| Planta maestras (plant masters or plant teachers) are | | | | 'flying ointments' of European witches, who used it |
| key among the shaman's tutelary spirits, his chief | | | | for what we would call astral projection. A mixture of |
| allies and guides to the worlds of health and healing. | | | | these plants can be used to produce a liquid (either |
| In ordinary reality, they are also considered the | | | | fresh or in alcohol) that can be taken in the same |
| jungle's most skilled and important 'doctors' because | | | | way as the examples above. It is also possible to |
| of their usefulness and relevance to the healing | | | | prepare them in a way that practitioners of Haitian |
| concerns of most patients. Through knowing these | | | | Vodou use for working with their native 'dreaming |
| plants, the shaman can deal effectively with the | | | | plants', by making a bila, or dreaming pillow, by taking |
| diseases of his people. | | | | small handfuls of mugwort and poplar and blend them |
| It can be difficult to find discrete Western analogues | | | | together. Sprinkle the mix with neroli, orange or |
| for some of these jungle plants because plants grow | | | | patchouli oils (aromatherapy oils are fine) as well if |
| where they are needed and the healing required by a | | | | you wish and, as they do in Haiti, a little rum and |
| New York banker will be quite different from that of | | | | water to bind the mix together. Put your intention |
| a Peruvian farmer. The psychological and spiritual | | | | into this as well - that these herbs will help you to |
| benefits bestowed by such plants, and their ability to | | | | dream more lucidly and gather information from the |
| restore emotional balance, banish negative energies, | | | | spirit world - then allow the mixture to dry for a few |
| or open the heart to love, are desirable in any | | | | days. When it is ready, crumble it into a cloth pouch |
| culture, however, so it is possible to find plants with | | | | and place it beneath your pillow. Keep a dream |
| equivalent or similar effects if we wish to diet them | | | | journal next to your bed and, as soon as you wake |
| and understand their qualities for ourselves. | | | | up next morning, immediately note down your |
| With this in mind, here is a description of some of | | | | dreams and your first waking sensations. |
| the more commonly dieted planta maestras and | | | | AJO SACHA: STALKING THE SELF |
| (either singularly or in combination) plants of our own | | | | This plant is a blood purifier and helps the body to rid |
| that will produce like effects. | | | | itself of toxins (spiritual or physical) as well as |
| CHIRIC SANANGO: FOR LOVE | | | | restoring strength and equilibrium lost through illnesses |
| Chiric sanango grows mainly in the upper Amazon and | | | | that have an affect on the blood. More |
| in a few restingas (high ground which never floods). | | | | psycho-spiritually, it helps to develop acuity of mind |
| It is good for colds and arthritis and has the effect | | | | and can also take the user out of saladera (a run of |
| of heating up the body. (Chiric, in Quechua, means | | | | bad luck, inertia, or a sense of not living life to the |
| 'tickling' or 'itchy', which refers to the prickly heat that | | | | full). It is also used for ridding spells - i.e. undoing the |
| it generates). Plant shamans often prescribe it for | | | | work of curses or removing bad energy that has |
| fishermen and loggers, for example, because they | | | | been sent deliberately or by accident (in an explosion |
| spend so much time in the water and are prone to | | | | of rage, etc). |
| colds and arthritis. The patient should not drink too | | | | In floral baths, it will relieve states of shock and fear |
| much at a time though because it can lead to a | | | | (known as manchiari), which can be particularly |
| numbness of the mouth as well as a feeling of slight | | | | debilitating to children, whose souls are not as strong |
| disorientation. It is also used in magical baths to | | | | or fixed as an adult's; a powerful shock can therefore |
| change the bather's energy and bring good luck to his | | | | lead to soul loss. The same phenomenon, especially |
| ventures. | | | | regarding children, is known to the shamans of Haiti, |
| Used in the West, the plant has a more psychological | | | | where it is called seziman, and those of India, who |
| effect, but still to do with 'heat'. Here, it enables | | | | take great care to protect children from frights of |
| people to open their hearts to love (it 'warms up' a | | | | this kind and are often employed by the anxious |
| cold heart, but will also 'cool' a heart that is too | | | | parents of newborn children to make protective |
| inflamed with jealousy and rage) and identify with | | | | amulets for their babies. |
| others as if they were brothers and sisters. In | | | | Another key to ajo sacha is that in the Amazon it is |
| essence, it helps people get in touch with the | | | | used to enhance hunting skills, not only by covering |
| sensitive and loving part of themselves. Another of | | | | the human scent with its own garlic-like smell (the |
| its gifts is enhanced self-esteem, which develops | | | | plant also has a strong garlic taste although it is in no |
| from this more healthy connection to the self. | | | | way related to garlic), but by amplifying the hunter's |
| Chiric sanango can be prepared in water, in | | | | senses of taste, smell, sound, and vision, all of which |
| aguardiente (weak sugar cane alcohol) or made into | | | | are, of course, essential for success and for survival. |
| syrup by adding its juice to honey or molasses. It can | | | | It is therefore a plant of stalking. |
| also be boiled in water and drunk, or eaten raw and | | | | In the Western world this stalking ability tends to |
| is said to better penetrate the bones if taken this | | | | translate psychologically, and the plant becomes a |
| way. | | | | means of helping an individual hunt or 'stalk' her inner |
| For a Western diet, mint has some of the properties | | | | issues. To underline this, the Shipibo maestro |
| of chiric sanango and is a balancer of the body's | | | | Guillermo Arevalo adds that this plant also opens up |
| physical and emotional heat. It can cool you down on | | | | the shamanic path and helps us to see beyond |
| a summer's day but will also provide warmth when | | | | conventional reality - if we have the heart of a |
| drunk by an open fire in winter, and it has the same | | | | warrior and are prepared to live under the obligations |
| effect on the emotions, promoting the flow of love | | | | of shamanism. For this, we will need courage, the |
| as well as alertness and clarity. For these reasons it | | | | ability to face the truth, and to know our true calling, |
| has been associated with the planet Venus, which | | | | and no fear of extremes or 'ugly' things. |
| was named after the Roman goddess of love. | | | | It is fascinating that this plant which is used to aid |
| Good plants to combine with mint include lemon balm | | | | hunting in the rainforest still posses this same |
| and chamomile. Lemon balm was known in Arabian | | | | essential quality in an environment such as ours |
| herb magic to bring feelings of love and healing (Pliny | | | | where food is purchased from supermarkets and we |
| remarked that its powers of healing were so great | | | | do not need to track down game at all, but we |
| that, rubbed on a sword that had inflicted a wound, it | | | | often have work to do in stalking ourselves. It is |
| would staunch the flow of blood in the injured person | | | | clear that this plant has extraordinary qualities. |
| without need for any physical contact with them), | | | | Western plants with equivalent therapeutic uses |
| while chamomile is a great relaxant and a perfect aid | | | | include valerian and vervain. The former has been |
| to exercises in meditation and forgiveness. Recent | | | | recorded from the 16th century as an aid to a restful |
| research at Northumbria University in the UK has also | | | | mind and, in the two world wars, was used to |
| proven the beneficial effects of lemon balm in | | | | combat anxiety and depression. Today, it is still used |
| increasing feelings of calm and well-being, as well as | | | | for these purposes. It also brings relief from panic |
| improving memory. | | | | attacks and tension headaches, which are regarded |
| Chiric sanango also brings relief from arthritic pain and | | | | as symptoms of an underlying cause arising from an |
| if this is your concern, Western plants that could be | | | | unresolved issue or stress of some kind. By relaxing |
| added to mint include marigold and ginseng. | | | | the mind, the psyche is able to go to work on the |
| To make a tea of any of these herbs, simply boil the | | | | real problem, aided by the plant itself. |
| fresh ingredients (the amounts you use can be much | | | | One way of dieting valerian (which will also aid a deep |
| to your own taste, but three heaped teaspoons of | | | | and restful sleep) is by adding equal parts to |
| each is about right) in a pint or so of water for a | | | | passionflower leaves and hop flowers and covering |
| few minutes and then simmer for about 20 minutes, | | | | with vodka and honey for a few weeks, after which |
| allowing it to reduce, and blowing smoke - which | | | | a few teaspoons are taken at bedtime. |
| carries your intention - into the mixture as it boils. | | | | Vervain, meanwhile, was well-known to the Druids, |
| This will wake up the spirit of the plants and attune | | | | who used it to protect against "evil spirits" |
| them to your needs. Add honey if you wish, then | | | | (nowadays, we might say 'inner issues' or 'the |
| strain and drink when cool. | | | | shadow-self'). It is also used to help with nervous |
| For a mixture that will last a little longer, add the | | | | exhaustion, paranoia, insomnia, and depression. Once |
| fresh ingredients to alcohol (rum or vodka is | | | | again, by relaxing the conscious mind it empowers |
| recommended), with honey if you wish, and drink | | | | the unconscious to go to work on (stalk) the more |
| three-to-five teaspoonfuls a day, morning and night. | | | | deep-rooted problem. |
| These methods of preparation can be used for all | | | | Another protective plant that also has the effect of |
| plants. | | | | purifying and strengthening the blood is garlic. Nicholas |
| GUAYUSA: FOR LUCID DREAMS | | | | Culpepper noted its balancing qualities and wrote of it |
| This is a good plant for people who suffer from | | | | as a "cure-all". It has long been associated with |
| excessive acidity, digestive, or other problems of the | | | | magical uses, protection from witches, vampires, and |
| stomach and bile. It also develops mental strength | | | | evil spells, and as effective in exorcisms (i.e. |
| and is paradoxical in the sense that, just as chiric | | | | psychologically speaking, in ridding us of our inner |
| sanango is cooling and warming at the same time, | | | | demons). Roman soldiers ate it to give themselves |
| guayusa is both energizing and relaxing. | | | | courage and overcome their fears before battle. |
| Guayusa also has the effect of giving lucid dreams | | | | There is also a tradition of placing garlic beneath the |
| (i.e. when you are aware that you are dreaming and | | | | pillows of children to protect them while they sleep |
| can direct your dreams). For this reason it is also | | | | and defend them from nightmares. |
| known as the 'night watchman's plant', as even when | | | | One way of dieting garlic is in the form of garlic |
| you are sleeping you have an awareness of your | | | | honey - which is not as disagreeable as it sounds. To |
| outer physical surroundings. The boundary between | | | | make it, add two cloves of peeled garlic to a little |
| sleeping and wakefulness becomes more fluid and | | | | honey and crush them in a mortar, then add another |
| dreams become more colourful, richer, and more | | | | 400g or so of honey to the mix. This can be drunk in |
| potent than before. For those interested in dreams | | | | hot water or simply eaten, two teaspoons a day, |
| or 'shamanic dreaming', this is the plant to explore. | | | | morning and night. |
| In the Western world, bracken, jasmine, marigold, | | | | Other plants that are good for increasing 'wisdom' |
| rose, mugwort, and poplar, will produce the same | | | | (inner knowledge) include peach, sage, and sunflower, |
| affect of lucid or prophetic dreams. The leaves and | | | | all of which can also be dieted fresh or in a little rum |
| buds of the latter were often a key ingredient in the | | | | or vodka. |