The use of various types of psychedelic substances has been known for centuries. Although nowadays many people turn to powerful agents often created chemically, you can still successfully choose substances in 100% of natural origin, such as LSA contained in the seeds of the popular Morning Glory climbing plant Ipomoea Purpurea - purple phlox. What is worth knowing about LSA, how it works and where it occurs naturally?
What is an LSA? Operation, legality, availability
The use of various types of psychedelic substances has been known for centuries. Although nowadays many people turn to powerful agents often created chemically, you can still successfully choose substances in 100% of natural origin, such as LSA contained in the seeds of the popular Morning Glory climbing plant. What is worth knowing about LSA, how it works and where it occurs naturally?
What is an LSA?
LSA is one of the substances that cause psychedelic sensations similar to those that can be obtained from taking LSD. However, in this case, the effects are less intense. LSA is an alkaloid found in plants, just like nicotine or morphine. Thus, the substance is found in pure form in the environment just like various types of magic mushrooms or truffles. The highest concentrations of it can be found in the seeds of some grasses, mushrooms, vines, as well as popular clematis such as Morning Glory and Hawaiian Baby Woodrose with its beautiful pink-purple flowers.
LSA chemically is D-lysergic acid, which links this substance to the LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide. This compound can also be found under the name ergine or D-lizergonic acid amide. Due to the high concentration of the substance in the seeds of the mentioned plants, sometimes LSA is still referred to by Latin names corresponding to Morning Glory, i.e. Ipomoea purpurea and Hawaiian Baby Woodrose (an illegal plant - listed in the law by name) as Argyrea nervosa and Argyrea speciosa.
Where did the LSA come from? A brief history of ergine
The psychedelic properties of LSA have been known for hundreds or even thousands of years. Plants containing ergine have been used in folk medicine and various spiritual rituals in many parts of the world. Among the numerous legacies preserved in Mexico are accounts of Morning Glory seeds being treated as sacred seeds. Evidence of this to this day is the statue of Prince of Flowers Xochipilla sitting surrounded by various psychedelic plants. Among them are various species of mushrooms, tobacco, peyote cactus and just Morning Glory seeds. Currently in Mexico, the LSA in Morning Glory seeds is referred to as badoh negro or loliuhqui.
Hawaiian Baby Woodrose, on the other hand, is a plant known especially in traditional Indian medicine also known as Ayurvedic medicine. To this day, the LSA substance contained in the plant is one of the medicines used for various neurological ailments and rheumatism. Hawaiian Baby Woodrose is also often used as an anti-aging plant.
How does LSA work and what are the possible side effects?
LSA from Morning Glory seeds and other Clematis plants produces similar effects to synthetically produced LSD, but they are milder. The substance often causes a feeling of heaviness in the body and fatigue, so true bliss can be experienced after lying down. At that point, most people reach a calm and dreamy state of a dreamy nature.
LSA usually enables one to reach a state of deepened thinking about existence and objective perception of current problems and situations. In many people, this works to their advantage in searching for the meaning of acting in a given way or assists in finding a solution to a given situation.
After LSA, visualizations and color enhancement may occur. At the same time, nausea is sometimes felt, sometimes leading to vomiting, which, according to the Ayahuasca ceremony, signifies purification of the body and is a positive phenomenon.
Is the LSA legal?
Illegal substances in Poland are included in the appendices to the Law on Counteracting Drug Addiction. LSA is a substance that is not listed in this inventory. It can therefore be acquired legally, for example, in the form of Morning Glory seeds. Possession of their seeds is legal. However, this does not apply to all plants that contain ergine. In Poland, it is illegal to possess, for example, Hawaiian Clematis, or the aforementioned Argyrea nervosa, Rivea corymbosa, or yopo.
Interestingly, both the possession, sale and use of pure LSA is illegal in countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, as well as throughout Australia. In addition, in most of the UK, LSA is classified as a Class A drug. In the US, ergine is classified as a Group III drug. In both of these countries, LSA is considered a precursor to LSD. In Latvia, on the other hand, ergine found in Morning Glory seeds, among others, is treated similarly to LSD.
LSA is LSD? LSA is not LSD
LSA (D-lysergic acid amide) and LSD (D-lysergic acid diethylamide) are psychedelic substances that have much in common, but differ in both chemical structure and effects. Both are derived from lysergic acid, naturally occurring in certain plant species such as clematis (Ipomoea) and Hawaiian rose (Argyreia nervosa) for LSA, and in ergotamine extracted from the parasitic ergot fungus for LSD. Despite these common roots, LSA and LSD differ significantly.
LSD is a much more potent psychedelic that produces intense visual effects, perceptual shifts and long-lasting, often dynamic experiences, making it one of the most powerful psychedelic substances. LSA has a more subtle effect - its effects are more introspective, and visual experiences tend to be less intense. The effects of LSA can also be more physically taxing, often accompanied by nausea or fatigue, which is not typical of LSD.
Legally, LSD is much more controlled than LSA, which remains legal in some countries as a plant ingredient. While LSA and LSD have similarities, they cannot be considered substitutes - their effects and intensity differ significantly.
Sources:
- Pereda-Miranda, Rogelio, Daniel Rosas-Ramírez, and Jhon Castaneda-Gomez. "Resin glycosides from the morning glory family." Fortschritte der Chemie organischer Naturstoffe/Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products, Vol. 92 (2010): 77-153.
- Ujváry, István. "Psychoactive natural products: overview of recent developments." Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita 50 (2014): 12-27.
- Klinke, Helene Bendstrup, et al. "Two cases of lysergamide intoxication by ingestion of seeds from Hawaiian Baby Woodrose." Forensic science international 197.1-3 (2010): e1-e5.