African Dream Bean - Entada Rheedi
Entada Rheedi
This is a traditional preparation of Entada rheedi, a oneirogen widely used in African coastal tribes. The Seed Coat was removed and the 'meat' was ground to a fine powder. The powder may be spagyrically evolved, taken in water, smoked, and has been traditionally ingested by nasal inhalation. The seed is naturally found in country's bordering the Indian ocean growing on the sandy shores. The seed pods often fall in the water and float around the ocean for decades before being collected by any number of native peoples.
The Mystic, Scientific, and the Limits
The traditional use of Entada Rheedi has been to communicate with spiritual beings in REM sleep, most notably, the ancestors of the man or woman consuming. It also carries some medical properties that make it useful as a jaundice for swollen limbs and toothaches. There is not too much detailed scientific literature in way of the chemical constituency, however some reports suggest up to 18% essential oil/sulfur content. This would be a highly expressive genetic phenotype likely containing dozens if not hundreds of more previously undiscovered chemical constituents. Of what we know, many soap like compounds have been isolated from Entada rheedi. Saponins, fatty oils, and alkaloids (some potentially psychedelic) have all been identified, but far from a complete assay. The Bean is also in the same botanical family as several other well known psychoactive plants, including: Anadenanthera peregrina (Yopo), Mimosa hostiles (Jurema) as well as the mythical Chinese hallucinogen Caesalpinia sepiaria (Yun Shih).
A little biochemistry
The Oils contain oleanane-type saponins, thioamide glycosides [13], and phenylpropanoid glycosides, two of which have proven to be anti-oxidant and anti-proliferative (2). Of these, two newly discovered tryptophan compounds were discovered that are likely responsible for the calming, drowsiness and sleepiness tendencies reported by users. The Dream Bean has also been shown to inhibit the uptake of the Indolamine enzyme. "Indolamine is the gatekeeper enzyme for the kynurenine metabolism, a pathway involved in serotonin and melatonin biosynthesis and the regulation of glutamate and dopamine levels in the brain."(1) This may also support its claims to aid the focus, and support neuropsychiatric disorders like attention and cognitive deficit disorders.
Xhosha Plant Hunting & Divination
Within the Xhosa tribe of South Africa, Entada rheedii, or African Dream Bean, is believed to be a powerful tool for connecting with the spiritual realm and receiving guidance and knowledge from the ancestors through dreams. There are many different reasons they might use the dreaming effects to discover guidance or wisdom from themselves or from their environment. One way in which the Xhosa people use Entada rheedii is to induce dreams about medicinal plants, there preparations and their uses.
The Xhosa people have a long history of using traditional herbal remedies to treat a variety of ailments. The plants are often used in conjunction with other healing practices, such as divination, ritual, and prayer. The process of learning about medicinal plants through dreams is known as ubulawu, which translates to "diviner's plant" or "medicine plant."
Ubulawu
Ubulawu is a traditional practice among the Xhosa people of South Africa. It involves the use of certain plants to induce mystical experiences and receive guidance and healing from the spiritual realm. Specifically, ubulawu is is often practiced by diviners, healers, and traditional doctors, who use their knowledge and expertise of the spirit realm, and of medicinal plants, to navigate dreams and to help their clients navigate and connect with the spiritual world to access hidden knowledge and wisdom that often leads them to discovery of new medicinal plants and preparations that can be uesful to the individual dreamers healing.
The plants used in ubulawu are believed to have specific spiritual properties, and they are often chosen based on the diviner's or healer's intuition or guidance from the ancestors. Some of the most commonly used plants in ubulawu include:
- Silene undulata (African dream root): This plant is known for its ability to induce lucid dreams and spiritual visions. It is often used in divination and ritual ceremonies to access hidden knowledge and communicate with the ancestors.
- Leonotis leonurus (wild dagga): This plant is used for its calming and relaxing effects, and it is often used in combination with other plants to induce a state of trance or heightened awareness.
- Entada rheedii (African dream bean): As mentioned, this plant is used to induce dreams about medicinal plants and their uses, allowing the dreamer to gain knowledge and insight into the healing properties of various plants.
The experiences induced by ubulawu can vary greatly from person to person, but they often involve vivid dreams, heightened states of awareness, and a sense of connection with the spiritual realm. Some people report experiencing profound insights, messages from the ancestors, and even physical healing after participating in ubulawu ceremonies.
To induce a dream about a medicinal plant, the Xhosa people traditionally prepare a tea made from the powdered seeds of Entada rheedii. The tea is consumed before going to sleep, and it is believed that the plant's psychoactive properties will cause the dreamer to dream about a specific medicinal plant and its uses.
Once the dreamer has had the dream, they will often consult with a diviner or traditional healer to help interpret the dream and understand the plant's significance. The healer may then prescribe a specific preparation of the plant for the patient to use as a remedy.
It is important to note that the use of medicinal plants in traditional Xhosa medicine is complex and often involves multiple steps, including divination, consultation with a healer, and the preparation of the plant. The use of Entada rheedii to induce dreams about medicinal plants is just one part of this larger system of healing.
Overall, the Xhosa people's use of Entada rheedii to induce dreams about medicinal plants demonstrates their deep connection to the natural world and their belief in the power of plants to heal. It also highlights the importance of spiritual practices and the role of dreams in traditional healing practices.
Note* Use with Intention
It is important to note that the use of ubulawu is deeply rooted in Xhosa culture and is often performed in the context of community and tradition. The plants used in ubulawu are considered sacred and are often treated with great respect and reverence. This pharmacopeia provides advice on how to use plants responsibly and intentionally .
Sources
(1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/931956/
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3755262/
Amoo, S. O.; Aremu, O. J.; Van Staden, J. Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of the Extracts and Chemical Constituents of Entada rheedii Harv. Ex Benth. Records of Natural Products, 2012, 6(4), 334-341.
Adeleye, I. A.; Akinkunmi, E. O.; Ogunsanwo, B. M. Antimicrobial Properties of Extracts of Entada rheedii Harv. Ex Benth. British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2017, 16(3), 1-7.
Mugomeri, E.; Chatanga, P.; Houghton, P. J. Entada rheedii: A South African Traditional Remedy That Induces Colorful Dreams. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 2018, 13, 13-16.
Kanyinda, T.; Mwangala, F. S.; Syampungani, S.; Tembo, J. African Dream Bean: A Rarely Reported Psychoactive Plant from Southern Africa. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2019, 16(4), 28-32.
