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Psychotria viridis

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Psychotria viridis is a shrub from the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It has many local names, including Chacruna and Chacrona (from Quechua chaqruy, "to mix").



Psychotria viridis is a perennial bush which grows up to 5 m tall and 2 m wide.[1]










USDA zone: 10 or higher.[3]

Cultivation from cuttings is easiest.[4] A single leaf (or even part of a leaf slightly covered with soil) can be sufficient for a cutting.[4] Propagation from seed is extremely difficult. The germination rate can be as low as 1%.[4] There are approximately 50 seeds/g.[3]



The Machiguenga people of Peru use juice from the leaves as eye drops to treat migraine headaches.[4]


Dried Psychotria vidris contains about 0.10-0.66%[5] alkaloids. Approximately 99% of that is dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Other alkaloids such as beta-carbolines and MMT have been found. The alkaloid content is said to be highest in the morning.[4]

Entheogenic and religious

It contains the hallucinogenic—or entheogenic—indole alkaloid DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) 0.1-0.61% dried mass.[6] It is known primarily as a principle admixture to the ayahuasca brew used in South and Central America. It is legal in Brazil where native tribes use it religiously.




  1. "Psychotria VIRIDIS". Retrieved 2008-05-04. 
  2. Viridis - A Botanical Source of Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) - DEA Microgram Journal
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Psychotria viridis in Profile". Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Rätsch, Christian. Enzyklopädie der psychoaktiven Pflanzen. Botanik, Ethnopharmakologie und Anwendungen.. p. 15. ISBN 978-3855025701. 
  5. Psychotria viridis
  6. Amazing Nature

External links

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original article was at Psychotria viridis. The list of authors can be seen in the page history.

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