The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications

The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications

By Christian Rätsch | Foreword by Albert Hofmann

The most exhaustive and visually stunning reference on psychoactive plants ever compiled.

A groundbreaking work of ethnobotanical scholarship, The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants is the definitive guide to the traditional and contemporary use of psychoactive plants around the world. Drawing on decades of field research and historical study, Christian Rätsch, a renowned ethnopharmacologist and anthropologist, documents the botany, chemistry, cultural history, rituals, preparation methods, and effects of over 400 psychoactive species used in spiritual, medicinal, and recreational contexts across human civilizations.

Lavishly illustrated with more than 1,400 photographs and illustrations, this monumental volume is a must-have for ethnobotanists, herbalists, researchers, psychonauts, historians of medicine, and anyone intrigued by the ancient and modern roles of sacred plants.

Key Features:

• Unmatched Scope and Detail
• Covers 414 psychoactive plants and related substances used in cultures around the world, from ancient times to modern ethnobotanical practices.
• Each entry includes:
• Botanical classification and identification
• Geographical distribution
• Cultivation and harvesting techniques
• Preparation and traditional dosage
• Pharmacological effects and chemical constituents
• Cultural, religious, and ceremonial uses
• Cross-Cultural Insights into Human Consciousness
• Explores how psychoactive plants are used to alter consciousness, connect with the divine, and expand understanding of reality in culturally sanctioned rituals and healing traditions.
• Discusses the transformative roles of plants in shamanism, divination, initiation rites, and artistic inspiration.
• Rich Historical and Anthropological Context
• Covers both well-known psychoactives (e.g., cannabis, peyote, psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, datura, opium poppy) and lesser-known or mythological substances such as soma and silphium.
• Includes legal highs and compounds extracted from plants, resins, and fungi.
• Visually Striking and Scholarly
• Contains 797 full-color photographs and 645 black-and-white illustrations featuring:
• Plant specimens
• Ritual ceremonies
• Cultural artifacts and artwork inspired by psychoactive experiences
• Much of the visual content stems from Rätsch’s firsthand documentation during fieldwork across continents.