The Sunlight Experiment

Herbal Actions

Psychoactive

Alters mood, perception or consciousness

Alters mood, perception or consciousness by acting on the central nervous system. The sub-sections group herbs by effect — psychedelics, deliriants, dissociatives, dream-enhancing oneirogens and empathogens; several are potent or toxic and carry real legal and safety considerations.

How it works

Psychoactive is not one mechanism but several overlapping ones. Each of these is its own herbal action — follow a link for the herbs strongest in that mechanism.

Psychedelic Produces profound, classically serotonergic shifts in perception, mood and thought. Deliriant Produces delirium and confusion, usually via anticholinergic (tropane) alkaloids; potent and toxic. Dissociative Produces a sense of detachment from the body and surroundings. Oneirogenic Promotes vivid, lucid or meaningful dreaming. Empathogen Heightens empathy, emotional openness and a sense of connection. Euphoriant Lifts the mood, producing a sense of pleasure or well-being; the habit-forming ones carry appropriate caution.

Herbs with a psychoactive action (10)

Key herbs

Herbs for which psychoactive is a headline action.

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Dagga

Leonotis nepetifolia

EuphoriantNervine

Kanna

Sceletium tortuosum

AntidepressantAnxiolyticNervineEmpathogen