Myrddin's Garden
Aconitum Lycoctonum
Aconitum Napellus L.
Amanita Muscaria L.
Artemisia Absinthium L.
Arundo Donax L.
Atropa Belladonna L.
Cestrum Parqui
Cannabis Sativa L.
Claviceps Purpurea L.
Conium Maculatum L.
Datura Stramonium L.
Hyoscyamus Niger L.
Lactuca Virosa L.
Mandragora Officinalis L.
Papaver Somniferum L.
Phalaris Arundinacea L.
Psilocybe Semilanceata
Salvia Divinorum
Scopolia Carniolica
Bufo Vulgaris
Arundo Donax L.
Giant Reed
Arundo Donax L.
Giant Reed
Synonyms
Arundo bambusifolia.
Arundo bengalensis.
Arundo glauca.
Arundo sativa.
Folk Names
Arundo cypria, arundo tibialis, auleticon, barinari (Hindi), calamia, calamus, calamus cyprius, cana, cane of Spayne, cane sticks, canna, canna hispanica, cana brava, carizzo, carizzo de castilla, casab (Arabic), donax, flotenrohr, giant reed, great reed, guna pipi (Siona, “rock reed”), harundo,
hasab (Arabic), hispanischried, italienisches rohr, juco, juinanashu(p)jua (Kamsa),kalamos (Greek), kinapipi (Secoya, “rock reed”), kyprisches rohr, nalaka (Sanskrit), navadna trstenika (Slowenic), nbj.t (ancient Egyptian), pfahlrohr, pfeilrohr, pilco, rede, rede of Spayne, ried, riesenschilf, riet, rohr, rohr aus syrien, roseau, shaq (Chumash), spanisches rohr, Spanish cane, Spanish reed, tubito, uenyinanashuf, xapij, xapij-aacol (Seri, “great reed grass”), yuntu (Mapuche), zahm rohr.
The giant reed is originally from the Medi- terranean region, but it spread quickly throughout the world. It has been present in the New World since the sixteenth century.
Distribution
The stalks, which grow in bundles from the nodular rhizomes, can grow 4 to 6 meters tall. The lanceolate leaves are 3 to 5 cm wide and over 50 cm in length. The symmetrical panicles can grow as long as 70 cm.
Appearance
The simplest method is to plant root segments that have been dug up and separated from the main root or to take scions with young shoots. The scion, with its small piece of root, can be placed in water before transplanting. Young, phalluslike roots (which may help to explain the association with the phallic god Pan) will form almost overnight.
Cultivation
Archaeological finds, e.g., of flutes made from the stalks, demonstrate that Arundo donax was used widely in ancient Egypt since at least the time of the New Kingdom. The stems have been used around the world to make shafts for arrows. The plant has long been associated with the pastoral god Pan, in part because its shafts were used to make pipes of Pan. Arundo donax may have been the wondrous “twelve gods’ plant” of late antiquity (see dodecatheon). Because it appears in the legend of the Buddha, the reed is also sacred to Buddhists. It is only recently that the psychoactive properties of the reed have become known.
History
The rootstock was used in folk medicine primarily as a diuretic, i.e., an agent that promotes urination. In homeopathy, an essence of fresh root shoots called “Arundo mauritanica - water reed” was an important remedy around 1863.
Medicinal Use
In ancient times, the reed not only was consecrated to the nature god Pan but also was sacred to Silvanus and Priapus. It is not known whether the reed was used as a psychoactive agent in the cult of Pan. On the other hand, the syrinx, the pipes of Pan, are made from reeds, and these not only produce beautiful melodies but also can spread a “Panic terror” (Borgeaud 1988). This story may be a metaphor for the great psychoactive power of the root (for most people, DMT experiences are profoundly terrifying).
Apart from this, there are only a few rumors of a ritual use as a psychoactive plant that can be taken seriously:
There are statements about a secret Sufi tradition in which Arundo donax and Peganum harmala have been linked with mystical initiation. If this is in fact true, then this would be evidence for the use of a reliable ayahuasca analog in the ancient Near East—the celebrated soma of the Arians
Ritual Use
Rhizome (rhizoma arundinis donacis
Psychoactive Material
The rhizome contains at least five tryptamines: N,N-DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, bufotenine, dehydro-bufotenine, and bufotenidine. Little is known about other constituents.
Constituents
The fresh rhizome is cleaned, cut into small pieces, and macerated in an alcohol-water mixture (1:1). The maceration can be concentrated by evaporation. The residue, which is rich in alkaloids, can then be prepared in a manner appropriate for ayahuasca analogs.
The Shipibo shamans from Caimito use the giant reed as an ayahuasca additive. Northern Peruvian folk healers (curanderos) sometimes set up crosses of reeds when making the San Pedro drink (see Trichocereuspachanoi) so that the brew will not boil over. Otherwise, it will not bring good fortune.
Little is known about dosages. 50 mg of the extract (in combination with 3 g of Peganum harmala seeds) does not appear to produce any psychedelic effects. Unfortunately, little is also known about toxic dosages. Great care should be exercised when experimenting with Arundo donax (cf. Phragmites australis).
Preparation and Dosage
According to Dioscorides, the flower tufts of Arundo donax—just like those of Phragmites australis—induce deafness if they get into the ear.
The reports about the effects of an ayahuasca analog made with Arundo donax are not very promising and do not encourage others to experiment:
I once ingested one gram of Peganum harmala extract with 50 mg of an Arundo donax extraction. There was no psychoactivity at all, but I did suffer a modest allergic reaction. Within an hour I noticed that my vision was impaired. There was some difficulty in focusing. Later, my eyes felt watery and slightly swollen. The next day, I had a medium conjunctivitis with occasional hives appearing on my body. It took three days for these symptoms to subside.
Effects
Source: Christian Rätsch: The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants
