A perennial plant that occurs in the Middle East, Hungary and Spain.

Use: About 2–5 grams of the seeds are well chewed, then swallowed or cooked and the brew is drunk. Its taste is very bitter. Hence, the preparation of a concentrate and taking it in gelatin capsules is preferred. Harmine acts especially effective in combination with other psychoactive compounds, particularly tropane alkaloids, psilocybin und DMT-containing material. Here, Syrian rue can be used in the same manner as the traditional South American harmine plant, the jungle liana Banisteria caapi. The seeds of Peganum are also used for coloring textiles (Turkish red).

Active constituents: Harmine, harmaline und harmol; the alkaloid content is about 2 to 4 percent – by far the most concentrated natural source of harmine.

Effects: In a low dosage of 25–50 mg relaxing and aphrodisiac, in higher doses of 250–500 mg hallucinogenic. Hallucinations, that are caused by South American harmine-containing plants, are partly described as causing fear and violence. No experience reports with Peganum in such dosages are present. See the chapter ayahuasca for effects of harmine that are to be expected.

Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, increased salivation, shivering. Reversible MAO-inhibitor. Should, under no circumstances, be taken together with certain medicaments and foods. Overdoses can cause paralysis of the central nervous system.

Suppliers: Seeds in ethnobotanical stores.

Miscellaneous: To this, strictly read the section about MAO-inhibitors.