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13 CHAPTER ONE: WHAT ARE HALLUCINOGENS?

FLESH OF THE GODS

The Aztecs called the magic mushrooms teonanácatl , or “flesh of the gods.” Spanish conquistadors, all of whom were Christian, called the mushrooms “flesh of the devil.” They tried to stamp out the use of the mushrooms by torturing and murdering the Aztecs. Modern-day scientists believe that at least 54 hallucinogenic mushrooms grew in the Mesoamerica long before the Spanish arrived.

ALTERNATE STATES OF BEING

Magic mushrooms and other hallucinogenic substances are still used today by those seeking some sort of mystical religious experience or, at the very least, a different state of consciousness. Hallucinogens, such as LSD, can be made in a laboratory by humans, while others, such as salvia, are found in plants or their extracts. There are several categories of hallucinogenic drugs. One is psychedelics . LSD is an example of a psychedelic drug, as are magic mushrooms. Another common psychedelic is called mescaline. Psychedelics distort time and reality. They can lead a user to believe that he or she is undergoing a spiritual experience. Ecstasy, which is the most popular hallucinogen, has properties similar to the psychedelic mescaline and the stimulant amphetamine. Dissociative drugs , including PCP, also known as Angel Dust, and ketamine, make up another category of hallucinogens. Dissociative drugs make a person feel detached from reality. People taking dissociative drugs might feel as if they are having “out-of-body” experiences. Dissociative drugs produce hallucinations, dreamlike visions, and a euphoric high.