Welcome to the Psychedelic Blog. I write about the Impact of Psychedelics on Grieving, Relationships, Culture & Death. This week, I explore 8 obscure Psychedelics—from love potions to lunch-break DMT, here’s what’s hiding beyond Psilocybin & MDMA.
Maybe it’s something you’ve written about, but the kambo thing has me wondering about the poison aspect. Similar to panther amanitas, there is a branch of psychedelics where it starts to verge over into me thinking, ok you just fucking poisoned yourself and now your brain is doing crazy shit. I understand the principle of “the dose makes the poison”, and I don’t think there’s a clear line where it switches over. But often the physical reactions are called “purging” and talked about in a spiritual context, but at what point are the physical consequences so severe that you sort of shift and say, ok, you’re just violently ill, not because of some psychic reason, but because you legit just poisoned yourself? Sorry for the ramble. Excellent article as always.
You’re right: there’s a fine line between medicine & poison, and some practices (like Kambo) ride that edge. “The dose makes the poison” absolutely applies here.
With things like Kambo, you're not experiencing classic Psychedelia—you're absorbing peptides that spike blood pressure, induce vomiting, and flood your body with stress hormones. It is a toxic reaction. Calling it a “purge” frames it spiritually, but physiologically, you’re just violently ill.
The key question becomes: does the outcome justify the means? If someone feels lighter, more grounded, or emotionally reset—was it worth it? Maybe. But there’s definitely a point where ritual veers into self-harm disguised as healing.
Grateful for your thoughtful comment—and glad the article resonated.
Though not the point of your comment, I would have to disagree with panther amanita being a poison regardless of the dose, that is THE perfect example of that affect. In microdose amounts, the muscimol contained within the mushroom does have many medicinal benefits with no major side effects and there has been no confirmed deaths linked directly to consuming it (even in large amounts), just like psilocybin. Muscimol is a research study drug for GABA (because gaba can’t cross the blood brain barrier) so you can peruse the studies that exists online yourself! Just sharing to show there are other views on the amanitas than from those who have tried recreationally tripping on them and told everyone it’s not a good time. 😊
Oh I was replying to Ishmael with his comment “Similar to panther amanitas, there is a branch of psychedelics where it starts to verge over into me thinking, ok you just fucking poisoned yourself and now your brain is doing crazy shit. I understand the principle of “the dose makes the poison”, and I don’t think there’s a clear line where it switches over” agreed with kambo being a cardiotoxin :)
Toloache (Datura spp.) " the spirit of the plant never lets go." This is the spiritual side of plant medicine. The remembrance that plants are a conscious living, breathing spirit. Teaching this, over and over again, cannot be understated. Knowing you are forming a "relationship" with that spirit, if only temporarily, is completely overlooked by the scientific community. This is the most overlooked aspect of "exploring" entheogens. I have explored several things on this list; however, I did so with deep reverence, a pocket full of education, and 50 years of wisdom.
Beautifully said. That piece about forming a relationship with the spirit of the plant is so often missed in Western, scientific frameworks that treat these substances as inert compounds rather than living intelligences. Reverence changes everything. It’s the difference between consumption & communion.
And you're right—Toloache is no joke. That spirit stays with you. Your approach—education, reverence, and hard-earned wisdom—is exactly what’s missing in a lot of today’s Psychedelic exploration.
Easy to grow as well. Wormwood family, I believe - which have many medicinal properties. My wife is an acupuncturist, and they burn sticks of Moxa (sp?) close to the skin to good effect - that is what is in the UK we call Mugwort, and grows all over the place.
Meaning 2cb may now be too mainstream? it’s definitely around, and your reporting on it would help a lot of people know what to expect because i get the sense people are picking it up when they grab something else, but 2cb remains unconsumed in the stash. in fact! i have some i’ve been waiting to try. maybe i’ll offer a trip report thanks to this awesome thread!
Great article, Andrew. I like that it explores the possibilities of lesser-known psychedelics (or combos, in the case of MAOI blends). I hadn't seriously thought of experimenting with MDA, now I am curious.
Haha, I get asked that a lot. MDA isn’t as common these days, but it's out there—just be careful, a lot of what’s sold as MDA isn’t pure.
As for Samadhi—nope, not the same as Psilohuasca. Psilohuasca is usually a mix of Psilocybin + an MAOI (like Syrian Rue).
Samadhi is a different blend—formulated with the same underlying ingredients as Ayahuasca (DMT + MAOIs). The difference being its sourced from plants local to Mexico (as opposed to the Amazon).
This is a real eye opener. I’ve heard of Samadhi and Kambo (a friends ex- is a well known kambo facilitator) but not the others. People really do need to prepare themselves properly for the unfolding ordeal - proceed with caution!
Absolutely. The word “ordeal” is the right one—these aren’t casual experiences.
Especially with something like Kambo, which is a cardiotoxin, the risks are real. I’ve seen it administered with zero medical screening, and that’s a recipe for disaster. Respect & caution have to go hand in hand.
Indigenous people in South American jungles have been doing Kambo forever, which makes me appreciate it. The frog that gives Kambo venom is the King of the Jungle. No creature attacks it, not even the mighty jaguar. The men sing for it to appear after a rain. They tie its four legs and scrape the venom from its body. The frog patiently waits for them to finish, then calmly walks away.
Ayauasca is slow to act. Kambo hits in 60 seconds like a runaway train. Your face swells up like a frog. An hour later you feel reborn.
Bee venom is used in Western medicine. So is snake venom. Frog venom is not used by western medicine. Its too strong to go mainstream. The latest discovery is toad venom from the Sonoran deserts of Mexico and the US. It is called Bofu, and is smoked. I have heard great things about it. You don't get sick on
Totally hear you—and I do appreciate the traditional reverence around Kambo.
But here’s the concern: Kambo is a cardiotoxin. In the jungle, it’s administered by people with deep generational knowledge & context. In the West, I’ve seen it offered a dozen times, and not once has there been a proper medical pre-screening. That’s dangerous.
People with underlying heart issues are essentially gambling with their lives. It’s not about fear-mongering, it’s about informed consent. Reverence without safety can quickly turn into recklessness.
As if planned, Bob Otis of Oakland’s Sacred Garden was here in Seattle last night speaking on exactly this topic - the others. Salvia and Syrian Rue were popular discussion points. Your list offers several Bob didn’t cover. Your personal trip reports - or lack of desire - paint quite a picture, so others can choose their adventure.
Really enjoyed this—cool to see some unfamiliar compounds get the spotlight. Makes me wonder how many potential tools for healing are still flying under the radar.
Always good articles. Samadhi is something I would like to try. Thanks for the info about Kambo. Been offered but passed. Recently did my first San Padro brew. I was unsupervised. It was left in the fridge at a retreat while others went on a hike. I knew what I was taking but not how much so apparently I took a lot. It was actually a good trip for me. I do think setting is important with all psychoactive substances and reverance and gratitude for the plant.
Sounds like you had quite the San Pedro initiation! Unsupervised & high-dose can go sideways fast, so I’m glad it turned out to be a good experience.
Totally agree: setting, reverence, and gratitude make all the difference. And yeah, Samadhi is next level… when you’re ready for that deep dive, it’s worth it.
I’ve only had MDA twice in my life and each time it was truly a magical journey. Definitely a hell of a lot more psychedelic than MDMA, kind of like candy flipping ecstasy and shrooms.
Maybe it’s something you’ve written about, but the kambo thing has me wondering about the poison aspect. Similar to panther amanitas, there is a branch of psychedelics where it starts to verge over into me thinking, ok you just fucking poisoned yourself and now your brain is doing crazy shit. I understand the principle of “the dose makes the poison”, and I don’t think there’s a clear line where it switches over. But often the physical reactions are called “purging” and talked about in a spiritual context, but at what point are the physical consequences so severe that you sort of shift and say, ok, you’re just violently ill, not because of some psychic reason, but because you legit just poisoned yourself? Sorry for the ramble. Excellent article as always.
Not a ramble at all—this is a great question.
You’re right: there’s a fine line between medicine & poison, and some practices (like Kambo) ride that edge. “The dose makes the poison” absolutely applies here.
With things like Kambo, you're not experiencing classic Psychedelia—you're absorbing peptides that spike blood pressure, induce vomiting, and flood your body with stress hormones. It is a toxic reaction. Calling it a “purge” frames it spiritually, but physiologically, you’re just violently ill.
The key question becomes: does the outcome justify the means? If someone feels lighter, more grounded, or emotionally reset—was it worth it? Maybe. But there’s definitely a point where ritual veers into self-harm disguised as healing.
Grateful for your thoughtful comment—and glad the article resonated.
Though not the point of your comment, I would have to disagree with panther amanita being a poison regardless of the dose, that is THE perfect example of that affect. In microdose amounts, the muscimol contained within the mushroom does have many medicinal benefits with no major side effects and there has been no confirmed deaths linked directly to consuming it (even in large amounts), just like psilocybin. Muscimol is a research study drug for GABA (because gaba can’t cross the blood brain barrier) so you can peruse the studies that exists online yourself! Just sharing to show there are other views on the amanitas than from those who have tried recreationally tripping on them and told everyone it’s not a good time. 😊
Fair point
You are discussing a completely different modality than what is being discussed. Kambo is a cardiotoxin, panther amanita is not.
So not sure what you are trying to share..
Oh I was replying to Ishmael with his comment “Similar to panther amanitas, there is a branch of psychedelics where it starts to verge over into me thinking, ok you just fucking poisoned yourself and now your brain is doing crazy shit. I understand the principle of “the dose makes the poison”, and I don’t think there’s a clear line where it switches over” agreed with kambo being a cardiotoxin :)
Got it! Thx for clarifying.
Toloache (Datura spp.) " the spirit of the plant never lets go." This is the spiritual side of plant medicine. The remembrance that plants are a conscious living, breathing spirit. Teaching this, over and over again, cannot be understated. Knowing you are forming a "relationship" with that spirit, if only temporarily, is completely overlooked by the scientific community. This is the most overlooked aspect of "exploring" entheogens. I have explored several things on this list; however, I did so with deep reverence, a pocket full of education, and 50 years of wisdom.
Beautifully said. That piece about forming a relationship with the spirit of the plant is so often missed in Western, scientific frameworks that treat these substances as inert compounds rather than living intelligences. Reverence changes everything. It’s the difference between consumption & communion.
And you're right—Toloache is no joke. That spirit stays with you. Your approach—education, reverence, and hard-earned wisdom—is exactly what’s missing in a lot of today’s Psychedelic exploration.
That's Debra. You're comment is much appreciated by a "newbie" at 74.
Debra is spot on & bringing something to light that often gets lost in the conversation!
I appreciate this emphasis and the reminder of the life we’re inviting into our being.
Fantastic article Andrew. And I think Syrian Rue potentiates mushrooms. Not that I've tried it
Thanks, Jeremy! I have yet to commune with Syrian Rue as well.
Yes it double its strenght
Very interesting.
Easy to grow as well. Wormwood family, I believe - which have many medicinal properties. My wife is an acupuncturist, and they burn sticks of Moxa (sp?) close to the skin to good effect - that is what is in the UK we call Mugwort, and grows all over the place.
Love it! Thought I'd tried them all, turns out I haven't scratched the surface.
A little surprised 2cb didn't make the list but maybe that's too mainstream. Had a great experience with it earlier this year!
Thanks! 2CB is a great time...wasn't sure how mainstream it is & whether or not to put it on the list.
Meaning 2cb may now be too mainstream? it’s definitely around, and your reporting on it would help a lot of people know what to expect because i get the sense people are picking it up when they grab something else, but 2cb remains unconsumed in the stash. in fact! i have some i’ve been waiting to try. maybe i’ll offer a trip report thanks to this awesome thread!
Thanks! Yeah I feel like 2cb is pretty well known...although that perspective may emanate from being in the echo chamber of Psychedelia.
It's an interesting experience. Look forward to your trip report!
Great article, Andrew. I like that it explores the possibilities of lesser-known psychedelics (or combos, in the case of MAOI blends). I hadn't seriously thought of experimenting with MDA, now I am curious.
Thanks, Darrell!
MDA is a fun, weird experience.
Where do I get me some of that MDA?
Also, is Samadhi the same as what some people call Psilohuasca?
Haha, I get asked that a lot. MDA isn’t as common these days, but it's out there—just be careful, a lot of what’s sold as MDA isn’t pure.
As for Samadhi—nope, not the same as Psilohuasca. Psilohuasca is usually a mix of Psilocybin + an MAOI (like Syrian Rue).
Samadhi is a different blend—formulated with the same underlying ingredients as Ayahuasca (DMT + MAOIs). The difference being its sourced from plants local to Mexico (as opposed to the Amazon).
One of the problems with chasing spirituality without a mast to chain yourself to:
https://open.substack.com/pub/andrewperlot/p/why-im-not-religious-im-just-spiritual?r=1xulhu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
This is a real eye opener. I’ve heard of Samadhi and Kambo (a friends ex- is a well known kambo facilitator) but not the others. People really do need to prepare themselves properly for the unfolding ordeal - proceed with caution!
Absolutely. The word “ordeal” is the right one—these aren’t casual experiences.
Especially with something like Kambo, which is a cardiotoxin, the risks are real. I’ve seen it administered with zero medical screening, and that’s a recipe for disaster. Respect & caution have to go hand in hand.
Indigenous people in South American jungles have been doing Kambo forever, which makes me appreciate it. The frog that gives Kambo venom is the King of the Jungle. No creature attacks it, not even the mighty jaguar. The men sing for it to appear after a rain. They tie its four legs and scrape the venom from its body. The frog patiently waits for them to finish, then calmly walks away.
Ayauasca is slow to act. Kambo hits in 60 seconds like a runaway train. Your face swells up like a frog. An hour later you feel reborn.
Bee venom is used in Western medicine. So is snake venom. Frog venom is not used by western medicine. Its too strong to go mainstream. The latest discovery is toad venom from the Sonoran deserts of Mexico and the US. It is called Bofu, and is smoked. I have heard great things about it. You don't get sick on
Totally hear you—and I do appreciate the traditional reverence around Kambo.
But here’s the concern: Kambo is a cardiotoxin. In the jungle, it’s administered by people with deep generational knowledge & context. In the West, I’ve seen it offered a dozen times, and not once has there been a proper medical pre-screening. That’s dangerous.
People with underlying heart issues are essentially gambling with their lives. It’s not about fear-mongering, it’s about informed consent. Reverence without safety can quickly turn into recklessness.
Right on, Andrew. I forgot about that essential warning.
Kambo & yopo both were used while I sat in Peru.
Very, very clear seeing after purging Kambo. Did a little in Victoria BC a little while back too
Thanks for sharing!
As if planned, Bob Otis of Oakland’s Sacred Garden was here in Seattle last night speaking on exactly this topic - the others. Salvia and Syrian Rue were popular discussion points. Your list offers several Bob didn’t cover. Your personal trip reports - or lack of desire - paint quite a picture, so others can choose their adventure.
Thank you!
Exactly - my aim is to share info that often gets left out of the narrative & people will ultimately choose the modality that works best for them.
Fabulous article! Thankyou 🙏
Thank you so much!
Really enjoyed this—cool to see some unfamiliar compounds get the spotlight. Makes me wonder how many potential tools for healing are still flying under the radar.
Thanks so much, brother!
Absolutely—the potential extends beyond healing. We are entering a world of compounds that catalyze love, awe, connection. Exciting time to be alive!
Always good articles. Samadhi is something I would like to try. Thanks for the info about Kambo. Been offered but passed. Recently did my first San Padro brew. I was unsupervised. It was left in the fridge at a retreat while others went on a hike. I knew what I was taking but not how much so apparently I took a lot. It was actually a good trip for me. I do think setting is important with all psychoactive substances and reverance and gratitude for the plant.
Thank you so much! Appreciate you reading.
Sounds like you had quite the San Pedro initiation! Unsupervised & high-dose can go sideways fast, so I’m glad it turned out to be a good experience.
Totally agree: setting, reverence, and gratitude make all the difference. And yeah, Samadhi is next level… when you’re ready for that deep dive, it’s worth it.
LOL just passed on a Kambo opportunity myself
Wise decision, sir!
I’ve only had MDA twice in my life and each time it was truly a magical journey. Definitely a hell of a lot more psychedelic than MDMA, kind of like candy flipping ecstasy and shrooms.
Very nice. I am in possession of MDA, waiting for the right time to try it.
As a huge fan of MDMA, I am excited about it. Sounds right up my alley!
MDA is Red Congolese weed and MDMA is Grandaddy Purp. ish. imo