3.6.3 Mexican Tarragon

Mexican Tarragon #

Binomial / Botanical Name Tagetes Lucida
Street Names Yauhtli; Psychoactive Marigold; Tagates
Major Active Compound Unknown
Indigenous Source Mexico, Central America
Form Herb
RoA Oral / Smoked
Personal Rating On Shulgin Scale ± / ++

SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE #

Used ritually by the Aztecs, this plant is contradictorily reported to be both a sedative and a stimulant. Of the two propositions, the former appears to be more widely adopted. It is also cited as being smoked with peyote (and other substances) to enhance visuals, and with nicotiana rustica as an aphrodisiac.

My experiments were originally undertaken during the evening, in the anticipation of sedation. The effects in this respect were mild, at best.

However, an unexpected outcome was vivid and lucid dreams. Subsequent research revealed that tagetes lucida has indeed been widely used as an oneirogen. It certainly worked as such in my case.

I should also note that I found smoking to have a significantly greater effect than oral ingestion.