vomiting, urtication, inability to walk or move, and vertigo’. 
He also felt “‘the world was spinning around me like a great 
blue wheel. I felt that I was going to die’’. 
The effects described above correspond in some respects to 
accounts in the literature of the effects of other species of 
Brunfelsia, especially B. grandiflora. The notable tingling sen- 
sation, or parasthesia, apparently results from a peripheral 
vasal constriction of the capillaries. A well known drug with 
this effect is nicotine, and the same reaction is frequently 
reported in persons who have smoked their first cigarette. The 
increased stimulation of the salivary and sweat glands is highly 
reminiscent of the effects of manacd root discussed earlier. 
In view of the toxic effects which we experienced from 
Brunfelsia chiricaspi, it seems unlikely that anyone would 
knowingly ingest the plant in this dose except possibly in a 
desperate medical situation. More likely, smaller amounts are 
used which become further diluted when mixed with extracts 
of other plants such as yagé. 
We may also ask the question: why is Brunfelsia used in 
preparing yagé? Certainly its medicinal properties are impor- 
tant in this respect, for the use of yagé is grounded in its 
medicinal applications. Yagé itself is a strong purgative and 
may have vermicidal and bactericidal properties as well. Both 
these plants would then serve as strong medicinal agents irres- 
pective of their psychological or hallucinogenic effects. These 
are, however, of equal import to the shaman. 
It is well established that Banisteriopsis caapi, besides being 
a purgative, is a strong visual and perhaps auditory hallucino- 
gen. Sundry other plants may be added to preparations of B. 
caapi to vary and intensify the experience. Most notable 
among these are the leaves of Banisteriopsis Rusbyana and 
Psychotria viridis (Pinkley, 1969; Rivier & Lindgren, 1972). 
Both of these plants contain the potent hallucinogen N,N- 
dimethyltryptamine as their main active constituent, the ef- 
fects of which differ somewhat from the harmine derivatives 
found in B. Caapi (Agurell et al., 1968; Der Marderosian et al., 
1968, 1970). Since N,N-dimethyltryptamine also produces 
strong visual effects, we can readily see why the shaman would 
include these plants in his brew. 
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