Ayahuasca

This nightshade is known in Colombia as

ayahuasca and may possibly be utilized as an

ayahuasca additive (Ott 1993, 410*; Schultes and Raffauf 1991, 39*). It may also have been used

alone for psychoactive purposes. In the region of

Limon (Costa Rica), the leaves and stems are used

to treat wounds (Schultes 1978a, 192*). The

alkaloid parquine (cf. Cestrum parqui) has been

detected in the genus, which is composed of some

twelve species (Schultes 1979b, 151*; Schultes and

Raffauf 1991, 39*).