Dear Phytoalchemy friends. A happy announcement. Today I am celebrating the publication of the first edition of my new book: African Psychoactive Plants. If you are interested and would like to purchase the book I would be happy to autograph and send the book couriered to you. About the book: Psychoactive plant use research has […]
Wild Dagga-Leonotus Leonurus or Umunyane in Zulu is a highly prized medicinal plant used in African traditional medicine. This attractive and elegant looking plant bears thin elongated lance like leaves – which differentiates it from klip dagga (Leonotus ocymifolia) that has more round circular shaped leaves- and has beautiful orange tubular flowers that grow in […]
Myrothamnus flabellifolius also known as Resurrection bush or “uvukwabafile” in Zulu “umazifisi” in Ndebele and bergbogoe in Afrikaans is a truly fascinating and enigmatic African medicinal plant. It is popularly used as a local medicine in South Africa, other Southern Africa nations, and Central Africa. A small woody shrub with tough branches and small fan […]
First it was the BP oil bleed that set into motion the global environmental crisis that sent Americas economies into a spiral and Europe’s fish supplies into extinction. This was bad enough in taxing global economies that were for a long time raping the earth. Now the earth was beginning to respond… I remember how […]
I love Melissa herb. It is a gentle healer of the nervous system. The plant called me to use it when I was in my teens and was battling with teen stress and anxiety, and helps ease tension associated with uncertainty. A Summary of the uses of the herb include: *The volatile oils calm the […]
Here are some of these remedies that can help one through the Dark Night of Depression. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in combination with Magnolia bark and theanine (there are products that have all three in health shops) is useful to reduce cortisol-crucial in high stress states and can be especially useful when weaning off benzodiazepines. For […]
Who has seen the remarkable Film Kiss the Ground with Woody Harrelson on the importance of soil in our future? It has inspired me to write this piece about SOIL and its Role in our Food, Weather and Well-being. I didn’t know many things about the soil that is crucial for our survival into the […]
Can we expect a big global shift and rebirth in a positive direction without the birth trauma we are experiencing? The darkness, confusion and stress we are all facing from outside, shouldn’t make us forget that what is really important now going into the future is the need for Connection. But First we must face […]
Psychoactive plants are generally a misunderstood subject in western society. The word ‘psychoactive’ is often associated with harmful drugs like cocaine and heroin and the 60’s cultural revolution. The fact is that most of what we eat is psychoactive. A psychoactive substance is by definition any substance that effects how we think, feel and act! […]
There has been increased interest abroad in South African psychoactive plants and dream plants. (oneirogenics) This is mostly owing to more research having been published in the last 20 years on Southern Africa psychoactive plant species and their role in healing psycho-spiritual conditions (Sobiecki, 2012, 2014,2017). One species that has gained considerable attention has been […]