Anadenanthera peregrina: The Sacred Hallucinogenic Tree of the Americas


Table of Contents


  • Introduction
  • Botanical Overview
  • Historical and Cultural Significance
    • Ancient Uses
    • Modern Applications
  • Entheogenic Uses of Anadenanthera peregrina
    • Methods of Consumption
      • Snuffing
      • Oral Use
      • Use with MAOIs
  • Psychoactive Components
    • Bufotenin
    • DMT and 5-MeO-DMT
  • Legal Status
  • FAQs


Introduction


Anadenanthera peregrina, commonly known as Yopo, Jopo, or Cohoba, is a perennial tree native to the Caribbean and South America. The beans of this tree are notable for their significant concentrations of bufotenin, along with smaller amounts of 5-MeO-DMT and DMT. These compounds have a long-standing history of use as entheogens, playing a crucial role in rituals and healing practices for thousands of years.


Botanical Overview


Anadenanthera peregrina is characterized by its delicate, fern-like leaves and slender trunk. The tree can reach heights of up to 20 meters, and its seeds are known for their psychoactive properties. It thrives in tropical and subtropical regions and is often found in disturbed areas and secondary forests.


Historical and Cultural Significance


Ancient Uses


Archaeological findings indicate that Anadenanthera beans have been employed as hallucinogens for millennia. The oldest evidence of its use dates back to 2130 BC, discovered in smoking pipes made from puma bone (Felis concolor) found at Inca Cueva in northwest Humahuaca, Jujuy Province, Argentina. These pipes contained traces of DMT, one of the active compounds in Anadenanthera beans, suggesting a long history of psychoactive use.


In addition, tribes have been documented using Yopo alongside Banisteriopsis caapi to enhance and prolong its visionary effects.


Modern Applications


Artifacts such as snuff trays and tubes resembling those used for Yopo have been unearthed along the central Peruvian coast, dating back to 1200 BC. This indicates that the practice of insufflating Anadenanthera beans may be a more recent method of consumption. Additional evidence suggests that the use of insufflation persisted in northern Chile between 500 and 1000 AD.


Indigenous communities in the Orinoco basin, spanning Colombia, Venezuela, and parts of the Brazilian Amazon, continue to use Yopo snuff for spiritual healing and in ceremonial contexts throughout the Caribbean region.


Entheogenic Uses of Anadenanthera peregrina


Methods of Consumption


Snuffing


Yopo snuff is typically administered through bamboo tubes by another person or self-administered using bird bone tubes. The blowing method is preferred because it allows for a more substantial amount of powder to enter the nostrils, resulting in a more effective experience with fewer irritations. In contrast, smoking or using unprocessed ground beans tends to yield weaker effects alongside more pronounced physical symptoms.


Inhaling Yopo can cause significant discomfort in the nostrils; however, this pain usually dissipates within minutes. Users often experience tingling and numbness, accompanied by an increased heart rate, leading to vivid hallucinatory effects characterized by enhanced colors and morphing shapes. The intensity of these effects rises rapidly but tends to fade, often replaced by nausea and overall bodily discomfort.


Oral Use


In some South American tribes, small amounts of Anadenanthera beans are consumed alongside alcoholic chichas (maize beer). Moderate doses can be unpleasant, often leading to nausea and vomiting. Historically, the beans were integral to a ritual purge medicine known as bilca tauri, used to induce vomiting monthly. Oral consumption is typically limited, as many tribes regard it as potentially hazardous.


Use with MAOIs


Certain tribes in South America have been documented using Anadenanthera bean preparations alongside Banisteriopsis caapi, which contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). In these practices, Banisteriopsis caapi is often chewed while Anadenanthera beans are snuffed or smoked. Occasionally, Banisteriopsis caapi is mixed into the snuff. Moderate doses of Banisteriopsis caapi have been shown to effectively double the potency of Anadenanthera beans. However, larger doses can not only increase potency but also alter the experience's quality, often leading to a more relaxed, dreamy effect with a potential increase in nausea.


Psychoactive Components


Bufotenin


Anadenanthera peregrina beans can contain up to 7.4% bufotenin, equating to approximately 74 mg per gram. This means that an effective dose of 40 mg of insufflated bufotenin requires just over 0.5 grams of the beans.


DMT and 5-MeO-DMT


The psychoactive effects of insufflated DMT and 5-MeO-DMT are relatively short-lived, typically lasting around 10 minutes. However, it may take up to an hour for users to return to baseline. Conversely, the effects of orally ingested Yopo generally last between 2 and 3 hours. Among the three primary compounds, bufotenin is the only one that offers a prolonged experience when consumed orally. The beans contain only about 0.04% 5-MeO-DMT and 0.16% DMT, suggesting their limited role in the overall psychoactive experience, as significant quantities of these substances would be impractical to obtain from the beans. Therefore, the hallucinogenic properties of Yopo are primarily attributed to bufotenin (5-HO-DMT).


Legal Status


  • Australia: As of August 21, 2021, it is illegal to import any plant or plant products, including seeds, of Anadenanthera peregrina. It falls under the category of controlled plants classified as serious drugs and precursors under the Criminal Code Regulations 2019.

  • New Zealand: The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code lists Anadenanthera peregrina as a prohibited plant.


FAQs


What is Anadenanthera peregrina commonly known as?


Anadenanthera peregrina is commonly referred to as Yopo, Jopo, or Cohoba.


What compounds are found in Anadenanthera peregrina beans?


The beans contain significant amounts of bufotenin, as well as smaller quantities of 5-MeO-DMT and DMT.


How is Yopo consumed?


Yopo is primarily consumed through insufflation (snuffing) using bamboo or bird bone tubes, although it can also be taken orally or combined with MAOIs.


What are the psychoactive effects of Yopo?


Users may experience enhanced colors, morphing shapes, tingling, and numbness, along with a heightened heart rate. However, the experience may also lead to nausea and bodily discomfort.


Is Anadenanthera peregrina legal?


The legal status of Anadenanthera peregrina varies by country. In Australia, it is prohibited to import the plant and its products.