California Bay

This evergreen tree is known variously as

California laurel, California bay, California olive,

Oregon myrtle, pepperwood, headache tree, and

California sassafras (Fuller and McClintock 1986,

184*). Its leaves are rich in an essential oil with a

high concentration of safrole; the principal

constituent, however, is umbellulone (Fuller and

McClintock 1986, 184*). The bark of the trunk is

said to contain 5-MeO-DMT (Rob Montgomery,

pers. comm.). No traditional psychoactive use of

this plant is known (cf. Sassafras albidum). The

leaves are· used in folk medicine for headaches

(hence the common name headache tree), colic,

and diarrhea (Grieve 1982, 716*). In California,

the leaves are used as a spice in place of those of

the true bay tree (Laurus nobilis).