Beschrijving

This encyclopedic volume explores in depth the botanical, chemical, cultural, and historical dimensions of entheogenic substances—psychedelics, stimulants, narcotics, and “pseudo-psychedelics”—with emphasis on their plant-derived sources. Ott traces the lineage of each listed substance from its botanical origin to its traditional usage, and further to its place in modern pharmacology and consciousness research.

The book is structured to provide scientific data—such as alkaloid content, plant taxonomy, and extraction methods—alongside anthropological insight into ritual, folklore, and human use of these substances. It links chemical structures with human experience, showing how certain compounds have been integrated into shamanic practice, psychonautical research, or recreational use. For example, detailed entries cover Amanita muscaria, Psilocybe spp., Salvia divinorum, and many others, each contextualized in both tradition and laboratory.

Finally, Ott reflects on the implications for modern science and society: the role of entheogens in psychopharmacology, their legal and ethical challenges, and how their resurgence raises questions about consciousness, spirituality and therapeutic potential. The work serves as both a reference and a provocateur, inviting specialists and curious readers to reconsider the boundaries of drug, plant, ritual, and mind.