status
Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) is a mildly sedating flower with a sacred history in ancient Egypt. This educational harm
Amanita Muscaria: Effects, Risks, History, and Legal Status
Amanita muscaria, the fly agaric mushroom, contains muscimol and ibotenic acid rather than psilocybin. This educational
Salvia Divinorum: Effects, Risks, and Sacred History
Salvia divinorum is a psychoactive plant in the mint family, native to Oaxaca, Mexico, where Mazatec healers used it for
Datura: Effects, Serious Risks, and Harm Reduction Facts
Datura is a high-risk deliriant plant in the nightshade family whose tropane alkaloids (atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolami
Morning Glory (LSA): Effects, Risks, and Sacred History
Morning glory seeds contain LSA (ergine), a naturally occurring lysergamide related to LSD but weaker, with stronger nau
Changa: Effects, Risks, and Harm Reduction of Smokable DMT
Changa is a smokable blend of a DMT-containing plant extract and MAO-inhibiting harmala plants such as the ayahuasca vin
Dissociatives
Ketamine: Effects, Risks, Dependence, and Dissociative Use
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that blocks NMDA receptors, used medically for surgery and treatment-resistant dep
DXM (Dextromethorphan): Effects, Risks, and Dissociation
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough-suppressant that becomes a dissociative NMDA receptor antagonist at high doses. This e
Nitrous Oxide: Effects, Risks, and Harm Reduction Facts
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas, N2O) is a dissociative gas used in dentistry and inhaled recreationally for brief euphoria.
Traditional Stimulants
Coca Leaf: Effects, Risks, History, and Legal Status
Coca leaf is a mild Andean stimulant containing small amounts of the cocaine alkaloid. This educational harm-reduction g
Betel Nut: Effects, Health Risks, and Cultural History
Betel nut (areca nut) is a widely chewed traditional stimulant and an IARC Group 1 carcinogen strongly linked to oral ca
Khat (Catha edulis): Effects, Risks, and Legal Status
Khat (Catha edulis) is a stimulant shrub chewed for centuries in the Horn of Africa and Arabia, containing cathinone. Th
Tobacco and Nicotine: Effects, Risks, and Sacred History
Tobacco and nicotine are among the most widely used and most harmful legal stimulants. This guide covers the plant's pha
Caffeine: Effects, Risks, History, and Harm Reduction
Caffeine is the world's most widely used psychoactive stimulant, found in coffee, tea, and energy drinks. This education
Ephedra (Ma Huang): Effects, Risks, and Sacred History
Ephedra, or ma huang, is a traditional stimulant containing ephedrine. This educational, harm-reduction guide covers its
Recreational Drugs (Harm Reduction)
Alcohol: Effects, Risks, Addiction, and How to Get Help
Alcohol (ethanol) is a legal but high-risk depressant. This guide leads with the dangers: alcohol poisoning, fatal inter
Cocaine: Effects, Risks, Addiction, and How to Get Help
Cocaine is a powerful, addictive stimulant made from the coca plant and a high-risk drug. It strains the heart, can caus
Methamphetamine: Effects, Risks, Addiction, and Getting Help
Methamphetamine is a potent, highly addictive stimulant with serious risks of overdose, cardiovascular harm, psychosis,
Opioids and Heroin: Risks, Overdose, and Getting Help
Opioids, including heroin and prescription painkillers like oxycodone and fentanyl, are among the most dangerous recreat
Benzodiazepines: Effects, Risks, and Addiction Dangers
Benzodiazepines are prescription sedatives, including Valium and Xanax, that calm the nervous system by boosting GABA. T
GHB: Effects, Risks, Overdose, and How to Get Help
GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is a central nervous system depressant with a dangerously narrow margin between a recreation
