304 Morning Glory
tied thoughts from the mind and made the world seem meaningless, while
promoting unease, depression, and a weariness that transformed into sleep.
In addition to being a hallucinogen, LSD has powerful stimulant actions, but
when morning glory seed was tested on rats, they became less active than
normal and, contrary to what would be expected with a hallucinogen, they
showed no change in perceptual abilities. A team of researchers who studied
reactions of volunteers described morning glory’s active chemicals as unlike
LSD. Those volunteers nonetheless felt some euphoria; they also had a dis-
torted sense of time and a crossover of senses (in which colors might be
smelled or sounds might be seen), but hallucinations or alteration of con-
sciousness did not seem to develop. The research team likened morning glory
to the drug ibogalin (which lacks significant psychological effect despite its
close relation toibogaine) and to the drug scopolamine found inbelladonna.
A case report about a person being treated for morning glory seed overdose
said no hallucinations were present.
Those kinds of observations seem to differ from the effects experienced by
the Aztecs and modern native peoples. Indeed, some recreational users (and
their medical caregivers) report morning glory experiences quite similar to
those of LSD, from hallucinations to philosophical insights—although one
short series of case reports about such reactions argued that every instance
involved a psychologically abnormal person. Some users describe cold extrem-
ities, a possible sign of ergot poisoning. A case report noted other physical
reactions: red face and abdominal discomfort eased by “explosive diarrheic
bowel movements.” The patient also had lowered blood pressure and heart
rate, opposite to accounts about LSD.
Morning glory seeds purchased from garden stores are not intended for
human consumption and may contain fungicides that could harm a person
who ingests them, although one investigator doubts a human stomach can
hold enough morning glory seeds to cause fatal poisoning from the fungicide
coating. Experimenters have fed uncontaminated seed to rats as various per-
centages of their diet, from less than 1% up to 8%. After 90 days animals
receiving the greatest amount showed a higher death rate than normal, with
males more affected than females. Although the animals had less weight gain
than would be expected on an ordinary diet, various internal organs enlarged.
In addition, liver damage occurred, and blood abnormalities appeared.
Abuse factors.In the 1960s the British government concluded that morning
glory seeds were harmless, but American researchers did not reach a consen-
sus about whether danger existed. Some authorities state thatIpomoea purpurea
morning glory seeds lack psychedelic properties, but other authorities say
otherwise.
Drug interactions.Not enough scientific information to report.
Cancer. The Ames test, a laboratory screen used to test substances for
cancer-causing potential, reveals that morning glory seeds have that potential.
Pregnancy.Lysergic acid amide has damaged embryo development in mice.
Pregnant women are advised to avoidIpomoea hederaceabecause it is suspected
of causing birth defects.
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