Dream Herb: Calea zacatechichi

This dream inducing herb has been and still is being traditionally used by the Chontal Indians of Mexico to induce dreams. Used as a tea and often smoking cigarettes rolled from the same material, the Chontal Indians use this magical herb to obtain divinatory messages during dreaming.

In controlled experiments this herb has in fact to been found to increase the superficial stages of sleep and the number of spontaneous awakenings. The subjective reports of dreams were significantly higher than both placebo and diazepam, indicating an increase in hypnagogic imagery occurring during superficial sleep stages. A collection of interviews and written reports concerning the psychotropic effects of these preparations on 12 volunteers has been published. Free reports and direct questioning disclosed a discrete enhancement of all sensorial perceptions, an increase in imagery, mind thought discontinuity, void flux of ideas, and difficulties in retrieval. These effects were followed by somnolence and a short sleep during which lively dreams were reported by the majority of the volunteers.

There is also reported a feeling of well-being is said to persist for a day or more with no unpleasant side effects. Leaves show some experimental antiatherogenic and CNS depression activity and the plant contains 0.01% of a crystalline alkaloid, C21H26O8.

Our Calea is organically grown in Mexico and has been found to be of exception quality.