Argyreia nervosa is aperennial climbingvine native to theIndian subcontinent and introduced to numerous areas worldwide, includingHawaii,Africa, and theCaribbean. Though it can be invasive, it is often prized for its aesthetic and medicinal value.[2] Common names includeHawaiian baby woodrose,adhoguda अधोगुडा orvidhara विधारा (Sanskrit),elephant creeper andwoolly morning glory. Its seeds are known for their powerfulentheogenic properties, greater or similar to those ofIpomoea species, with users reporting significant psychedelic and spiritual experiences.[3][4] The two botanical varieties areArgyreia nervosa var.nervosa described here, andArgyreia nervosa var.speciosa, the roots of which are used inAyurvedic medicine.[2][5]
Argyreia nervosa contains variousergolinealkaloids such asergine.[6] A study reportedstereoisomers of ergine to be found in the seeds at a concentration of 0.325% of dry weight.[7] Two modern studies from a team of researchers also revealed lysergic acid,[8] methylergometrine (syn. lysergic acid butanolamide), methysergide, lysergylalanine, and suspected, unidentifed ergopeptines.[9] A study of the relatedIpomoea tricolor showed that ergoline concentrations in the leaves are 12-fold lower than that of the seeds.[10]
While seeds of otherConvolvulaceae, specificallyIpomoea corymbosa (ololiuhqui) andIpomoea tricolor (tlitliltzin), were used in shamanic rituals ofLatin America for centuries,A. nervosa was not traditionally used for this purpose. Its properties were first brought to attention in the 1960s.[citation needed]
Where temperatures fall below 13 °C (55 °F),Argyreia nervosa is grown in a warmgreenhouse. Elsewhere, it is grown on arbours,pergolas, walls, or trees. It is often grown professionally under glass in aloam-based potting compost (John Innes No. 3) in full light, and watered freely from spring to autumn, with a balanced liquid fertilizer applied monthly and reduced water in winter. It is grown outdoors in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun.Pruning is done in late winter.[11]
The seeds ofA. nervosa containergot alkaloids varying considerably in concentration with LSA weight ranging between exactly similar looking seeds from 3 μg to 34 μg (avg 17 μg).[15] However, in its effects, LSA is about one tenth as potent as its cousinLSD, making a threshold dose level for LSA (D-Lysergic Acid Amide) about 500 μg.[16] The psychoactive effects of the seeds may therefore be due to other alkaloids present in them and the safe and effective dose may be difficult to predict.
CertainNew Age sources claim that, according to 'various oral histories'Huna shamans used the powdered seeds to prepare anentheogenic drink.[17] This is unlikely to reflect an authentic practice having once formed a part of traditionalHawaiian Religion,[18] given thatHuna has been widely discredited as aculturally appropriative New Age religion invented byMax Freedom Long.[19] The seeds ofArgyreia nervosa can producepsychoactive effects, but it has not yet been demonstrated satisfactorily that their use as an entheogen predates the various countercultural movements of the 1960s.[18]Given thatA. nervosa is not native to Hawaii, having been introduced there from India, any Hawaiian practices involving it are unlikely to be of any antiquity. It cannot, however, be ruled out that the plant may have been utilised as an intoxicant in its native India at some time in the past, although evidence for this (if present) has not yet come to light.[18]
While he does not claim there to be any evidence for the use of the seeds ofA. nervosa as a traditional entheogen in its native India,Christian Rätsch does describe some interesting traditional uses of theroot of the plant inAyurveda somewhat suggestive of effects upon theCNS:[18]
The root is regarded as atonic for the nerves and brain and is ingested as a rejuvenation tonic andaphrodisiac to increaseintelligence.[18]
Other traditional uses are in the treatment of gonorrhea, strangury, chronic ulcers, diabetes, anemia, and cerebral disorders. The plant is also used as appetizer, brain tonic, cardiotonic, and aphrodisiac. It possesses anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities.[20] Claims that alternative medicines including Ayuverdic possess proven medical qualities, such as having widespread beneficial effects such as antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities are not claims that satisfy the scientific requirement of medical claims. Further, since the plant is partially toxic even if there were medical benefit, which is not established, this would have to be weighed against the potential poisoning impact of the substance.
^ab"Medicinal uses and biological activities of Argyreia speciosa Sweet (Hawaiian Baby Woodrose) — An Overview".Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources:286–291. September 2011.
^E. Al-Assmar, Sami (1999). "The Seeds of the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Are a Powerful Hallucinogen".Arch Intern Med.159 (17): 2090.doi:10.1001/archinte.159.17.2090 (inactive 11 July 2025).PMID10510998.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
^Paulke, Alexander; et al. (2015). "Studies on the alkaloid composition of the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Argyreia nervosa, a common legal high".Forensic Science International.249:281–293.doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.02.011.PMID25747328.
^The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, part 1, vol. 5. Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Ayush.http://www.ayurveda.hu/api/API-Vol-5.pdf A. nervosa entry: page 16 “T.L.C. of methanolic extract of the roots on precoated silica gel G plate using methanol - chloroform (20 : 80) showed a blue fluorescent spot under UV (365nm) along with number of other spots of very weak intensity. Due to the presence of very negligible amount of alkaloids in the roots these could not be isolated.” (p. 17)
^Halpern, J.H. (2004). "Hallucinogens and dissociative agents naturally growing in the United States".Pharmacology & Therapeutics.102 (2):131–138.doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2004.03.003.PMID15163594.S2CID30734515.Although LSD does not occur in nature, a close analogue, lysergic acid amide (LSA,ergine) is found in the seeds ofArgyreia nervosa (Hawaiian baby woodrose)
^Paulke, Alexander; Kremer, Christian; Wunder, Cora; Wurglics, Mario; Schubert-Zsilavecz, Manfred; Toennes, Stefan W. (2014-09-01)."Identification of legal highs – Ergot alkaloid patterns in two Argyreia nervosa products".Forensic Science International.242:62–71.doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.06.025.ISSN0379-0738.PMID25036782.Additionally the presence of the ergot alkaloid diastereomers chanoclavine I and II was assumed in DF (cf. Fig. 6) together with traces of lysergic acid and the isobars lysergol, isolysergol, elymoclavine, molliclavine, setoclavine, or isosetoclavine. (3.1. Mass spectrometry data, p. 65) "Indications of traces of [M+H]+ = 255.15 0.01 corresponding to lysergol/isolysergol, elymoclavine, setoclavine/isosetoclavine or molliclavine as well as [M+H]+ = 269.13 0.01 corresponding to lysergic acid were only obtained in the DF extracts and the resolution and the quality of the EICs and product spectra was poor. Therefore, the presence of lysergol/isolysergol, elymoclavine, setoclavine/isosetoclavine, molliclavine or lysergic acid cannot be excluded, but proof cannot be provided and additional research will be necessary." (3.1. Mass spectrometry data, pages 65 & 68)
^Paulke, Alexander; et al. (2015). "Studies on the alkaloid composition of the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Argyreia nervosa, a common legal high".Forensic Science International.249:281–293.doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.02.011.PMID25747328.On the other hand, methylergometrine, methysergide, and lysergylalanine were detected, which have not yet been reported as compounds ofArgyreia nervosa seeds. Furthermore, some high molecular weight ergot alkaloid derivatives and hydroxyalanine derived ergopeptide fragments could be observed at various retention times (c.f. chapter 3.1). Altogether, lysergylalanine, the high molecular weight ergot alkaloids and the hydroxyalanine derived ergopeptide fragments strongly suggest the presence of ergopeptides inArgyreia nervosa. However, due to the disadvantage of the applied APCI technique for peptide analysis (c.f. chapter 3.1) additional research (e.g. ESI-HRMS/MS) will be necessary to verify this assumption and to elucidate the structure of the ergopeptides. (3. Results and discussion, p. 283)
^Brickell, Christopher (2016).Royal Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia Of Garden Plants. Great Britain: Dorling Kindersley. p. 110.ISBN9780241239124.
^Paulke A, Kremer C, Wunder C, Wurglics M, Schubert-Zsilavecz M, Toennes SW (April 2015). "Studies on the alkaloid composition of the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Argyreia nervosa, a common legal high".Forensic Sci Int.249:281–293.doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.02.011.PMID25747328.
^Paulke, Alexander; Kremer, Christian; Wunder, Cora; Wurglics, Mario; Schubert-Zsilavecz, Manfred; Toennes, Stefan W. (2014). "Identification of legal highs--ergot alkaloid patterns in two Argyreia nervosa products".Forensic Science International.242:62–71.doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.06.025.ISSN1872-6283.PMID25036782.
^Wasson RG, Hofmann A, Ruck CA, Webster P (2008-11-25).The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books.ISBN9781556437526. “The effective dose of lysergic acid amide is 1 to 2 mg by oral application.” Albert Hofmann. 2. A Challenging Question and My Answer, p. 40
^abcdeRätsch, Christian (2004).The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications. Park Street Press, U.S.ISBN978-0892819782.
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