World-renowned anthropologist and ethnopharmacologist Christian Ratsch provides the latest scientific updates to this classic work on psychoactive flora by two eminent researchers.
- Numerous new and rare color photographs complement the completely revised and updated text.
- Explores the uses of hallucinogenic plants in shamanic rituals throughout the world.
- Cross-referenced by plant, illness, preparation, season of collection, and chemical constituents.
- First edition sold 33,000 copies.
Three scientific titans join forces to completely revise the classic text on the ritual uses of psychoactive plants. They provide a fascinating testimony of these andquot;plants of the gods,andquot; tracing their uses throughout the world and their significance in shaping culture and history. In the traditions of every culture, plants have been highly valued for their nourishing, healing, and transformative properties. The most powerful of those plants, which are known to transport the human mind into other dimensions of consciousness, have always been regarded as sacred. The authors detail the uses of hallucinogens in sacred shamanic rites while providing lucid explanations of the biochemistry of these plants and the cultural prayers, songs, and dances associated with them. The text is lavishly illustrated with 400 rare photographs of plants, people, ceremonies, and art related to the ritual use of the world's sacred psychoactive flora.
- ISBN10 0091416000
- ISBN13 9780091416003
- Publish Date 8 April 1980 (first published 1 January 1979)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 17 October 2003
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Cornerstone
- Imprint Hutchinson
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 192
- Language English