Peganum Harmala

 

 

Preparation and Dosage

• Burning the dried seeds as a fumigant is by far the most common use of Perganum harmala, The seeds also are used as an ingredient in smoking blends, e.g., with hashish (Cannabis indica). In Ladakh, the seeds are toasted on a red-hot iron plate, very finely ground, and than smoked, either alone or mixed with tobacco. An especialy effective smoking mixture can be obtained from 15g of seeds and the juice of a lemon. The ground seeds are boiled carefully in some water and the lemon juice until a paste results. Mixed with tobacco and smoked, this is said to produce inebriating and aphrodisiac effects.
• In Pakistan, 5 to 10 g of unground seeds are ingested with water after a meal for internal purposes. In Marocco, the seeds are added to wine to make harmel vine.
• The powdered seeds are taken as a snuff to produce a "clear mind".
• Up to 20g of powdered seeds can be ingested for psychoactive purposes, but such a dosage can have severe toxic effects, "Over 4 mg/kg (oral) of the two substances [harmine and harmaline] have hallucinogenic effects on humans".
• Some 3 to 4 g of crushed seeds (approximately one teaspoon full) is effective as an MAO-inhibitor for activating the DMT in ayahuasca analogs. (It is not necessary to swallow the seeds or, in gelatin capsules, the powder. This amount can be extracted in cold water, and the solution can be used.) Great care should be exercised when conducting such self-experiments. It is better to use too litle than too much!

 

Effects

• The seeds have antidepressive effects and stimulate the imagination.
• There are reports of dreamlike states following the ingestion of larger quantities. Higher dosages can produce hallucinogenic effects.
• Studies coducted at the University of Kansas have shown that the harmine present in Sryrian rue seeds has antibiotic effects on microorganisms.

 

Syrian Rue is likely an ancient ritual plant that was used for psycho-active purposes from an early date. It may have been the haoma of ancient Persia and was in any case later used as a substitute for it. The plant appears in the ancient literature under the name peganon. The name peganon (also peganum) may have been derived from that of Pegasus, the winged horse of ancient mythology that was begotten by Poseidon, the god of the sea and the dying Medusa.

 

The plant has been interpreted as the legendary magical plant known as moly. The seeds which are used both medicinally and ritually, were imported from Persia to India by Muslims at an earty date.

 

The plant was present in central Europe by the 15th century at the latest and was portrayed by the "father of botany". In the Near East and North Africa, Syrian rue has retained its great significance as a ritual incense into present day. In North America and central Europe, it is increasingly being used to produce ayahuasca analogs.

 

Although Syrian Rue thrives without problem in extreme desert climates, cultivation of the plant is often difficult. The plant almost never grows in central Europe. It is more likely that suitable soils and climates are found in southern Europe. In California, cultivation is relatively simple. There, the seeds are simply broadcast onto normal, moistened potting soil and gently pressed in. When there is suftficient - but not too much - sunlight and the air is warm, some of the seeds will germinate. Each can be repotted as a seedling as soon as its root has become strong enough. Growing larger quantities of Syrian rue requires considerable experience in and knowledge of gardening.