Psychedelic
Compounds that act primarily through serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonism — the family includes tryptamines like psilocybin and DMT, phenethylamines like mescaline, and lysergamides. The shared phenomenology: vivid open-eye visuals, ego softening, sense of meaning, time dilation. Mechanism modulates the brain's default mode network.
Potent 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A agonist. Produces an extremely intense, short-duration experience often described as complete ego dissolution or 'whiteout'.
Quaternary tryptamine analog of psilocybin found in Inocybe aeruginascens, Panaeolus cyanescens, and several Psilocybe species. The fixed positive charge limits its passage into the brain, and current evidence suggests it may modulate the subjective character of the experience rather than acting as a primary psychedelic.
Naturally occurring psilocybin analog found in many Psilocybe species. Thought to be a prodrug similar to psilocybin with potentially milder or distinct subjective character.
Naturally occurring tryptamine found in certain toads, plants, and fungi. Has complex pharmacology with activity at serotonin receptors.
Complex pharmacology including NMDA antagonism, serotonin reuptake inhibition, and sigma receptor activity. Famous for interrupting opioid addiction and producing long, dream-like visionary states.
Naturally occurring lysergamide found in certain morning glories and Hawaiian baby woodrose. Produces sedative, dreamy, and mild psychedelic effects.
One of the longest-known psychedelics in the Western world. Phenethylamine that produces rich, long-lasting visual and empathogenic effects.
Extremely potent serotonergic psychedelic. Rapidly metabolized by MAO when taken orally, hence the need for MAO inhibitors in ayahuasca.
The active dephosphorylated metabolite of psilocybin. Direct 5-HT2A agonist responsible for the classic psychedelic effects of magic mushrooms.
Prodrug that is rapidly dephosphorylated to psilocin in the body. Classic serotonergic psychedelic acting primarily at 5-HT2A receptors.
The principal psychoactive cannabinoid in Cannabis sativa. Partial agonist at the CB1 receptor of the endocannabinoid system, with widespread effects on perception, appetite, time-sense, memory, and pain modulation.
Iboga-type alkaloid found in Voacanga africana and Tabernanthe iboga and used industrially as the precursor for ibogaine synthesis. Pharmacologically similar to ibogaine but somewhat weaker.
Dissociative
Compounds that produce a felt-sense separation from the body, ordinary identity, or shared reality. The lone naturally occurring dissociative profiled here is salvinorin A — a κ-opioid agonist whose mechanism is unrelated to the synthetic NMDA-antagonist dissociatives like ketamine.
Oneirogen
Compounds that produce vivid, dream-shaped, often narrative inner experiences — frequently with eyes closed. Iboga, harmaline, and (at lower doses) muscimol all live here. Less visual saturation than classic psychedelics, more felt as if the dreaming brain has been brought online while awake.
Beta-carboline alkaloid and potent MAO-A inhibitor found in Banisteriopsis caapi. Enables oral activity of DMT in ayahuasca.
The major beta-carboline alkaloid of Banisteriopsis caapi, and the primary MAO-A inhibitor responsible for making oral DMT active in ayahuasca. Acts as a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A and is itself mildly psychoactive at higher doses.
Complex pharmacology including NMDA antagonism, serotonin reuptake inhibition, and sigma receptor activity. Famous for interrupting opioid addiction and producing long, dream-like visionary states.
Potent GABA-A receptor agonist. Primary psychoactive compound in Amanita muscaria responsible for sedative, oneirogenic, and deliriant-like effects.
Active metabolite of ibogaine, formed by demethylation in the liver. Substantially longer half-life than the parent compound and a notable serotonin reuptake inhibitor — widely considered responsible for much of ibogaine's anti-addictive afterglow.
Aporphine alkaloid of sacred and blue lotus. Acts as a dopamine D2 antagonist and weak partial agonist at several serotonin receptors — producing mild sedation, calm, and a subtly dreamy mood-lift.
Unique non-nitrogenous diterpenoid. Highly selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist. Produces intense, short-lived dissociative and visionary states.
Third major beta-carboline of Banisteriopsis caapi (alongside harmine and harmaline). A weaker MAO-A inhibitor but a serotonin reuptake inhibitor in its own right — believed to be a major contributor to the long, dreamy afterglow of an ayahuasca session.
Iboga-type alkaloid found in Voacanga africana and Tabernanthe iboga and used industrially as the precursor for ibogaine synthesis. Pharmacologically similar to ibogaine but somewhat weaker.
Entactogen
Compounds that open the heart center — softening defensive structures, increasing emotional access, and producing a felt-sense of connection. Mescaline carries an entactogenic dimension on top of its psychedelic profile, which is part of why San Pedro and peyote ceremonies are so often described as healing rather than mystical.
One of the longest-known psychedelics in the Western world. Phenethylamine that produces rich, long-lasting visual and empathogenic effects.
Principal alkaloid of fermented Sceletium tortuosum. A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and PDE4 inhibitor with mild mood-elevating, anxiolytic, and pro-social effects.
Third major beta-carboline of Banisteriopsis caapi (alongside harmine and harmaline). A weaker MAO-A inhibitor but a serotonin reuptake inhibitor in its own right — believed to be a major contributor to the long, dreamy afterglow of an ayahuasca session.
Sedative
A pulling-down rather than expansion. The natural sedatives in the atlas are GABAergic (muscimol) and lysergamide-dreamy (LSA). The character is closer to a strong drowsy reverie than a stimulating trip.
Oxidized minor alkaloid and active metabolite of mitragynine. Substantially more potent at the mu-opioid receptor than mitragynine itself — believed responsible for much of kratom's analgesic and sedative effect at higher leaf doses.
Major non-intoxicating cannabinoid of Cannabis sativa. Acts at multiple targets — CB1 negative allosteric modulator, CB2 partial agonist, 5-HT1A, TRPV1, GPR55 — producing anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and anti-inflammatory effects without the classical cannabis 'high'.
Best-characterized of the kavalactones of Piper methysticum. Modulates GABA-A receptors and inhibits voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels — producing a clear-headed, sociable anxiolytic effect quite distinct from alcohol or benzodiazepines.
Naturally occurring lysergamide found in certain morning glories and Hawaiian baby woodrose. Produces sedative, dreamy, and mild psychedelic effects.
Principal alkaloid of kratom leaves. Acts as a partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors and an antagonist at kappa and delta — an unusual profile that produces stimulation at low doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses. Also modulates adrenergic and serotonergic systems.
Potent GABA-A receptor agonist. Primary psychoactive compound in Amanita muscaria responsible for sedative, oneirogenic, and deliriant-like effects.
Aporphine alkaloid of sacred and blue lotus. Acts as a dopamine D2 antagonist and weak partial agonist at several serotonin receptors — producing mild sedation, calm, and a subtly dreamy mood-lift.
The principal psychoactive cannabinoid in Cannabis sativa. Partial agonist at the CB1 receptor of the endocannabinoid system, with widespread effects on perception, appetite, time-sense, memory, and pain modulation.
Deliriant
A rare, intense, often confusing register where the line between real and imagined becomes thin. The atlas's sole representative is high-dose Amanita muscaria via muscimol + ibotenic acid. Deliriant states are generally not sought after by careful practitioners — they're documented here for completeness.
Racemic tropane alkaloid of the deadly nightshade family — a competitive antagonist of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors that produces dilated pupils, dry mouth, racing heart, and (at higher doses) a deliriant state of fully formed, often disturbing hallucinations.
Pure L-isomer counterpart to atropine and substantially more potent at muscarinic receptors. The principal active tropane of henbane and a major component of belladonna, datura, and mandrake.
Excitotoxic glutamate-receptor agonist (NMDA and AMPA) found in Amanita muscaria and A. pantherina. Decarboxylates to the much less excitotoxic muscimol when the mushroom is dried, aged, or passed through a mammalian kidney — which is why dried muscaria (and reindeer-filtered urine) are traditionally preferred over fresh.
Potent GABA-A receptor agonist. Primary psychoactive compound in Amanita muscaria responsible for sedative, oneirogenic, and deliriant-like effects.
Tropane alkaloid found in Brugmansia, Datura, and other Solanaceae. Acts as a competitive muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, producing intense deliriant effects qualitatively distinct from classical psychedelics — including realistic hallucinations indistinguishable from reality.