Silene Capensis – African Dream Root
Silene capensis - African Dream Root
Current and Historical Use
Also known in Europe as Gunpowder Root, capensis does not have a lot of significant scientific research. However its ethnobotanical use stretches back thousands of years with the Zulu and Xhosha tribes of South Cape Africa. It carries powerful oneirogenic affects and is considered one of the most sacred plants of the Xhosha out of the nearly 300 they use for medicinal and shamanistic purposes. It activates your dream state carrying rich dream content and prophetic and highly symbolic imagery. The Xhosha use a root concoction in their Shaman initiation rituals as well as many other acts. They claim the concoctions allow them to connect to their ancestral spirits who appear as ‘white wind’ in their dreams and impart messages and gifts that enliven their spirit and accelerate their natural knowledge. According to Shaman tradition, if you go to sleep with a question you want answered and consume the root, the answers will come to you in the dream state. Consume at your own risk.
Chemical notes
As stated, it is unclear as to the exact molecular mechanisms behind the heightened states of consciousness produced by the Dream Root. However, research into similar plants in the region that are also used for divination and spiritual initiation have yielded information that may also be applicable to capensis. The studies suggest its psychadelic content is derived from one or a number of saponins present in the plant.
Saponins
Saponins are naturally derived medicinal metabolites classified as Glycosides. Saponins are soap like compounds derived from sugars that occur regularly in the phytochemical fluids of plants. Saponins are dissolvable in water and alcohol and form foam when agitated. There biological diversity has been widely studied and three classes of saponins have been defined which have gone to form the backbone of many pharmacological studies and sysnthesis of medicinal and thereapeutic compounds. "Literature shows that saponins exhibit a biological role and medicinal properties such as hemolytic factoranti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, anticancer, cytotoxicand molluscicidal action."
Spagyric Evolution notes:
2 oz of capensis root was soxhlet extracted. Initially with water to increase yield of saponins, then with ~95%ABV. The two extracts were combined to a final total volume of 25% ABV. The mineral salts were ritually added and the elixir was cohobated for 24 hours before finilization.
Sources
A review of plants used in divination
https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC84811
Spiritual Medicines, Healing Dynamics and Initiation.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2012.703101?casa_token=NLOLrzIG2JYAAAAA%3Amf-5bZm-Zah9exGc3TSf5IlvuWKV_1-nxSBYKUtdLvKWbjfmzNwhxJvkpUC996oWacZV-sRqWVtFpw
the Influence of psychadelics in remote viewing
http://cista.net/tomes/Somagetics/MAPS%20Vol11%20No1%20-%20The%20Influence%20of%20Psychedelics%20on%20Remote%20Viewing.pdf
secondary source
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/african-dream-root#what-it-is
https://medcraveonline.com/JNMR/a-review-on-saponins-from-medicinal-plants-chemistry-isolation-and-determination.html#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20above%20mentioned,%2C%20steroidal%2C%20and%20alkaloidal%20saponins.
Silene capensis - African Dream Root
Current and Historical Use
Also known in Europe as Gunpowder Root, capensis does not have a lot of significant scientific research. However its ethnobotanical use stretches back thousands of years with the Zulu and Xhosha tribes of South Cape Africa. It carries powerful oneirogenic affects and is considered one of the most sacred plants of the Xhosha out of the nearly 300 they use for medicinal and shamanistic purposes. It activates your dream state carrying rich dream content and prophetic and highly symbolic imagery. The Xhosha use a root concoction in their Shaman initiation rituals as well as many other acts. They claim the concoctions allow them to connect to their ancestral spirits who appear as ‘white wind’ in their dreams and impart messages and gifts that enliven their spirit and accelerate their natural knowledge. According to Shaman tradition, if you go to sleep with a question you want answered and consume the root, the answers will come to you in the dream state. Consume at your own risk.
Chemical notes
As stated, it is unclear as to the exact molecular mechanisms behind the heightened states of consciousness produced by the Dream Root. However, research into similar plants in the region that are also used for divination and spiritual initiation have yielded information that may also be applicable to capensis. The studies suggest its psychadelic content is derived from one or a number of saponins present in the plant.
Saponins
Saponins are naturally derived medicinal metabolites classified as Glycosides. Saponins are soap like compounds derived from sugars that occur regularly in the phytochemical fluids of plants. Saponins are dissolvable in water and alcohol and form foam when agitated. There biological diversity has been widely studied and three classes of saponins have been defined which have gone to form the backbone of many pharmacological studies and sysnthesis of medicinal and thereapeutic compounds. "Literature shows that saponins exhibit a biological role and medicinal properties such as hemolytic factoranti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, anticancer, cytotoxicand molluscicidal action."
Spagyric Evolution notes:
2 oz of capensis root was soxhlet extracted. Initially with water to increase yield of saponins, then with ~95%ABV. The two extracts were combined to a final total volume of 25% ABV. The mineral salts were ritually added and the elixir was cohobated for 24 hours before finilization.
Sources
A review of plants used in divination
https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC84811
Spiritual Medicines, Healing Dynamics and Initiation.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2012.703101?casa_token=NLOLrzIG2JYAAAAA%3Amf-5bZm-Zah9exGc3TSf5IlvuWKV_1-nxSBYKUtdLvKWbjfmzNwhxJvkpUC996oWacZV-sRqWVtFpw
the Influence of psychadelics in remote viewing
http://cista.net/tomes/Somagetics/MAPS%20Vol11%20No1%20-%20The%20Influence%20of%20Psychedelics%20on%20Remote%20Viewing.pdf
secondary source
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/african-dream-root#what-it-is
https://medcraveonline.com/JNMR/a-review-on-saponins-from-medicinal-plants-chemistry-isolation-and-determination.html#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20above%20mentioned,%2C%20steroidal%2C%20and%20alkaloidal%20saponins.
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