Some little known, but commonly available psychoactive plants:

Saffron

This one is interesting because it has a very long history of use, yet little about modern usage can be found on the net. It was originally bred by the Minoans, who held it as sacred and ingested it as a tea. Early than that the Sumerians used relative plants, wild versions as a hot tea for mood and as an aphrodisiac. It is still a central cultural symbol in many modern societies. It was also used in the brew laudanum, for its capacity to potentiate opiates - something modern users confirm. While reports of its use in the sixties were widespread, it was dismissed as a myth by the media, even erowid says so on the matter of Saffron!

However experiments by modern ethno-heads prove that it certainly psychoactive, but only when fresh high quality threads are consumed by chewing, or swallowing. (Chewing and holding in the mouth being the best). On the topic of freshness both the actives are highly unstable, they degrade rapidly in air - they are also responsible for color and taste (Ie good taste, color and smell = good active content). 20-40 threads of such high quality material delivers a mild e-like feeling - tingly erotic skin, a relaxed gentle mood elevation and increased humor. The tea is also active of course, but more mildly. Its also used in several overseas legal highs (in a liquid form).

Of course you can buy good quality saffron online, in a gourmet supermarket or specialty food stores. You might even get okay saffron from a regular supermarket, just look for good brands and most importantly a good color. (If you view the two above pics full size, and see the fresh product and the live flowers, you get an idea of ideal color)

Galangal

Available in the Chinese supermarkets, this ginger like plant was used as a psychedelic in New Guinea. It also has a variety of other sacred and medicinal purposes in other cultures. One can simply brew a strong tea from the root. The taste and digestive effects might be a little odd from ingesting that much ginger like stuff, but it delivers mild mescaline like visuals and generally psychedelic mental changes.

Coleus

Coleus is an ornamental houseplant, with brightly colored leaves. It should be available at plant stores. It was apparently used by the Mazatec Indians. When the fresh plants leaves are chewed and swallowed, there is a hard to define mild psychedelic effect. There are visuals, but in a different style from traditional psychedelics. And the mental change is described often as a mood lift. It can also be smoked or made into a tea.

And now for some very brief notes on the more commonly known easy to obtain ones (Available at head shops etc, but often fairly bunk):

Kava (some dairies): For me fairly sedative, but not particularly enjoyable. Hard to ingest without an extraction I think personally. Some like it though.

Damiana: Very mild, short lasting, but noticeable erotic sensation. Almost pointless, barely there, but something mild to share with a lover perhaps in a tea or drink?

Lion’s Tail/Wild Dagga etc: Extremely mild and not very euphoric marijuana like feeling. With increased dosage becomes more hypnotic than anything else. Not worth it, at all, I think, but does promote vivid dreams. Taste is also horrible.

Salvia: Clearly strong, but also very odd psychedelic. Some love it, I wouldn’t recommend it at all, too weird and out of control for me. If you do it, I’d recommend a sitter, or the very least let someone know your doing it.

Betel Nut (some dairies): Mild stimulant stronger than caffeine.

Calamus: At low doses this is a mild stimulant with a slight mood lift. At higher doses its psychedelic, though, in a sort of odd way. For me there was color enhancement, and "melting" and some typical psychedelic mental changes. Psychedelic certainly, but lacks "sparkle", I think.

(Also note: Two other common ethnos: Blue Lotus and Kanna are already covered in earlier blogs. None of this article is medical advice. Consult your doctor before ingesting any substance or medicine. All info provided is purely informational)