Bitter-tasting Mexican shrub used by Chontal and other indigenous peoples of Oaxaca to clarify and intensify dreams — one of the few well-documented natural oneirogens.
ECOLOGY & HABITAT
Drought-tolerant perennial of dry tropical hillsides and oak scrub in southern Mexico and Central America.
Distribution
MexicoGuatemalaHondurasCosta Rica
INDIGENOUS NAMES
The names this organism has been given by the cultures that have lived alongside it. Each carries an entire relationship — what is sacred is never simply translated.
- Thle-pelakanoChontal · Chontal of Oaxaca"Leaf of god"
- ZacatechichiNahuatl"Bitter grass"
TRADITIONAL USE
- Chontal use as a divinatory dream-aid ('thle-pelakano' — 'leaf of god')
CULTURAL CONTEXT
Often called the most-studied oneirogen, though its active principles are still incompletely identified. The dried leaves are typically smoked and steeped together before sleep.
GALLERY
3 images
REFERENCES
Toggle scholarly mode in the footer for inline DOI links
- Mayagoitia et al. 1986
- Salaga et al. 2016 DOI
