Acanthaceae

This Acanthaceae, known as toe negro (cf. Brugmansia

suaveolens) , is used by the Colombian

Kokama Indians both as an ayahuasca additive

and as a psychoactive substance in its own right.

For this purpose, ten leaves are boiled for seven

hours over a low flame. The effects are said to be

strong. A person loses his or her vision for three

days, but during this time he or she can communicate

with the spirit of the plant (Schultes

1972, 139*). Chemical studies of the plant have

demonstrated that the leaves are devoid of alkaloids

(Ott 1993, 402*). The plant is added to

ayahuasca only when it is intended for use in

"witchcraft" (Duke and Vasquez 1994, 167*).