| Heimia salicifolia - sinicuiche leaves Some scholars believe Heimia salicifolia to be the ritual trance plant the ancient Aztecs knew as sinicuichi. An early 16th century Aztec statue of Xochipilli , “the ecstatic prince of flowers”, is adorned with glyphs representing a variety of plants and fungi, and among them is a glyph which strongly resembles the flower bud of H. salicifolia. The plant can be found growing in Brazil where it’s referred to by the suggestive names of abre-o-sol or “sun opener” and herva da vida or the “herb of life.” The foliage contains several quinolizidine alkaloids including lythrine, cryogenine, lyofoline, and nesodine. Both cryogenine and nesodine exhibit strong anti-inflammatory effects and are nearly twice as powerful as aspirin. Dried foliage, 50 gram packets. | |
