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Christian Ratsch – Encyclopaedia of Psychoactive Plants - Kava
Identifier
019181
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Christian Ratsch – Encyclopaedia of Psychoactive Plants
Potent psychoactive effects have been reported particularly for Pohnpei [Hambrich 1917; Thurnwald 1908]. It is said that after several rounds the participants in the drinking ritual leave their bodies and are able to glide over the tropical island world in a disembodied state and journey to the heavens, to the home of the kava plant.
They experience sensations of fraternisation and unity with their environment as well as erotic visions.
These and similar statements in the older literature according to which kava may have hallucinogenic effects, have been cast in serious doubt by many authors who have had numerous experiences of their own (Cox and O’Rorke 1987).
The legendary hallucinogenic effect has occasionally been attributed to the additives – particularly Datura Metel