The Encyclopedia of ADDICTIVE DRUGS

(Greg DeLong) #1

Morning Glory


Pronunciation:MOR-neen GLOH-ree


Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number:None


Formal Names:Ipomoea hederacea, Ipomoea purpurea, Ipomoea sidaefolia,
Ipomoea tricolor,Ipomoea violacea


Informal Names:Flying Saucers, Heavenly Blue, Pearly Gates, Tlitliltzin, Yaxce’lil


Type:Hallucinogen.Seepage 25


Federal Schedule Listing:Unlisted


USA Availability:Nonprescription natural product


Pregnancy Category:None


Uses.Morning glory is a familiar flower. Many varieties exist, and some
have drug properties. Although morning glory is an uncontrolled substance,
the hallucinogenic varieties contain lysergic acid amide, a Schedule III de-
pressant.
Seeds and roots of theIpomoea hederaceamorning glory are used medicinally.
The natural product works as a laxative and as a treatment against intestinal
worms. Traditional applications include combating flatulence, easing excessive
feelings of fullness after a meal, and treating scabies (a skin disease caused by
a parasite).
Albert Hofmann, the discoverer ofLSD, became intrigued by accounts of
seed calledololiuquiby the Aztecs. Folk medicine used its ointments or potions
to treat flatulence, tumors, and venereal disease. Ingesting the seeds allowed
Aztecs to commune with their gods, and native peoples still usedololiuquifor
that purpose during the twentieth century. Hofmann found that theololiuqui
seeds of Mexico came from two kinds of morning glory: fromIpomoea sidaefolia
(also calledRivea corymbosa) and from Ipomoea violacea(also calledIpomoea
tricolor, whose seeds are also known asbadoh negro). Seeds from both plants
containedergotchemicals resembling LSD.
AlthoughIpomoea violaceais often viewed in a drug context, the plant has
agricultural usage as a natural means of weed control.Ipomoea purpureais
sensitive enough to airborne chemicals that researchers use it to measure air
pollution.
Drawbacks.Morning glory seeds have been publicized as a substitute for
LSD, but no less an authority than Hofmann himself found LSD and morning
glory to have different effects. In particular he noted that morning glory emp-

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