Images of Papaver somniferum have been found in artifacts from 4000BC, nowadays it is known for producing seeds for our bagels, opium, and the alkaloids that get processed into hydrocodone/oxycodone.

Roasting and brewing coffee berries can be traced back to at least the 15th century in Africa and the Middle East. Now it’s the world’s most widely used drug! (Although climate change, droughts, deforestation, and disease may have something to say about that..)

This power team forms the base of the brew Ayahuasca, which loosely translates from Quechua to mean “vine of the dead/vine of the soul”. Viridis leaves have the DMT and the Caapi bark has MAOIs that prevent the inactivation of the DMT.) Indigenous Amazonians used it in spiritual practice led by well-trained shamans

This iconic woodland toadstool has a history of ritualistic use across Siberian and Nordic/Scandinavian cultures, but it’s probably more well known in the West for it’s presence in fairytales and Wonderland adventures.

Lophophora williamsii, which is better known by its given Nahuatl name “peyote,” has been a component of indigenous peoples’ religious experiences for thousands of years. After all, this small spineless cactus contains the hallucinogen mescaline.

Cannabis indica: apparently there’s some debate in the science community if there are even separate species of Cannabis or if the differences between sativa, indica, etc are intra-species varieties. Either way, international human intervention has left us all with a whole new world of possibilities.

Archaeologists suggest that psilocybe species have been culturally significant as far back as prehistoric times, thanks to murals, rock paintings and artifacts depicting mushrooms.

When bees pollinate certain species of rhododendron, they can end up infusing their honey with grayanotoxins from the pollen, making “Mad Honey”. Documented as far back as 4th century BC for poisoning Greek soldiers, in smaller doses it can be hallucinogenic! In modern-day Turkey and Nepal, it is also touted as providing a “burst of energy” and relieving hypertension.

Nypmphaea caerula, the blue lotus / sacred water lily is known for its mildly sedating, euphoric effects and may be sliiightly hallucinogenic at higher doses. It was a prominent symbol in Egyptian mythology and culture but is featured worldwide, from ancient Buddhist imagery to Mayan religious art.

Salvia divinorum is native to Oaxaca, Mexico where it is still used to facilitate shamanic visions and divination (hence, the taxonomy). Interestingly, it rarely produces viable seeds - the plants are mostly clones, growing from fallen stems that have taken root.

All tea comes from this one species of evergreen shrub, Camellia sinensis. Whether it’s white, green, oolong, or black - all use the same leaves, with different levels of processing.

Originally added to beer to keep it fresher longer, now hops are also mixed in to give that aromatic herbal/floral bitterness that many have come to prefer. Hops are not what makes beer psychoactive, but they do have the teeeeensiest sedative effect (Franco et al 2012) so I’m gonna let them slide.